Gaza Ceasefire Deal To Begin With Hostage-Prisoner Exchange

The first phase of a Gaza peace agreement, part of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan unveiled last month, is set to be signed Thursday in Egypt. This stage centers on a prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel.

Under the deal, humanitarian aid will be increased in Gaza following more than two years of conflict sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel. The Israeli military has indicated plans to withdraw troops from the enclave as part of the arrangement.

Future steps in Trump’s plan call for Hamas’s disarmament and the establishment of a transitional authority led by the US president, though these elements remain under negotiation.

According to a Hamas source, the first phase involves the simultaneous release of 20 living hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences. The exchange is expected to take place within 72 hours of the agreement’s implementation, with Trump predicting the hostages’ return on Monday.

The news triggered celebrations in Gaza, where heavy bombardments have displaced most of the population. “Tears of joy flowed,” said displaced resident Samer Joudeh, describing the announcement as a long-awaited reprieve.

The deal emerged from indirect negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, with Qatar acting as mediator. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to bring the hostages home, while his cabinet is expected to approve the deal on Thursday.

President Trump signaled he may travel to the Middle East later this week. Hamas has submitted its list of prisoners for release, while the remaining 47 hostages—both alive and deceased—are expected to be freed in subsequent phases.

The agreement comes amid mounting international pressure to end the war, which has killed more than 67,000 people in Gaza and left the region on the brink of famine. Both Israel and Hamas face accusations of war crimes, and protests demanding a ceasefire have intensified worldwide.

One of the key figures sought in the prisoner exchange is Marwan Barghouti of the Fatah movement. Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said the group wants “guarantees from President Trump and sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all.”

With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.

From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals…

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 8, 2025