Washington / Cairo / Doha – Agencies
US President Donald Trump announced on Fox News’ “Hannity” that hostages held in Gaza are expected to be released on Monday, following an agreement between Israel and Hamas on the first phase of a ceasefire.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He added that all hostages would be released soon and Israeli forces would withdraw to an agreed line.
Qatar, acting as a key mediator, confirmed that an agreement had been reached on the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the ceasefire’s first phase. The deal includes ending the war, releasing Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. Full details are expected to be announced later.
Trump hinted at a possible visit to the Middle East this weekend, saying, “I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday.”
Negotiations continued in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, with senior officials from Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, and the US pressing both sides to resolve differences over Trump’s 20-point peace proposal. The first phase calls for a ceasefire and the release of 48 Israeli captives, including 20 believed to be alive, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Hamas has submitted its list of detainees for the proposed swap. Key figures in the negotiations include Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
The Hamas delegation includes senior leaders Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin, both survivors of a recent Israeli assassination attempt in Doha. Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq welcomed the involvement of Qatar’s prime minister and intelligence chiefs from Turkiye and Egypt, calling it a “strong boost” to the talks.
A delegation from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which holds some Israeli captives, is also expected to join the negotiations.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the talks had made “a lot of headway” and a ceasefire could be declared if progress continues.
However, Al Jazeera’s senior analyst Marwan Bishara noted ongoing tensions and unresolved issues, including the timing of Israeli withdrawal, Gaza’s post-war administration, and Hamas’s future. “You could say that the initial phase of the initial phase is working out,” Bishara said, adding that Israel insists the war will only end once Hamas disarms.
Israeli Strikes Continue Despite Talks
Despite the negotiations, Israeli attacks on Gaza persisted. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported eight deaths and 61 injuries over the past 24 hours. Gaza’s Government Media Office said Israel launched 271 air and artillery strikes over five days, killing 126 civilians, including 75 in Gaza City alone.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum reported from az-Zawayda that Israeli drones continue targeting residential buildings, though civilians noted a slight reduction in bombardment intensity—possibly due to mediator pressure aimed at facilitating the hostage recovery process.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that only 14 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are partially functioning, with just a third of primary care facilities operational. WHO’s regional director Hanan Balkhy cited severe shortages of electricity, clean water, medicine, and repeated damage to health infrastructure.
According to Gaza health authorities, more than 67,000 people have been killed in the conflict, with nearly all two million residents displaced and vast areas of the enclave destroyed.
