Israel–Hamas deal: Netanyahu to convene cabinet Thursday; hostages could be freed as early as Monday
Israel and Hamas have reportedly agreed in principle to the first phase of a U.S.-backed 20‑point plan negotiated in Sharm el‑Sheikh — mediated by Egypt, Qatar and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — that would see the remaining hostages (roughly 48, about 20 believed alive) handed over in exchange for a partial Israeli withdrawal to an agreed line and a large prisoner swap. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his cabinet Thursday to consider the deal, and officials say, while logistics remain unsettled and fighting and heavy civilian casualties in Gaza continue, releases could begin as early as Monday.
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📌 Key Facts
- Israel and Hamas have agreed in principle to the "first phase" of a U.S.-backed 20-point plan negotiated in Egypt (Sharm el‑Sheikh) — a deal framed around the release of remaining hostages in exchange for a ceasefire/partial Israeli withdrawal and large-scale prisoner releases; U.S. envoys (Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner) and mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey participated.
- The plan targets the release of the remaining hostages (about 48 people, roughly 20 believed alive) with releases to begin rapidly — the framework sets a 72-hour window (some reports say 48 hours) though Egyptian and other officials warned the timeline could be extended up to seven days for logistical and verification reasons; President Trump and U.S. officials said hostages could be freed as early as Monday.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will convene his cabinet on Thursday to formally approve the first phase; Israeli statements also described a move to a more defensive posture and an initial redeployment to an "agreed upon" withdrawal line to allow safe recovery of hostages while retaining control of key strategic areas.
- Under the agreement’s exchange framework Israel would free large numbers of Palestinian prisoners — reporting cited figures such as about 250 people serving life sentences plus roughly 1,700 Gazans detained after Oct. 7 — with exact prisoner lists, exchange ratios and procedures still being negotiated and verified.
- Major outstanding and politically sensitive issues remain, including the timing and scope of Hamas disarmament, the mechanics and verification of withdrawals and releases, Gaza’s interim governance (proposals for an international/technocratic board were discussed), and concerns about high-level prisoners who could reassert leadership roles after release.
- U.S. officials (including Secretary of State Marco Rubio) and other mediators emphasized logistics and mechanics (who picks up hostages, where and when) as the immediate priority and urged rapid, staged releases rather than waiting for a single mass exchange; they warned releases cannot occur amid active bombardment.
- The talks and the tentative deal come amid intense Israeli military operations around Gaza City, large-scale evacuations (IDF and U.N. estimates vary widely), heavy civilian casualties and severe humanitarian collapse in Gaza — factors that both complicate implementation and increase pressure for a swift agreement — while families of hostages in Israel continued to press the government for quick approval.
📚 Contextual Background
- A peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump called for Hamas to free all remaining hostages and for the Israeli military to begin withdrawing from parts of Gaza in phases; the plan also proposed transferring parts of Gaza to a "technocratic" Palestinian committee and deploying a temporary security force backed by Arab states.
- The proposed plan specified that Hamas would release the remaining hostages taken on October 7, 2023 within 72 hours of an agreement, and that Israel would release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences plus 1,700 other Gazans detained after the start of the conflict as part of the exchange.
- U.S. officials in 2025 described a two-phase approach to ceasefire negotiations in which an initial hostage release would be followed by an Israeli military pullback to a previously held boundary position, while decisions about Gaza's future governing structure could be negotiated concurrently.
- The 2025 Trump peace proposal called for an end to Israel's military operations in Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip under a Palestinian governing body overseen by a U.S.-led international coalition.
📰 Sources (69)
Trump says 'whole world came together' to secure Israel-Hamas peace deal after months of deadlock
New information:
- Trump says remaining hostages could be released as early as Monday.
- Netanyahu posted on X that he will convene his government Thursday to formally approve the first phase of the deal.
- U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday to join the negotiations (timing/location detail).
- AP-sourced detail reiterates Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages this weekend and that the IDF will begin withdrawing from most of Gaza.
- Hostages and Missing Families Forum publicly urged immediate cabinet approval and reiterated 48 total hostages remain.
Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of Gaza peace plan, Trump says
New information:
- Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to pause fighting and begin releasing hostages and prisoners.
- Hamas statement claims the deal leads to ending the war, Israeli troop withdrawal, aid entry, and exchanges; it urges U.S. mediators to ensure Israeli compliance.
- AP sourcing: Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages this weekend; the IDF will begin withdrawing from the majority of Gaza.
- U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner joined talks in Sharm el‑Sheikh alongside Qatar’s PM; Israeli adviser Ron Dermer attended.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio passed Trump a note urging a Truth Social announcement; Trump publicly said a deal was imminent.
Trump tells Axios he's "likely" going to Israel for speech after Gaza deal
New information:
- Trump says he is likely to travel to Israel in the coming days to address the Knesset, after an invitation from Netanyahu.
- White House says Trump could depart after a physical exam on Friday.
- Hostage-release timeline specified: remaining hostages (about 20 believed alive) to be released between now and Monday.
- Deal terms reiterated include a partial IDF withdrawal in Gaza and Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners; disarmament and Gaza governance still to be finalized.
Israel-Hamas peace deal reached soon after Trump says it’s ‘very close’ in White House note pass with Rubio
New information:
- Trump says Secretary of State Marco Rubio passed him a note at the White House indicating the deal was 'very close' shortly before he announced the first phase was agreed.
- Israeli TV Channel 12 reports the agreement will be signed at noon local time Thursday, with hostage and prisoner releases to occur Saturday.
- Netanyahu statement: 'With God’s help we will bring them all home.'
- Trump says he may travel to the Middle East as soon as Sunday while envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner negotiate in Egypt.
- Trump’s Truth Social language emphasizes an 'initial withdrawal line' for Israeli forces and 'amnesty' parameters as part of his 20‑point plan.
Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of peace plan, Trump says
New information:
- President Trump said the first phase provides for Hamas to release all remaining hostages (not just an initial tranche).
- Trump said Israel will withdraw its forces to an 'agreed upon line' as part of the first phase.
- Trump characterized this as the 'first phase' of a broader peace deal to end the two‑year war.
Israel and Hamas agree on the "first phase" of Gaza ceasefire deal
New information:
- Trump’s public statement claims 'ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon' as part of the first phase.
- NPR reports indicative exchange figures: about 50 hostages (living and deceased) for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners/detainees.
- NPR lists Turkey alongside Egypt and Qatar as mediators, with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner facilitating.
- Ceasefire start timing is 'not clear' per NPR, differing from earlier timelines; Israel may initially keep some troops in Gaza before a fuller pullout.
- Deal elements reiterated: Hamas disarmament and exit from Gaza governance as envisioned in the plan.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to ‘first phase’ of Gaza peace plan, Trump announces
New information:
- AP/PBS frame the 'first phase' as a pause in fighting with release of at least some hostages and prisoners, adding nuance to earlier claims that all hostages would be freed immediately.
- New on‑the‑record quote from Netanyahu: “With God’s help we will bring them all home.”
- Confirms negotiators have been meeting in Egypt for days to hash out the Trump‑backed plan.
Israel and Hamas reach deal to release all hostages, Trump says
New information:
- Trump’s public statement frames the agreement’s 'first Phase' as releasing all remaining hostages and Israel withdrawing to an 'agreed upon line.'
- Two regional sources tell CBS there is an agreement in principle on a hostage release; after procedural issues are handled, releases would start in about 48 hours.
- Trump said he may travel to the Middle East this weekend, potentially including Gaza.
- Current indirect talks began Oct. 6 in Egypt with Egypt and Qatar mediating; U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were expected to join Wednesday.
Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of deal to end Gaza war
New information:
- PBS frames the first phase as including the release of all remaining hostages in exchange for Israel's partial withdrawal from Gaza.
- Segment characterizes the agreement as the first phase of a broader deal intended to end the two‑year war.
Hamas accepts Trump peace plan ending 2 years of war in Gaza, returning hostages
New information:
- Trump’s new statement (Truth Social) that Israel and Hamas have both 'signed off on the first Phase' of the plan.
- Specific proposed prisoner‑exchange figures: release of '250 life sentence prisoners plus 1,700 Gazans detained after Oct. 7, 2023.'
- Plan elements detailed: potential 'amnesty' for Hamas members who disarm; creation of an international 'Board of Peace' headed by Trump and Tony Blair.
- Target timeline noted: all hostages to be freed within 72 hours of an agreement (with Hamas signaling this may be unrealistic due to remains under rubble).
- Governance outline reiterated: a temporary technocratic Palestinian committee to run day‑to‑day services in Gaza; reconstruction planning to begin.
- Status of talks: Israeli and Hamas negotiators traveled to Egypt on Monday to finalize terms; Hamas voiced concerns over disarmament and trust in Israel’s future actions.
- Updated hostages context cited from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum: 48 hostages remain, 21 assessed alive.
GAZA DEAL REACHED: TRUMP
New information:
- Trump says Israel and Hamas have signed off on the first phase of his 20‑point plan.
- Phase‑one terms include the release of all remaining hostages 'very soon' and Israeli troop withdrawal to an agreed line inside Gaza.
- Talks were held in Egypt with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner present; mediators included Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.
- Trump indicated he may travel to the region this weekend, pending a Friday physical; the White House confirmed the possible trip.
- Axios notes thorny issues remain to be negotiated, including Hamas disarmament processes and Gaza’s future governance structure.
Rubio passes Trump urgent note on Middle East peace deal during antifa roundtable
New information:
- At a White House roundtable, Marco Rubio handed Trump a handwritten note—photographed by press—reading, “You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.”
- Trump publicly said the U.S. is “very close to a deal on the Middle East,” then indicated he might leave the event to address it.
- The talks in Egypt are in their third day and include Trump’s top adviser Steve Witkoff and Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
- Trump said he plans to travel to the Middle East toward the end of the week, possibly to Egypt and even the Gaza Strip.
- Event details: the exchange occurred in the White House Blue Room during an antifa-focused influencer roundtable; Trump lingered ~10 minutes after first signaling he might depart.
Trump says he "may go" to the Middle East this weekend amid peace talks
New information:
- Trump said he and his team could depart as soon as Sunday (possibly Saturday) if negotiations progress.
- White House confirms envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are in Egypt and participated in meetings on Wednesday.
- Talks focus on a 20‑point U.S. plan whose first phase would see Hamas release remaining hostages—living and deceased—within 72 hours.
- Trump publicly urged negotiators to “move fast” and said the final negotiation is with Hamas, noting Egypt and Qatar are intermediaries.
- CBS notes Hamas said Friday it had accepted some elements of the U.S.‑led proposal.
Trump teases trip to the Middle East as Gaza peace deal talks continue
New information:
- Trump said he may travel to the Middle East toward the end of the week, possibly Sunday, as part of the Gaza talks.
- Trump characterized the negotiations as 'very close' and 'doing very well.'
- An Israeli diplomatic source said talks are down to a shortlist of prisoner names and how withdrawal corridors will be managed, and that the Israeli cabinet is convening to vote on next steps.
- A U.S. official said negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh are 'down to a couple of points.'
- Fox reports Hamas announced Friday it agreed to release all Israeli hostages, dead or alive, as part of Trump’s proposal (attribution to Hamas/Fox).
- Confirms Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are on the ground in Egypt working the talks.
Anti-Hamas Gaza militias reject terror group, declare support for Trump’s peace plan
New information:
- Exclusive CPC video shows three anti-Hamas Gaza militias publicly endorsing President Trump’s peace plan (leaders: Yasser Abu Shabab, Ashraf Al-Mansi, Rami Hillis).
- CPC reports heavy fighting in Khan Younis between an anti-Hamas clan and Hamas forces, allegedly killing about 20 Hamas members, including a commander.
- CPC alleges Hamas’ 'Sahm Unit' moved to detain local Palestinians for interrogation; the clashes were framed as a significant escalation in on-the-ground resistance to Hamas rule.
- Article cites concurrent IDF disclosure of Hamas tunnels adjacent to the Jordanian Field Hospital and Hamad Hospital, including a missile-production workshop.
Officials "cautiously optimistic" Gaza deal will be struck this week
New information:
- Multiple participants involved in talks say they are 'cautiously optimistic' that a deal can be reached this week.
- Qatari mediators believe an agreement could be finalized by Friday.
- Sources say the goal is to announce an agreement this week and begin releasing Israeli hostages next week.
- The talks now explicitly include intelligence chiefs from Turkey and Egypt alongside negotiating teams from Israel and Hamas, per Axios reporting.
Kushner joins Witkoff for Gaza ceasefire talks as Trump pushes peace plan: 'cautiously optimistic'
New information:
- Article emphasizes Jared Kushner has "no official role" in the administration during the second term and characterizes his presence as an outside but influential mediator.
- White House official quoted calling Kushner an 'extremely trusted voice' and saying the administration is 'cautiously optimistic' about reaching a deal.
- Reports that Hamas raised specific objections — including the difficulty of quickly returning deceased hostages reportedly buried under rubble and distrust about demilitarization — are highlighted.
- Fox notes Kushner and Witkoff may remain in Egypt alongside other mediators (including Qatar) 'for as long as it takes' to secure a deal; includes an on‑the‑record outside expert quote (Rebeccah Heinrichs) assessing Kushner's involvement.
Top officials join Israel-Hamas talks, signaling toughest issues in U.S. plan are on the table
New information:
- Hamas is explicitly seeking firm guarantees from Trump and mediators that Israel will not resume military operations after hostage releases.
- Representatives from the PFLP and Palestinian Islamic Jihad were scheduled to join the Sharm el‑Sheikh talks, broadening Palestinian representation.
- Hamas official Taher Nounou said Hamas exchanged a list of Palestinian prisoners it seeks to release under the deal.
- Egyptian President Abdel‑Fattah el‑Sissi publicly described the negotiations as 'very encouraging.'
- The article frames the discussions as entering a third day with senior advisers diving into the toughest plan elements (disarmament timing, scope of Israeli withdrawal, and proposed international governance).
As Trump’s Gaza deal nears, family warns Israel not to free another Sinwar
New information:
- Quotes and analysis from Israeli expert Dr. Michael Milshtein warning that the roughly 250‑name prisoner list contains high‑level operatives who could re‑emerge as leaders after release.
- Specific named prisoners cited as on the list: Abbas al‑Sayed (Park Hotel bombing), Ibrahim Hamed (multiple life sentences), Abdullah Barghouti (explosives mastermind), and Hassan Salameh (bus attacks).
- Reporting of victims' families' backlash and explicit warnings to Israel not to free another figure like Yahya Sinwar (family concerns emphasized).
Kushner and Trump envoy arrive in Egypt for crucial negotiations on Gaza deal
New information:
- Axios confirms Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday morning (Oct. 8, 2025) to join the negotiations.
- President Trump met his top national security team and separately met former hostage Edan Alexander and the family of Omer Neutra on Tuesday before the envoys departed.
- Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani is slated to join the talks, along with the heads of Turkish and Egyptian intelligence; Ron Dermer will represent Israel.
- Senior U.S. officials expressed cautious optimism and said Kushner and Witkoff would not leave Egypt without an agreement; a senior U.S. official urged Netanyahu that 'the time for a deal has come.'
+ 49 more sources