Cairo (Somalia Today) – Israel and Hamas agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that aims to release all remaining hostages and pause the nearly two-year war in Gaza, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday.
The deal is the most significant diplomatic breakthrough in months. It follows intensive talks in Egypt and requires Israeli forces to pull back to an agreed line as a first step.
“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social. “All Parties will be treated fairly!”
In a parallel statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “With God’s help, we will bring them all home.”
Hamas leaders said they accepted a deal that secures a complete end to the war, a full Israeli withdrawal, and an exchange of prisoners for hostages. The group urged mediators to ensure Israel’s immediate compliance.
High-stakes diplomacy
The framework was finalized in Sharm el-Sheikh. The talks included senior envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff for the United States. Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Netanyahu adviser Ron Dermer also took part.
Momentum appeared to build on Wednesday. During a public event, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was seen passing a note to the president urging him to approve a social post to “announce deal first.” Minutes later, Trump told reporters, “We’re very close to a deal in the Middle East.”
This would be the third ceasefire since the conflict began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people.
Previous truces collapsed with each side accusing the other of violations. Officials involved in the latest effort said the new framework is broader and clearer on sequencing.
Gaza humanitarian crisis
The war has devastated Gaza. According to figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry, widely cited by the United Nations, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 wounded.
Large areas lie in ruins, and families face hunger and disease. Aid agencies have pressed for a sustained truce to allow relief to move freely and to restore basic services.
For displaced residents like Sara Rihan, who fled fighting in Jabaliya, the news offers a sliver of hope. “I hope we return to our places and homes, even if there are no homes,” she said. “Our existence in our land is the biggest happiness for us.”
Securing a lasting peace will still require agreement on governance, security, and reconstruction. Mediators said work will continue in Cairo on timelines for withdrawals, the phased release of hostages and prisoners, and guarantees to uphold the truce.
