Israel, Hamas sign first phase of US peace plan Netanyahu praises Trump’s role

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump held a “very emotional and warm” phone conversation following the announcement of an agreement between Israel and Hamas marking the first phase of a peace plan for Gaza, The Times of Israel reported.

According to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders congratulated each other on what they called a “historic achievement” — the signing of an agreement ensuring the release of all hostages.

Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to Trump for his role in mediating the deal, while the US president commended the Israeli prime minister for his “strong leadership and the actions he took.”

Earlier on October 9, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas had signed off on the first phase of a peace plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict. He said this phase would lead to the release of all hostages “very soon” and the withdrawal of Israeli forces to agreed positions.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” Trump wrote.

In Israel, the Defence Forces (IDF) welcomed the deal to bring home the hostages but remained cautious about potential developments. IDF Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir convened a late-night assessment, instructing forces to stay on high alert.

“During the assessment of the situation conducted during the night, the Chief of General Staff instructed all forces both on the front line and in the rear, demanded to prepare a reliable defence and be ready for any scenario,” the army’s press service said.

The IDF noted that troop deployments would proceed “in accordance with the directives of the political echelon and the stages of the agreement, with responsibility and emphasis on the safety of our soldiers.”

Zamir also directed military units to prepare for the hostage recovery operation, stressing that it would be carried out “sensitively and professionally.”

“The Israel Defence Forces will continue to act to achieve the objectives of the war and protect the citizens of the State of Israel on all fronts,” the statement concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova