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Palestinians react to first phase of ceasfire
Residents of Khan Younis, Gaza react to news that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of President Trump’s peace deal with jubilation, celebrating in the streets. (Credit: Reuters)
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President Donald Trump announced in an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Wednesday night that a “landmark peace deal” between Israel and Hamas has been reached, hailing it as “a historic step toward peace in the Middle East.”
In the interview, Trump said “the whole world came together” to make the deal happen, crediting both “luck” and “talent.”
“So many countries that you wouldn’t have thought of have come together,” he said on “Hannity.” “It’s been so great for Israel, so great for Muslims, for the Arab countries — and so great for the United States of America. This is more than Gaza — this is peace in the Middle East.”
Leaders across the world are welcoming the news and describing it as a potential turning point.
At the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the breakthrough and urged swift follow-through, according to Reuters.
“I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza. The United Nations will support full implementation and recovery efforts. This momentous opportunity must not be lost,” Guterres said.
Under the deal, Hamas is expected to release all 20 living hostages by this weekend, and the Israeli military is expected to begin withdrawing troops from most of Gaza as part of the initial phase.
Israelis march from Sderot toward the northern border of Gaza, calling for the re-establishment of settlements in the territory, on July 30, 2025, in Israel. (Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The IDF also released a statement on social media, welcoming “the signing of the agreement for the return of the hostages, which was signed overnight.”
“This is a great day for peace,” Trump said. “Many years they talked about peace in the Middle East — now it’s happening.”
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, a figure that has not been independently verified.