Gaza plan live updates: Trump says Israel and Hamas have signed off on first phase

Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid thanked Trump today for "the return of the hostages, for the peace he has brought to the region" and called on the Nobel committee to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, a longstanding ambition for Trump.

In a video statement posted on X, Lapid also thanked Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio and Tony Blair for their efforts.

Lapid also called on Trump to visit Israel and speak in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square. Israelis had gathered in the square early today and could be heard in a video chanting "Nobel prize to Trump."

The World Health Organization is ready to scale up to meet "dire health needs" across Gaza, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said in a statement.

He welcomed the agreement as a "big step towards lasting peace."

"WHO stands ready to scale up its work to meet the dire health needs of patients across Gaza, and to support rehabilitation of the destroyed health system," he said, adding: "The best medicine is peace."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio handed Trump a handwritten note during his roundtable event with influencers yesterday afternoon, which an Associated Press photographer captured as saying, “We are very close to a deal in the Middle East.” 

"Need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first,” it read.

"I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying that we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they’re going to need me pretty quickly," Trump told the room.

A Truth Social post from Trump that said Israel and Hamas had "both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan" appeared hours later, in advance of the agreement being signed. Key details of the plan are still unclear.

The deal on the first stage of Trump's plan for ending the war in Gaza and seeing hostages released has been formally agreed, Egyptian state-affiliated TV al-Qahera news reported.

It is not clear when exactly the first stage will come into effect on the ground in Gaza, however.

The Egyptian state outlet said the first stage of the plan had already gone into effect, Reuters reported - but Israel's prime minister has said the deal needs to be approved by Israel's government, making it unclear when the ceasefire will actually come into effect.

As of this morning, smoke could still be seen rising over Gaza.

Palestinians celebrated in Gaza today, following Trump’s announcement that the first phase of the plan to end the conflict had been signed.

The parents of Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose body was recovered from Gaza last year after he was taken hostage during the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, have welcomed news of a deal to end the war and return the remaining hostages.

"We are all so hopeful and filled with prayer and anticipation and we are just saying thank you," Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Hersh Goldberg-Polin's mother said in a video alongside her husband, Jon Polin, in a video statement published on Instagram.

Jon Polin specifically thanked Trump for his role in "bringing all of the right parties to the table with the right intentions."

Wearing pieces of tape on their chests, emblazoned with the numbers "734," representing the number of days that they have waited for an end to the war, Rachel Goldberg-Polin said she looked forward to being able to finally remove the symbolic stickers.

"We'll finally get to take off our stickers and use our tape as tape," she said in the video, with the couple having been outspoken advocates for an end to war in Gaza.

Family members of Israeli hostages held in Gaza spoke with President Trump who told them over the phone that their loved ones would be returning on Monday. The call came after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of Trump’s plan for Gaza, a ceasefire and hostage deal that would see the release of all remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Despite the news of a ceasefire agreement, an Israeli military spokesman warned Gaza residents today that "the area north of Wadi Gaza is still considered a dangerous combat zone."

Wadi Gaza is a river valley that divides the northern and southern ends of the Gaza Strip.

In a post on X, Avichay Adraee, the head of the Israel Defense Forces's Arab media division, also said returning to Gaza City would be "extremely dangerous" and advised against returning north or approaching areas where the IDF is operating until official instructions are issued.

The Israeli government will meet today at 5 p.m. local time, or 10 a.m. ET, to vote on whether to approve the deal after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of the plan to end the war in Gaza and see hostages held there released, an Israeli official briefed on the matter told NBC News.

Netanyahu had previously said that the vote on the deal was expected to take place today.

Already, the agreement has gained some opposition, with far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich saying he planned to oppose the agreement, citing the plan to release Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Leaders from around the world have welcomed news of the deal to end the war in Gaza and see hostages held in the enclave released, with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling it a "moment of profound relief."

Starmer said that a sense of relief would be "felt all around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families, and for the civilian population of Gaza." He said the U.K. would support the "crucial" next steps and the next stage of talks to help ensure the full implementation of the plan.

Noting the deal marks a "significant breakthrough," European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said the agreement was a "major diplomatic accomplishment and a real chance to end a devastating war and release all the hostages."

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi also welcomed the agreement on the first phase of Trump's plan, calling it a "reflection of the strong leadership of PM Netanyahu." He added: "We hope the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza will bring respite to them and pave the way for lasting peace."

In Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the agreement marked a "crucial step toward de-escalation and the realization of a two-state solution." He thanked the "tireless efforts" of mediating countries, including the U.S., Qatar, Egypt and Turkey and called upon all parties to "faithfully and diligently" implement the deal.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the announcement today in a statement released via the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Abbas expressed hope that the deal would be "a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution" that would establish an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Palestinian Authority partially administers the West Bank, while rival group Hamas has controlled Gaza.

Abbas thanked Trump and mediators for their efforts and affirmed his readiness to work " in order to achieve stability and a lasting and just peace in accordance with international law."

Israel's far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has expressed "mixed emotions" in response to early news of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, saying he will not vote in favor of the deal.

Calling it a "complex morning," in a post on X, Smotrich said he felt "immense joy" at the expected return of the hostages held in Gaza, as well as for "the privilege of being among the leaders of the resistance to partial deals that would have left at least half of them languishing in enemy tunnels, and the demand to continue the war until its goals were fully realized."

But he said he also felt "immense fear" at the prospect of Palestinian prisoners being released from Israeli prisons under the deal. As a result, he said he would not "be able to join in the short-sighted celebrations and vote in favor of the deal."

Netanyahu had said he would be convening his government to approve the agreement "and bring all our dear hostages home."

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents the families of hostages held in Gaza, has published a letter addressed to Trump thanking the president for his efforts to secure a deal to end the war in Gaza and see those held captive in the enclave for two years returned.

"On behalf of the families of the hostages who endured two years of unimaginable darkness in Hamas captivity, we write to express our deepest gratitude for securing the historic deal that brought our loved ones home and ended this war," the letter said. "You have given us back what we thought we had lost forever."

The group said that hostage families would be "deeply honored" if the president met with them during his next visit to Israel, with the president saying he could soon visit the Middle East.

"Whether an address in the square, a place that has become a symbol of hope and the resilience of the human spirit, a private visit with the families, or any gathering that fits your schedule, we will do whatever is necessary to make it possible," the letter states. "We simply need the opportunity to look you in the eye and express what words alone cannot fully convey: that you gave us back our families, and with them, our hope."

Relatives and supporters of the Israeli hostages celebrated early this morning in "Hostages Square" in Tel Aviv, after the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a plan to end the war.

The Israeli military said it has begun operational preparations ahead of the implementation of the ceasefire deal.

It said in a statement that preparations and a "combat protocol" were underway to transition to "adjusted deployment lines soon."

The IDF said that troops would continue to be deployed in the area until then and were prepared for any operational developments.

Last month, Trump unveiled a 20-point comprehensive peace proposal to end the war in Gaza.

The key components of the proposal include the release of all living and dead hostages in Gaza, a requirement for Hamas to lay down its arms, a withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the installation of a civilian governing authority for Palestinians.

Tonight, Trump announced that both Hamas and Israel had signed off on the first phase of the deal. But it was not immediately clear whether the parties had made any progress on thornier questions about the future of the conflict, including whether Hamas will demilitarize, as Trump has demanded, and eventual governance of the war-torn territory.

Read the complete plan here.

A senior Hamas official said the group has handed over a list of Palestinian prisoners who will be released as part of the ceasefire deal.

Zaher Jabarin, who oversees Palestinian prisoners’ affairs, said in a statement that the list was prepared in accordance with “the criteria agreed upon in the agreement.”

He said the group is still “awaiting final agreement on the names,” and that they will be announced “once the relevant procedures and understandings are completed.”

Trump said during a Fox News interview tonight that his tariffs may have played a role in getting Israel and Hamas to sign off on the first phase of a peace deal.

"I think we shocked everybody by a lot with the tariffs and all of that. But you know, having the ability to deal with trade, having the ability to use tariffs to help me make a point, the tariffs have brought peace to the world," Trump told host Sean Hannity during a phone interview.

The legality of many of Trump's tariffs, which were unilaterally imposed without congressional approval under a law reserved for use in times of emergency, has been challenged. The Supreme Court last month said it would rule on the legality.

Trump touted using "the power of tariffs to stop wars," and said he believed his administration had acted appropriately in enacting duties.

"I’ve saved millions of lives using tariffs. So if for any reason the court ruled against, and you know on the legal merits, we should be absolutely entitled," Trump said.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that he gave the peace agreement his “full support” in a message posted on X on Thursday morning local time.

“This agreement will bring moments of indescribable relief to the dear families who have not slept for 733 days,” he wrote. “This agreement offers a chance to mend, to heal, and to open a new horizon of hope for our region.”

Herzog thanked Netanyahu and Trump, who, he wrote, deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement tonight that it welcomed the signing of the first phase of the peace plan and the anticipated return of hostages.

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the IDF's chief of staff, "instructed all forces, both on the front lines and in the rear areas, to prepare strong defenses and be ready for any scenario," the statement said.

"At the same time, the Chief of the General Staff instructed to prepare to lead the operation for the hostages’ return, which is expected to be conducted with sensitivity and professionalism," it added.

Democrats and Republicans lauded Trump’s announcement of the first phase of a peace plan to end the war in Gaza, with some Republican senators saying he is deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said on X: “I congratulate @POTUS on this historic peace plan that releases all the hostages. Now, enduring peace in the region is possible. Our parties are different but we have a shared ironclad commitment to Israel and its people.”

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said the agreement was encouraging.

“I appreciate President Trump’s work to bring Israel and Hamas to the table and am encouraged that an agreement has been made to release the remaining hostages taken on October 7 and begin a phased IDF withdrawal from Gaza. More work lies ahead, but this is very good news,” Kaine said on X.

The first phase of the peace deal between Israel and Hamas should lead Hamas to release the 20 remaining living hostages it is still holding, though Hamas has said it will take more time to recover the remains of the hostages who died while in captivity.

If Hamas carries out its part of the deal, it will create momentum.

Ruby Chen, father of hostage Itay Chen, a U.S.-Israeli dual citizen, said on "Stay Tuned NOW" that Hamas has not acknowledged his son’s physical status, calling it “psychological warfare.”

Itay Chen, who grew up primarily in Tel Aviv, was serving as part of the Israel Defense Forces when he was taken hostage.

Ruby Chen said the family has not been “provided any sign of life” regarding his son. 

With the news of a peace plan, Chen said, "it's mixed emotions of excitement, anticipation, but also anxiety because we don't know Itay is accounted for and what his status is."

The reported agreement to a deal that could free hostages held by Hamas comes almost two years to the day after Hamas terrorists led a shocking surprise attack on Israel that targeted civilians.

The Oct. 7, 2023, attacks launched from Gaza killed around 1,200 people. The attacks included gunmen who used gliders to enter Israel.

Gunmen attacked the Nova Music Festival and Kibbutz Be’eri, among other targets. The attackers took about 250 hostages in all.

In response, Israel launched a war it said was aimed at the destruction of Hamas. The two-year conflict has led to devastation in Gaza and a humanitarian crisis.

Over 67,000 people have been killed, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. Hamas controls the government in the enclave.

Col. Steve Warren, former principal deputy chief of public affairs at the Pentagon, speaks with NBC News’ Yasmin Vossoughian about what the agreement to the first phase of the peace deal means and what the next steps of this peace process might look like.

"If indeed this deal can hold, it'll bring in an era of peace that we haven't seen now in the Middle East for several years, ever since that terrible attack on October 7th," Warren said.

A senior White House official told NBC News that the Israeli Cabinet will vote on the Israel-Hamas peace deal tomorrow.

Once the Cabinet approves the deal, "Israel has to withdraw to the line, which should take under 24 hours," the official said.

"Then the 72-hour clock begins, and Hamas will try to go earlier if possible. Our assessment is that hostages will begin getting released on Monday," the official added.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said families were greeting the news of the possible release of their loved ones "with a mix of excitement, anticipation, and concern."

"The Hostages Families Forum welcomes the signing of this agreement, designed to bring all the hostages home — the living for rehabilitation with their families, and the deceased for proper burial in their homeland," the group said in a statement.

It said 48 hostages remain to be returned. Israel has said it believes 20 are still alive.

"The hostage families wish to express their profound gratitude to President Trump and his team for the leadership and determination that led to this historic breakthrough: an end to the war and a comprehensive agreement to return all the hostages," the families forum said.

"The Israeli government must convene immediately to approve the agreement. Any delay could exact a heavy toll on the hostages and soldiers," it said.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement tonight that the "stakes have never been higher" after the announcement that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a peace deal.

"I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by President Donald J. Trump. I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye in brokering this desperately needed breakthrough," Guterres said.

"The United Nations will support the full implementation of the agreement and will scale up the delivery of sustained and principled humanitarian relief, and we will advance recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza," he added.

The statement also urged the parties to commit to "achieving a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken with Trump, and he invited Trump to address the Knesset, Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

“The two held a very moving and warm conversation, and congratulated each other on the historic achievement of signing the agreement to release all the hostages,” Netanyahu’s office said.

“The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for all his efforts and his global leadership, and President Trump congratulated the Prime Minister for his determined leadership and the actions he led,” the statement says.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a note to Trump during a roundtable at the White House this afternoon that indicated a peace deal between Israel and Hamas was "very close."

The note, captured by an Associated Press photographer, appears to say: “very close. I need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.”

Rubio passed the note while Trump was taking questions at a roundtable this afternoon about antifa. Rubio walked over to take the seat of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to pass the note, which Trump appeared to read before he exchanged a nod with Rubio.

Rubio then walked over to whisper something to Trump, and shortly after, Trump told reporters at the roundtable that a peace deal was imminent.

"Yeah, I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying that we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they’re going to need me pretty quickly, so I will take a couple of more questions," he said.

Trump today posted a video of family members of hostages held by Hamas expressing gratitude after the emergence of news of an agreement to the first phase of a deal that is said to include the release of hostages.

"Today, President Trump has done it: He announced just now that our loved ones, the hostages, are coming home,” one of them said in the video.

The group stood in front of a sign with photographs that read “2 years in captivity” and “we can bring them home now.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that Trump will meet with “the troops” at Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday and then “stop by for his routine yearly check up.”

Trump already underwent what was described as his annual physical examination at the military hospital on April 11. A memo released by White House physician Sean Barbabella two days later said he was in “excellent health” with “robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and general physical function.”

Leavitt’s statement said that, after the exam on Friday, Trump will “return to the White House” and is “considering going to the Middle East shortly thereafter.”

Netanyahu said that his government would gather tomorrow to ratify the peace agreement and "bring all of our precious hostages home."

He expressed his thanks for IDF soldiers and security forces, as well as the U.S. president.

"I thank President Trump and his team from the bottom of my heart for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages."

Hamas said today that Trump and guarantor states should ensure that the terms of the ceasefire are adhered to.

“We highly appreciate the efforts of our mediating brothers in Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. We also value the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump, who seeks to bring about a definitive end to the war and a complete withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip,” Hamas said.

“We call on President Trump, the guarantor states of the agreement, and various Arab, Islamic, and international parties to compel the occupation government to fully implement the agreement’s requirements and not allow it to evade or delay the implementation of what has been agreed upon,” Hamas said.

Hamas, a terrorist organization, calls Israel an occupation government. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, but it conducted massive airstrikes on Gaza and entered the territory in the war it declared against Hamas following the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope tonight that all hostages will be returned after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a peace deal.

“With God’s help we will bring them all home,” Netanyahu said.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social today that the “first phase” of the peace plan to end the conflict in Gaza had been signed.

“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," the post said. "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 had said earlier that he may travel to the Middle East at the end of the week but did not specifically say he would be going to Egypt, where peace talks are being held.

Read the full story here.