Israel and Hamas agree to 'first phase' of plan to end fighting and release hostages

Israel and Hamas agreed Wednesday to pause fighting in Gaza and release at least some hostages and prisoners, accepting a deal put forward by the Trump administration that would represent the biggest breakthrough in months in the devastating two-year-old war.

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"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," President Donald Trump wrote on social media in trumpeting the agreement. "All Parties will be treated fairly!"

Israel and Hamas separately confirmed the contours of the deal. It calls for Hamas to release all 20 living hostages in the coming days, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

Uncertainty remains about some of the thorniest disagreements between the bitter enemies — such as whether and how Hamas will disarm, and who will govern Gaza — but they appear closer than they have been in several months to ending a war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, destroyed most of Gaza and triggered other armed conflicts across the Middle East. The war, which began with Hamas' deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, has sparked worldwide protests and brought allegations of genocide that Israel denies.