Türkiye, Qatar Broker Gaza Ceasefire as Trump’s Deal Ends Months of War
Israel and Hamas agree to a prisoner swap and phased withdrawal amid global calls for lasting peace.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Jubilant crowds poured into Gaza’s war-scarred streets late Wednesday night after news of a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the first major breakthrough in nearly two years of devastating conflict.
The deal, based on a 20-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, sparked cautious optimism among residents and drew global reactions from Ankara, Doha, London, and beyond.
“For the first time in months, we can breathe,” said Amal Saeed, a teacher in Khan Younis. “But we’ve seen truces before. What we need is peace that lasts.”
While the ceasefire has yet to take effect, Gazans described a rare sense of hope after months of relentless bombardment, displacement, and economic collapse.
Under the first phase of the plan, Hamas and other Palestinian factions will release 20 Israeli captives believed to be alive, along with the remains of 28 others held in Gaza. In exchange, Israel will free more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including hundreds detained since October 2023.
The announcement followed three days of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel in Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, with senior officials from Qatar, Türkiye, Egypt, and the United States serving as mediators.
Though both sides confirmed the agreement, analysts note that deep mistrust remains over how Trump’s broader peace plan will unfold.
US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire personally on his Truth Social platform:
“This means that ALL of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed-upon line,” he said.
“We thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye for making this historic event happen. Blessed are the peacemakers!”
Speaking later to Fox News, Trump said the world would soon “see people getting along and Gaza will be rebuilt.” He described the day as “a great day for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, and all surrounding nations.”
He also hinted he might travel to Egypt “toward the end of the week” to observe the first phase of implementation.
In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a big day for Israel.”
“Tomorrow I will convene the government to approve the agreement and bring all our dear hostages home,” Netanyahu said, thanking Trump “for his dedication to this sacred mission.”
He praised Israeli soldiers for their “courage and sacrifice” and pledged to “continue achieving all our goals and expanding peace with our neighbours.”
Still, many in Israel remain wary. Commentators say the release of Palestinian prisoners could prove politically divisive for Netanyahu’s fragile coalition.
Hamas welcomed the deal but urged international guarantors to ensure Israel follows through.
“We highly appreciate the efforts of our brothers in Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye, and also value the efforts of US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war completely,” Hamas said.
“We call on all parties to compel the occupation government to fully implement its obligations under the agreement.”
The group saluted Palestinians “in Gaza, Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the diaspora” for their “unparalleled honour and heroism.”
“We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain. We will never abandon our national rights until freedom and self-determination are achieved.”
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Gaza’s second-largest armed group, also endorsed the deal while stressing that it was earned through “enormous sacrifices.”
“The ceasefire and prisoner exchange are not a gift from anyone,” the group said.
“Our people will not forget their great martyrs who played the most important role in keeping the resistance steadfast.”
The statement praised “the courage and bravery” of Gaza’s fighters, describing the moment as “a product of the people’s resilience, not foreign generosity.”
Qatar — one of the principal mediators — confirmed the agreement on “all provisions and implementation mechanisms” of the first phase.
“The mediators announce that an agreement was reached on all the provisions and mechanisms of the first phase, which will lead to ending the war, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the entry of aid,” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari noted that further details would follow, while Doha’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani joined the final round of talks in Egypt, underscoring Qatar’s central role in the negotiations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed deep satisfaction and praised the mediators’ collective effort.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to US President Trump, who demonstrated the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government to agree to a ceasefire, and to our brotherly countries, Qatar and Egypt, for their significant support,” Erdogan said.
He promised that Türkiye would “closely monitor the agreement’s strict implementation” and reiterated Ankara’s long-standing support for Palestinian statehood.
“We will continue our struggle until an independent and sovereign State of Palestine is established based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas hailed the deal as “a major diplomatic accomplishment.”
“Israel and Hamas agreeing to the first phase is a real chance to end the war and release all captives,” she said, promising EU support for implementation.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the ceasefire “offers a semblance of hope after months of unbearable suffering,” while Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described it as “a ray of light after eight decades of conflict and terror.”
“Today, the world has cause for real hope,” Albanese said.
At the United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the ceasefire “a desperately needed breakthrough.”
“I urge all concerned to abide fully by the terms of the agreement,” he said.
“All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be secured. The fighting must stop once and for all.”
He also pressed for the “immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid” and pledged that the UN would “scale up relief and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.”
“This moment must mark the beginning of a credible path toward ending the occupation and realising a two-state solution,” Guterres said.
In London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged swift implementation:
“This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
In New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it “a step toward lasting peace,” while in Wellington, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the ceasefire “is an essential first step toward achieving lasting peace.”
“Hamas must release all hostages, and Israel must withdraw their troops to the agreed-upon line,” Peters added.
The ceasefire marks the first coordinated step toward halting one of the bloodiest conflicts in Gaza’s history. Yet analysts caution that deep mistrust and unresolved political realities may still threaten its longevity.
Hamas insists the ceasefire must lead to full Israeli withdrawal and a lifting of the blockade on Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, has vowed to maintain “security oversight” and pursue what it calls the “neutralization of Hamas.”
In Gaza City, amid cautious hope, people prepared for dawn prayers in the ruins of mosques long reduced to rubble.
“We’ve lost too much to celebrate too soon,” said Mahmoud al-Sheikh, a teacher who has lived through four wars. “But maybe, just maybe, this time the world will mean what it says.”
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