Hamas Terrorists and Israel Sign Trump Hostage Release and Ceasefire Deal

US President Donald Trump praised the newly brokered Gaza hostages-for-ceasefire deal, calling it “a great day for the world.” The agreement was finalized early Thursday in Egypt after intensive negotiations, and will secure the release of all hostages, live and murdered.

“The whole world has come together on this one — Israel, every country has come together. This has been a fantastic day,” Trump told Reuters in a brief phone interview. “This is a great day for the world. This is a wonderful day, a wonderful day for everybody,” he added.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held an “emotional and warm” phone call with Trump after Hamas agreed to the hostage-release phase of Trump’s deal

“The two held a very emotional and warm conversation, congratulating one another on the historic achievement of signing the agreement for the release of all the hostages,” Netanyahu’s office says in a statement.

Netanyahu “thanked President Trump for his efforts and for his global leadership, and President Trump praised the prime minister for his resolute leadership and the actions he has taken,” the readout continues.

Netanyahu also invited Trump to address the Knesset in Israel, and the two leaders “agreed to continue their close cooperation,” the statement adds.

Separately, Netanyahu stated: “With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.”“From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals are achieved,” he continues.“Through steadfast resolve, powerful military action, and the great efforts of our great friend and ally President Trump, we have reached this critical turning point…God Bless Israel. God Bless America. God Bless our great alliance,” Netanyahu says.

Liran Berman, whose twin brothers Gali and Ziv have been held hostage in Gaza since the October 7 attacks, shared his elation on social media upon hearing that their release was imminent. “My Gali and Zivi, I love you so much. You’re coming back home,” he wrote.

Their aunt, Maccabit Meir, expressed her overwhelming happiness in an interview with Channel 12, saying, “There is no happiness like this.” She added, “So many people are so happy to hear the news that the hostages are to be released. I can’t tell you how many messages I’m getting.”

“It’s happening, it’s happening,” she repeated through tears. “We were so afraid, and now I’m crying tears of happiness, not tears of fear.”

Merav Gilboa-Dalal, mother of hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal, voiced both relief and hope as the deal was announced. “The main thing is that my son should come back healthy and on his own two feet,” she said. “That’s what I wish for all of us.”

She continued, “The experiences that they will have afterward will be amazing. Because we got him back again, a gift — one of the most amazing children in the world. A dream. A gift.”

Merav also reflected on the broader meaning of the deal, saying, “Finally, this saga — of the war, the injured, the dead, this pain of our heroic soldiers who gave their souls for us — [is coming to an end], and the hostages, the victory, that they are all coming home. And I hope the slain hostages will all return at the same time, and that we can close this circle.”

President Yitzchak Herzog joined in expressing national unity following the announcement of the agreement. “At this hour, all of Israel stands with the hostages. All of Israel stands with their families,” Herzog wrote in a post on X.

He quoted a pasuk in Yirmiyah: “They shall return from the land of the enemy… and children shall return to their own borders.” Herzog and his wife, Michal, were seen in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where they joined rallies calling for the safe return of all captives.

In its official statement, Hamas terrorists confirmed that the deal includes “an end to the war in Gaza, the withdrawal of the occupation forces [sic], the entry of humanitarian aid, and a prisoner exchange.”

The terror group thanked mediators and President Trump for their role in achieving the agreement, while demanding that international parties “compel the occupation government to fully implement the obligations of the agreement and to prevent it from evading or delaying the implementation of what has been agreed upon.”