Overview

• President Donald Trump announced that both sides accepted the plan’s opening step, a move corroborated by mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.
• The reported first phase calls for Hamas to free 20 living Israeli hostages in a single exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, with implementation expected within about 72 hours of signing.
• An official signing is expected in Egypt, and Trump said he may travel to the region later this week if an agreement is finalized.
• Gaza’s civil defence reported strikes after the announcement, while the Israeli army said it is preparing to receive hostages and remains ready for all scenarios.
• Hamas seeks written guarantees that the war will end, has not publicly committed to disarmament, and key details on Israeli withdrawal and enforcement mechanisms remain unsettled.