Overview

• President Trump said both sides signed off on an initial phase focused on a hostage-prisoner exchange and an Israeli withdrawal to an agreed line.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to convene his government Thursday to ratify the deal, with Israeli officials indicating releases could begin Saturday and Hamas citing a 72-hour window after approval.
• Hamas confirmed it submitted lists for the swap and described the agreement as including an Israeli pullback and aid entry, as talks drew mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey alongside U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
• Crucial details remain unsettled, including whether Hamas will disarm, who will govern Gaza after the pause, and how sequencing, verification and access for relief operations will work.
• The breakthrough comes during a dire humanitarian crisis, with Gaza authorities reporting more than 67,000 deaths, as the UN calls for full adherence to the deal and unimpeded aid once implementation starts.