Hamas’ chief negotiator said the militant group has received assurances from the US and other mediators that the Gaza war has “ended permanently”.
“Today we announce that the agreement has been reached to end the war and aggression against our people and begin implementing a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of the occupation forces,” senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said in a televised address on Thursday, local time.
He said 250 Palestinians serving life sentences in Israeli prisons and 1,700 Gazans imprisoned by Israel will be released under the agreement.
It comes as Israel said a ceasefire in Gaza could come into effect “within 24 hours” of the government approving the deal tonight. That would be by Friday (Saturday in Australia).
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has said that he will be looking to travel to Egypt and Israel in the coming days while he expects hostages to be released on “Monday or Tuesday”.
That the ceasefire could go into effect in October 10 is interesting timing as it’s the day that Norway’s Nobel Peace Prize is awarded – a prize that Mr Trump has openly coveted.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that Mr Trump be given the award in a bizarre AI generated post that saw him adjusting the Nobel medallion on the US president’s neck.
On Thursday, Israel’s Government met to sign off on the peace proposals put forward by Mr Trump and the US Government.
The 20 point plan includes a full ceasefire, Israel withdrawing from much of Gaza, all hostages – living and dead – released and the rebuilding of the destroyed sliver of land.
There remains in much to be decided on the more substantive, long term parts of the plan. But “phase one,” which would see a ceasefire, troop withdrawal and hostage release, appears to be on track.
‘Within 24 hours’
Israeli Prime Minister’s Office spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosians said the ceasefire would take place “within 24 hours” after the government signed off on it.
After that, there would be a 72 hour period for hostages to be released.
On Thursday, US time, President Trump said he would travel to Egypt and Israel to cement the proposals and be part of deal signing.
At a meeting of his cabinet on Thursday, US time, he added that the remaining hostages would return from Gaza on “Monday or Tuesday”.
“We’re going to try and get over there, and we’re working on the timing, the exact timing,” he said.
“We’re going to go to Egypt, where we’ll have a signing, an additional signing, and we’ve already had a signing.”
The US president said he was also likely to go to Israel as well, possibly on Sunday.
Mr Trump has been the subject of fulsome praise from world leaders for his efforts.
One of those has been Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu. His relationship with Mr Trump has been tetchy in recent months particularly after Israel bombed a building in US ally Qatar it said housed Hamas negotiators.
That strike killed Qatari locals, managed to miss any Hamas members and infuriated both Doha and DC.
It was seen as a sign that Mr Netanyahu was less interested in negotiations and more in wiping out Hamas completely, a strategy pushed by far right wingers in his governing coalition.
Mr Trump is said to have had an angry conversation with Mr Netanyahu demanding he make moves towards peace.
Netanyahu: ‘Give it to Trump’
On Thursday, Mr Netanyahu posted on X a bizarre AI image of Mr Trump winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
The image shows Mr Trump being feted with applause and ticker tape while wearing the Nobel medallion which has somehow morphed into a massive necklace.
In the image, Mr Netanyahu is seen adjusting the medal.
“Give Donald Trump the Nobel Peace Prize – he deserves it!”
Give @realDonaldTrump the Nobel Peace Prize - he deserves it! �
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 9, 2025
Mr Trump’s odds of getting the prize have narrowed: a win is possible.
Yet it remains unlikely. Yes, his work on Gaza could stop a very bloody war for which he deserves credit. He has also mediated other peace plans and made valiant – but so far futile – attempts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
But the Nobel committee would have to balance that with the Trump administration’s legally dubious attacks on boats from Venezuela, his threats to use the military to take over Greenland no matter what the locals actually want and his clamouring to use National Guard troops in US cities – also legally dubious.
He’s also up against some solid completion in the form of Sudan’s emergency response rooms during that nation’s ongoing horrific civil war and Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny who died in custody.
