Washington, Oct 9: Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a US-brokered peace plan to pause fighting in Gaza and release hostages and prisoners, US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, ending the two-year-old war in the Palestinian enclave.

“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump wrote on social media. “All Parties will be treated fairly!”

The agreement was reached just a day after the second anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel, as indirect talks in Egypt produced a breakthrough on the initial stage of Trump’s 20-point peace framework. Negotiators from the United States, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar have been working on the framework of Trump’s proposed hostages-for-ceasefire deal.