Israel and Hamas have agreed to pause fighting in Gaza to release the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, adopting parts of a peace plan backed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Weary Palestinians cautiously welcomed the deal Thursday as a potential breakthrough in ending the two-year war, following days of negotiations in Egypt.
In Tel Aviv, families of the remaining hostages popped Champagne and cried tears of joy when the deal was announced.
Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip celebrate after the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan, as they gather at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip celebrate after the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan, as they gather at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City as seen from the central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Israeli soldiers move near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, following the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause the fighting. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Palestinians follow the news on a television after the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause fighting, as they sit in a tent outside Al-Aqsa Hospital, in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Displaced Palestinians walk along the coastal road, backdropped by smoke rising into the sky after an Israeli military strike in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian paramedic Saeed Awad looks at his phone displaying an image of U.S. President Donald Trump, following the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause fighting, as he stands at Al-Aqsa Hospital, in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Einav Zangauker, center, mother of Matan Zangauker, who is being held hostage by Hamas, reacts along with other families and supporters of Israeli hostages after the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan, as they gather at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Einav Zangauker, center, mother of Matan Zangauker, who is being held hostage by Hamas, celebrates along with other families and supporters of Israeli hostages after the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan, as they gather at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
A person wears a mask depicting U.S. President Donald Trump as relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip celebrate following the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause the fighting, as they gather at a plaza known as hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
People dance as they celebrate following the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause the fighting, at a plaza known as hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip celebrate following the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause the fighting, at a plaza known as hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A child watches at a person wearing a mask depicting U.S. President Donald Trump as relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip celebrate following the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause the fighting, as they gather at a plaza known as hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Ofir Kimchi prays as relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip celebrate following the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause the fighting, at a plaza known as hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City as seen from the central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli military strike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, following the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause the fighting. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
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