Image Credentials: Image Title: Gaza Peace Deal Reportedly Reached as Trump Prepares to Announce Agreement Source: (sora.openai) Date: October 2025. Attribution: Created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai), this does not depict a real-world scene.
Benjamin Foster | Staff Writer with Agencies
A breakthrough appears to have been reached in the long-running Gaza conflict, with diplomatic sources telling ITV News that negotiators in Egypt have agreed to terms on a peace deal. An official announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump is expected soon, possibly within hours.
The talks, held in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, have involved senior officials from the United States, Qatar, Turkey, Israel, and Hamas. They mark the culmination of weeks of intensive negotiations aimed at implementing Trump’s 20-point peace plan, unveiled last month.
According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the discussions are “moving in a good direction,” though he cautioned that “there’s still some work to be done.” A senior U.S. envoy described the current progress as “the closest we’ve ever agreed in two years of war.”
Trump, speaking at the White House on Wednesday, confirmed that he might travel to the Middle East “toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday,” and said that “peace for the Middle East” was “very close.”
Key Elements of the Peace Plan
Under Trump’s proposal, Hamas would agree to a permanent ceasefire, release all remaining hostages, living and deceased, and surrender governing authority in Gaza to an international transitional administration. In exchange, Israel would release roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and gradually withdraw its troops from Gaza to a designated security buffer zone.
The transitional governing body would reportedly be backed by the United States, Qatar, and several European and Arab nations. Humanitarian aid and reconstruction funds would surge immediately upon the deal’s implementation, aimed at alleviating the severe famine and devastation across Gaza.
Outstanding Disputes
Despite the progress, significant issues remain unresolved. Hamas continues to seek international guarantees that Israel will not resume bombing after the hostages are released. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israeli forces must remain in Gaza to “prevent future terror threats,” while far-right ministers, including Itamar Ben-Gvir, have called for “complete victory” over Hamas.
The militant group, along with allied factions such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, has yet to agree to full disarmament, one of the central demands of the U.S. plan.
Regional and International Involvement
France is set to host a ministerial meeting in Paris with European and Middle Eastern nations, including Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The meeting will discuss a potential international stabilisation force and the structure of the transitional government in Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the Paris meeting for excluding Israel, describing it as “concocted behind Israel’s back,” though he expressed hope that it would not hinder hostage negotiations.
The Human Toll
The conflict, which began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks that killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages, has devastated Gaza. The Gaza Health Authority reports that more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 wounded since Israel launched its military campaign.
While Israel denies accusations of genocide, saying it has acted in self-defense, international investigations, including a UN commission of inquiry, have found evidence of large-scale civilian targeting.
“Now for the Hard Work”
ITV’s Emma Murphy quoted one source close to the negotiations saying, “Now for the hard work,” suggesting that while a deal is in sight, implementing and maintaining it will be a monumental challenge.
If confirmed, this agreement would mark the first major diplomatic success in ending the war in Gaza in two years, and a potentially defining moment for Trump’s foreign policy legacy.
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.