Israel-Gaza live updates: Hamas publishes names of 20 living Israeli hostages to be released

A statement from a key Qatari official confirms the agreement on the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement deal and says more details will be announced later. 

 "The mediators announce that an agreement was reached tonight on all terms and mechanisms for implementing the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to stopping the war, releasing Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners, and allowing aid to enter. The details will be announced later," according to the statement posted on X from Majed Al Ansari, the spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs and adviser to the Qatari prime minister.

Following President Donald Trump's announcement that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a peace plan in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a brief statement in English, referencing hostages held by Hamas: "With God's help we will bring them all home."

President Donald Trump announced on social media that Israel and Hamas have "both signed off" on the first phase of a peace plan.

"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. All Parties will be treated fairly!" he said.

"This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen," the post continued.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was captured by an Associated Press photographer on Wednesday handing President Donald Trump a note during his roundtable meeting that reads: "Very close. We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first."

Trump addressed the note during the meeting after asking Rubio if there were any updates on the Middle East, saying, "I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we're very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they'll gonna need me pretty quickly."

After taking a few more questions, Trump left the room with Rubio.