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

The group representing families of those held by Hamas since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks said they are receiving the news of the agreement "with excitement, anticipation and apprehension."

The Families' Headquarters for the Return of the Abductees said there are 48 hostages still held by Hamas, and 20 of them are still believed to be alive.

"The Families' Headquarters welcomes the signing of the agreement designed to return all abductees home - the living for rehabilitation among their families and the fallen for a proper burial in their country," the statement said. "This is important and significant progress on the path to returning all of them, but our struggle is not over and will not end until the last abductee returns."

The statement called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to "convene and approve the agreement immediately. Any delay could exact a heavy price from the abductees and the soldiers. We are convinced that the Prime Minister will ensure an absolute majority for the implementation of the agreement reached."

The group expressed "deep gratitude" to President Donald Trump "for the leadership and determination that led to a historic breakthrough: an end to the war and a comprehensive agreement to return all abductees."

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.