Jubilation in Gaza as news of possible ceasefire deal sinks in

This article is published in association with United Nations.

As Gazans and Israelis celebrated the news that a potential ceasefire deal had been reached between the Hamas political leadership and Israel, UN aid agencies on Thursday underscored their readiness to inundate the famine-hit enclave with relief supplies, while urging the immediate release of all hostages.

“There is a very positive, jubilant mood in Gaza this morning and there was overnight,” one UN aid worker told UN News. “There were people whistling and partying and celebrating.”

“Of course, our priorities remain the same, which is to reach the most vulnerable with the assistance that we need to be entering now at adequate volumes and to be able to deliver it to the people in need…Obviously no amount of humanitarian aid will ever be able to take the place of peace. So, this deal is more important than ever.”

UN humanitarians have some 170,000 metric tons of food, shelter, medicine and other critical items waiting in storage just outside Gaza.

These can be loaded onto trucks and enter the Strip as soon as a ceasefire is implemented, the aid worker explained. “We are looking forward to seeing what our role will be down the line and how to quickly and efficiently get this aid to the people now who of course need it desperately.”

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US plan progress

The development follows the announcement by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday evening that Israel and Hamas had “signed off” on the first phase of his 20-point peace plan, following days of intensive indirect negotiations in Egypt.

President Trump published the news on social media that Hamas had agreed to release all hostages, later adding that that this could happen on Monday. His comments came at the end of a third day of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel in Egypt, where in addition to US mediators, representatives from Qatar and Turkey also steered the talks.

During the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel that triggered the war on 7 October 2025, 251 people were taken hostage. Reports indicate that 48 of them are still being held in Gaza and around 20 are still alive.

Other elements of the reported deal include the withdrawal of Israeli military forces to “an agreed upon line”, Mr. Trump noted.

In reportedly confirming the deal, Hamas political leaders called on the international community to ensure that Israel abides by its terms, which include the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed a “great day for Israel”, ahead of a meeting of his security cabinet on Thursday afternoon to approve the first phase of the deal – including an immediate ceasefire which would begin immediately, according to news reports.

Guterres encouragement

“I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by President Donald J. Trump,” said UN chief António Guterres in a statement.

Echoing those comments and welcoming the development, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher echo issuing an appeal to “get the hostages out and surge aid in – fast”. 

He added: “Our teams are fully mobilised to get the trucks moving at scale and save lives. They need safe access.”

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, described the “huge relief” felt by all those impacted by the war, which has killed tens of thousands of Gazans, in addition to the nearly 1,200 Israelis murdered by Hamas in their unprecedented attack across southern Israel two years ago.

“The agreement to finally secure a ceasefire in #Gaza and release the hostages is a huge relief,” Mr. Lazzarini said in an online post. “It will bring respite to people who survived the worst bombardment, displacement, loss and grief for two long years. After their excruciating ordeal, hostages and Palestinian detainees will finally join their families.” 

More to come on this developing story…

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