1 of 7 | Smoke fills the air following Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip as seen from northwest of Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza on Thursday. Photo by Hassan Al-Jadi/UPI | License Photo
The Trump administration has said it will send at least 200 U.S. troops to the Middle East to monitor the first phase of a U.S.-brokered peace deal between Israel and Hamas, officials said Thursday.
The administration said no U.S. troops will enter Gaza, and will be stationed in Israel.
In addition to overseeing the cease-fire, the soldiers will coordinate and monitor the delivery of humanitarian aid, logistical support and security in Gaza.
The Israeli government approved the first phase of the deal Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday.
Both sides agreed to the larger deal earlier Thursday in Egypt, but it still must be ratified by Israel’s entire cabinet. Once the deal is ratified, the cease-fire will take effect within 24 hours.
But ratification isn’t a done deal. Two cabinet members — Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir — are expected to vote against it, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The Times of Israel reported that if the prisoner release happens, 250 prisoners serving life sentences in Israel will be released, along with 1,700 Gazans who have been arrested since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack but were not involved in it. They will be exiled abroad or sent to Gaza. About 22 minors who also did not participate in the Oct. 7 attack will be set free, the Times reported.
The release of Israeli hostages is due to take place after the Israeli Defense Force withdraws to new lines in Gaza, within 24 hours of Israel ratifying the deal.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was invited to speak at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, and he has accepted. He said it was the first time a U.S. “president has ever done that, so that makes it very interesting.” The Knesset building is lit up in red, white and blue in honor of Trump’s visit, the Times reported.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi invited Trump on Thursday to attend a planned ceremony in Egypt for the signing of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement, ABC News reported.
A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, said Hamas would not release hostages unless there is an agreement to fully end the war. He told a Qatari TV channel that the agreement reached in Egypt is a “final cease-fire,” and said the world should “monitor Israel’s behavior towards implementing the agreement.”
The war between Israel and Hamas began Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Israel launched a devastating war in Gaza, killing more than 67,000 people, including more than 20,000 children and 10,000 women. About 460 died from starvation. About 1.9 million, or 90% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced, and most of Gaza’s infrastructure is destroyed.
“You can’t even imagine how delighted we are,” said Sanabel, an 18-year-old Palestinian, to the BBC. “I now need to heal and get rid of every bad memory. I really want to live in peace. I really don’t want to hear the sound of bombs anymore. I want to at least live one day without hearing any explosions, missiles or drones.”
But some in Israel aren’t as happy about the agreement.
“In this round, the terrorists won,” Michael told the Post on Thursday. “Because of political reasons, from both the right and the left, terrorists were allowed into the country and given a free hand to slaughter us like sheep. Now we’re making deals with terrorists, which will only bring upon us even worse harm in the near future.”
Israelis celebrate cease-fire agreement
Einav Zanguker (C), mother of Matan, an Israeli hostage, joins people in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv to celebrate the agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war on October 9, 2025. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo
