Hamas gets US guarantees on permanent end to war, Trump touts 'everlasting' peace

US President Donald Trump began his Cabinet meeting on Thursday by celebrating a potential peace deal that he brokered to end the war in Gaza.

“We ended the war in Gaza, and on a much bigger basis, created peace… an everlasting peace in the Middle East,” he said, the latter a phrase he has repeatedly used since he held a press briefing on 29 September with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing that Israel accepted a ceasefire deal.

Meanwhile, Israel continued to bombard Gaza on Thursday.

Talks were held in Egypt this week to hammer out details, leading to Hamas and Israel signing a ceasefire agreement on Thursday and agreeing to exchange Israeli living and deceased captives in exchange for Palestinian captives in the first phase of the deal.

The deal includes 20 Israeli living captives, 28 deceased Israeli captives, 250 Palestinians who were sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 prisoners who were arrested after 7 October 2023 in Gaza.

Read more: Hamas gets US guarantees on permanent end to war, Trump touts 'everlasting' peace