Israel's president:

“No doubt Trump deserves Nobel Peace Prize”

Great jubilation among the relatives of the Hamas hostages after the agreement was announced(Bild: AP/Emilio Morenatti)

He has not yet been able to end the war in Ukraine. But in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump may indeed have achieved a significant diplomatic success. On Thursday night, there was a breakthrough at the peace talks in Egypt: Israel and Hamas have reportedly agreed on a "first phase" of the US peace plan.

Israel's head of state Isaac Herzog has already thanked Trump for his mediation work. "There is no doubt that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for this", Herzog wrote on X. "This agreement offers an opportunity for reconciliation and healing and opens up new perspectives of hope for our region."

Netanyahu: "With God's help, we will get hostages back"
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed his relief at the breakthrough in Egypt, where the negotiations are taking place. "With God's help, we will bring all the hostages home," the head of government wrote on X. He announced a government meeting to confirm the Gaza agreement and invited Trump to address the Israeli parliament.

Great jubilation among the relatives of the Hamas hostages after the agreement was announced(Bild: AP/Emilio Morenatti)

UN Secretary-General: "Never before has so much been at stake"
Following the agreement in Egypt, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on all parties involved to use "this unique opportunity" to move towards a two-state solution that would enable Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. "Never before has so much been at stake," he emphasized. A two-state solution means an independent Palestinian state that exists peacefully side by side with Israel. Netanyahu rejects a two-state solution, as does Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already invited President Donald Trump to visit him. The US head of state is reportedly due to give a speech to the Israeli parliament.(Bild: AFP/SAUL LOEB)

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher called on Thursday for action to be taken in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible. "Let's get the hostages out and deliver aid quickly," he wrote on Thursday on Platform X. "Our teams are fully mobilized to get the trucks moving on a large scale and save lives," he added. But they needed safe access.

"There is an immense sense of happiness here in Gaza," a representative of the UN child protection organization Unicef told US broadcaster CNN. It was a "day of hope". 

"End of the nightmare"
The positive news from the negotiators was also greeted with great approval by governments and leaders around the world. "This is a moment of profound relief felt around the world - but especially by the hostages, their families and the civilian population of Gaza," rejoiced British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In fact, there are already numerous images of people cheering in the Palestinian territories. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his gratitude to Trump and all the negotiators involved. India's President Narendra Modi expressed his relief that the way had now been paved "for long-term peace".

The German ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, wrote on X: "Thank you to the peacemakers! It's nice to wake up with the prospect of an end to the nightmare: I can't wait for the hostages to be released and the war to end." 

"Beginning of a political solution towards a two-state solution"
Italy's head of government Girogia Meloni spoke of "extraordinary news". This "unique opportunity" to end the conflict must be seized at all costs. Aupen Minister Antonio Tajani signaled his country's willingness to send Italian soldiers to a future international peacekeeping force. French President Emmanuel Macron sees the agreement as "the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution towards a two-state solution".

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed her continued support for the Gaza Strip with the delivery of aid supplies. "When the time comes, we will also be ready for reconstruction," said von der Leyen.

Erdogan: Will not rest until Palestinian state is established
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on X that he was very pleased that the negotiations between Hamas and Israel in Egypt had led to a ceasefire. Turkey had contributed to the talks. Ankara will closely monitor the strict implementation of the agreement and continue to contribute to the process. Turkey will not rest until a sovereign Palestinian state is established.

Nobel Peace Prize to be announced on Friday
Trump had recently emphasized at the UN General Assembly in New York that he had already ended a whole series of wars since taking office at the beginning of the year and should receive the Nobel Peace Prize for this. This year's winner will be announced on Friday. So time is running out.