DEAL REACHED: President Donald Trump tonight said the “first phase” of the peace plan to end the conflict in Gaza had been signed. It includes a plan to pause fighting and release hostages and prisoners. The initial agreement was confirmed by Israeli officials and Hamas, as well as mediator Qatar.

Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed on the first phase of a peace plan which could put an end to the two-year war and free hostages.

An explosion was seen on the Gaza skyline on Thursday, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of his peace plan to pause fighting and release at least some hostages and prisoners,

Indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas and Israeli representatives began in Egypt on Monday in the Red Sea city of Sharm el-Sheikh.The talks come after Hamas responded positively to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal for peace in Gaza,

The Israeli military intercepted a nine-boat flotilla trying to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza early Wednesday in the Mediterranean Sea and detained scores of activists on board, the flotilla organizers and the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

Israel intercepted another flotilla attempting to break the naval blockade and reach Gaza. This comes just days after another fleet was intercepted.

The Israeli government said it intercepted a new flotilla of nine vessels attempting to transport food and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip.

The US president says the first phase of the deal secures the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and the start of an Israeli withdrawal.

President Donald Trump on said an agreement to end Israel’s two-year-old war against Hamas in Gaza is “very close” based on a note he was handed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio during an event at the White House on Wednesday. Trump was taking questions from reporters during a roundtable with right-wing influencers when Rubio entered the room.