WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says that Israel and Hamas have agreed to implement the first phase of a White House peace plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza and Israeli hostages will soon be released.

Trump said in an Oct. 8 statement that Israel would also withdraw its troops from Gaza "to an agreed upon line," heralding the agreement as a first step to durable and lasting peace in the region.

"This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America," Trump said in a Truth Social post , "and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen."

The announcement came after Trump said he was considering a last-minute trip to the Middle East to

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