A senior Hamas official on Thursday evening said his militant group has received guarantees from the United States, Arab mediators and Turkey that the war in Gaza has permanently ended, speaking hours after Donald Trump’s announcement.

Khalil al-Hayya, who heads Hamas’ negotiating team, said the initial stage of the agreements would involve the exchange of hostages and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. “We have received assurances from the brotherly mediators and the US administration, who have confirmed that the war is completely over,” he said.

He claimed that the deal envisions that Israel will release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences along with all women and minors held in Israeli jails. Also to be freed are some 1,700 detainees apprehended in Gaza during Israel’s military operations in the enclave.

Israel commenced an all-out offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip after the militant group invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and slaughtered some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, while taking 251 people hostages.

According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, approximately 70,000 people have been killed during attacks and operations by the IDF.

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks about Israel and Hamas agreeing on the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire, during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 9, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein