Trump announces Israel, Hamas agree to first phase of peace plan
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More news: The Albanese government has also hailed a breakthrough in Israel-Hamas negotiations as a “much needed step”, but warned there is a “very long road” to recovery in Gaza and a long-term peace in the region.
In a statement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday, Labor stressed its support for the plan's desire to deny militant group Hamas any role in the future governance of Palestine.
The pair urged all parties to respect the terms of the plan, under which Israel will remove its forces from Gaza and Hamas will release Israeli hostages it seized two years ago.
Albanese and Wong singled out the efforts of US President Donald Trump, along with Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye which helped broker the deal.
Labor again reiterated its call for the return of Israeli hostages, and the unimpeded flow of aid to Gaza, which Israel halted in March.
But they warned that the development was the beginning of a “very long road” to recovery in Gaza, which has been flattened by years of Israeli bombardments.
What they said: “After more than two years of conflict, hostages held and a devastating loss of civilian life, this is a much needed step towards peace,” Albanese and Wong said.
“There is a very long road to recovery in Gaza, securing long term peace and building the Palestinian state.
“Together with our partners, Australia will continue to do what we can to contribute to a just and enduring two-state solution.”
Gaza peace deal should 'inspire hope', says the Coalition
More news: The Coalition says the Trump-brokered peace plan to end the Israel-Gaza conflict “should inspire hope”, saying the announcement should put an end to planned pro-Palestinian protests this weekend.
In a joint statement, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and foreign affairs spokesperson Michaelia Cash said “all fair-minded” Australians would welcome the news, and hoped Thursday’s announcement would be borne out in coming days.
Support for Trump’s peace negotiations were bipartisan in Canberra, though Ley and Cash said the breakthrough underscored why the Albanese government should “always have stood with our closest ally the United States”.
The Albanese government has been at odds with the Israeli government, which was found by the United Nations to have committed acts of genocide in Gaza, especially after its decision to recognise a Palestinian state last month.
But with the Trump administration remaining close with the Netanyahu government, the Coalition argued Labor’s actions had undermined Australia’s relationship with its most important partner.
After a court rejected approval for a planned protest outside the Sydney Opera House this weekend, the pair argued “now is not a time to protest”.
What they said: “The first phase of a US-brokered peace plan should inspire hope in Australia and across the world,” Ley and Cash said.
“Today marks a hopeful first step toward the release of hostages held for over two years, the end of this war, and the beginning of enduring peace.
Netanyahu declares 'great day for Israel' after Gaza peace deal reached with Hamas
More news: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it is a "great day for Israel" after a Gaza peace agreement was reached with Hamas.
Netanyahu said he would convene the government tomorrow to approve the agreement, which involves the release of hostages taken by Hamas and the release of prisoners by Israel.
What they said: "I thank the heroic soldiers of the IDF and all the security forces, thanks to whose courage and sacrifice we have reached this day," Netanyahu said.
"I thank from the depths of my heart President Trump and his team for their mobilisation for this sacred mission of releasing our hostages. With the help of the Almighty, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbours."
Trump announces Israel, Hamas agree to first phase of peace plan
The news: US President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have signed off on the first phase of a proposed 20-point peace plan.
The context: Trump announced that an agreement had been reached through a post on his social media platform Truth Social, declaring “that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line”.
He added that “All Parties will be treated fairly” and thanked “mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen”.
Last week, the White House had outlined a proposed 20-point peace plan which included calls for the release of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, alive and deceased, as well as the release of life sentence prisoners and other Gazans detained after 7 October 2023.
Negotiations on the US-backed peace plan between Israeli and Hamas officials had been taking place at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt since Monday. Senior officials from the United States, Israel, Qatar and Turkey joined the talks on Wednesday as a deal appeared to close on the US-backed peace plan.
Prior to Trump's announcement, a senior Hamas official had said a list of Israeli hostages and Hamas prisoners had been exchanged on Wednesday and progress had been made on guarantees to put an end to the two-year war.
During a separate White House event on Thursday morning (AEDT), Secretary of State Marco Rubio had handed a note to Trump asking him to approve a social media post to announce the progress on the peace deal.
The sources: Truth Social, X, Reuters, Reuters, Reuters, The Washington Post, X, Sussan Ley and Michaelia Cash statement, United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory , Albanese government statement
