The Following Content Has Been Provided by:Bob Unruh
A multi-point plan released by President Donald Trump for peace in the Middle East, specifically between Israel and the Hamas terrorists who launched a war against the Middle East democracy on Oct. 7, 2023, has taken effect, with a ceasefire on Friday, Israeli troops being pulled back and a countdown on for the release of the hostages still held by the terrorists.
Trump had announced that Israel and Hamas both “signed off” on the plan, meaning “ALL of the Hostages will be released soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line.”
He called it a “GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States.”
A report at CBS said the Israeli military confirmed the ceasefire had started, and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed Israeli troops were leaving parts of Gaza.
Hostages are expected to be returned to Israel by mid-day on Monday.
Also pending is the release by Israel of dozens of Palestinians who had been jailed for a variety of reasons.
Trump is expected to visit the Middle East on Monday.
“The Israel Police is completing preparations for the visit of the President of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump, to Israel, this coming Monday,” explained David Filo, head of the police operations division.
I congratulate @POTUS on this historic peace plan that releases all the hostages.
Now, enduring peace in the region is possible.
Our parties are different but we have a shared ironclad commitment to Israel and its people. pic.twitter.com/iGb1PE93VH
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) October 8, 2025
The Israeli Ministry of Justice has identified about 250 prisoners who are Palestinian and are to be released under the terms of the Trump plan.
The report added that, “The Rafah crossing from southern Gaza into Egypt will reopen on Tuesday in coordination with European Union authorities and the White House.”
There also were reports Gazans had started returning to northern parts of the enclave adjacent to Israel even as Israeli troops were withdrawing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday, according to the report, that Israel is “tightening the noose around Hamas from all sides,” and vowed that Gaza would be demilitarized following the Israeli government’s approval of a peace plan to end the war.
The plan has the IDF redeploying within 24 hours of approval of the agreement, which will be accomplished over the weekend.
Within 72 hours after the IDF completes redeployment to the agreed-upon borders, all hostages, living and dead, will be released and returned to Israel, reports confirmed.
Hamas is, under the plan, losing a great deal of its control and power that it has exercised over Gaza for years now, and Trump wasn’t even ready to assure that there will be a “Palestinian state,” saying, “we’re going to see how it all goes.”
“And there’s a point at which we may do something that would be a little bit different and may be very positive for everybody,” Trump said.
