Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, reacts holding an Israeli flag with photos of hostages, after US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire, at the “Hostages square,” in Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 9, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

US President Donald Trump declared on Thursday that he had succeeded in ending the war in Gaza, as Israel’s cabinet convened to ratify a ceasefire deal and crowds gathered in celebration across the Jewish state.

“Last night, we reached a momentous breakthrough in the Middle East,” he said at the start of a cabinet meeting in Washington. “We ended the war in Gaza, and on a much bigger basis, created peace, hopefully an everlasting peace in the Middle East.”

Trump said he planned to leave for the region on Sunday and hoped to be in Israel when the hostages are released early next week. “The hostages will be coming back Monday or Tuesday,” he said. “I’ll probably be there. I hope to be there.”

Amir Ohana, speaker of Israel’s parliament, known as the Knesset, on Thursday officially invited Trump to speak at the legislative body ahead of his slated trip to the Jewish state.

Former Israeli Ambassador to Washington Michael Oren said the ceasefire outcome reflected the Trump administration’s strategic leverage in the Middle East.

“The Trump deal proves, once again, that peace is only possible through strength,” he told The Algemeiner. “The president’s willingness to project military power first against the Houthis and then against Iran, together with his steadfast support of Israel’s operations in Gaza, impressed Middle East leaders and earned him great leverage in negotiations.”

Oren added that Trump’s team — including special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, as well as the president’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner — had used that leverage effectively. “Combined with Witkoff’s negotiating skills and Kushner’s regional relations, Trump’s prestige proved decisive,” he said. “History will also give [Israeli] Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and his negotiating team high marks for forging a courageous agreement.”

Both Witkoff and Kushner attended the Israeli cabinet meeting on Thursday night.

While Trump spoke of peace from the White House earlier in the day, Israeli landmarks were illuminated in the colors of both nations. The walls of Jerusalem’s Old City were projected with Israeli and American flags, and Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, was lit in red, white, and blue.

In Tel Aviv, Hostages Square — the central gathering point for families of captives and their supporters — filled with people, many of whom carrying either American or Israeli flags. The square, usually subdued and heavy with grief, took on a rare mood of release. A band that included Gil Dickmann, cousin of slain hostage Carmel Gat, took to the stage as revelers danced. 

People dance as a band including Gil Dickmann, cousin of slain hostage Carmel Gat, performs אני שוב מתאהב (I fall in love again) by former Kaveret frontman Gidi Gov at Hostages Square pic.twitter.com/hEv1z7QRju

— Noam Lehmann (@noamlehmann) October 9, 2025

One well-wisher commented that by next week, the square would lose its name, “or else become known as Returnee Square.”

Gil Yosef Yisraeli, who lives nearby, said he had never seen it so animated. “We waited two years to see the square like this,” he said. “Seeing people dancing, singing — an atmosphere of pure joy for the first time is just amazing.”

Avihoo Halevy traveled from the northern Israeli city of Yokne’am Illit to join the crowd. “I’m very happy that they’re coming home,” he said. “I’m very, very emotional. But I’m also praying that an attack like Oct. 7 won’t happen again, and that Hamas should be eliminated.”

Shira, who declined to give her last name, described herself as “delirious with joy,” but said the feeling was shadowed by thoughts of families whose loved ones would not be coming home alive, and pointed to Ruby Chen, an American-Israeli whose soldier son was killed on Oct. 7, 2023, and whose body was taken to Gaza.

According to Israeli officials, 75 of the 251 people abducted that day were killed during the attacks or while in captivity. Of the 48 still held in Gaza, roughly 20 are believed to be alive. They are expected to be released in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and another 1,700 Gazans held since the Hamas-led assault of Oct. 7.

Across Israel, many people credited Trump for the breakthrough. His image appeared on homemade posters in the square, and his role was widely discussed on television talk shows and social media feeds.

Asked earlier in Washington about his chances of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize — which will be announced on Friday — Trump cited what he called “eight agreements” he had brokered since returning to office, saying the Gaza ceasefire was “the biggest.”

Israel’s cabinet met to vote on the terms of the deal around 10 pm local time, several hours after it was slated to begin. According to officials, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s demand to veto the release of certain Palestinian prisoners, including convicted terrorists, prompted the delay.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced earlier on Thursday that he would vote against the agreement. Ben Gvir did not state his position publicly but threatened “bring down the government” if Hamas “continues to exist” after the hostages are freed.

However, a majority of the cabinet support the ceasefire and hostage-release deal and formally approved it.

Galit Kalfon, whose son, Segev, was snatched by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival, said she had spent the morning responding to messages from around the world after hearing the news that her son would soon return. She felt she had to answer each one, she said, to thank people for the support and endless prayers they had offered over the past two years.

“So many psalms were said for him,” she told Israel’s Channel 12. “I felt I had to answer every message.”

Kalfon added that for the first time since her son’ abduction, she allowed herself to listen to music. But she added that she was still full of anxiety. “When he’s finally here I’ll let it all out.”