Trump announces an understanding between Israel and Hamas. Here are the next steps

While all that remained in Gaza was rubble and a starving and constantly fleeing population, the indirect talks in Egypt - with heavy pressure from the US and pressing demands from the families of the hostages to Netanyahu - produced an agreement on the initial phase of Trump's 20-point plan to bring peace to the Palestinian enclave.

The agreement, if fully implemented, would bring the two sides closer together than any previous attempt to halt a war that has turned into a regional conflict, also involving Iran, Yemen and Lebanon. And exacerbating Israel's international isolation: demonstrations for peace, condemning the war waged by Israel and supporting the Palestinian people have been held in cities all over the world.

But for the agreement announced by Trump to lead to a lasting peace - which would also be an undoubtedly huge personal success for the American president - decisive details are still missing and there are many unresolved issues that could lead to a failure of the negotiations, as has already happened in the past months.

Trump did, however, state that "all hostages will be released very soon and Israel will withdraw its troops according to an agreed line, as a first step towards a strong and lasting peace." And he had previously exulted: "This is a great day for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, all surrounding nations and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, who worked with us to make this historic and unprecedented event possible."

Trump had sent his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff to the talks, while Israel was represented by Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

After convening an extraordinary government meeting, Netanyahu, referring to the hostages held by Hamas, declared: 'With God's help we will bring them all home.

Hamas confirmed it had reached an agreement to end the war, saying the deal includes an Israeli withdrawal from the Strip and an exchange of hostages. But the Islamist group called on Trump and the mediating states to "ensure that Israel fully implements the ceasefire". A Hamas source said the live hostages would be handed over within 72 hours of the Israeli government's approval of the deal.

The critical points of the agreement concern the list of Palestinian prisoners that Israel will agree to release in exchange for hostages. But also the disarmament of Hamas and the parallel withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Also yesterday, at least eight Palestinians died in Israeli raids.

The next phase of Trump's plan envisages a US-led international body that would include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and play a role in the post-war administration of Gaza. The Arab countries that support the plan claim that it must lead to the independence of a Palestinian state, which, according to Netanyahu, will never happen.

There is no clear indication as to who will govern Gaza when the war ends. Netanyahu, Trump, Western and Arab states have ruled out a role for Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007.

Hamas said it would only hand over the government of Gaza to a Palestinian technical government, overseen by the Palestinian National Authority and supported by Arab and Muslim countries. However, Hamas rejects any role for Blair or a foreign government over Gaza.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all parties to fully comply with the terms of the agreement. "Immediate and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid and essential commercial materials into Gaza must be guaranteed. The suffering must end," he said.

Donald Trump is set to accept Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's invitation to address the Knesset. 'I am expected to arrive in Israel in the next few days. This is a great day for Israel and for the world. They want me to speak in the Knesset and I will certainly do so if they want me to,' he said.

As for the phone call with Netanyahu after the agreement between Israel and Hamas was reached, Trump said: 'My conversation with Bibi was great. He's happy, and rightly so. It's a great achievement. The whole world has come together to reach this agreement, including countries that were once enemies'.