WASHINGTON

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will convene the government on Thursday to approve an agreement reached on Gaza.

"A great day for Israel," Netanyahu said on the US social media company X’s platform.

His remarks came right after US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas have signed off on the first phase of a US-proposed Gaza deal.

Netanyahu thanked Trump and his team for their "dedication to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages."

"With God's help, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbors," he added.

He later said that with the approval of the first phase of the plan, all Israeli hostages will be brought home.

"This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel. From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals are achieved," he said.

Netanyahu said that thanks to the "great efforts" of Trump, this "critical turning point" was reached.

"I thank President Trump for his leadership, his partnership, and his unwavering commitment to the safety of Israel and the freedom of our hostages," he added.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, for his part, thanked Netanyahu and Trump for the deal.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed nearly 67,200 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, and rendered the enclave uninhabitable.

Katz also thanked the "heroic" Israeli soldiers.

"I warmly embrace the families of the hostages for the anticipated return of their loved ones, including IDF soldiers and fallen heroes, home soon."

The Israeli army said in a statement that it welcomes "the signing of the agreement for the return of the hostages” which took place overnight.

"During a situational assessment held overnight, the Chief of the General Staff instructed all forces, both on the front lines and in the rear areas, to prepare strong defenses and be ready for any scenario,” it said in a statement shared on X.

The statement added that the Chief of the General Staff ordered preparations to take charge of the operation to bring back the hostages, which is anticipated to be "conducted with sensitivity and professionalism."

The Israeli army "will continue to act to achieve the objectives of the war and to defend the citizens of the State of Israel on all fronts.”