RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas met with Israeli activists in Ramallah on Thursday to discuss long-term peace after Israel and Hamas agreed a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. “I welcome the agreement signed today, the end of the war, and the release of the hostages,” Abbas told dozens of representatives from Israeli peace organizations assembled at the presidential palace in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. “A few months ago, (US President Donald) Trump had a plan to expel the Palestinians, but later he forgot about it,” he added.

President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of a deal to end the two-year-long war in Gaza and a hostage/prisoner exchange.

The ceasefire will take effect after ratification by Netanyahu’s government, which meets after Thursday’s security cabinet session.