Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in advancing a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, urging the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award Trump the prestigious prize. The announcement came hours after Trump declared phase 1 of the deal, which aims to end the Gaza conflict by immediately halting hostilities. Under the terms, Hamas agreed to release all Israeli hostages held in Gaza, while Israel pledged to withdraw a portion of its military forces from the region.

Netanyahu’s endorsement was shared on social media, featuring a gold medal emoji and an image of Trump receiving an award. The Israeli leader had previously nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in July, citing his diplomatic efforts in addressing regional conflicts. The agreement, if approved by Israel’s cabinet, would trigger an immediate ceasefire, followed by a 72-hour period during which Hamas must release surviving hostages. Israel also plans to exchange prisoners, including 250 Palestinian detainees serving life sentences and 1,700 others from Gaza, though high-profile figures like Marwan Barghouti will not be included in the swap.

Humanitarian aid shipments are set to enter Gaza, where a famine was confirmed by UN-backed experts in August. The peace deal marks a significant shift in the conflict, which began with Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and led to over 67,000 Palestinian deaths. Israel’s military announced preparations for a phased troop withdrawal, with the first stage involving control of about 53% of Gaza’s territory. The Norwegian Nobel Committee is expected to announce its decision on Friday.