In a stunning development two years after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, former President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a peace deal — a breakthrough he celebrated by quoting Scripture.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace… This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America… BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”

Trump’s invocation of Matthew 5:9 — “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” — quickly drew attention from faith leaders and observers around the world. The verse, part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, honors those who work toward reconciliation and peace.

According to the agreement, all living hostages held by Hamas are expected to be released within 72 hours, while Israel will begin a phased military withdrawal from Gaza. The deal was brokered with the help of mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.

Speaking to Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump said he expects the hostages to be freed as early as Monday. “This is a great day for peace,” he told Hannity, adding that he hopes the agreement will mark “a new chapter” in the Middle East.

Photos from the negotiation site in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, showed Israeli and Hamas officials shaking hands, signaling the first real progress toward ending the devastating conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the announcement, thanking Trump for his “leadership and determination.” In a statement, Netanyahu said, “With God’s help, we will bring them all home… I thank from the bottom of my heart President Trump and his team for mobilizing for this sacred mission of freeing our hostages. With God’s help, together we will continue to achieve all our objectives and expand peace with our neighbors.”

Families of the remaining 48 hostages also expressed deep gratitude, saying in a statement, “The hostages’ families wish to express deep gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump and his team for the leadership and determination that led to this historic breakthrough: an end to the war and a comprehensive agreement to return all the hostages.”

Trump’s use of the Beatitudes underscored the spiritual significance of the moment. The phrase “Blessed are the peacemakers” is often cited by Christian leaders to emphasize humility, reconciliation, and divine favor upon those who seek to heal divisions.

While the coming days will determine whether the ceasefire holds, the announcement marks the most hopeful step yet toward peace in a region long plagued by violence and suffering.

As one Israeli official said after the deal was signed, “This is a day we prayed for. With God’s help, peace has a chance.”