'Important 1st step': PM Wong welcomes 1st phase of Gaza ceasefire, praises Trump's leadership

Hamas and Israel have signed off on the first phase of a ceasefire deal brokered by Trump.

October 10, 2025, 11:28 AM

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has welcomed the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan that will see the release of all hostages, writing in a Facebook post on Oct. 10.

Calling it "an important first step", he said the road ahead will not be easy, but a final agreement reached would allow Gazans to begin to rebuild their lives and homes.

"Far too many lives have been lost, and the suffering has been immense," he said of the past two years of the conflict.

He commended Trump's mediation between Israel and Hamas, as well as the role of regional countries Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye in brokering the ceasefire plan.

PM Wong also affirmed Singapore's commitment to aiding Palestinians with rebuilding their lives through capacity building programmes.

"We will contribute in whatever way we can to ensure that both Israelis and Palestinians can live in lasting peace and security."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) similarly welcomed the commencement of phase one of Trump's plan, saying that the ceasefire and release of hostages will bring great relief to people in Gaza and Israel.

"Singapore commends the leadership of President Trump and the tireless efforts of all the mediators involved, especially the U.S., Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye," a spokesperson said in a statement.

They urged further progress towards resolving the conflict in subsequent phases, so that the reconstruction of Gaza can take place.

Ceasefire 'peace plan'

On Oct. 8 (U.S. time), Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of a 20-point "Peace Plan" jointly unveiled by him and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sep. 29.

As past of phase one, Hamas would release all remaining hostages and Israel would withdraw troops to a previously agreed-upon line.

Trump and Netanyahu previously warned Hamas to accept the peace deal or face serious consequences.

"This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way. But it will be done," Netanyahu said at the White House during the unveiling of the peace plan.

However, doubts remain if the remainder of the plan will be successfully implemented, which calls for Hamas to disarm and governing authority of Gaza to be handed over to an independent body of Palestinian technocrats.