Washington (QNN)- US President Donald Trump praised Hamas leaders as “very strong and smart” negotiators following an agreement with Israel to exchange Palestinian detainees and Israeli prisoners and halt Israeli attacks on Gaza. Speaking at a White House press conference on Friday, Trump said he had addressed Hamas “in a strong tone” to secure the ceasefire. “The world out there is strong, and Hamas are very strong and smart people and good negotiators,” he said. Trump noted that Hamas understood the high cost on civilians if fighting continues. “The retaliation would have been huge and unbearable. There would have been total destruction. They don’t want that, and no one wants that at this stage,” he added. He expressed confidence the deal would hold. “Hamas wants to move forward with the agreement. Both sides are tired of fighting,” Trump said. Trump confirmed that Gaza’s reconstruction would proceed with help from “wealthy countries in the region”, though he did not name any specific states. The agreement marks the first phase of Trump’s peace plan, finalized after four days of indirect talks in Sharm El-Sheikh with participation from Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar under US supervision. It covers prisoner exchanges, a ceasefire, gradual Israeli troop withdrawal, immediate humanitarian aid access, and Hamas disarmament. The ceasefire officially took effect on Friday at 12:00 PM Jerusalem time (09:00 GMT) after Israel approved the deal earlier that morning.