A potential diplomatic breakthrough has emerged in the protracted conflict, with both Israel and Hamas indicating their readiness to proceed with President Trump’s cease-fire initiative for Gaza. This development offers a glimmer of hope, yet substantial disagreements must still be navigated to finally end the devastating war.
On Saturday morning, the Israeli government announced its preparations for the “immediate implementation” of the initial phases of Mr. Trump’s peace proposal. This came just hours after Hamas offered its own conditional acceptance of the plan, committing to the release of all remaining hostages.
President Trump expressed strong optimism about an imminent deal, declaring it a “big day” and simultaneously urging Israel to halt its bombing campaign in Gaza. He acknowledged, however, that the finer details of the agreement still needed to be “put down in concrete.”
Neither party fully addressed the long-standing sticking points that have plagued previous negotiation attempts. Crucially, Hamas remained vague on whether it would agree to disarm, a key stipulation in Mr. Trump’s plan that Israel strongly supports.
Further uncertainty surrounds Israel’s willingness to entertain significant modifications to Mr. Trump’s proposal, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had publicly endorsed during his recent visit to the White House.
Sources close to the negotiations, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, revealed that Israeli negotiators were preparing to depart for indirect talks with Hamas abroad on Saturday, though the exact timing of their departure was still unknown.
The rapid succession of these developments left both Israelis and Palestinians reeling, oscillating between disbelief, cautious optimism, and profound confusion, with many yearning for an end to the nearly two-year-long conflict.
Earlier in the week, Mr. Trump unveiled his 20-point plan, designed to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza and conclude Israel’s intense military operations. It is currently believed that at least 20 living hostages and the remains of approximately 25 others are still held in Gaza.
The proposal stipulates that Hamas would release all remaining captives within 72 hours, surrender its weaponry, and relinquish its governance over Gaza. Concurrently, Israeli forces would incrementally withdraw from the territory, allowing an internationally endorsed Palestinian administration to assume control of essential public services.
Hamas conveyed its response to Mr. Trump’s plan late Friday night. In its official statement, the group affirmed its agreement to release all remaining hostages under the terms outlined. This would involve the exchange of 250 Palestinian prisoners currently serving life sentences in Israel, along with 1,700 others detained since the conflict began. Additionally, the bodies of 15 Gazans would be repatriated for each deceased captive held by Hamas.
However, Hamas also indicated its demand for specific conditions on the ground to facilitate this exchange, suggesting that further negotiations would be necessary. The group maintained ambiguity regarding its willingness to disarm entirely or to fully cede its dominant role in Gaza, as envisioned by Mr. Trump’s plan.
Mr. Trump celebrated Hamas’s response on social media, proclaiming it as proof that the group’s leadership was “ready for a lasting PEACE.” He then urged Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” to ensure the smooth execution of the hostage release.
Several hours later, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office released its own statement, confirming Israel’s readiness for “the immediate release of all the hostages” and its commitment to continue working with Mr. Trump “to bring the war to an end in accordance with the principles set forth by Israel.” Separately, the Israeli military underscored the necessity for “a rapid response to neutralize any threat.”
Despite the diplomatic overtures, Palestinians in Gaza reported that explosions persisted into the early morning, indicating ongoing Israeli military operations. Many Gazans, worn down and scarred by the conflict, expressed their fervent hope that Hamas would make all necessary concessions to finalize a deal with Israel.