In a potential diplomatic breakthrough, both Israel and Hamas have signaled their openness to parts of President Trump’s cease-fire plan. However, significant differences still need to be resolved to bring the prolonged conflict in Gaza to a definitive end.
Saturday morning saw the Israeli government announce its preparation for the “immediate implementation” of the initial steps outlined in Trump’s proposal. Just hours prior, Hamas issued a statement confirming its intent to release all remaining hostages, a central component of the plan. Yet, the group’s statement notably sidestepped many other key provisions.
President Trump expressed optimism about an impending deal, calling it a “big day.” He urged Israel to halt its bombing of Gaza but acknowledged that negotiators still had to finalize the agreement’s details.
Neither side explicitly addressed the major sticking points that have plagued previous negotiations. Crucially, Hamas’s statement did not clarify whether it would agree to disarm, a condition insisted upon by both Israel and the Trump administration.
It also remained uncertain if Israel would accept any significant modifications to Trump’s plan, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly endorsed during his recent White House visit.
Israeli negotiators were reportedly preparing to travel to Egypt for indirect talks with Hamas in the coming days, though a departure date remained unconfirmed by officials speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Simultaneously, mediators from Qatar and Egypt were engaged in separate discussions with Hamas regarding the proposal, while the United States communicated directly with Israel, according to diplomatic sources.
The rapid succession of developments left Israelis and Palestinians oscillating between disbelief, cautious hope, and outright confusion, with many desperately hoping for an end to the nearly two-year conflict.
The Israeli military also indicated preparations for a potential hostage release, instructing its forces to adopt a defensive posture without withdrawing from their positions in Gaza. This information came from three Israeli officials who requested anonymity.
However, the implications for Palestinians in Gaza remained unclear. Local health officials reported approximately 66 fatalities on Friday, a toll that doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israeli operations in Gaza City have devastated residential areas and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Avichay Adraee, an Israeli military spokesman, cautioned displaced Palestinians against returning to northern Gaza, emphasizing that Israeli soldiers still encircle Gaza City and such attempts would be extremely dangerous.
Accounts from two Palestinians in Gaza described ongoing explosions and gunfire into the early hours, indicating continued Israeli military action. Many Gazans, weary and scarred by the war, voiced their hope that Hamas would make any necessary concessions for a deal with Israel.
“Just get us out of this situation, any way possible, and quickly,” pleaded Abdelkarim al-Harazin, a doctor who recently fled Gaza City. “We’ve been through this countless times, thinking it might happen, only to be disappointed.”
Earlier in the week, President Trump unveiled his comprehensive 20-point plan aimed at securing the release of remaining hostages in Gaza and concluding Israel’s military campaign. Currently, an estimated 20 living hostages and the remains of about 25 others are believed to be held in the enclave.
The plan stipulates that Hamas would free all remaining hostages within 72 hours, surrender its weapons, and relinquish its governance over Gaza. Concurrently, Israeli forces would gradually withdraw, paving the way for an internationally supervised Palestinian administration to manage public services.
Hamas’s formal response to Trump’s proposal, delivered late Friday, expressed agreement to release all remaining hostages under the plan’s conditions. This would entail Israel releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, alongside 1,700 others detained since the war began. Additionally, the bodies of 15 Gazans would be exchanged for each deceased Israeli captive.
However, Hamas attached conditions regarding on-the-ground security measures for the exchange, indicating a need for further negotiations. The group remained ambiguous on whether it would disarm or fully cede its dominant role in Gaza, as the Trump plan envisages.
Osama Hamdan, a Hamas official, stated on Friday that “security measures” were vital for freeing living hostages, and suggested that locating the remains of others would require time.
“Some have been buried, some are in areas under the occupation’s control, and some – as a result of the destruction and leveling that took place – need to be investigated,” he told Al Araby TV, a Qatar-based broadcaster.
President Trump celebrated Hamas’s response on social media, declaring it proof that the group’s leaders “are ready for a lasting PEACE.” He urged Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” to facilitate the hostage release.
Hours later, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office released its own statement, confirming Israel’s preparations for “the immediate release of all the hostages” and its continued cooperation with Trump “to bring the war to an end in accordance with the principles set forth by Israel.” Separately, the military reiterated its readiness for “a rapid response to neutralize any threat.”