Saturday brought a cautious announcement from Israel: preparations were underway to enact the initial phases of President Trump’s Gaza peace initiative. This followed Hamas’s declaration, just hours prior, that they were prepared to release all remaining Israeli hostages.
However, significant obstacles persist. Hamas notably sidestepped the plan’s requirement for the group to disarm—a core demand from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Furthermore, Hamas indicated a desire for modifications, a stance that could complicate matters for Mr. Netanyahu.
President Trump lauded Hamas’s response, simultaneously urging Israel to halt its bombing campaign in Gaza. The president acknowledged that many details still needed to be finalized.
For its part, Israel’s statement remained silent on the ambiguities within Hamas’s declaration, leaving it unclear whether Mr. Netanyahu would accept any substantial changes to Mr. Trump’s proposal.
Interviews with Palestinians in the enclave reveal widespread backing for Mr. Trump’s proposal, with many harboring hope that it could finally bring an end to the prolonged conflict.
Here’s what you need to know:
- What happened?
- How did Israel respond?
- What happens now?
- Have we been close to a breakthrough before?
What happened?
On Monday, Mr. Trump unveiled a 20-point plan aimed at securing the release of hostages held in Gaza and concluding Israel’s military offensive against Hamas. It is believed that at least 20 living hostages and the remains of approximately 25 others are still in Gaza.
Then, on Friday, just hours after Mr. Trump’s social media post warned Hamas of “all HELL” if an agreement wasn’t reached within days, the group announced its readiness to release all hostages under the terms of the plan.
Mr. Trump’s proposal outlined an exchange where the hostages would be swapped for 250 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and 1,700 Gazans detained during the war.
President Trump celebrated Hamas’s announcement, proclaiming on social media that the group was “ready for a lasting PEACE.”
However, key questions lingered, particularly whether Hamas would agree to relinquish its weapons. The group also omitted any mention of accepting a future without a governing role in Gaza, stating only that it would transfer administration of the enclave “to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu has consistently stated that he would not tolerate any agreement that allows Hamas to retain power in Gaza.
How did Israel respond?
Several hours after Hamas’s statement, Mr. Netanyahu’s office responded, indicating that Israel was preparing for “the immediate release of all the hostages” and would continue to collaborate with Mr. Trump “to bring the war to an end in accordance with the principles set forth by Israel.”
The Israeli statement made no reference to the ambiguities present in Hamas’s response to the peace initiative.
Three Israeli officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Israeli forces in Gaza had been instructed to adopt a defensive stance, though they were not ordered to withdraw from their current positions.
In September, the military launched an intensified ground offensive in Gaza City, prompting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee south. Israel maintains that Gaza City remains one of Hamas’s last strongholds.
Reports from Palestinians in Gaza confirmed that explosions and gunfire persisted into early Saturday morning.
Avichay Adraee, an Israeli military spokesman, cautioned displaced Palestinians against trying to return to northern Gaza, despite the recent optimism surrounding a cease-fire. He added that Israeli soldiers were “still surrounding Gaza City, and attempting to return there poses extreme danger.”
What happens now?
While Hamas’s response to the plan was met with approval from Mr. Trump and numerous international leaders, it leaves critical questions about how to definitively end the war unanswered.
Negotiations are anticipated to resume in Egypt, with Israeli negotiators preparing for indirect talks with Hamas in the coming days. The exact departure date for these talks remains unknown, according to four regional officials who spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Mediators from Qatar and Egypt are also engaging in discussions with Hamas regarding the proposal, while the United States is in direct communication with Israel, as reported by two diplomats familiar with the confidential diplomatic efforts.
The Israeli military has indicated its readiness for the potential release of the remaining captives in Gaza. Yet, Osama Hamdan, a Hamas official, stated on Friday that “security measures” would be necessary to free the hostages still alive, suggesting that locating the bodies 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 looked into,” he told Al Araby TV, a Qatar-based broadcaster.
Have we been close to a breakthrough before?
Previous attempts to halt the conflict in Gaza have often concluded in frustration. Israel and Hamas have only managed to agree to temporary cease-fires in the past: for approximately a week in November 2023 and for a period of less than three months earlier this year.
A fundamental barrier to achieving lasting peace has consistently been Hamas’s demand for a permanent cease-fire that preserves its influence in postwar Gaza, a condition Israel has repeatedly rejected.
Hamas’s statement on Friday, signaling its willingness to release all Israeli hostages, has nonetheless ignited at least some optimism that these latest negotiations could finally lead to an enduring resolution.