A fresh round of peace talks aiming to end the conflict in Gaza has sparked a degree of optimism, though two years of often-stalled negotiations mean caution remains the prevailing sentiment.
“What gives you hope here is that at least there now is a framework for how all of this can come to an end, and those hostages can be released,” stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday.
These remarks from Mr. Rubio, made during a Fox News interview, followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that his nation was close to a hostage agreement with Hamas. Netanyahu indicated that Israel was ready to implement the initial phases of the peace plan unveiled by President Trump just last week.
Hamas, for its part, declared on Friday its readiness to release all hostages captured during its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which ignited the conflict. However, the group hinted it might not fully endorse all 20 points of Mr. Trump’s proposal, particularly the crucial demand for them to disarm.
Rubio candidly addressed the challenges ahead, responding to a question about the war’s conclusion with: “Well, not yet. There’s some work that remains to be done.” President Trump echoed this sentiment on Sunday, acknowledging that the plan might require “some changes” down the line.
Nevertheless, ahead of indirect talks slated for Monday in Egypt, Israel confirmed it had already transitioned its forces in Gaza to a defensive stance.
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 designed to secure the release of remaining hostages in Gaza and conclude Israel’s military offensive against Hamas. It is believed that at least 20 living hostages and the remains of approximately 25 others are still held in the enclave.
Just hours after Mr. Trump issued a social media warning on Friday, stating that an agreement must be finalized within days or Hamas would face “all HELL,” the group declared its willingness to release all hostages under the proposed plan’s conditions.
Under Mr. Trump’s proposal, the plan involves exchanging the hostages for 250 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, along with 1,700 Gazans detained during the ongoing conflict.
President Trump praised Hamas’s response, announcing on social media that the group was “ready for a lasting PEACE.”
However, significant questions persist regarding Hamas’s willingness to surrender its weaponry. The group also refrained from explicitly accepting a future without governance in Gaza, stating only that administration of the territory would be transferred “to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats.”
Netanyahu has consistently maintained that he will not agree to any deal that allows Hamas to remain in Gaza. He reinforced this stance on Saturday, declaring, “This will happen either diplomatically, according to Trump’s plan, or militarily — at our hands. This will be achieved the easy way or the hard way, but it will be achieved.”
Smoke rose from Gaza City from shelling on Thursday.
How did Israel respond?
Hours following Hamas’s declaration, Mr. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel was preparing for “the immediate release of all the hostages” and would continue collaborating with Mr. Trump “to bring the war to an end in accordance with the principles set forth by Israel.”
On Saturday, Mr. Netanyahu expressed hope of informing the Israeli public “in the coming days” that the remaining hostages would be repatriated. He also stated that Israeli negotiators would travel to Egypt to advance the deal.
The Israeli military maintains its presence at strategic locations across the Gaza Strip. A significant ground offensive in Gaza City in September led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians southward. Israel views Gaza City as one of Hamas’s final strongholds.
Avichay Adraee, an Israeli military spokesman, cautioned displaced Palestinians against returning north, despite the emerging optimism for a cease-fire. He stressed that Israeli forces “are still surrounding Gaza City, and attempting to return there poses extreme danger.”
What happens now?
While Hamas’s recent response to the peace plan has been met with approval from Mr. Trump and several international leaders, it still leaves critical questions about ending the war unanswered.
A new round of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas was anticipated to commence in Egypt on Monday. As direct communication is not possible, Qatari and Egyptian mediators will facilitate the exchange of messages.
Ron Dermer, a key advisor to Mr. Netanyahu, will head the Israeli delegation. Hamas announced Sunday night that its negotiating team, led by senior figure Khalil al-Hayya, had also arrived in Egypt.
Secretary Rubio confirmed on Sunday that current discussions are centered on a prisoner exchange—a hostage release by Hamas in return for Israel’s withdrawal from specific areas of Gaza.
He told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the upcoming phase of negotiations, focusing on Gaza’s postwar future—a point of historical contention for Hamas—would be considerably more challenging.
While the Israeli military announced preparations for the potential release of remaining captives in Gaza, Hamas official Osama Hamdan stated on Friday that “security measures” would be necessary for living hostages, and 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,” Hamdan explained to Al Araby TV, a Qatar-based broadcaster.
Have we been close to a breakthrough before?
Past attempts to halt the Gaza conflict have frequently met with frustration. Previously, Israel and Hamas have only managed to agree on temporary cease-fires, including one lasting about a week in November 2023 and another for less than three months earlier this year.
A core impediment to a lasting peace has been Hamas’s desire for a permanent cease-fire that preserves its influence in post-war Gaza. Conversely, Israel has consistently rejected any agreement allowing the group to remain in power.
Hamas’s recent statement, signaling a willingness to release all Israeli hostages, has fueled some optimism that the ongoing negotiations could finally lead to a lasting resolution.
While families of the hostages and their advocates celebrated this apparent breakthrough, the implications of a deal with Hamas for Mr. Netanyahu’s government remain uncertain.
Hard-line Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly stated on X that pausing the Gaza offensive during negotiations would be a “big mistake.” Fellow hard-liner Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to withdraw from the coalition government if Mr. Netanyahu compromises on the objective of dismantling Hamas after the hostages’ release.
Despite their strong objections, neither minister immediately threatened to destabilize Netanyahu’s coalition in response to the potential cease-fire agreement, contrary to some expectations.