On Saturday, October 4, 2025, Israel’s military announced it would begin preparations for the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative. This plan aims to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza and facilitate the release of all remaining hostages.
The Israeli army clarified that these preparations were mandated by the country’s leadership. An unnamed official indicated that Israel has adopted a defensive posture within Gaza, ceasing active strikes while maintaining its troop presence in the strip.
This announcement followed shortly after President Trump instructed Israel to halt its bombing campaign in Gaza, citing Hamas’s reported acceptance of certain aspects of his peace proposal. Trump expressed optimism, stating his belief that Hamas was “ready for a lasting PEACE.”
With the second anniversary of the October 7, 2025, attack looming on Tuesday, President Trump seems determined to fulfill his commitments to end the war and secure the release of dozens of captives. His peace proposal, introduced earlier in the week, has garnered broad international backing and received an endorsement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Previously, on Friday, October 3, 2025, Netanyahu’s office reiterated Israel’s commitment to concluding the war, which commenced with Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. However, the statement did not elaborate on any potential discrepancies with the militant group’s position.
Netanyahu has faced growing pressure from both the global community and President Trump to de-escalate the conflict. The unnamed official suggested that Netanyahu’s unusual late-night announcement on the Sabbath, confirming Israel’s preparations for Trump’s plan, was a direct result of this pressure from the U.S. administration.
A negotiating team is reportedly ready for deployment, though no specific travel date has been disclosed.
A high-ranking Egyptian official confirmed that discussions are progressing for the release of hostages and hundreds of Palestinian detainees held by Israel. This official, actively engaged in ceasefire negotiations, also mentioned that Arab mediators are organizing broader dialogues among Palestinians to forge a unified stance on Gaza’s future.
Additionally, on Saturday, October 4, 2025, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Gaza’s second-largest militant faction, announced its acceptance of Hamas’s reply to Trump’s plan, reversing its earlier rejection of the proposal.
The same day, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that the Palestinian death toll from the nearly two-year Israel-Hamas conflict has exceeded 67,000. This significant increase followed the verification and addition of over 700 previously uncounted names to their records.
While the ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties, it states that women and children constitute approximately half of the deceased. The UN and numerous independent experts regard the figures from the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry as the most credible estimates for wartime losses.
Progress, But Lingering Uncertainty
Despite this apparent momentum, many critical questions persist.
The proposed plan outlines that Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages—with approximately 20 believed to be alive—within a three-day timeframe. Furthermore, the group would relinquish power and disarm.
Hamas indicated its readiness to release the captives and transfer authority to other Palestinian factions. However, it stated that other components of the plan necessitate additional consultation among Palestinian groups and notably avoided addressing the crucial aspect of demilitarization.
Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli general and head of Israel’s Defence and Security Forum, commented that while Israel could temporarily halt its fire for a few days to facilitate hostage release, military operations would resume if Hamas fails to disarm.
Conversely, some analysts argue that despite Hamas’s apparent willingness to engage in talks, its core stance remains unaltered.
Oded Ailam, a researcher at the Jerusalem Centre for Security and Foreign Affairs, described this ‘yes, but’ approach as merely ‘repackaging old demands in softer language.’ He suggested that the disparity between expressed intent and actual action persists, and this rhetorical shift might be more of a distraction than a genuine step towards resolution.
Globally, protests calling for an end to the war have intensified across Europe. On Saturday, October 4, 2025, Barcelona saw tens of thousands march, with similar demonstrations anticipated in Italy and Portugal.
Uncertain Future for Gaza’s Suffering Palestinians
For Palestinians in Gaza, attempting to comprehend the practical implications of these developments, the path forward remains deeply uncertain.
Samir Abdel-Hady from Khan Younis, Gaza, voiced a common sentiment: ‘What we want is practical implementation. … We want a truce on the ground.’ He expressed concern that negotiations might collapse, as they have repeatedly in the past.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue their siege of Gaza City, the focal point of their recent offensive. On Saturday, October 4, 2025, the Israeli army issued warnings against Palestinians attempting to return to the city, declaring it a ‘dangerous combat zone.’
Prior to Israel’s significant offensive to occupy Gaza City, experts had already confirmed that the city was experiencing famine. While an estimated 400,000 residents have evacuated in recent weeks, hundreds of thousands remain.
Families of those held hostage are also approaching the situation with cautious hope.
Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod is among the hostages in Gaza, articulated widespread concerns. He fears that either Hamas, Prime Minister Netanyahu, or even President Trump’s interest could derail the agreement. Nevertheless, he believes that if a resolution is achieved, it will be thanks to President Trump’s involvement.
Cohen added, ‘We’re placing our trust in Mr. Trump, because he’s the only one actively pursuing this… And we want him to remain with us until the very end.’