Both Israel and now Hamas have signaled support for the new U.S. peace plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza and releasing all remaining hostages. President Donald Trump has said he believes Hamas is ready for a “lasting peace” and urged Israel to halt bombing, warning that “all bets will be off” if Hamas delays. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes to announce the release of all hostages “in the coming days.”
The plan’s essentials
- Immediate ceasefire of all hostilities.
- Within 72 hours, Hamas would release all hostages it holds—living or dead. Israel says 48 hostages remain, with 20 believed alive.
- Israel to free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, including all women and children. For each hostage body returned, Israel would hand over 15 Palestinians’ remains.
- Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would follow Hamas’ disarmament, with an international security force deployed. Gaza would be placed under international governance, overseen by Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
- An interim administration of Palestinian technocrats would run daily affairs. Hamas would be excluded from governance, its tunnels dismantled, and members pledging peace granted amnesty.
- Palestinians would not be expelled from Gaza. Humanitarian aid would flow in under supervision of the U.N. and Red Crescent.
What Hamas has said
Hamas issued a statement Friday saying it was willing to release hostages and hand over power to a politically independent Palestinian body. However, the group made no mention of disarming—a key Israeli demand. Officials also said more consultations among Palestinians are needed before approving all elements of the plan.
What Israel has said
Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s readiness to implement the first stage of Trump’s plan, namely the release of hostages. However, he insisted Hamas must surrender and disarm. Israel’s military said it has been instructed to prepare for the first phase. Netanyahu also emphasized that Israel will maintain control of territories in Gaza until Hamas is disarmed, whether through diplomacy “or a military path by us.”
Uncertainties ahead
- Hamas says it may need days or weeks to locate some hostage remains.
- Senior Hamas officials disagree internally; one, Osama Hamdan, said foreign administration of Gaza is “unacceptable.”
- The plan allows Israel to keep a “security perimeter presence”, possibly a buffer zone, while Hamas demands a full withdrawal.
- The long-term future of Gaza remains tied to whether the Palestinian Authority reforms and whether reconstruction advances toward a path to statehood.
What happens next
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will lead American negotiations in Egypt, where delegations from both Israel and Hamas are set to join. Arab mediators are preparing for a comprehensive Palestinian dialogue on Gaza’s future.
Voices from both sides
In Gaza, many civilians expressed cautious hope. “We want to end the war by any means possible because we are tired,” said displaced resident Arafa al-Amour. Families of hostages said their loved ones’ return “has never been closer”, urging Trump to push forward and warning that extremists on both sides might try to derail the deal.
Meanwhile, two hardline ministers in Netanyahu’s coalition, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, criticized the plan but stopped short of threatening to leave the government.
