Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was “on the brink of a great achievement” after Hamas signalled readiness to release hostages under US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan. Both leaders struck a tone of guarded optimism as mediators prepared to host indirect talks in Egypt on Monday.The potential peace deal comes two years after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war, raising hopes that an end may finally be in sight.Also read: Hostages, hope, and a plan: As Hamas, Netanyahu move to implement it – a look at what’s the Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan
Netanyahu vows to bring hostages back and disarm Hamas
In a six-minute late-night speech on Saturday, Netanyahu told Israelis that Hamas was only willing to consider a deal because of military and diplomatic pressure.“I withstood immense pressure from home and abroad to end the war,” he said. “Our goal is to bring back all our hostages.”He vowed that Hamas would be disarmed “either diplomatically via Trump’s plan or militarily by us,” and said Israel’s negotiators would travel to Egypt “to finalise the technical details”. Netanyahu added that he hoped to secure the releases “during the Sukkot holidays”, which begin Monday.In a post on X, Netanyahu said, “My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, we are on the verge of a very great achievement.”“It is not yet final, we are working on it diligently, and I hope, with God’s help, that in the coming days, still during the Sukkot holiday, I will be able to announce to you the return of all our hostages, the living and the fallen alike, in one phase, while the IDF remains deep in the Strip and in the areas controlling it,” the Israeli PM added.
‘I will not tolerate delay’: Trump
Trump said on Friday that a peace deal was “imminent” and a “big day” for peace, though more work was needed “to get the final word down in concrete.” Earlier this week, Trump unveiled a 20-point proposal to put an end to the conflict.On Saturday, he posted on the social media platform Truth Social: “Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off. I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again.”He later announced that “Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to and shared with Hamas. When Hamas confirms, the ceasefire will be immediately effective, the hostages and prisoner exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 year catastrophe.”Also read: Gaza peace deal to a close? Donald Trump claims Israel agrees to ‘initial withdrawal line’; hints at immediate ceasefireIn a White House video reposted online, Trump thanked Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and other Arab states for backing his plan. “It is unprecedented, but thank you all and thank you all to those great countries that helped. Everybody was unified in wanting this war to end and seeing peace in the Middle East. And we’re very close to achieving that,” he said.
What Hamas is offering
Hamas announced Friday night that it was ready to free all its remaining hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Its response included the release of 250 prisoners serving life sentences, 1,700 others detained since the war began, and an exchange of the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each dead Israeli captive.The group said it would need “security measures” to locate and transfer the bodies of hostages, noting that some were buried under rubble in areas still under Israeli control. Hamas did not say whether it would agree to disarm, a mandatory requirement of Trump’s plan.
Mediators prepare for talks
Egypt confirmed that it will host indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas on Monday. A senior Egyptian official said US envoy Steve Witkoff, who helped draft Trump’s plan, would attend.Qatar welcomed Hamas’s response, while Egypt urged all parties to “rise to the level of responsibility” by implementing the plan.The United Nations also welcomed the opening, with secretary-general António Guterres urging all parties to “seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end.”Also read: Hostage release but … : Hamas agrees to Trump’s Gaza peace plan with conditions – What are they?
How the world reacted to the possible truce
The plan has drawn support across Europe and the Middle East. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote: “The release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was “the best chance for peace” and Britain’s Keir Starmer called it “a significant step forwards.”Turkey said Hamas’s acceptance “provides an opportunity for the immediate establishment of a ceasefire.” Jordan demanded Israel halt its offensive and open border crossings for humanitarian aid.Not all responses were positive. Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned the deal was “full of dangers” and accused Israel of trying to achieve politically what it had “failed” to win militarily.
On the ground in Gaza and Israel
Despite Trump’s claim that Israel had stopped bombing, airstrikes continued Saturday. Gaza’s health ministry reported over 60 deaths Friday, and Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City said an Israeli strike killed 17 and injured 25 in the Tuffah neighbourhood.Two residents said explosions and gunfire continued into early morning hours. Israel’s army warned displaced Palestinians not to return to Gaza City, calling it a “dangerous combat zone.”The Palestinian death toll has surpassed 67,000, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which says women and children make up around half the dead.
What comes next?
Talks in Cairo are expected to focus on maps showing Israeli withdrawal lines and conditions for prisoner exchanges. Israel’s negotiating team will include strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer and senior intelligence officials.Under Trump’s plan, Hamas would release 48 remaining hostages within three days and step aside for a new internationally supervised Palestinian administration. Israel would gradually withdraw troops and allow humanitarian aid and reconstruction.Yet questions remain about whether Hamas will truly demilitarise and whether Netanyahu’s coalition will accept concessions. Israeli officials said forces were shifting to a defensive posture but would resume attacks if Hamas refused to disarm.Trump has claimed credit for stopping several wars since resuming the presidency in January this year, including the Pakistan–India and Russia–Ukraine conflicts. However, questions remain whether his push is simply a show of bias towards Israel or if the 20-point peace deal can genuinely end the killing of children in Gaza.