A new US peace proposal has been conditionally accepted by Hamas, paving the way for the release of all remaining Israeli hostages. The deal would bring an immediate ceasefire and involve a prisoner swap, with hundreds of detained Palestinians being exchanged for the hostages.
Of the 48 captives believed to be held, only 20 are thought to be alive. The agreement includes two key conditions: Hamas must lay down its arms and hand over the governance of Gaza to a panel of Palestinian experts. While this offers a long-awaited hope to the hostages’ families, its success depends on these conditions being met.
The Israeli government is now analyzing Hamas’s statement to determine its true intent. It must decide if this is a genuine acceptance of the deal’s key points or merely a tactic to buy time and restart lengthy negotiations.
This skepticism is strong within Prime Minister Netanyahu’s cabinet, as Hamas’s agreement came just hours after President Trump’s ultimatum to accept the deal or face severe consequences. Israeli officials are also displeased with Trump’s subsequent call for an immediate end to the bombing of Gaza and the suggestion that Hamas would retain a role in future talks.
While President Trump hailed the statement as a step toward “lasting peace,” he acknowledged the deal is not final. A significant amount of detail remains to be negotiated before peace can become a reality.
