Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism on Saturday, stating that the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza could be announced “in the coming days.” His remarks followed recent developments involving a proposed U.S.-brokered peace plan aimed at ending the conflict and securing the return of Israeli captives.
Speaking in a televised address, Netanyahu reaffirmed his government’s stance that Hamas will eventually be disarmed and Gaza demilitarized. “This will happen — either the easy way or the hard way,” he asserted, underscoring Israel’s commitment to long-term security goals even as negotiations unfold.
Hamas, for its part, issued a statement Friday agreeing in principle to release hostages under the U.S. proposal. However, it did not agree to disarmament, instead calling for negotiations on other aspects of the deal. On Saturday, Hamas accused Israel of ongoing “massacres” following new airstrikes in Gaza and called for increased international pressure on Israel to halt its military operations.
Ceasefire talks between the two sides are scheduled to begin in Egypt on Monday, marking a critical juncture in efforts to end the nearly two-year conflict that began with Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration spearheaded the current peace initiative, demanded swift action from Hamas. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned, “Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off. Let’s get this done, FAST.” He later announced that Israel had agreed to the initial withdrawal line proposed in the 20-point plan.
The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release of 20 living Israeli hostages, along with the remains of others believed to have been killed, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed they had begun preparing for the first phase of the plan. “The safety of our troops remains a top priority,” the IDF stated in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
As the international community watches closely, families of hostages and thousands of supporters continue to rally in Jerusalem, demanding swift action and a peaceful resolution to the prolonged crisis.
