Khaberni - Researcher and writer in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Jonathan Liz, revealed that US President Donald Trump intends to increase pressure on both Hamas and the Benjamin Netanyahu government to push them towards a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange following Hamas's response to his plan to end the war.
It was also reported from Israeli political sources that Trump prefers to continue promoting his political initiative rather than blowing up the talks.
According to Liz, Israel is preparing to resume indirect negotiations with Hamas in the coming days after the movement's response to Trump's plan and the US president's response.
The report indicated that Trump's announcement last night, which called on Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of the Gaza Strip so that the hostages can be released safely and quickly,” prompted the Israeli government to hold urgent consultations that concluded with instructions for the military to “stop offensive operations in the sector, sticking only to defensive operations.” This step in Israel is seen as actual compliance with direct American pressure.
According to the report, the Israeli political level is currently working to draft an official unified stance on the issues that Trump's plan did not clarify, including the number and identities of Palestinian prisoners to be released as part of the deal, details related to demilitarizing Gaza, and whether Israel will agree to Hamas fighters keeping personal weapons.
The locations of the Israeli army's withdrawal from the sector at each stage of the three-phase plan are being determined, along with drafting a timeline for its implementation.
Liz adds that the newly reformed Israeli negotiation team is preparing to start a new round of negotiations, likely to be held in Egypt.
Hamas's Response
Hamas published its official response to Trump's plan, confirming its readiness to release all Israeli detainees in Gaza, both alive and dead, as part of a comprehensive plan to end the war, with immediate negotiations on the details of implementation.
However, it expressed reservations about some clauses, particularly those related to governance arrangements in the sector, preferring to transfer its administration to an independent Palestinian authority rather than the “Palestinian committee” proposed in the plan, which is supposed to be managed by an international body led by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The movement also clarified that issues regarding “the future of the Gaza Strip and the rights of the Palestinian people” should be discussed within a comprehensive national framework representing all Palestinian factions.
In response to Hamas's stance, Trump said that “discussions are ongoing about the details of the agreement,” emphasizing that “it is not only about Gaza but about peace in the entire Middle East.” He added in a recorded message that “this is a great day,” noting that peace is near, and thanked Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey for their mediation efforts.
