Since Hamas accepted the ceasefire proposal in Gaza — which would see the remaining hostages returned and the terror group disarmed — both Israeli and Hamas delegations have been arriving in Egypt to begin negotiations and to implement the 20-point peace plan. The Times of Israel reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s focus remains on maintaining support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s original ceasefire plan:
According to Trump’s plan, Israel, in return for the hostages, is expected to release 250 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences and more than 1,700 detainees from the Gaza Strip who were arrested after October 7, 2023.
The sides have not agreed on which prisoners will be released. Channel 12 news reported on Sunday evening that Hamas was demanding the release of several of the most notorious Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Trump describes the release of the hostages and establishment of a ceasefire as the first phase of the peace plan. The second phase would see the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza. Lawmakers in Israel have raised questions about whether Israel will be able to continue fighting should Hamas choose to defy the second phase. Some have called for an explicit guarantee from Netanyahu that this would be the case.
However, Trump has called the beginning of the talks a success and said they are proceeding rapidly. He urges all negotiating parties to move quickly to secure the hostages’ release. He also maintains that any attempts by Hamas to cling to power in Gaza would result in continued fighting, with the goal of completely obliterating the terror group.
As of now, what additional demands Hamas may make remains a major factor in determining whether a peace deal to end the two years of war in Gaza will be reached. The Fellowship prays that this process will move quickly so that the hostages can finally return home after two long years.
