US President Donald Trump has told Hamas to “move quickly” to finalise a hostage deal that could bring an end to two years of devastating conflict in Gaza.
He warned that “all bets are off” if the terror group delays.
Ceasefire hinges on hostages
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said he would “not tolerate delay” as talks continue during a fragile pause in Israel’s bombardment.
He said Israel had agreed to pull back troops to an “initial line”, with a full ceasefire to take effect once Hamas signs off on the terms and releases all remaining captives.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday night that the country was “on the verge of a very big achievement”, expressing hope that all hostages – living and dead – could soon be returned.
Negotiations move to Cairo
US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who helped craft the 20-point peace plan, were heading to Cairo at the weekend to support the talks.
Netanyahu is dispatching a negotiating team led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, with both sides aiming to settle technical details within days.
The first phase of Trump’s plan requires Hamas to release all hostages within 72 hours of an agreement.
Later steps – including a permanent ceasefire, Israeli troop withdrawal, and the transfer of control to a Palestinian-led administration supported by an international stabilisation force – remain contentious.
Israeli right-wing backlash
While Netanyahu has cautiously backed the proposal, key far-right allies have criticised it.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called halting the offensive a “grave mistake”, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned he would quit the coalition if Hamas survives under any deal.
Fragile calm amid ruins
By Saturday, Israeli forces had scaled back operations in Gaza City, shifting to a defensive posture as air strikes largely paused.
However, Hamas accused Israel of continuing attacks that killed dozens overnight.
The proposed ceasefire would also allow increased UN aid into Gaza, where more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October 2023, according to local officials.
Qatar and Egypt are working with Washington to secure the agreement, but Hamas remains reluctant to disarm.
Senior official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera the group would only surrender weapons “if the occupation ends and Palestinians can govern themselves.”
As Trump’s self-imposed deadline looms, both sides are under pressure to decide – and the world is watching whether his hardline ultimatum can finally stop the bloodshed.
