US President Donald Trump announced that Israel has agreed to an initial withdrawal line in Gaza as part of ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire, stating that the proposal has been shared with Hamas.
According to Trump, once Hamas confirms the arrangement, a ceasefire will take effect immediately, paving the way for a hostage and prisoner exchange. This development comes amid tentative backing from both Israel and Hamas for a US-brokered plan to end the nearly two-year war in Gaza, raising cautious hopes for the release of all remaining hostages.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, “After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas. When Hamas confirms, the ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the hostage and prisoner exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000-YEAR CATASTROPHE. Thank you for your attention to this matter and, STAY TUNED!”
The post reflects Trump's optimism about advancing toward a resolution in the protracted conflict.
The announcement follows a stern warning Trump issued earlier on Saturday to Hamas via Truth Social, urging the group to expedite hostage release efforts. “I appreciate that Israel has temporarily stopped the bombing in order to give the hostage release and peace deal a chance to be completed. Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off. I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Let’s get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly!,” he posted.
This message emphasised the urgency of finalising the deal, with Trump placing pressure on Hamas to avoid further escalation.
The US-proposed plan, which includes an immediate ceasefire, hostage-prisoner exchanges, staged Israeli withdrawals, Hamas disarmament, and a transitional governance structure for Gaza, has garnered partial acceptance from both parties. Hamas has agreed to release all remaining Israeli hostages—estimated at 48, with around 20 believed alive—in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, though it seeks further negotiations on aspects like full Israeli withdrawal and postwar governance.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope for announcing the release of all hostages “in the coming days,” dispatching a delegation to Egypt to finalise technical details.
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are slated to commence on Monday in Egypt, though uncertainties persist, including Hamas's complete buy-in and Israel's security demands, such as no full withdrawal from Gaza.
Netanyahu has reiterated that there will not be a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, aligning with Israel's stance on maintaining security control. Despite these diplomatic overtures, violence continued on Saturday, with dozens killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza, according to local health officials.
Reports indicate that at least 21 people died in the strikes, even as Trump called for an immediate halt to the bombing to facilitate safe hostage extraction. The persistence of military actions underscores the fragile nature of the talks amid ongoing humanitarian concerns in the enclave.
Also Read: Israel kills 7 after Trump tells it to ‘stop bombing’ Gaza
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