By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – According to media reports on Sunday a glimmer of hope has emerged in the longstanding conflict between Israel and Hamas as a potential peace deal brokered by US President Donald Trump appears to be gaining momentum.
The plan, which includes a ceasefire, release of hostages, and a roadmap towards a new government in the Palestinian territories, has received mixed reactions from both sides.
The significant developments have unfolded in the Gaza conflict, with Israel agreed to temporarily halt its military operations, paving the way for a potential hostage release and peace deal.
Hamas has agreed to release all remaining Israeli hostages, both living and dead, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans, media reported.
The potential breakthrough came after US President Donald Trump’s peace plan gained support from regional and global powers.
The details are still being negotiated, the agreement would involve a ceasefire, the release of hostages and prisoners, and international oversight on Gaza’s reconstruction and governance.
US, Israel, and Hamas, are working to finalize the deal, with international leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed support for the plan. But challenges persist, including disagreements over disarmament and the implementation of the plan.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Egypt to finalize details on the release of hostages.
The ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas are set to start in Cairo on Monday, sources stated quoted in media.
The negotiations aim to solidify a potential ceasefire deal, following Hamas’s acceptance of the US peace plan.
Hamas’s reluctance to disarm remains a significant point of contention, with Israel insisting that disarmament is crucial for any lasting peace agreement.
According to Hamas’s spokesperson, Walid Kilani, disarmament is impossible without the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state with a national army capable of defending its people.
The stance is at odds with Israel’s demand for Hamas to disarm as part of the peace plan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza demilitarised, “either the easy way or the hard way.”
The success of the plan hinges on both parties’ willingness to compromise and implement the agreed-upon terms, which include a ceasefire, hostage exchange, and phased Israeli withdrawal.
Some suspect Netanyahu of sabotaging previous efforts to prolong the war for political purposes, and his government’s stability remains uncertain.
The families of hostages and civilians in both Gaza and Israel have expressed cautious optimism, with some calling it a “glimmer of hope.”
