Netanyahu says he hopes to announce the release of every Israeli hostage “in the coming days,” while Hamas conditionally accepts Trump’s peace plan—but refuses disarmament, testing Israel’s patience as new security chiefs take charge. If the terrorists don’t deliver all 48 Israelis held in 72 hour, Bibi says the fighting will resume with even greater intensity.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israelis Saturday night that he “hopes to announce the release of all hostages from Gaza in the coming days,” vowing that “every one of them will be home soon.”
The statement came after the most dramatic 48 hours of the war to date—Hamas’s conditional acceptance of the Trump peace plan, a halt to major Israeli bombardment, and a flurry of diplomacy involving Washington, Cairo, and Doha. But the breakthrough remains fragile: Hamas refuses full disarmament and insists on conditions that Israel flatly rejects.
Netanyahu’s promise—“within a week”—now faces the hardest test of his long career.
Trump’s Ultimatum and the Hamas Reply
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who brokered the 20-point Gaza framework last week, imposed a personal ultimatum on the weekend. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly!” he wrote on October 4. Hours later, he added, “I will not tolerate delay … Hamas must move quickly, or all bets will be off.”
By nightfall, Hamas issued its long-awaited reply. In a written statement conveyed through Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries, the organization declared:
“We declare our acceptance to release all occupation war prisoners (both living and dead) within the framework of the exchange formula presented in President Trump’s proposal, provided that appropriate field conditions are secured for the implementation of the exchange process.”
“We affirm our readiness to immediately engage, through the mediators, in negotiations to discuss details of this process.”
“We also reaffirm our approval to entrust the administration of the Gaza Strip to an independent Palestinian administration (a technocratic authority).”
The final clause, however, carried Hamas’s familiar escape hatch:
“As for the other issues … these matters shall be addressed within an inclusive Palestinian national framework … of which we will be an integral part.”
That omission—no mention of disarmament—was the sticking point. Within hours, Israeli officials made clear that without disarmament, there would be no deal.
Netanyahu’s Response: “Victory, Not Illusion”
Standing at the Kirya in Tel Aviv flanked by Israel’s new defense and security chiefs, Netanyahu told the nation:
“This is our moment of truth. We are closer than ever to bringing our people home, but we will not trade victory for illusion. Hamas will be disarmed, Gaza will not again be a terror fortress, and Israel will keep the right to act wherever its citizens are threatened.”
The Prime Minister credited the IDF’s “relentless operational pressure” for forcing Hamas to the table. “Our soldiers have broken Hamas’s spine,” he said. “Now diplomacy must complete what force began.”
He confirmed that an Israeli delegation in Cairo was “finalizing technical arrangements” with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States and added pointedly: “If Hamas wavers or delays, the IDF will resume operations immediately. We will not wait for deceit.”
The New Security Leadership
Saturday’s announcement also marked a new chapter in Israel’s leadership of the war effort.
- Defense Minister Israel Katz, appointed after Yoav Gallant’s resignation in late 2024, has driven a tougher integration of military and political decision-making. His office confirmed over the weekend that “operational readiness remains in full force” pending Hamas’s compliance.
- IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who took command in March 2025, conducted what the army called “a special situational assessment” on Saturday. He approved initial orders for repositioning forces once hostages are released—but kept all divisions on alert.
- New Shin Bet Director Maj. Gen. (res.) David Zini formally began his tenure on October 5. Netanyahu congratulated him publicly, saying: “I congratulate the incoming head of the Shin Bet, Major General (res.) David Zini, and wish him success in the tremendous mission ahead of him.” Zini inherits the task of preventing Hamas cells from reorganizing and vetting future Gaza administrators under the proposed technocratic regime.
This trio—Katz, Zamir, and Zini—now represents Israel’s “war and peace cabinet,” tasked with executing the delicate shift from combat to conditional ceasefire without compromising national security.
The Trump Plan and Its Phases
Trump’s 20-point plan, unveiled September 29, lays out an ambitious path:
- Immediate ceasefire once Hamas confirms acceptance in writing.
- Release of all hostages—alive and dead—within 72 hours.
- Israeli repositioning to a designated “initial line” inside Gaza, maintaining security control.
- Phased prisoner exchanges supervised by international guarantors.
- Formation of a technocratic Gaza administration vetted by Egypt, the UAE, and the United States.
- Progressive demilitarization verified by on-site monitors.
“Hamas must move quickly, or all bets will be off,” Trump warned again Sunday morning, adding that “based on the statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE.”
The former president’s remarks electrified negotiators and stunned some diplomats. One U.S. official called Trump’s intervention “both risky and effective,” saying it “forced Hamas to declare itself and allowed Israel to hold them accountable.”
Inside the Talks
Israeli, American, and Egyptian envoys met again Sunday in Cairo to lock down the operational mechanism. A senior Israeli official told Yedioth Ahronoth: “We are not negotiating on principles, only on logistics. Hamas must deliver a full list of hostages and enable Red Cross access before anything else.”
U.S. envoy Brett McGurk, who is coordinating with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, said privately that “implementation is now the test, not intent.”
Egypt has proposed international observers from Jordan and Morocco to supervise the first exchanges, but Israel insists that its own security forces retain ultimate authority over the crossings.
The Mood in Israel
Across Israel, cautious optimism mixes with deep mistrust. Crowds gathered outside the Defense Ministry and Prime Minister’s Residence holding candles and photos of hostages.
“I want to believe him,” said Iris Haim, mother of one of the kidnapped. “We’ve been told before that they’re coming home. I’ll believe it when I see my son.”
Yair Shoham, whose daughter was seized from Nahal Oz, voiced renewed hope: “For the first time I think it’s real. Even Hamas knows the world is done with their lies.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a statement: “There is no justification for delay. Every hour counts. This must be implemented now.”
Hamas Without Sinwar
The talks unfold in a radically changed Hamas. Yahya Sinwar—the mastermind of the October 7 massacre—was killed months earlier in Rafah in an Israeli raid confirmed by DNA testing. His brother, Mohammed Sinwar, was also killed in May. Their deaths shattered the organization’s internal hierarchy.
Dr. Michael Milstein, a former IDF intelligence officer, told Maariv: “Hamas without Sinwar is a headless snake. The factions are divided—some want a ceasefire, others want revenge. That explains the hesitation.”
Analysts believe that without Sinwar’s unifying control, Hamas may accept partial terms under pressure, even if factions resist complete disarmament.
Pressure and Caution Abroad
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hailed Hamas’s statement as “a step toward calm,” but warned that “implementation will require guarantees.” Qatar said it was “ready to host final technical discussions.”
In Washington, State Department officials backed Trump’s drive, saying the U.S. “supports the immediate release of all hostages and an enduring cessation of hostilities.” European reactions were mixed: London praised progress; Paris urged “verification and irreversibility.”
What Happens Next
This wwk’s schedule—outlined by Israeli officials and mediators—is precise:
- Monday night: Hamas provides a verified list of hostages with proof of life.
- Wednesday: Red Cross begins supervised transfers.
- Friday: Final group of hostages returned to Israel, triggering Israel’s repositioning to the initial line.
If any stage fails, Katz confirmed that “IDF operations will resume without delay.”
Lt. Gen. Zamir has already prepared orders for both scenarios: phased withdrawal—or immediate counterstrike.
The Stakes
With 48 hostages still unaccounted for—about 20 believed alive—the entire process hangs on Hamas’s follow-through. Israeli intelligence officials stress that “nothing moves until the first name on the list is confirmed.”
Financial markets responded with cautious optimism; the shekel strengthened slightly and the Tel Aviv stock exchange rose modestly on expectations of a breakthrough.
But among Israelis, the mood remains grimly pragmatic. As one commentator on Channel 12 put it: “Israel believes in results, not declarations. If Hamas lies again, the planes will be back over Gaza by dawn.”
Netanyahu’s Closing Words
In his televised address, Netanyahu’s final line echoed the one he used in October 2023, at the start of the war:
“We are fighting for our lives, for our children, and for our future. Now we are fighting for their return—and we will bring them home.”
As of Sunday night, negotiations in Cairo continued. Israel’s new leadership team—Katz, Zamir, and Zini—monitored every signal from Gaza. Trump’s pressure, Hamas’s ambiguity, and Netanyahu’s promise now converge into one countdown.
Either the hostages come home this week—or the war resumes with even greater force.
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