Washington: A dramatic turn in the Gaza conflict has emerged after Hamas announced it would release all remaining Israeli hostages, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to demand that Israel immediately stop its bombing campaign. The move has injected new momentum into fragile peace negotiations, while also raising questions about how far each side is willing to compromise.
The announcement has brought a mix of relief and cautious optimism to families of the captives. Anat Angrest, the mother of 22-year-old Israeli soldier Matan Angrest, who has been held by Hamas for two years, posted on X that she felt “closer than ever to hug my son again.” She thanked President Trump directly, noting that Matan’s health had been deteriorating and time was running out. “After two years of suffering, this is the first real moment of hope,” she wrote.
Other relatives struck a more sober tone. Moshe Lavi, whose brother-in-law Omri Miran is still held in Gaza, said on BBC that Hamas should never have been allowed to bargain over human lives. Yet, he admitted, “we are realistic and understand there is a deal. The hostages must be released and prioritized no buts and no delays.” His words captured both the pain and the pragmatism now gripping Israeli families.
On the ground, Israel’s military has begun to recalibrate its posture. Doron Kadosh, a reporter with Israel’s official military radio, Galatz, revealed that the Israel Defense Forces had been instructed to scale back operations in Gaza “to a minimum” and to confine activity largely to defensive measures. The shift followed Trump’s public appeal, which Israeli political leaders quickly moved to address. Overnight, the Chief of General Staff convened a high-level meeting with top commanders and intelligence officials to prepare for what is being described as “the first phase of Trump’s plan.”
While the IDF statement stopped short of confirming a full halt to military activity, it underscored that soldiers must remain vigilant and prepared to re-engage if needed. “The safety of Israeli troops is a top priority,” it said, while stressing that all available capabilities would be concentrated in the Southern Command, which oversees Gaza operations.
At the center of these developments lies Trump’s ambitious 20-point peace proposal. Though not all details have been disclosed, the plan envisions Gaza transformed into a “deradicalised, terror-free zone” and redeveloped “for the benefit of the people of Gaza.” Crucially, it calls for an immediate ceasefire once these conditions are met, with Israeli forces withdrawing to agreed lines. The plan also includes a sweeping prisoner exchange: Hamas would release all Israeli hostages alive and dead in return for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Trump highlighted this in his social media post, declaring: “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!”
Hamas responded by saying it accepted key parts of the proposal, including the release of hostages and the transfer of Gaza’s administration to a Palestinian technocratic body backed by Arab and Islamic support. However, the group sidestepped Trump’s demand for full disarmament and insisted that further talks were needed to finalize the framework. A spokesperson called Trump’s comments “encouraging” and expressed readiness for negotiations on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s willingness to cooperate with Washington, declaring that the country was preparing to “immediately implement the first phase of Trump’s plan.” Yet he faces sharp political divisions at home. Some of his coalition partners demand military victory, while others see the U.S.-brokered proposal as Israel’s best chance to secure the return of hostages and end the war. The tension is compounded by Trump’s blunt messaging, which directly called for an end to bombing without reference to Israel’s broader security concerns.
International reactions quickly followed. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed Hamas’ acceptance as a “significant step forward” and urged swift implementation so humanitarian aid could reach those suffering in Gaza. Qatar, which has acted as a key mediator, welcomed Hamas’ announcement and confirmed it was coordinating with Egypt and the U.S. to resume detailed ceasefire talks. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey also played roles behind the scenes, and were publicly thanked by Trump for their contributions.
Despite the surge of optimism, analysts caution that the process remains fraught with obstacles. Hamas has not committed to surrendering its weapons, Israel has not formally halted its campaign, and the details of the prisoner swap remain contentious. Many fear that unresolved questions could stall progress at the very moment when families and international mediators are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.
For Trump, however, the developments already represent a diplomatic breakthrough. In his Oval Office video address, he called it “a very special day” and suggested the region was “very close to achieving peace.” If Hamas follows through with the release of hostages, Trump will have delivered what his predecessors could not: a breakthrough that ends the war and frees captives long thought unreachable.
Still, the path forward is uncertain. As one Israeli commentator observed, “There is hope, but there are still many traps on the road to peace.” For now, families like the Angrests hold on to the possibility that their loved ones may finally return, as Trump presses to turn tentative words into concrete action.