US President Donald Trump signalled a breakthrough on Saturday (02:00 Cyprus time) via a recorded message on Truth Social, calling it a “big day” for his Gaza peace plan and pledging “fair treatment for everyone.” “We’ll see how it goes. Now is the time to finalise the specifics,” he said, hinting at a decisive step toward a ceasefire.
Hamas: positive, but with caveats
Senior Hamas official Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera the movement’s response to Trump’s outline is positive, while stressing the need for further talks. He said the release of all hostages within 72 hours is “theoretical” and impractical under current conditions. Hamas, he added, is prepared to open negotiations on “all issues related to the movement and its arms,” noting that the composition and mandate of any peacekeeping force “require clarifications and agreements.” He also said Hamas had agreed to elements of a broader regional and international proposal presented by Egypt.
Israel: ready to start phase one
Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office said that, in light of Hamas’s response, the country is preparing for the “immediate implementation of the first phase of President Trump’s plan for the release of all hostages.” The government said it will continue to work closely with the US president and his team “to end the war in line with Israel’s stated principles and with President Trump’s vision.” Israeli forces had already paused operations in Gaza in recent days, with a planned new advance earlier in the week put on hold—signalling that political contacts were under way before the public statements.
Both parties have sketched willingness to move, but the core mechanics, timelines for hostage releases, the remit of a security or peacekeeping presence, and sequencing toward a ceasefire, remain to be locked in. Further negotiations will determine whether Trump’s outline can convert tentative signals into a durable agreement.
CNA