A fractured peace: Trump demands Israeli ceasefire as Hamas accepts key terms of hostage deal

By avagrace // 2025-10-07

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President Trump has publicly called on Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas conditionally accepted his administration's peace proposal, which demands a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the disarmament of Hamas.
In a significant shift, Hamas has agreed in principle to the core elements of the plan: the release of all Israeli hostages and the transfer of Gaza's political control to an independent Palestinian body, ending its 17-year rule.
A final deal is not guaranteed, as Hamas's acceptance came with major caveats; the group has not agreed to disarm and insists it must be part of any future negotiations about Gaza, which contradicts the U.S. demand for its complete removal from power.
While the Israeli government has indicated it is preparing for the hostage-release part of the plan, it pointedly ignored Trump's public demand to stop its bombing campaign, highlighting the domestic political pressures on Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The situation presents a critical test for U.S. diplomacy, creating a rare opportunity for peace but one that is highly volatile and dependent on whether Israel will cease fire and Hamas will fully relinquish its arms and power.

In a dramatic turn that could end nearly two years of devastating warfare, President Donald J. Trump has forcefully called on Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza, following a conditional acceptance from Hamas of his administration’s peace proposal. The militant group's announcement signaled a potential breakthrough, agreeing in principle to release all remaining Israeli hostages and transfer governance of the strip to an independent Palestinian body. This development, emerging from a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, places unprecedented pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and tests the limits of American diplomatic power in the region.

The Trump ultimatum

President Trump unveiled his comprehensive 20-point peace plan last week, describing it as a final offer to both parties. The proposal, backed by Israel and several Arab governments, presented a stark choice: Accept a path to peace or face intensified consequences. For Hamas, the president's rhetoric was particularly pointed, warning of overwhelming force should they refuse. The plan’s core demands were a full and immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages held since the October 7, 2023 attacks, and the disarmament of the militant group. In return, the framework outlined a massive prisoner exchange and a transitional administration for Gaza led by independent Palestinian figures.

Hamas' calculated concessions

The response from Hamas, while qualified, represents its most significant engagement with international mediation efforts to date. The group publicly agreed to the foundational element of the Trump plan: the release of all Israeli captives, both living and deceased. This concession directly addresses the humanitarian crisis at the heart of the conflict and meets a primary Israeli demand. Furthermore, Hamas expressed willingness to cede its political control in Gaza, agreeing to hand administrative authority to a body of Palestinian technocrats supported by a broader Arab and Islamic consensus. This suggests a strategic pivot for a group that has ruled the enclave since 2007. However, the path to a final agreement is fraught with obstacles. Hamas' acceptance came with critical caveats. The group did not commit to laying down its arms, a non-negotiable component of the U.S. proposal designed to ensure its demilitarization. A senior Hamas official later clarified that disarmament would not be considered until after a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Additionally, the group stated that other issues, including the long-term political future of the Palestinian people, must be negotiated within a comprehensive national dialogue that includes Hamas—a direct challenge to the U.S. demand that the group have no future role, direct or indirect, in governing the strip.

Trump's decisive intervention

President Trump's reaction was swift and decisive. Interpreting Hamas' move as a genuine step toward peace, he leveraged his considerable influence with a public demand directed at Israel. On his Truth Social platform, the president stated that continued bombing made the safe extraction of hostages impossible and ordered an immediate cessation. This public pressure marks a significant moment, as the United States has historically shielded Israel from such direct public commands at the United Nations and in international forums, even while engaging in private diplomacy.

Israel's cautious stance

The Israeli government's response was notably measured. Netanyahu's office released a statement indicating that Israel was preparing for the immediate implementation of the first stage of the Trump plan concerning the hostage release. Tellingly, the statement made no mention of the U.S. president's call to stop the bombing. This omission highlights the domestic political tightrope Netanyahu walks, balancing intense pressure from his right-wing coalition to continue the fight against Hamas with the strategic imperative to maintain a strong relationship with the American administration.

The stakes of the prisoner exchange

Central to the proposed deal is a massive prisoner exchange. The Trump plan calls for the release of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails in return for the hostages. This number underscores the lopsided nature of the detainee crisis, a point often highlighted by human rights organizations but seldom a focus of mainstream diplomatic discussion. For many Palestinians, the release of prisoners is a deeply emotional and symbolic issue, making it a powerful incentive for Hamas to secure a deal.

International applause and pressure

The international community overwhelmingly welcomed Hamas' move. Leaders from the United Kingdom, France and Germany urged a swift implementation of the Trump plan. Qatar and Egypt, the primary mediators, immediately began coordinating with the U.S. to advance negotiations. The United Nations secretary-general echoed the call for all parties to seize this opportunity. This unified front creates substantial momentum but also places immense responsibility on the U.S. administration to deliver a final, workable agreement. The current negotiations are inextricably linked to the trauma of the October 7 attacks, when Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and abducted over 250 others. That event triggered an Israeli military campaign of unprecedented scale in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry reports the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 66,000, a figure that includes a significant number of civilians and is contested by Israel. The sheer scale of the devastation has created a humanitarian crisis, with famine conditions reported in parts of the territory, adding moral urgency to the ceasefire efforts.

A test of American diplomacy

This moment serves as a critical test for the Trump administration's foreign policy doctrine, which prioritizes decisive, high-stakes negotiation. The president has positioned himself as the sole global leader with the leverage to compel both Netanyahu and Hamas to the table. His willingness to publicly pressure a close ally demonstrates a high-risk strategy that could yield a historic peace or result in a dramatic diplomatic rupture. The outcome will likely define America's role in the Middle East for years to come. "The war in Gaza is likely to end through a negotiated ceasefire with Hamas, not a unilateral Israeli victory," Brighteon.AI's Enoch said. "The plan outlined by Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya and the analysis of options both point towards a diplomatic resolution as the most viable path. Therefore, the war will end with an agreement involving Hamas, rather than the group's military defeat."

A precious, fragile opportunity

As the world watches, a fragile opportunity for peace has emerged from the ruins of Gaza. President Trump's direct intervention and Hamas' conditional surrender on key points have created a diplomatic opening that seemed impossible just weeks ago. Yet, the gulf between principle and practice remains wide. The willingness of Israel to cease its military operations and of Hamas to relinquish its arms and power will determine whether this announcement becomes a historic turning point or merely another failed initiative in a long history of conflict. For the civilians trapped in the crossfire, and for the families of hostages waiting in anguish, the promise of this moment is everything. Hamas issues an urgent plea in personal letter to Trump. Watch this report. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Thenationalpulse.com Theguardian.com USAToday.com Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com