Netanyahu says he hopes to announce a release of hostages in the “days to come”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped to announce the release of hostages to be held in Gaza “in the coming days”.

In a television statement, he also said that “Hamas will be disarmed and that Gaza will be demilitarized – the simplest way or the hard way, but it will be carried out.”

The comments came after Hamas published a statement on Friday in which he agreed to release the hostages as part of an American peace plan, but did not mention the disarmament and asked for negotiations on other questions.

Hamas said on Saturday that Israel continued to commit “massacres” after the strikes hit Gaza and urged global pressure on Israel.

The indirect ceasefire talks between the parties are expected to start in Egypt on Monday.

US President Donald Trump said that he “would not be delayed” from Hamas to conclude an agreement.

In an article on his Truth social platform, Trump said: “Hamas must move quickly, otherwise all bets will be disabled … Let’s do that, quickly.”

He then displayed that Israel “had accepted the initial withdrawal line”, seeming to refer to various lines of withdrawal of the Israeli troops published alongside the American plan.

The 20 -point plan offers an immediate end to the fighting and the release of 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas – as well as the remains of those who are considered dead – in exchange for hundreds of Gazans detained.

Hamas was under pressure to accept at least certain points on Trump’s plan. And that’s exactly what they did, with an answer “yes but”. The group agreed to release all the remaining Israeli hostages, both alive and dead, and which Gaza would be governed by technocrats.

But, among other things, the group has not mentioned if he would disarm, a key Israeli request.

In Gaza and Israel, there was a cautious optimism that current efforts could finally lead to an agreement. One of the main differences is now Trump’s personal involvement, eager to remember – and rewarded – like the man who ended the war.

He publicly urged Hamas to accept an agreement, threatening even more military force, and there have been indications for his growing irritation with the management of Israel recently. But it is not clear if the Trump effect will be enough.

The reality is that the obstacles which prevented the previous agreements remain essentially the same, including the request of Hamas for a complete Israeli withdrawal and a guarantee that Israel will not resume war after the release of the hostages.

The group knows that it will be vulnerable without the hostages and will undoubtedly demand strong assurances that this will not happen.

There are also suspicions elsewhere. Many, inside and outside Israel, accused Netanyahu of having sabotaged previous efforts to prolong the war for political purposes.

It is supported by ultra -nationalist ministers who have threatened to leave the coalition if the war ends without the total defeat of Hamas. This could lead to the collapse of the government. For the moment, the Prime Minister seems to be sure.

At the national level, however, polls have always suggested that most Israelis promote an agreement with Hamas for the release of hostages and the end of the war. The country remains deeply divided, exhausted by war and more and more internationally isolated.

There is a huge momentum for an agreement, but it is not a guarantee that we will be reached.

Hostage families have told the BBC that they had the hope that their relatives will be returned soon.

Vicky Cohen, whose son Nimrod is one of 20 captives detained in Gaza who are still considered alive, said that she woke up on Saturday with a feeling of waiting, but also “fearing that something would go wrong”.

“It is a fragile situation and we do not want to be disappointed again. And yet, I hope that soon I will see Nimrod and I will be able to hug again),” she said.

Reactions to proposals among the Palestinians in Gaza have varied from hope to deep suspicions.

Some fear that Hamas have entered a trap, and that Israel will only recover its hostages to resume war. Others believe that a historical opportunity has opened to finish two years of conflict.

“Do not be carried away by optimism,” a resident of Gaza, BBC, told the BBC. “There will be discussions on details. The devil is still in detail.”

Meanwhile, Israeli military strikes continued to strike Gaza, despite Trump saying to Israel in a message on social networks on Friday to “stop the bombing immediately”.

Three air strikes struck Gaza City early on Saturday, one of whom killed one person and injured several others, according to medical sources at Al-Shifa hospital.

The Israeli army launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the attack by Hamas against southern Israel on October 7, 2023, during which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

Since then, more than 66,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to the Hamas Ministry of Hamas in the territory.

Most of the population has also been moved several times and more than 90% of the houses are estimated as damaged or destroyed.