President Trump announced Saturday that Israel has agreed to an “initial withdrawal line” in Gaza, adding a cease-fire and hostage exchange would begin once Hamas confirms the deal.“
After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas,” Trump posted on Truth Social, adding that the plan would mark “the end of this 3,000-year catastrophe.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday night in Israel that he ordered his negotiators, led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, to travel to Egypt to finalize the technical details of the hostage release.’
“Our goal is to limit the negotiations to just a few days. Trump made it clear: We will not tolerate stalling tactics or evasions,” Netanyahu said.
Under the plan’s first phase, Hamas would release hostages as Israeli troops redeploy while retaining control of “dominant areas deep inside the strip,” according to the Israeli prime minister.
Hamas would be disarmed and Gaza demilitarized in the second phase — by diplomacy or force, Netanyahu added.
Netanyahu credited coordination with Trump for isolating Hamas diplomatically, claiming Israeli military pressure brought the group to the table.
Prior to Netanyahu’s comments, Trump said that Israel had paused its bombing campaign in Gaza, calling the move a vital step toward completing a peace agreement with Hamas and freeing hostages — while warning that he “will not tolerate delay.”
Trump praised what he described as Israel’s decision to halt strikes, saying it gives “the Hostage release and Peace Deal a chance to be completed.”
He pressed Hamas to act quickly, adding that if the group stalls, “all bets will be off.”
“I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Let’s get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly!”
But reports from Gaza suggested the fighting had not stopped. Hospital officials told CNN that at least 67 people were killed Saturday in continued Israeli airstrikes.
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