Israel Prepares for Trump's Gaza Peace Plan Implementation as Hamas Signals Conditional Acceptance

Israel's army announced Saturday it would advance preparations for implementing the first phase of US President Donald Trump's Gaza war peace plan and facilitate the return of remaining hostages.

Military officials stated they had received instructions from Israeli leadership to "advance readiness" for the plan's implementation. According to an anonymous official, Israel has shifted to a defensive-only posture in Gaza, suspending offensive strikes while maintaining troop presence in the territory.

This development followed Trump's directive for Israel to cease bombing Gaza after Hamas indicated acceptance of certain elements of his peace proposal. Trump expressed optimism, stating, "I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE."

With the second anniversary of the Hamas attack approaching on Tuesday, Trump appears determined to fulfill his promises of ending the conflict and securing the release of dozens of hostages. His recently unveiled plan has garnered substantial international backing, including endorsement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu's office confirmed Israel's commitment to concluding the war that began with Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack, though it avoided addressing potential disagreements with Hamas. The Israeli leader faces mounting pressure from both international stakeholders and the Trump administration to resolve the conflict. According to the official, Netanyahu issued a rare sabbath statement regarding preparations for Trump's plan due to American pressure.

The official also mentioned that a negotiating team was preparing for deployment, though no specific timeline was provided.

A senior Egyptian official revealed ongoing negotiations for hostage releases and the freeing of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention. This official, involved in ceasefire talks, noted that Arab mediators are facilitating comprehensive Palestinian dialogue aimed at unifying positions regarding Gaza's future.

On Saturday, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Gaza's second most powerful militant group, announced its acceptance of Hamas' response to Trump's plan, reversing its earlier rejection.

Also Saturday, Gaza's Health Ministry reported that Palestinian fatalities in the nearly two-year conflict have exceeded 67,000, with over 700 recently verified names added to the count.

The Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas governance, does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties but notes that approximately half the deceased are women and children. United Nations officials and independent experts generally consider these figures the most reliable available estimates of wartime casualties.

Despite positive momentum, significant questions remain unresolved.

Trump's plan stipulates that Hamas release the remaining 48 hostages—approximately 20 believed to be alive—within three days while relinquishing power and disarming.

In exchange, Israel would halt military operations, withdraw from substantial portions of Gaza, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and permit humanitarian aid access and eventual reconstruction.

Hamas has expressed willingness to release hostages and transfer power to other Palestinian authorities but indicated that certain aspects of the proposal require further Palestinian consultation. Notably, its official statement omitted any mention of demilitarization, a crucial component of the agreement.

Amir Avivi, retired Israeli general and chairman of Israel's Defence and Security Forum, suggested that while Israel can temporarily suspend operations to facilitate hostage releases, military action would resume if Hamas refuses to disarm.

Other analysts maintain that Hamas' apparent negotiating stance represents rhetorical adjustment rather than substantive change. Oded Ailam of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs characterized this as "yes, but" rhetoric that "simply repackages old demands in softer language," suggesting the gap between rhetoric and genuine compromise remains substantial.

Meanwhile, anti-war demonstrations have spread across Europe, with tens of thousands marching in Barcelona, Spain on Saturday and similar protests expected in Italy and Portugal.

For Palestinians in Gaza, the practical implications remain unclear. "What we want is practical implementation... We want a truce on the ground," said Gaza resident Samir Abdel-Hady, expressing concern about potential diplomatic failures similar to previous negotiations.

Israeli forces continue to besiege Gaza City, the focus of their latest offensive. On Saturday, Israel's military warned Palestinians against attempting to return to the city, describing it as a "dangerous combat zone."

Experts have determined that Gaza City had entered famine conditions shortly before Israel launched its major offensive to occupy the area. While approximately 400,000 people have evacuated the city in recent weeks, hundreds of thousands remain.

Families of hostages maintain cautious optimism. Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod is held captive in Gaza, acknowledged various concerns—potential sabotage by Hamas or Netanyahu, or waning interest from Trump—while expressing confidence in the American president's role: "We're putting our trust in Trump, because he's the only one who's doing it... And we want to see him with us until the last step."