On Saturday, President announced that Israel has consented to the “initial withdrawal line” in Gaza, a proposal the U.S. had shared with Hamas.
Should Hamas confirm, this agreement is set to initiate a ceasefire and facilitate the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
In a Saturday statement, Trump wrote, “Following negotiations, Israel has assented to the initial withdrawal line, which has been presented to and shared with Hamas. Upon Hamas’s confirmation, the Ceasefire will become IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will commence, and we will establish the foundations for the subsequent withdrawal phase, which will lead us near to the conclusion of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE.” He concluded with, “Thank you for your attention to this matter and, STAY TUNED!”
This declaration surfaced mere hours after Israeli Prime Minister issued a statement earlier on Saturday, indicating that they were “on the verge of a very great achievement.”
Netanyahu stated, “It is not yet finalized; we are diligently pursuing it, and I trust, with divine assistance, that in the upcoming days, during the Sukkot holiday, I will be able to inform you of the repatriation of all our hostages, both alive and deceased, in a single phase, while the IDF maintains a deep presence and control in designated areas within the Strip.”
Netanyahu asserted that significant military and diplomatic pressure compelled Hamas to agree, refuting claims that Hamas had previously been prepared to release Israeli hostages without a complete withdrawal from Gaza.
He outlined the initial stage of the withdrawal plan, stating that Hamas would release all Israeli hostages while the IDF would redeploy, yet retain command over vital strategic locations deep within the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu plans to dispatch his negotiating delegation, led by Minister Ron Dermer, to Egypt to finalize the technical specifics of the hostage release, a process he anticipates will be completed within several days.
The prime minister stressed that both Israel and the U.S. are determined to preclude any stalling or delaying maneuvers by Hamas.
For the plan’s second stage, Netanyahu indicated that Hamas would be disarmed and the Gaza Strip demilitarized—achieved either through diplomatic channels under the Trump Plan or, should it prove necessary, by military intervention.
He remarked, “I also stated this in Washington: It will either be accomplished the straightforward way, or it will be accomplished the difficult way—but it will be accomplished.”
Netanyahu further stated, “Collectively, we repelled our adversaries’ destructive schemes. From Gaza to Rafah, from Beirut to Damascus, from Yemen to Tehran, together we have attained significant accomplishments.” He added, “From one triumph to the next—we are collectively altering the region’s landscape. Together we will persist in our efforts to guarantee Israel’s enduring existence.”
Netanyahu conveyed his appreciation to Trump for his aid in deploying B2 aircraft to bomb the nuclear facility in Fordo, as well as for his “steadfast support.”