Netanyahu Hints at Possible Hostage Release as Talks Continue Over US Peace Plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he hopes to announce the release of hostages held in Gaza “in the coming days,” raising cautious optimism in Israel and beyond.

Speaking in a televised address, Netanyahu repeated that Israel is determined to ensure Gaza’s demilitarisation. “Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarised – either the easy way or the hard way,” he said.

His remarks followed a statement from Hamas indicating conditional acceptance of a US-brokered peace proposal. The group said it would release all remaining hostages—both living and deceased—under the plan, but it avoided addressing the question of disarmament, which remains Israel’s central demand.

Negotiations are expected to resume in Egypt on Monday, with the United States playing a direct role. President Donald Trump has pressed both sides to move quickly, warning Hamas against delays. “Hamas must act fast, or all bets are off,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account, later claiming that Israel had already agreed to an initial withdrawal line.

The 20-point US plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of 20 surviving Israeli hostages and the return of bodies, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons. Israel’s military has confirmed preparations for the first stage of the plan, though airstrikes on Gaza continued over the weekend.

Inside Gaza, reactions have been mixed. Some see a rare opportunity to end two years of devastating conflict, while others fear the deal could leave Hamas vulnerable if Israel resumes military action once hostages are freed. “The devil is always in the detail,” said Gaza resident Ibrahim Fares.

Hostage families in Israel remain torn between hope and anxiety. “It is a fragile situation, but I feel hope that soon I will see Nimrod again,” said Vicky Cohen, whose son is believed to be among those still alive in captivity.

International observers caution that the obstacles blocking past agreements are still present: Hamas wants a full Israeli withdrawal and guarantees that the war will not resume, while Netanyahu faces pressure from hardline coalition partners demanding Hamas’ total defeat.

Meanwhile, Gaza continues to suffer heavy losses. Local health officials reported at least 66 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll since the war began to over 67,000. Most homes in the territory are believed to have been damaged or destroyed, and repeated displacements have left the civilian population in crisis.

Despite the uncertainty, momentum appears to be building for a possible breakthrough. Whether this latest push can finally end the war remains to be seen.