Well it turns out that Trump’s threats have had a significant effect on ceasefire for hostage negotiations days before he is set to take over. Prime Minister Netanyahu is said to be setting up a meeting between the Hostage Family Forum at 2:30pm.
Sources in both the Israeli government and the US administration as well as the Trump team has indicated that Hamas has essentially accepted the framework proposed to them. The deal, which is said to be imminent would see Hamas releasing 33 “humanitarian” hostages — children, women, female soldiers, the elderly and the sick. Sources have stated that all of the 33 are officially considered by Israel to be alive, but this has not been officially confirmed.
If the beginning of the first stage is carried out as outlined then on the 16th day of the deal coming into effect, Israel will begin negotiations on a second stage to free the remaining captives this includes male soldiers and men of military age — and the bodies of slain hostages. A report that Israel would have to wait seven days for the living hostages to be released has now been categorically denied.
Israel is determined to hold onto significant “assets.” This includes both high-profile terrorists and territory in the Gaza Strip. Israel intends on using these “assets” to use as leverage in the second stage of negotiations to “ensure that every hostage is returned home.”
According to sources, Israel will be have to withdraw from most areas of the Gaza Strip and release Palestinian prisoners. Prisoners include terrorists with blood on their hands. None of the high-profile who are imprisoned for “murderer” will be released to Judea and Samaria. None of the attackers who participated in the October 7 Hamas pogrom will be let out.
The IDF will remain in a new buffer zone within Gaza. This will enable them to better defend Israeli border communities. Israel will not completely withdraw from Gaza until the war’s goals are achieved.
During the period between the two stages, Israel will continue to hold the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, and there will be “security arrangements” for Palestinian civilians in southern Gaza seeking to return to the Northern area of Gaza. It is not clear if this means that the IDF will have to give up on the controlling what is known as the Neitzarim corridor if the deal goes that far.