In a significant development in the Gaza conflict, former President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Israel has agreed to an initial withdrawal line shared with Hamas. According to Trump, confirmation from Hamas would trigger an immediate ceasefire and the commencement of hostage-prisoner exchanges.
This announcement is part of a broader 20-point peace plan presented by Trump, which sets a Sunday deadline for Hamas to accept the terms for ending the war. The proposed deal is contingent on the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
However, the diplomatic progress appears fragile. Despite the announcement, Israeli airstrikes continued to pound Gaza, with reports indicating at least 70 Palestinian fatalities in the past 24 hours. The ongoing violence underscores the challenges in bridging the gap between the negotiating positions of both sides.
Further complicating the situation, a post on X from commentator Matt Wallace claimed that a source within Trump’s circle stated the former president has “gone nuclear” on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is “no longer his friend.” The alleged rift is attributed to Netanyahu’s disregard for Trump’s peace deal shortly after it was unveiled.
