Israel and Hamas Near Hostage Deal as 60-Day Ceasefire - U.S. Guarantees Take Shape

A significant new hostage deal between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas is reportedly nearing completion, with guarantees from former U.S. President Donald Trump that both parties will engage in negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing war in Gaza. According to Qatar’s Al-Arabi channel, the proposed agreement includes long-term security arrangements and a framework for managing “the day after” the war in the Gaza Strip.

The proposed deal is being backed by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, who are acting as mediators and guarantors. The agreement includes a 60-day ceasefire, with provisions for an extension if no resolution is reached by the end of that period.

The ceasefire would serve as the backdrop for intensive negotiations to address four primary issues:

• The release of all remaining hostages and Palestinian prisoners

• Long-term security arrangements in Gaza

• Post-war governance and reconstruction plans

• Declaration of a permanent ceasefire

Hostage Exchange Details

According to initial details published by The New York Times, the plan involves the staged release of 10 live Israeli hostages and the return of 18 bodies of deceased hostages in five installments over the 60-day truce.

Breakdown of Scheduled Releases (per Al-Ghad channel):

• Day 1: 8 live hostages released

• Day 7: 5 deceased hostages returned

• Day 30: 5 deceased hostages returned

• Day 50: 2 live hostages released

• Day 60: 8 deceased hostages returned

In the next phase, if a framework for ending the war is agreed upon, an additional 10 live and 12 deceased hostages are to be released.

IDF Withdrawals and Humanitarian Aid

As part of the deal:

• On Day 1, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would withdraw from northern Gaza

• On Day 7, the IDF would withdraw from southern Gaza

• Technical teams would begin drawing up boundary lines for future IDF withdrawal under international supervision

Humanitarian aid will enter Gaza in accordance with the January 9 agreement, with assistance facilitated by the UN and the Red Crescent. Aid will be delivered in sufficient quantities, though there is a dispute over the mechanism of distribution. While Israel wants to maintain the current system through the American company GHF, Hamas is demanding a return to the previous model of 400–600 daily aid trucks — a system Israel claims allowed Hamas to divert aid for its own purposes.

Information Sharing and Negotiation Timeline

By Day 10 of the ceasefire, Hamas is expected to provide a comprehensive list and medical reports on the status of remaining hostages, whether alive or dead. Simultaneously, Israel will present information on Palestinian detainees held since October 7, 2023.

The mediators have guaranteed that serious negotiations will take place during the truce. If no agreement is reached within 60 days, discussions are expected to continue, and the ceasefire could be extended to allow for further negotiations.

Internal Political Opposition in Israel

Despite international backing, the deal faces strong opposition within the Israeli coalition government. Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have expressed firm resistance to the emerging agreement. Ben-Gvir has called for an urgent meeting with Smotrich to coordinate a united front against the deal, emphasizing that only coordinated political resistance can block what he calls a dangerous agreement.

Trump’s Involvement

Former President Donald Trump is reportedly playing a direct role in backing the ceasefire and negotiations. Trump's social media platform, X Network (Hebrew edition), released a statement by White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt, who met with several former hostages, including Noa Argamani, Omar Shem Tov, Yair Horn, and Tzur Goldin, the brother of fallen soldier Hadar Goldin.

Levitt said:

"I had the honor of meeting another group of brave hostages released from Gaza. The horrors endured by Hamas captives are unimaginable, but their strength and faith in God throughout are beyond inspiring."

She added that President Trump is working hard to end this brutal war and bring all the hostages home, closing her remarks with a blessing for the captives and their families.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit the White House next week, marking his second official trip to Washington this year. Meanwhile, sources close to the deal say that technical preparations are in their final stages, resembling the lead-up to a previous agreement in January. Hamas is expected to provide a final response to the deal within hours or by tomorrow morning.