A Delicate Dance for Peace: Trump’s Intervention Tests Hamas’s Intent and Israel’s Resolve

Donald Trump has called on Israel to “immediately” suspend all military operations in
Gaza after Hamas submitted what officials described as a “qualified acceptance” of the
former US president’s ceasefire framework, raising cautious hopes of a pause in the
two-year war.

Hamas’s leadership confirmed late on Friday that it had accepted “parts” of Trump’s 20-
point proposal, which includes a phased exchange of hostages and prisoners, a
temporary cessation of hostilities, and the gradual transfer of Gaza’s administration to a
neutral technocratic body under international supervision.
The statement, however, stopped short of committing to the group’s full disarmament or
an unconditional surrender of power – key elements of Trump’s plan that Israel has
insisted on before agreeing to halt its campaign.

Trump, whose initiative has become the main diplomatic channel since his return to the
White House, urged Israel to seize what he called a “unique opportunity to end the
bloodshed and bring the hostages home”. He said Hamas’s response represented “a
genuine step in the right direction” and called on both sides to begin implementing the
first stage of the plan immediately.

Israeli officials welcomed what they described as “a potential opening”, but stopped
short of confirming a suspension of operations. “We will examine the details carefully,” a
spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “Our goal remains the
complete dismantling of Hamas’s military capacity and the safe return of our hostages.”
The mixed messages underscored the complexity of the moment. While Hamas’s move
has been widely interpreted as an attempt to relieve pressure after months of relentless
bombardment, analysts said it may also be a tactical bid to secure concessions without
relinquishing the group’s control over parts of Gaza.

“The wording is intentionally ambiguous,” said a regional diplomat involved in the
mediation. “Hamas wants to appear cooperative, but it is not yet ready to disarm or step
aside without guarantees. Israel, meanwhile, is wary of pausing its offensive before
verifying concrete actions.”

Under the Trump framework, Israel would begin a phased withdrawal from heavily
damaged urban zones once the first group of hostages is released. In return, Hamas
would free Israeli captives and foreign nationals, and a joint Arab-international
committee, backed by the UN and major donors, would take over coordination of aid
and reconstruction.

Qatar and Egypt, who have long served as mediators between Hamas and the
international community, are expected to host urgent meetings in Doha over the
weekend to clarify the terms of the group’s acceptance and outline a timeline for
implementation.

European Union officials and several Arab governments, including Saudi Arabia and
Jordan, welcomed Hamas’s statement as a potential breakthrough but cautioned that
“words must quickly translate into verifiable action”.
Inside Israel, families of the remaining hostages have intensified calls for the
government to prioritise negotiations over continued fighting. Protesters gathered in Tel
Aviv on Saturday night, demanding that Netanyahu’s administration “bring them home
now”.

In Gaza, the announcement sparked a rare sense of guarded optimism among
exhausted residents. “We don’t know if it will hold,” said Amina, a teacher sheltering in
Khan Younis. “But if the bombing stops even for a few days, it will mean food and
medicine can reach us again.”
Western intelligence assessments suggest that while Hamas’s military infrastructure has
been severely degraded, pockets of resistance remain in northern and central Gaza.
Israeli commanders argue that a premature ceasefire could allow the group to regroup
unless international security guarantees are in place.

Diplomatic sources said the next 72 hours would be critical in determining whether
Trump’s initiative gains traction or collapses under mutual suspicion. “It’s a narrow
window,” one UN official said. “If there’s movement on the hostages and restraint on
both sides, this could be the beginning of a turning point. If not, the fighting will resume
almost immediately.”

As of Saturday, limited Israeli airstrikes were reported in southern Gaza, though officials
insisted they were “targeted defensive actions”. No formal ceasefire announcement had
been made by either party.Either party had made no formal ceasefire announcement
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, urging “swift coordination” to stabilise the situation. “The
world is watching,” Trump said. “Peace is difficult, but not impossible.”
Whether Israel will fully heed that call remains uncertain. For now, the region holds its
breath – suspended between a tentative diplomatic opening and the risk of another
devastating cycle of violence.

By Moji Danisa Dawodu