Netanyahu Expresses Optimism on Imminent Hostage Release

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed hope that the release of hostages held in Gaza will be announced in the coming days. In a televised statement, he emphasized that "Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized – either the easy way or the hard way, but it will be achieved."

This development follows Hamas's recent statement agreeing to free the hostages under a U.S.-brokered peace plan. However, the group did not address disarmament and sought negotiations on other issues. Indirect ceasefire talks between the parties are scheduled to commence in Egypt on Monday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Hamas to expedite the deal, stating, "Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off... Let's get this done, FAST." He later indicated that Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, referring to various lines of Israeli troop withdrawal published alongside the U.S. plan.

The proposed 20-point plan includes an immediate end to fighting and the release of 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas, as well as the remains of those believed to be deceased, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans. The Israel Defense Forces have issued an order "to advance readiness for the implementation of the first phase of the Trump plan for the release of the hostages," emphasizing that the safety of IDF troops is "a top priority."

Domestically, Netanyahu faces pressure from ultranationalist ministers who have threatened to quit the coalition if the war ends without Hamas's total defeat, potentially leading to the government's collapse. Despite this, polls suggest that most Israelis favor a deal with Hamas for the release of the hostages and the end of the war.

Families of hostages have expressed cautious optimism. Vicky Cohen, whose son Nimrod is among the captives, shared her mixed feelings of hope and fear, stating, "It is a fragile situation and we don't want to be disappointed again. And yet I feel hope that soon I will see Nimrod and I can hug [him] again."

In Gaza, reactions range from hope to deep suspicion. Some residents fear that Israel will reclaim its hostages only to resume the war, while others believe a historic opportunity has opened to end two years of conflict. Ibrahim Fares, a Gaza resident, cautioned, "Don't get carried away by optimism. There will be rounds of talks over the details. The devil is always in the detail."

Meanwhile, Israeli military strikes have continued to hit Gaza, despite President Trump's call for an immediate halt to the bombing. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported 66 people killed by Israeli military operations in the past 24 hours, bringing the total since the war began to 67,074. International journalists have been restricted from entering the Gaza Strip independently since the start of the war nearly two years ago, complicating the verification of claims from both sides.