05/10/2025
On Friday night, Hamas delivered its much-anticipated response to the ceasefire proposal negotiated by the U.S. and Israel. “Its message, in short, was something of a yes,” Ruth Margalit writes. Crucially, Hamas agreed to release all remaining hostages, “with the provision of necessary field positions.” The language, though hazy, refers to a stipulation outlined in the proposal that requires Israel to carry out a “tactical withdrawal” for the hostages to be returned. By the terms, Israel would then free 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and more than 1,000 other Palestinians who have been detained, some for allegedly taking part in Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Talks will begin in Egypt in the coming days to finalize the agreement, with both Israeli and Hamas delegations present.
After Hamas issued its response, Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he believed Hamas was “ready for a lasting PEACE,” and called on Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a terse statement, saying that Israel was ready to “immediately implement” the first phase of the plan for the “immediate release of all hostages.” The statement declared that Israel was ready to work with the White House to “end the war in accordance with the principles set forth by Israel that are consistent with President Trump’s vision.” Israel’s Army Radio reported overnight that the military had been ordered to halt its effort to occupy Gaza City, an offensive that had triggered worldwide outrage and caused hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee for their lives.
“After two years of devastation in Gaza, conditions appeared set to make a lasting ceasefire at least possible, if not probable,” Margalit writes. Read the full report: https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/5hDWv3
