Securing the freedom of all Israeli hostages is “priority number one” in a nearly-finalized deal to end the Gaza war, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared. He confirmed the agreement is “90 per cent done,” with Hamas having “basically” consented to the US-backed framework.
The deal is centered on a direct exchange for these hostages. Upon their release, Israel has committed to moving its military forces back to the “yellow line,” a demarcation line from its mid-August position within Gaza. Rubio expressed hope that this could be achieved “very quickly.”
In addition to this primary humanitarian goal, the agreement also lays the groundwork for a political solution. Rubio revealed that Hamas has agreed “in principle” to participate in planning for a post-war Gaza, a critical step for future peace.
The initiative has strong support from President Donald Trump, who called it a “great deal for Israel.” He has coupled this with a stark ultimatum for Hamas, threatening “complete obliteration” if they do not relinquish control. Trump also affirmed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on board.
With the release of hostages as the central focus, negotiators are now finalizing the logistical details. These last steps are crucial to bringing the two-year conflict to a close and returning the captives to their families.
