by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
WASHINGTON / CAIRO / JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the only path to securing the release of hostages held in Gaza is through the complete defeat of Hamas, even as Arab mediators reported progress on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal.
Speaking on his Truth Social platform, Trump insisted that hostages would not be freed until Hamas was destroyed. He added that he had previously negotiated the release of “hundreds” of hostages, while also highlighting his claimed record of halting six global conflicts in six months and striking Iran’s nuclear facilities. He urged Israel to take a hard line, warning that nations must “play to win, or don’t play at all.”
Mediators Push Ceasefire and Hostage Deal
At the same time, reports from Qatari broadcaster Al-Araby TV indicated that Hamas had accepted a ceasefire-hostage release proposal brokered by Egypt and Qatar. The plan would see an immediate 60-day truce, with Hamas releasing 10 living hostages and 15 bodies in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.
Key Points: Ceasefire Proposal
- Truce: 60-day pause in fighting
- Hostage Release: 10 living captives + 15 bodies freed
- Prisoner Exchange: 150 Palestinian prisoners released
- Next Phase: Negotiations during truce for broader deal
- Mediators: Egypt & Qatar leading talks with Palestinian factions
Sources: Al-Araby TV, Al-Arabiya, Times of Israel
Negotiations are being led by Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel, with participation from multiple Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Mediators described the latest round of talks as showing a “heightened sense of responsibility and determination to end the war.”
The deal envisions a phased process: initial releases during the truce, followed by negotiations for a broader agreement aimed at ending the war entirely.
Netanyahu Stands Firm
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded cautiously, saying Hamas was under “immense pressure” as the Israel Defense Forces prepared to launch a full assault on Gaza City. Meeting with IDF generals near the Gaza border, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s conditions remain unchanged: all hostages must be released at once, Hamas must disarm, Gaza must be demilitarized, and control of the Strip must pass to an authority other than the Palestinian Authority.
Although Hebrew media suggested Netanyahu might privately consider partial arrangements, Israeli officials reiterated on Monday that Jerusalem’s position has not shifted.
Internal Pressure on Hamas
Palestinian sources said Hamas accepted the proposal under significant Egyptian pressure and amid mounting unrest inside Gaza, where residents have voiced frustration with the group’s leadership. Calls for a “million-man march” against Hamas leadership reportedly added to the pressure to soften demands.
Still, some analysts warn that compliance remains uncertain, as factions within Hamas’s military wing may resist elements of the agreement.
Prophetic Significance
Many prophecy teachers are pointing to Isaiah 60:18, which promises: “Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.”
The Hebrew word for “violence” here is Hamas. Believers see this as a striking sign of hope — that one day the terror group itself will be removed, and Israel’s future will be marked not by war but by God’s peace and salvation.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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