ALBAWABA- U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that progress is being made toward securing the release of hostages held in Gaza. He confirmed that Washington is in active communication with both Israel and Hamas to resolve.
The announcement follows a statement by Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who revealed that the U.S. is working on a comprehensive agreement between Israel and Hamas, expected to be announced soon.
According to Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth, the deal may include a call for a ceasefire within the coming weeks, followed by direct negotiations.
Witkoff also met with families of the Israeli hostages, informing them that a serious deal is in progress and could materialize in a matter of days. The families were assured that the Trump administration is fully committed to resolving the issue.
Israeli media reported that momentum is building around a new hostage exchange proposal. Channel 13 noted that members of Israel’s Security Cabinet have been briefed on the terms of a potential deal that could include the release of five kidnapped Israeli soldiers.
Channel 12 confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with senior security officials and the negotiation team to assess the latest developments.
These efforts come as Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18, following a two-month pause.
The last ceasefire resulted in the return of 33 Israeli hostages—eight of whom were confirmed dead—in exchange for the release of approximately 1,800 Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons.
Public pressure continues to mount in Israel, with hundreds of former soldiers from the Armored Corps and Navy signing a petition calling for an end to the war and the immediate return of hostages.
According to Israeli sources, Trump has given Netanyahu a limited window to continue military operations before urging a shift toward diplomacy and the conclusion of a comprehensive deal.
