A wave of cautious optimism is spreading as the United States has declared a deal to end the two-year Gaza war “90 per cent done.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that Hamas had “basically” agreed to the core tenets of a plan to release hostages and establish a ceasefire.
The framework, heavily promoted by President Donald Trump, hinges on the release of all Israeli hostages. In return, the Israeli military has agreed to pull back its forces to the “yellow line,” its position within Gaza in mid-August.
Adding to the optimism is a breakthrough on the political front. Rubio confirmed that Hamas has agreed “in principle” to join discussions about the future of Gaza after the war, a crucial step for long-term stability, though many details still need to be settled.
President Trump has called the proposal a “great deal for Israel” and issued a stark warning to Hamas that it faces “complete obliteration” if it does not give up power. He also affirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on board.
While the main components are in place, the final outcome depends on ongoing technical talks to coordinate the hostage release. Rubio stated that these talks will quickly reveal if the current optimism is justified.