A potential end to the two-year Gaza war is tantalizingly close, with a U.S.-backed deal described as “90 per cent done,” yet the final steps remain fraught with uncertainty. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered the optimistic assessment, revealing that a framework for releasing hostages in exchange for an Israeli military pullback is almost complete.
The foundation of the deal is a proposal from US President Donald Trump, which Hamas has reportedly “basically” accepted. This tentative agreement has shifted the focus of negotiators to the complex logistics of a mass hostage release, a delicate operation that requires precise coordination. The success of these technical talks is seen as the ultimate test of the deal’s viability.
President Trump himself has voiced strong support for the plan, calling it a “great deal for Israel.” His administration is pushing for a swift resolution, with Trump warning Hamas of severe consequences, including “complete obliteration,” if the group obstructs the path to peace or refuses to cede control of Gaza.
A key component of the agreement is the Israeli withdrawal to the “yellow line,” their mid-August position, which serves as the primary condition for the hostage release. Rubio stated that this is “priority number one” and that progress on this front is expected “very quickly.”
Despite the hopeful progress, challenges remain. Hamas’s agreement to a post-war plan for Gaza is only “in principle,” leaving significant room for future disputes. The final ten percent of the deal, while small, involves the most critical details that will ultimately determine whether this fragile hope for peace becomes a lasting reality.
