In a stunning turn of events, Israel announced on September 4 that it is ready to move forward with a prisoner swap deal with Hamas, based on US President Donald Trump’s peace initiative. The decision, unveiled in an official statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, could mark the most significant breakthrough in months of war and stalled negotiations. But with mistrust high, and critical elements of the plan left unaddressed, the path forward remains fraught with uncertainty.

The deal comes in response to a 20-point peace framework presented by Trump on September 30, which demands a ceasefire, an exchange of hostages and prisoners, and the eventual establishment of an apolitical transitional government in Gaza. At its core, the plan envisions Hamas agreeing to release all Israeli hostages within 72 hours of Israel suspending military operations and withdrawing troops “to the agreed upon line.”

In exchange, Israel would free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and some 1,700 others detained after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. Trump has repeatedly framed the proposal as a “last chance” for Hamas, threatening “all hell like no one has ever seen before” should the group fail to comply with the conditions.

The ultimatum, delivered in Trump’s trademark confrontational style on his Truth Social platform, underscored both the urgency and the risks of the deal. “THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER,” Trump wrote, drawing global attention to a conflict that has resisted numerous mediation attempts.

Netanyahu’s office said Israel is........

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