Israel approves Trump’s Gaza truce plan

The deal includes the release of 10 hostages during a 60-day ceasefire that will be anounced by Donald Trump once Hamas agrees to it.

Israeli army tanks are seen positioned as smoke rises in the background in southern Gaza, as seen from a humanitarian aid distribution center operated. Picture: AP

Israel has accepted Washington’s proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, the White House says, in a deal that includes the freeing of 10 hostages and a personal declaration by Donald Trump.

Israeli and Arab media report that under the deal proposed by Mr Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff - which will be announced by Donald Trump if accepted by Hamas - 10 living and 18 dead hostages will be freed during a 60-day ceasefire. Five living and nine dead hostages will be released on Day 1 of the ceasefire, with another five living and nine dead released on Day 7.

In return, Israel would release 125 Palestinian terror convicts serving life sentences, 1,111 Gazans detained since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, and 180 bodies of Palestinians currently held by Israel.

Channel 12 and al Arabiya report the deal includes a commitment by the US President to ensure Israel keeps to the ceasefire. Al Arabiya claims Mr Trump will announce the deal later on Friday (AEST).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told hostages’ families that he has approved the proposal in principal, while The Times of Israel reports Hamas is leaning toward accepting the deal, with some reservations.

As part of the US proposal, the United Nations will resume providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, in place of the new Israeli-backed mechanism that started operating this week, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel.

The deal doesn’t include an Israeli promise to end the war - a sticking point during talks, with Israel insisting any ceasefire would be temporary and Hamas insisting on a permanent end to the fighting.

“I can confirm that Special Envoy Witkoff and the president submitted a ceasefire proposal to Hamas, that Israel backed and supported. Israel signed off on this proposal before it was sent to Hamas,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

“I can also confirm that those discussions are continuing, and we hope that a ceasefire in Gaza will take place so we can return all of the hostages home.”

The White House spokeswoman later declined to confirm reports in Saudi and Israeli media that both sides had reached a 60-day ceasefire agreement and that Mr Trump was poised to make an announcement.

“If there is an announcement to be made, it will come from the White House -- the president, myself, or special envoy Witkoff,” Ms Leavitt said.

Progress on a ceasefire deal came after Israel approved 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, the biggest expansion in decades.

Settlements in the West Bank - condemned by the United Nations as illegal under international law though Israel disputes this - are seen as one of the main obstacles to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

The decision to establish more, taken by the country’s security cabinet, was announced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz.

“We have made a historic decision for the development of settlements: 22 new communities in Judea and Samaria, renewing settlement in the north of Samaria, and reinforcing the eastern axis of the State of Israel,” Mr Smotrich said on X, using the Israeli terms for the southern and northern West Bank, which it has occupied since 1967.

“Next step: sovereignty!” he added.

Mr Katz said the initiative “changes the face of the region and shapes the future of settlement for years to come”.

In a statement, Hamas condemned the move as “further confirmation that the criminal Zionist occupation continues to impose facts on the ground by accelerating steps to Judaize Palestinian land within a clear annexation project”.

“This is a blatant defiance of the international will and a grave violation of international law and United Nations resolutions.”