A Palestinian-American activist who has acted as an informal go-between for the Trump administration and Hamas said Wednesday that Washington has now put forward a final American framework aimed at both halting the fighting and securing the release of the hostages in Gaza.
Speaking to the Saudi broadcaster al-Arabiya, Bishara Bahbah explained, “There was a meeting in Washington that, according to what I know, lasted six hours, and it was decided that there would be one final proposal on the table: the release of all the [hostages] and an end to the war.”
Although Bahbah does not hold an official position in the U.S. delegation, he has been functioning as a messenger between Trump’s team and the Hamas leadership.
Earlier in the day, Hamas signaled it was prepared to consider a sweeping arrangement, but Israeli officials quickly dismissed that as a public relations maneuver.
In his remarks to al-Arabiya, Bahbah said he had “contacted Hamas about the matter [of a comprehensive deal], and they were skeptical — they didn’t know if it was something official.”
According to him, once Hamas leaders saw U.S. President Donald Trump post publicly about ending the conflict, they “were convinced it was official, and immediately responded that they agree to this deal.”
On Wednesday, Hamas issued a statement declaring its readiness “to enter into a comprehensive deal in which all enemy prisoners held by the resistance will be freed in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners held by the occupation.” In its own terminology, Hamas labels the hostages it abducted as prisoners.
The organization also said it would support the creation of “an independent national administration of technocrats” to govern Gaza.
Israel, meanwhile, has reiterated that five conditions must be satisfied for the war to be concluded: the liberation of all captives, Hamas’s disarmament, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, continued Israeli security oversight there, and “the establishment of an alternative civilian administration that does not indoctrinate for terror, does not dispatch terror, and does not threaten Israel.”
Hamas’s announcement followed a direct demand by Trump on his Truth Social platform: “Tell Hamas to IMMEDIATELY give back all 20 Hostages (Not 2 or 5 or 7!), and things will change rapidly. IT WILL END!”
Trump’s post appeared to reference the figure Israel believes represents the number of living captives still held. Of the 48 total hostages, Israel has formally confirmed 26 deaths and expressed deep concerns about two others. Families of those confirmed dead have voiced anguish that any deal might abandon the remains of their loved ones in Gaza.
Bahbah stated that Trump is applying intense pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to the U.S.-backed arrangement and terminate the conflict, a message he relayed directly to Hamas.
He argued that the war “could be ended in two weeks” if the parties engaged sincerely in the talks, adding that there are more “positive signs” now than at any previous stage.
Despite those comments, Israeli officials on Wednesday night dismissed Hamas’s declaration, with the IDF pressing forward with its operations in Gaza City.
“This is more spin by Hamas, containing nothing new,” the Prime Minister’s Office asserted.
Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a similar response, urging Hamas to comply with Israel’s terms — chiefly the release of all hostages and disarmament — or else see Gaza City “become like Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” accusing the group of spreading “deceive and utter empty words.”
Reacting to Netanyahu and Katz, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid argued that while Israel need not yield to Hamas’s stipulations, it could not remain idle. “You can’t not even try to return our hostages home,” demanded Lapid, calling for immediate renewal of negotiations.
The best solution and only option for peace is Trump’s proposal of paying the Gazans to move elsewhere and then carpet-bomb Gaza.