The United States will know “very quickly” if Hamas is serious about peace, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, as technical talks to finalize a ceasefire deal get underway. The broader agreement to end the two-year war is “90 per cent done” and has received a preliminary green light from Hamas.
The core of the deal is a hostage exchange. All Israeli captives would be released in exchange for an Israeli military pullback to the “yellow line,” a position from mid-August. This is the immediate priority.
The framework also includes a commitment to future stability, with Rubio stating that Hamas has agreed “in principle” to a plan for the aftermath of the war. This tentative political agreement is a key component of the overall peace effort.
The initiative is backed by President Donald Trump, who has called it a “great deal for Israel” and warned Hamas of “complete obliteration” if it refuses to cede power. Trump also confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on board.
The final logistical negotiations will serve as the ultimate test. Rubio’s comments underscore the critical nature of these concluding talks, which will reveal Hamas’s true intentions and decide the fate of the peace process.
