Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have resumed in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, marking the closest both sides have come to a breakthrough since the Israel-Gaza conflict reignited two years ago.

At the center of these discussions lies Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, a short but ambitious framework aimed at ending the war. While Israel has approved the proposal in full, Hamas has only agreed to parts of it, leaving several critical issues unresolved.Lll

1. Hostage Release Timeline

According to Trump’s proposal, all remaining hostages are to be freed within 72 hours of a peace deal being finalized. Israeli officials believe 48 hostages are still held in Gaza, with around 20 presumed alive.

Trump said over the weekend that the release could happen “very soon,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted it could occur before Sukkot ends on October 13.

Hamas has accepted the hostage exchange mechanism outlined in the plan, contingent on specific “field conditions.” However, since hostages remain Hamas’s main leverage, it is uncertain whether they would release them before other elements of the agreement are settled

Tensions remain high following an Israeli airstrike in Doha last month that targeted Hamas negotiators, killing the son of Khalil al-Hayya, who still leads Hamas’s delegation in Egypt.

2. Hamas Disarmament

A major obstacle to the deal is the disarmament clause. Trump’s plan requires Hamas to surrender its weapons as part of the ceasefire.

However, Hamas has consistently rejected disarmament unless a recognized Palestinian state is established first. Its latest response notably omitted any mention of disarming, signaling no change in stance.

Netanyahu reaffirmed his position over the weekend, declaring, “Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized — one way or another.”

3. Governance of Postwar Gaza

Another sticking point concerns who will govern Gaza once the fighting stops. Trump’s framework envisions a transitional administration of Palestinian technocrats, overseen by a “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump himself and including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Eventually, control would transfer to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

While Netanyahu has accepted the overall plan, he publicly rejected any PA involvement, even standing beside Trump during the announcement. This stance may put him at odds with both Washington and moderates within Israel.

Meanwhile, Hamas insists on retaining some form of political role within a “unified Palestinian movement,” wording that is deliberately vague but unlikely to satisfy either Trump or Israe

4. Israeli Military Withdrawal.

The scope and timing of Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza remain contentious. The plan suggests a phased pullout based on agreed benchmarks.

A White House map shows three stages of withdrawal:

Stage 1: Israel maintains control over 55% of Gaza.

Stage 2: Control reduces to 40%.

Stage 3: A final “security perimeter” covering 15% remains until Gaza is deemed free from terror threats.

Critics say the map’s borders are inaccurate and lack clear timelines, leaving Hamas demanding greater clarity on when Israel’s full withdrawal would occurs

5. Netanyahu’s Political Future

For Netanyahu, the stakes are deeply personal. He faces domestic political pressure, a corruption trial, and rising dissent within his far-right coalition.

Hardline ministers have threatened to collapse his government if he agrees to a ceasefire that leaves Hamas intact. Yet, polls show that 70% of Israelis now support ending the war in exchange for the hostages’ return.

Trump’s peace plan also represents a sharp shift from the earlier “Gaza Riviera” redevelopment proposal, which envisioned forced Palestinian displacement — an idea favored by Israeli ultranationalists.

Ending the war could bolster Netanyahu’s popularity ahead of Israel’s 2026 elections

, though it risks alienating the very coalition keeping him in power.