Israeli Officials Contradict Trump on Gaza Peace Deal

President Donald Trump has announced that both Israel and Hamas had agreed to the “first phase” of his 20-point plan to end hostilities in Gaza—but multiple high-ranking Israeli officials are already casting doubt on the proposal, Alexander Willis reported for Raw Story.

Israel currently holds an estimated 9,500 Palestinians, around 3,660 of whom are detained without criminal charges. (Photo: Jaber Jehad Badwan Wikimedia Commons)

Under the plan, Hamas would return all remaining Israeli hostages and commit to peaceful coexistence.

In exchange, Israel would begin a phased withdrawal from Gaza and release 1,950 Palestinians currently in custody—250 serving life sentences and 1,700 detained after Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel currently holds an estimated 9,500 Palestinians, around 3,660 of whom are detained without criminal charges.

Hamas would also be granted amnesty under the deal—provided it agrees to end hostilities and refrain from any role in Gaza’s future governance. That clause has already sparked backlash among Israeli officials.

“Mixed emotions on a complex morning,” Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote.

“We cannot join the short-sighted celebrations and vote in favor of the deal. A tremendous responsibility to ensure that this is not, God forbid, a deal of ‘hostages in exchange for stopping the war,’ as Hamas thinks and boasts.”

Assal Rad, a fellow at the Arab Center Washington DC, said Smotrich’s remarks directly contradict the core premise of the deal. “Israeli officials are already contradicting Trump,” Rad wrote.

“Here is Smotrich saying they want to ‘ensure that this is not, God forbid, a deal of hostages in exchange for stopping the war.’ That is, in fact, exactly the point of a ceasefire.”

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that his far-right party would leave the governing coalition if Hamas “continues to exist” following the hostage exchange.