Key figures across Israel’s political spectrum voiced support on Monday for U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly unveiled Gaza peace initiative, even as some expressed doubts that Hamas would comply with the proposal’s central demand to release Israeli hostages within 72 hours.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana (Likud) celebrated the joint Trump–Netanyahu announcement in Washington, posting on X a photo of the two leaders with the caption, “Yes, another league,” echoing a 2019 campaign slogan that highlighted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close ties with world leaders.
Shas party leader Aryeh Deri thanked God “for the success of the summit at the White House,” praising Trump and Netanyahu for their “united stand for Israel’s security.” He expressed hope that the deal would bring the hostages home before next week’s Sukkot holiday.
Even members of the opposition signalled rare support. Democratic Union chairman Yair Golan, a frequent critic of Netanyahu, said his left-wing bloc would provide the government with a “safety net” to pass the plan if needed.
“Ending the war, returning the hostages, disarming and dismantling Hamas, you’d have to be an absolute hater of Israel to refuse Trump’s plan,” Golan wrote, while adding that celebrations would wait “until we see all the hostages back home.”
Within Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, reactions were more mixed. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi framed the strategy as “peace through strength,” declaring, “Surrender or be destroyed! And of course, a Palestinian state will never be established in the land of our forefathers.”
Economy Minister Nir Barkat hailed what he called the “political genius” of Netanyahu, crediting him with convincing Trump and Arab states of “the justice of Israel’s path,” and vowing that “a Palestinian state will never be established.”
Likud MK Avichay Buaron likewise praised the plan’s provision barring the Palestinian Authority from administering Gaza, calling it “what absolute victory looks like.”
But fellow Likud lawmaker Tally Gotliv voiced caution, warning that Hamas is unlikely to release the remaining hostages so quickly.
“Only someone who does not understand the Hamas ethos would believe that Hamas will return all our hostages and agree to the outline,” she posted, though she added, “I hope I am completely wrong this time.”
Israeli politicians back Trump–Netanyahu Gaza peace plan, cautious on Hamas’ hostage release