Trump says ‘there’s been a handshake’ in Israel-Hamas peace shock as Israeli hospitals prep to take in 33 final hostages

DONALD Trump said “there has been a handshake” sparking hope a peace deal between Israel and Hamas is imminent.

And Israeli hospitals are preparing to receive and treat the remaining injured hostages ahead of a ceasefire deal.

Asked to give an update during an interview with the Newsmax network, the President- elect said: “We are very close to getting it done. They have to get it done.

“If they don’t get it done, there’s going to be a lot of trouble out there – a lot of trouble like they have never seen before. They will get it done.

“I understand there’s been a handshake and they’re getting it finished and maybe by the end of the week, but it has to take place.”

A total of 33 hostages are expected to be released in the first phase of the deal which is currently negotiated between Tel Aviv and Hamas.

Officials believe Israel is on the brink of securing a ceasefire deal which could see those held captive by Hamas freed in days.

The deal is hoped to pave the way for the end of the conflict in the Middle East after 15 months of fighting.

Head of the Health Ministry’s public health division Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis said the conditions of these hostages after more than a year in captivity will be “very different” than those released in November 2023.

The three-phase plan would need to be submitted to the Israeli Cabinet for final approval.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said that the negotiations were productive, without providing any details.

He said: “Today, we are at the closest point ever to having a deal.”

Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages.

The terror group said that “negotiations had reached their final stage.”

The first part of the deal sees Hamas releasing three prisoners every seven days.

The 33 hostages will be released across the first three phases in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

An official said the hostages released at first would be those “in very bad shape” while the rest of those held in Gaza would follow.

Two Palestinian sources close to Hamas said that Israel would release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange of the 33 hostages.

One of the sources said: “Israel will release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including several with lengthy sentences.”

Mediator Qatar said Israel and Hamas were at the closest point yet to sealing a deal that would bring them a step closer to ending the war.

Among the 33 hostages would be five female Israeli soldiers, each to be released in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 militants who are serving life sentences.

The Israeli official said Israel assumes most of the 33 are alive.

During this 42-day phase, Israeli forces would withdraw from population centers, Palestinians could start returning to what remains of their homes in northern Gaza and there would be a surge of humanitarian aid, with some 600 trucks entering each day.

Details of the second phase still must be negotiated during the first.

Those details remain difficult to resolve and the deal does not include written guarantees that the ceasefire will continue until a deal is reached.

The Israeli official said detailed negotiations on the second phase will begin during the first.

He said Israel will retain some assets throughout negotiations, referring to a military presence, and would not leave the Gaza Strip until all hostages are home.

The United States, Qatar and Egypt have worked for more than a year on talks to end the war in Gaza but to no avail.

Hamas has said that it won’t release the remaining captives without an end to the war.

Some 100 people are still captive inside Gaza, and the military believes at least a third are dead.

But Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to continue the campaign until total victory over the militant group.