A text message obtained by CNN has revealed new details of a private discussion between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner-exchange agreement.
According to CNN, the message was sent by Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for prisoner affairs, to the families of Israeli captives, summarising a key meeting in which Netanyahu, senior military officials, and negotiation team members participated.
The message read:
“One of the main topics, of course, was the return of the deceased captives. During the meeting, there was a break for a conversation between the Prime Minister and President Trump, in which the issue of the dead captives was discussed.”
Hirsch informed the families that Israeli contacts with the Americans and mediators are ongoing, and that “pressure on Hamas continues and will increase.”
The Captives’ File and the Ongoing Deal
So far, Hamas has returned the bodies of nine out of 28 deceased captives, explaining that it cannot access the rest without heavy equipment and significant efforts, given the devastation caused by Israel’s bombardment.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump acknowledged the difficulty of the situation in Gaza, expressing cautious optimism that Hamas would adhere to its commitments.
During a White House press conference on Thursday—ironically held to discuss U.S. drug prices—Trump was asked about Gaza. He said the United States is monitoring developments, noting that the situation has calmed somewhat.
“This region (Gaza) is very difficult,” Trump said. “We know their commitments (Hamas), and I assume they will fulfil them—I hope so.”
“They returned some of the bodies today, but they also said they will act according to the agreement,” he added, reiterating that Gaza’s situation remains “very tough.”
That same day, families of Israeli captives demanded that their government freeze further stages of the exchange deal and ceasefire implementation until the remaining bodies are retrieved from Hamas.
Trump’s Position: Between Ceasefire and Threats
Trump’s remarks reflected his uneasy balance between political pragmatism and military threat.
He added:
“We’ll see if they act accordingly. If they do, no problem. If not — we’ll handle it.”
The statement underscored Washington’s dual role: presenting itself as a mediator while continuing to shield Israel diplomatically and militarily.
For its part, Hamas confirmed it is making serious efforts to close the file of Israeli bodies, explaining that it requires advanced equipment and specialised teams to retrieve remains from under the rubble — a direct consequence of Israel’s extensive destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure.
Context of the Gaza Agreement
The exchange of captives between Hamas and Israel was conducted under a ceasefire agreement that took effect on 10 October.
The deal is based on a plan proposed by President Trump, whose administration openly backed Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza that began on 8 October 2023.
That campaign killed more than 67,967 Palestinians, wounded over 170,179, the majority being women and children, and caused a famine that claimed the lives of 463 Palestinians, including 157 children.
While Washington continues to portray itself as a peace broker, the reality on the ground shows that U.S. policy has emboldened Israel’s war machine, leaving Gaza in ruins and starvation.
