Hamas says it agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, and expressed willingness to negotiate through mediators on President Donald Trump’s[1] plan for peace[2] in the Middle East.
The group “affirms its readiness to immediately enter into negotiations through the mediators to discuss the details of this agreement,” it said in a statement on Friday.
“The movement also renews its agreement to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support,” Hamas said.
Hamas was responding to a 20-point peace plan[3] Trump outlined on Monday at the White House alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump said that if the militant group did not agree to the plan, Israel would have Washington’s full backing to “finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas.”
Trump said on Friday he’s giving Hamas until 6 p.m. Sunday to accept the ceasefire proposal his administration offered this week[4] to end the war in Gaza.
“If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,” Trump wrote in a lengthy post on Truth Social[5].
Hamas on Friday also said it wanted to further discuss other elements of the peace plan.
“The other issues mentioned in President Trump’s proposal regarding the future of the Gaza Strip and the inherent rights of the Palestinian people are linked to a comprehensive national position and based on relevant international laws and resolutions,” the group said. “They are to be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework. Hamas will be part of it and will contribute to it with full responsibility.”
Under the plan, Israel’s assault in Gaza would end immediately once both sides agree to the proposal, with all hostages, alive and dead, to be released within 72 hours. The plan says no one will be forced to leave Gaza and those who do can return.
A pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood is outlined as a possible outcome, but not a guarantee.
Hamas’ response comes as the Israeli military pressed ahead with a ground operation in famine-stricken Gaza City, despite mounting international pressure and isolation over its assault on the devastated Palestinian enclave.
Trump’s peace plan was met with cautious optimism earlier in the week by leaders elsewhere in the Middle East and around the world.
The Palestinian Authority, which partly controls the occupied West Bank, praised Trump for his “sincere and tireless efforts” to “end the war on Gaza” and reiterated its commitment to making reforms that could pave the way for a future Palestinian state.
Muslim powers including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey welcomed the plan in a joint statement calling Trump’s efforts “sincere.”
The proposal also received support from Europe, with countries that had recently defied Washington by formally recognizing Palestinian statehood welcoming the initiative.
But hours after Trump announced the plan, Netanyahu reiterated his past vows to oppose Palestinian statehood.
“Instead of Hamas isolating us, we turned the tables and isolated Hamas,” he said in Hebrew in a video discussing his U.S. trip.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
References
- ^ Donald Trump’s (www.nbcnews.com)
- ^ plan for peace (www.nbcnews.com)
- ^ 20-point peace plan (www.nbcnews.com)
- ^ ceasefire proposal his administration offered this week (www.nbcnews.com)
- ^ a lengthy post on Truth Social (truthsocial.com)
- ^ Chantal Da Silva (www.nbcnews.com)