Hamas conditionally agrees to key terms on Israel-Palestine peace deal
The announcement comes after Trump set today’s evening deadline for Hamas to accept his plan, warning that failure to comply could trigger a much larger military response
The US President Donald Trump’s brokered peace deal between Israel and Palestine nears a promising future after Hamas conditionally agreed to some elements of Trump’s 20-point plan peace proposal, including turning over control of the territory and releasing the remaining hostages in its custody.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza.
At the same time, Trump told Israel to immediately stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a U.S. plan to end the war, but vexing issues like disarmament appeared unresolved.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel was preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages following Hamas’ response.
In a statement issued yesterday, Hamas, however, said that other aspects of the plan would need additional discussion among Palestinian leaders before a final decision is made.
The announcement comes after Trump set today’s evening deadline for Hamas to accept his plan, warning that failure to comply could trigger a much larger military response.
In its statement, Hamas said it had carried out detailed consultations with its leadership, Palestinian factions, and mediators.
The group praised “the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of US President Donald Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners, the immediate entry of aid, the rejection of the occupation of the Strip, and the rejection of the displacement of our Palestinian people from it.”
Hamas confirmed it is ready to release all occupation prisoners, both living and deceased, under the exchange terms outlined in Trump’s plan.
“The movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter, through the mediators, into negotiations to discuss the details,” the statement said.
The group also approved transferring Gaza’s administration to a neutral Palestinian body made up of technocrats and supported by Arab and Islamic countries.
Trump said he believed Hamas had showed it was “ready for a lasting peace” and he put the onus on Netanyahu’s government.
“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone; this is about long sought peace in the Middle East.”
Netanyahu’s office said Israel “will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which align with President Trump’s vision.”
Residents said Israeli tanks bombarded Talateeni Street, a major artery in the heart of Gaza City, after Trump’s message to Israel to stop.
Witnesses said Israeli military planes also intensified bombing in Gaza City in the hour after Hamas issued its statement, hitting several houses in the Remal neighborhood.
