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Hamas said Friday it has accepted the framework of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for the Gaza Strip, declaring readiness to release all Israeli hostages and begin immediate negotiations through mediators.
In a statement shared on Telegram, Hamas said it “is ready to release all Israeli captives according to the exchange plan described in the proposal of the American president” and to “begin immediate negotiations through mediators to discuss the details of this agreement.”
The group added that it agrees to “hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to an independent body of Palestinian technocrats, based on national consensus and with Arab and Islamic support.”
Hamas also said that “other issues mentioned in President Trump’s proposal regarding the future of the Gaza Strip and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people are linked to a unified national position and to international laws and resolutions.”
Trump hailed the development, writing on Truth Social, “Hamas is ready for lasting peace. Israel must stop bombing Gaza immediately so we can release the hostages quickly and safely.” In a video statement, he said, “Everyone will be treated fairly” under his Gaza peace plan, adding, “Today is a great day. We’ll see how it develops.”
Following Hamas’s announcement, an Israeli government statement said the country is “preparing for the immediate implementation of the first stage of the Trump plan for the release of all hostages.” Israeli and U.S. media reported that the political leadership instructed the army to “freeze the campaign to capture Gaza City” and reduce military operations “to a minimum.”
French President Emmanuel Macron called the latest developments “a real opportunity” and said “a cease-fire and the release of hostages are within reach.” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “encouraged” by the exchange.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry welcomed Hamas’s acceptance, saying Doha “has begun coordination with Egypt and the United States to continue the talks on ending the war.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wrote on social media that “Hamas’s response to the plan for implementing a cease-fire in Gaza is a constructive and significant step toward achieving lasting peace.” He added, “Israel must immediately stop all its attacks and respect the cease-fire plan.”
Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera that the group “will not disarm until the Israeli occupation ends,” saying issues concerning Gaza’s future “must be discussed within a comprehensive national Palestinian framework.”
Another Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, said the U.S. plan was “vague” and “requires negotiations through mediators.”
Trump had given Hamas a deadline of 6 p.m. Sunday Washington time to accept what he described as a “last-chance” peace deal. “If this LAST CHANCE deal is not reached, hell like no one has ever seen will break loose against Hamas,” he wrote.
Gaza’s Civil Defense said at least 49 people, including 31 in Gaza City, were killed in Israeli strikes Friday.
With information from AFP, Reuters, and AMNA.
