GAZA: Hamas announced that it had agreed to “immediately” enter negotiations for the release of all hostages under President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan — a potential breakthrough after months of failed efforts to end the war.
The group stopped short of accepting the Trump proposal unconditionally. Hamas said it was prepared to negotiate through mediators on the details of an exchange and expressed readiness to hand over governance of Gaza to “a Palestinian authority of independents (technocrats) based on Palestinian national consensus and with reliance on Arab and Islamic support.”
CNN said it has obtained the response, delivered to the US through mediators.
Trump Welcomes Hamas Response
Trump — who earlier on Friday had given Hamas until Sunday evening to respond — welcomed the announcement, writing on Truth Social that he believed Hamas was “ready for a lasting PEACE.”
“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out,” Trump posted.
In a follow-up video, he called it a “big day,” while cautioning: “We’ll see how it all turns out. We have to get the final word down in concrete.”
Key Demands and Red Lines
Two of the central conditions in Trump’s plan — the release of the remaining 48 hostages within 72 hours and Hamas relinquishing control of Gaza — were initially viewed as red lines likely to be rejected. But Hamas’s stated willingness to discuss them has opened a possible path toward a ceasefire.
Still, a finalized deal remains uncertain. Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey have continued to press Hamas to accept the plan, which enjoys wide international backing.
Hamas’ response made no mention of disarmament, a critical component of the Trump proposal, and rejected the idea of an international oversight body chaired by Trump, the so-called “Board of Peace,” to supervise Gaza’s governance.
Palestinian Authority Role Disputed
Instead, Hamas said remaining issues relating to Gaza’s future and Palestinian rights would be discussed later, insisting it “will be included and will contribute with full responsibility” in a “comprehensive national Palestinian framework.” This stance directly defies the Trump proposal’s demand that Hamas and other armed groups play no role in governing Gaza, “directly or indirectly.”
Trump had unveiled the 20-point plan earlier in the week at the White House alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who publicly endorsed the framework.
Earlier Friday, Trump warned that if Hamas had not agreed by Sunday evening, “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out.”
Mediators React
Egypt, one of the key mediators, called Hamas’ response a “positive development.”
“Egypt hopes that this positive development will elevate all parties to the level of responsibility by committing to implementing President Trump’s plan on the ground and ending the war,” its foreign ministry said.
Qatar also welcomed the announcement, saying it had begun coordinating with Egypt and the US to “complete discussions regarding the plan to ensure the end of the war.”
Israeli Opposition Voices Support
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid described the Hamas response as an “unprecedented opportunity” to free the hostages and end the conflict.
In a statement on X, Lapid urged the government to join talks to finalize the plan, and said he had informed the Trump administration that Netanyahu had the political backing needed to pursue an agreement.
Lapid has long offered to provide Netanyahu with a political safety net for a hostage deal, though he has avoided spelling out what such an arrangement might entail.
Trump’s 20-Point Proposal
The Trump plan calls for the destruction of all Hamas infrastructure above and below ground, supervised by independent monitors, and prohibits it from being rebuilt.
It also provides for Israel to release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, along with 1,700 detainees arrested since the war began, in exchange for Hamas freeing the remaining hostages. Hamas members could receive amnesty if they commit to peaceful coexistence and disarm.
Under the proposal, Israel would gradually withdraw from Gaza as a temporary International Stabilization Force, led by Arab partners, takes over security. Gaza would then be run by a Palestinian committee under an international “Board of Peace” until a reformed Palestinian Authority assumes control.
The plan acknowledges the aspiration for a Palestinian state and presents what Trump described as a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”
