According to Reuters, Hamas has declared its willingness to release all Israeli hostages and return the bodies of the deceased as part of Donald Trump’s proposed peace solution for Gaza.
Earlier on Friday, Trump gave the jihadists until Sunday at 6pm to release all the remaining hostages or ‘all hell’ will break loose.
In a statement via Telegram, Hamas expressed, “In this context, the movement reaffirms its readiness to promptly enter negotiations through mediators to explore this agreement’s details.”
Additionally, Hamas agreed to transfer Gaza’s administrative duties to an independent body of Palestinian technocrats. These technocrats, according to Hamas, will be “based on Palestinian national consensus with Arab and Islamic backing.”
“Other elements included in President Trump’s proposal about the future of the Gaza Strip and the genuine rights of the Palestinian people depend on a united national stance and applicable international laws and resolutions. These will be addressed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework where Hamas will participate and contribute constructively,” stated Hamas.
The militants also commended Trump, noting, “Hamas values the Arab, Islamic, and global efforts, along with US President Donald Trump’s initiatives, advocating to cease the Gaza Strip conflict, engage in prisoner exchanges, ensure immediate aid entry, oppose the Strip’s occupation, and prevent the displacement of our Palestinian people.”
According to BBC, Hamas currently holds 20 remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip, along with the bodies of 28 deceased hostages.
Hamas’ announcement follows Trump’s warning on Truth Social, where he insisted the group accept the peace plan he introduced earlier in the week.
Trump and Netanyahu at the White House on Monday
Hamas claimed that it will hand over control of Gaza to a group of ‘Palestinian technocrats’
Trump threatened that ‘all hell’ will break out on the militants if they did not accept his plan by 6pm on Sunday. The deal includes that all remaining hostages are released within 72 hours of an agreement.
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday: ‘Hamas has been a ruthless and violent threat, for many years, in the Middle East! They have killed (and made lives unbearably miserable), culminating with the October 7th MASSACRE, in Israel, babies, woman, children, old people, and many young men and women, boys and girls, getting ready to celebrate their future lives together.’
Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday at the White House along with some of his top cabinet officials, and agreed on a new peace deal for Gaza.
The White House released a 20-point plan, which included increasing aid to Gaza and an economic development proposal that includes preferred tariffs and access rates.
Parts of the proposal call for a complete disarmament of Hamas followed by a gradual and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The plan also outlines that a post-war Gaza will be governed by Trump himself.
Hamas appears to disagree with Trump’s plan to rule over the Gaza strip by noting the region will be ruled by a group of ‘Palestinian technocrats.’
Trump added on Truth Social on Friday: ‘Great, powerful, and very rich Nations of the Middle East, and the surrounding areas beyond, together with the United States of America, have agreed, with Israel signing on, to PEACE, after 3000 years, in the Middle East.’
‘THIS DEAL ALSO SPARES THE LIVES OF ALL REMAINING HAMAS FIGHTERS! The details of the document are known to the WORLD, and it is a great one for ALL! We will have PEACE in the Middle East one way or the other. The violence and bloodshed will stop.’
