Developments were rapid on Friday evening, with Hamas declaring readiness to begin immediate negotiations regarding Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza. The organization appears prepared to accept key elements of the plan (release of all hostages within 72 hours, transfer of Gaza Strip administration to a “Palestinian Body of Independent Technocrats”), though there was no mention of disarmament, which had previously raised objections. However, prospects for ending the war seem to be emerging, with Donald Trump responding immediately through an announcement, stating characteristically that “we are very close to achieving peace in the Middle East.” In a social media post, he declared that based on Hamas’s recent announcement, the organization appears ready for “lasting peace.” Trump emphasized the need for Israel to immediately stop bombing the Gaza Strip so hostages can be released safely and quickly. The president characterized the situation as an opportunity to achieve long-sought peace in the Middle East.
Read more: Trump: “Hamas appears ready for peace” – Demands Israel immediately stop Gaza bombings
Donald Trump’s announcement following Hamas’s response
Israel freezes military operations in Gaza, celebrations in the enclave
“Israel is ready for immediate implementation of the first stage of Trump’s plan for the immediate release of all hostages,” the statement initially reads, according to the Times of Israel. “We will continue to fully cooperate with the president and his team to end the war according to the principles Israel has set, which correspond to Donald Trump’s vision for ending the war,” it adds. The statement makes no reference to Trump’s call for Israel to immediately stop attacks on Gaza, something the US president said was necessary to ensure safe and rapid hostage release.
Following this statement, “Israeli political leadership ordered the Israeli army to freeze the campaign to conquer Gaza City,” as reported around 04:00 Saturday morning by Israeli Army Radio and the Israeli public broadcaster Kan, after Donald Trump called on Israel to stop attacks on Gaza following Hamas’s response to the American president’s plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip. Army Radio reported that the order to the military speaks of reducing operations to the “minimum,” with troops in the field executing strictly defensive maneuvers. This order was issued after overnight talks between Israeli and American officials, the radio network emphasized. Kan reported that negotiations on the Trump plan are expected to be conducted soon.
In Gaza, cries of praise to Allah began to be heard from tents in the al-Mawasi camp, near Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, following the announcement of Hamas’s decision, as reported by a French Agency correspondent and relayed by APE-MPE.
“My body started trembling and shivering. I was overwhelmed by a feeling ‘Allah, relief has finally come. Finally, the war will end, the genocide will end, and we can sleep safely and without fear!'” said Sama Al-Hoo, a Palestinian living in the camp.
“We hope the war, bombings and destruction will end and the bloodshed will stop. We are exhausted and deserve joy and life,” said Moamen Jaser, a Palestinian who also celebrated the news.
Hamas’s announcement
In its response, Hamas reportedly stated the following:
“After a comprehensive study, the movement made its decision and submitted the following response to mediators: Hamas appreciates the Arab, Islamic and international efforts, as well as the efforts of US President Donald Trump, calling for ending the war in the Gaza Strip, prisoner exchange, immediate entry of aid, rejection of Gaza occupation, and rejection of Palestinian displacement from it. In this context, and in a way that will achieve war termination and complete withdrawal from the Strip, the movement announces its agreement to release all living and dead occupation prisoners, according to the exchange type included in President Trump’s proposal, provided necessary conditions exist for the exchange process. In this framework, the movement confirms its readiness to immediately begin negotiations through mediators to discuss the details of this matter. The movement also renews its agreement to hand over Gaza Strip administration to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and with Arab and Islamic support. Other issues mentioned in President Trump’s proposal regarding Gaza’s future and the Palestinian people’s inherent rights are connected to an overall national position based on relevant international laws and resolutions, and are discussed within an overall Palestinian national framework, in which Hamas will participate.”
International reactions
French President Emmanuel Macron stated in the early hours of Saturday that hostage release and ceasefire are “achievable” in the Gaza Strip following Hamas’s positive response to American President Donald Trump’s peace plan. “The release of all hostages and ceasefire in Gaza are achievable! Hamas’s commitment must be implemented without further delay,” the French president emphasized in an X post.
Qatar (one of the key mediating countries between Israel and Hamas) welcomed Hamas’s “agreement” with Donald Trump’s peace plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning. “The State of Qatar welcomes Hamas’s announcement that President Trump’s plan has its approval,” said Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari, while supporting Trump’s call for immediate ceasefire.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated: “I call on all parties to seize the opportunity to end the tragic conflict in Gaza,” while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that “Hamas’s response to the Gaza ceasefire plan represents a constructive and significant step toward achieving permanent peace.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted that “hostage release and peace in Gaza are achievable… After nearly two years, this is the best opportunity for peace,” while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated: “Priority for everyone must now be achieving a ceasefire that will lead to immediate release of all hostages. Italy remains ready to contribute its part.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged his country would support further negotiations and efforts for sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians. He said Hamas’s acceptance of at least part of the peace plan represents an opportunity to end hostilities, return hostages, and provide humanitarian aid “to those who so desperately need it.” “We call on all sides to implement the agreement without delay.”
The “thorns”: “Hostage handover within 72 hours unrealistic, we won’t disarm until Israeli occupation ends”
As APE-MPE reports, in its response to Trump’s 20-point plan, Hamas declared readiness to release all living hostages and return dead hostages’ bodies in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, as well as begin immediate negotiations for the “details” of these releases.
However, the response text contains no reference to the movement’s disarmament – which Israel demands – or fighter exile to third countries, two key points of the American president’s plan, supported by many Arab countries.
This plan provides for ceasefire, hostage release within 72 hours from the Gaza Strip, Hamas disarmament, and gradual Israeli military withdrawal.
In the announcement responding to the Trump plan, Hamas emphasizes that it “appreciates Arab, Islamic and international efforts, as well as US President Donald Trump’s efforts, calling for ending the war in the Gaza Strip, prisoner exchange, and immediate aid entry” to the enclave. It adds that it approves “releasing all occupation captives – living and remains – according to the exchange plan (with Palestinian prisoners) included in Trump’s proposal, under necessary field conditions for implementation.”
However, it then added: “Under this framework, the movement confirms its readiness to engage, through mediators, in negotiations to discuss the details.”
Speaking to Al Jazeera, a senior Hamas official said that handing over hostages held in Gaza within 72 hours is “theoretical and unrealistic.”
The organization also states it’s ready “to hand over Gaza Strip governance to a group of independent Palestinians (technocrats) based on Palestinian consensus with Arab and Islamic support.”
Musa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official, told Al Jazeera television late Friday that the organization won’t disarm until Israeli “occupation” ends, adding that issues concerning Gaza’s future should be discussed within an overall Palestinian national framework, of which Hamas would be part. Marzouk said Hamas would begin negotiations on all issues concerning itself and its weapons.
Another Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, stated after the Palestinian movement’s response that Trump’s plan is “unclear” and requires negotiations on many key points. “The American proposal is vague, ambiguous and (…) therefore requires negotiations through mediators,” Mardawi noted.
On Friday, at least 49 people were killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli strikes, according to the Palestinian enclave’s Civil Defense, including 31 in Gaza City.
