Hamas agreed to some terms in the U.S. president’s Gaza peace plan but sought more negotiation on others.
WASHINGTON—Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas said Friday it has agreed to release all hostages in accordance with U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan.
The group also said it has accepted parts of the peace proposal to end its war with Israel, including giving up power over Gaza, but noted that other provisions would require further consultations among Palestinians.
The announcement came after Trump gave Hamas until Oct. 5 to accept a deal to end the war and release all the hostages the terrorist group took during its Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack on Israel. Trump announced the deadline in a post on Truth Social on Oct. 3.
“If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER,” Trump wrote in his post.
“As retribution for the October 7th attack on civilization, more than 25,000 Hamas ‘soldiers’ have already been killed. Most of the rest are surrounded and MILITARILY TRAPPED, just waiting for me to give the word, ‘GO,’ for their lives to be quickly extinguished. As for the rest, we know where and who you are, and you will be hunted down, and killed.”
Hamas said it welcomed Trump’s proposal but sought clarification on certain provisions, adding that it would release all living hostages and hand over the bodies of those who have died. It also said it’s ready to immediately engage in negotiations through mediators to discuss the details.
Early last week, the Trump administration unveiled a peace plan for Gaza, presenting it to Arab leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City.
Israel approved Trump’s plan earlier this week during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House, and leaders across the Middle East and Europe have also voiced support for the peace proposal.
The deal included Israel’s withdrawal to an agreed line, a suspension of all military operations in Gaza, and the release of 250 prisoners serving life sentences, along with 1,700 Gazans detained after Hamas’s October 2023 terrorist attack on Israel.
“Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza,” according to the agreement.
By Emel Akan
