Hamas agreed to release all of the remaining hostages as part of a deal with President Donald Trump.
It is believed that there are 48 hostages, alive and dead, remaining in Gaza. Two of the hostages are American, Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, both of whom are presumed dead.
Hamas leaders also said they are ready to enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details of Trump’s deal, which he set a Sunday deadline on.
Hamas “affirms its readiness to immediately enter into negotiations through the mediators to discuss the details of this agreement,” the group said in a statement on Friday.
“The movement also renews its agreement to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support,” Hamas added.
However, the terrorist group said it still wants to negotiate and address other aspects of the peace plan.
“The other issues mentioned in President Trump’s proposal regarding the future of the Gaza Strip and the inherent rights of the Palestinian people are linked to a comprehensive national position and based on relevant international laws and resolutions,” the group said. “They are to be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework. Hamas will be part of it and will contribute to it with full responsibility.”
Hamas has objected to the president’s 72-hour requirement to return the hostages, as well as the requirement to disarm. The group has signaled that it wants a ceasefire with Israel before the release of hostages, as well as the creation and recognition of a Palestinian state.
Israel said it was preparing for the return of the hostages after Hamas’ response to the deal.
“In light of Hamas’s response, Israel is preparing for the immediate implementation of the first stage of President Trump’s plan for the prompt release of all the hostages,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office told CNN in a statement. “We will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to bring the war to an end in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which are aligned with President Trump’s vision.”
Trump said he believes Hamas is ready for peace in a Friday post on Truth Social, but added that Israel must stop bombing Gaza so the hostages can get out safely.
“Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” he said. “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. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
Trump is set to react to Hamas’s acceptance of the peace deal on camera Friday, according to a post on X by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The president announced the deadline on Friday morning, saying that Israel and other nations have already agreed to the terms. His statement came after he introduced a 20-point peace plan for Gaza.
“Fortunately for Hamas, however, they will be given one last chance,” he wrote in a Truth Social post. “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.”
Trump said Hamas will have until 6 p.m. Sunday to agree to the deal or else “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,” he added.
The plan would immediately end the war and force Hamas to return all hostages within 72 hours. There is no definitive guarantee of Palestinian statehood, but a pathway is mentioned as a possible outcome.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) reacted to Hamas’s response on X, calling it “in essence, a rejection” of Trump’s proposal.
“Hamas’ recent response to President Trump’s plan to end the war — which Israel had accepted — is unfortunately predictable. A classic ‘Yes, but.’ No disarmament, keeping Gaza under Palestinian control, and tying hostage release to negotiations, along with other problems. This is, in essence, a rejection by Hamas of President Trump’s ‘take it or leave it’ proposal,” he said.
TRUMP SETS HARD DEADLINE FOR PEACE DEAL BEFORE UNLEASHING ‘ALL HELL’ ON HAMAS
Most of Hamas’s prisoners were captured during its Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. The group killed hundreds of civilians and Israeli fighters before being pushed back.
Since the attack, Israel has relentlessly bombed the terrorist group. The estimated civilian casualties in the country’s bombing of Gaza come in at tens of thousands of people. The country has been accused of “genocide” in the conflict, but its leaders have said Hamas is hiding behind civilian centers.
