Hamas agreed to release all Israeli captives held in Gaza on Friday, after what it described as “in-depth consultations” with leadership ranks, Palestinian factions, and mediators
The announcement comes just hours after US President Donald Trump warned on his TruthSocial account that Hamas should “RELEASE THE HOSTAGES, ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING THE BODIES OF THOSE THAT ARE DEAD, NOW! An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time”.
It also comes five days after Trump announced his 20-point plan for Gaza alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The movement announces its agreement to release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, provided the field conditions for the exchange are met,” Hamas said in a statement.
“In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter into negotiations through the mediators to discuss the details of this. 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,” the group added.
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Trump, on his TruthSocial account, responded by demanding that Israel stop bombing Gaza immediately so the captives can be delivered safely.
“Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” Trump wrote.
“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,” he said.
Hamas did not specify that it agreed to the full 20-point plan as presented, and has, over the past week, repeatedly said that it needed to negotiate a number of points further.
Key among them is the demand for a demilitarised Gaza.
Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera that the group would not disarm before the Israeli occupation ends.
“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 based on relevant international laws and resolutions, and are being discussed within a national framework,” the Hamas statement said.
Hamas senior representative in Doha, Osama Hamdan, told Al Araby TV following the announcement that Hamas will not accept foreign governorship of the enclave, and that it must be run by Palestinians, even transitionally.
An overriding theme of the 20-point plan involves a Tony Blair-run team of billionaires and leading Zionist figures.
Trump has since posted Hamas’ official letter on the matter to his TruthSocial account. This marks the first time a US president has presented to the American public the full wording of Hamas correspondence.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has also shared a photo of Trump in the Oval Office, appearing to deliver remarks to a camera, saying that he is responding to Hamas’ “acceptance” of his “peace plan”.
This is a developing story and will be updated…