Palestinian militant organization Hamas announced on Friday its willingness to release all Israeli hostages and cede control of Gaza to a Palestinian body but also added it wants to have negotiations over aspects of President Donald Trump’s 20-point Middle East peace plan unveiled last week. ceasefire plan
In a formal statement, the group declared: “The movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter into negotiations through the mediators to discuss the details of this agreement.”
This response comes days after Trump unveiled a 20-point peace proposal at the White House, standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The plan outlines an immediate end to hostilities in Gaza, contingent on mutual agreement, and requires Hamas to release all hostages within 72 hours. It ensures that no one will be forced to leave Gaza and allows return for those who choose to depart.
“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 Hamas statement said.
While the plan outlines a potential pathway to Palestinian self-determination and eventual statehood, it falls short of offering guarantees.
On Friday, Trump issued a stern ultimatum to Hamas.
“If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,” the president wrote in a lengthy post on Truth Social, giving the group until 6 p.m. Sunday to accept the ceasefire deal.
In its statement, Hamas acknowledged the broader scope of the proposal and expressed a desire to engage further:
“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 further added these issues “are to be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework. Hamas will be part of it and will contribute to it with full responsibility.”
The proposal and Hamas’ initial response arrive amid a dire backdrop in Gaza, where Israeli forces continue a ground offensive in famine-stricken Gaza City, drawing growing international condemnation.
Meanwhile, the peace plan has drawn cautious optimism from several regional powers.
The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, also welcomed the effort, commending Trump for his “sincere and tireless efforts” to end the war and reiterating its commitment to internal reforms that could support future statehood aspirations.
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Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
