Hamas Accepts Key Terms of Trump's Gaza Peace Plan as Israel Prepares for Hostage Release

Hamas stated on Friday it would agree to certain aspects of Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war.

President Donald Trump instructed Israel on Friday to immediately cease bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accepted some other terms in a US plan to end the war, though challenging issues like disarmament remained unresolved.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's office announced that Israel was preparing for "immediate implementation" of the first stage of Trump's Gaza plan for Israeli hostage release following Hamas' response.

The Palestinian militant group provided its response to Trump's 20-point plan on Friday after the US president gave Hamas until Sunday to accept or face serious consequences.

Trump, who has portrayed himself as uniquely capable of achieving peace in Gaza, has invested considerable political capital in efforts to end a two-year war that has caused tens of thousands of deaths and left US ally Israel increasingly isolated internationally.

Trump expressed his belief that Hamas had demonstrated it was "ready for a lasting PEACE" and placed responsibility on Netanyahu's government.

"Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "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."

Netanyahu's office stated that Israel "will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which align with President Trump's vision."

According to local residents, Israeli tanks bombarded Talateeni Street, a major artery in the heart of Gaza City, after Trump's message to Israel to stop.

Witnesses reported that Israeli military planes intensified bombing in Gaza City in the hour following Hamas' statement, striking several houses in the Remal neighborhood.

There were also strikes reported on Khan Younis, though no casualties were mentioned by residents.

Israel, which supports Trump's proposal, had not yet commented on Hamas' response or on Trump's demand to end bombing in Gaza.

However, Israel's parliamentary opposition leader Yair Lapid urged Netanyahu to proceed with the plan. In a post on X he stated: "Israel should announce it is joining the discussions led by the president to finalize the details of the deal."

Families of those held by Hamas in Gaza called on Netanyahu "to immediately order negotiations for the return of all hostages."

Domestically, the prime minister faces growing pressure to end the war from hostage families and a war-weary public, while also dealing with demands from hardline members of his far-right coalition who insist there must be no reduction in Israel's campaign in Gaza.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who led efforts for wider recognition of a Palestinian state to help end the conflict, stated in a post on X: "Hamas' commitment must be followed up without delay."

Israel began its offensive in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 being taken as hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel reports that 48 hostages remain, 20 of whom are alive.

Israel's military campaign has killed more than 66,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health authorities. The assault has destroyed much of the strip while aid restrictions have caused famine in parts of Gaza, with dire conditions throughout the enclave.

A UN Commission of Inquiry and multiple human rights experts have concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Netanyahu's government maintains it has acted in self-defense.

Hamas, in its response seen by Reuters, did not indicate whether it would agree to disarm and demilitarize Gaza – a key demand from Israel and the US that Hamas has previously rejected.

The group also did not agree to an Israeli withdrawal in stages, as opposed to the immediate, full withdrawal Hamas demands.

A senior Hamas official told Al Jazeera that the group would not disarm before Israel's occupation of the enclave ends, highlighting the continued gap between the parties as the war approaches its two-year mark.

Qatar has begun coordination with mediator Egypt and the United States to continue talks on Trump's Gaza plan, according to the Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson on X.

Trump's plan outlines an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body.

In its response to Trump's plan, Hamas stated it "appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of US President Donald Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners, (and) the immediate entry of aid," among other terms.

The group announced its "approval of releasing all occupation prisoners - both living and remains - according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump's proposal, with the necessary field conditions for implementing the exchange."

However, Hamas added: "In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter, through the mediators, into negotiations to discuss the details."

The organization said it was prepared "to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats) based on Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing."

Hamas did not clearly indicate whether it would accept Trump's proposal barring it from exercising political power in Gaza. However, the group stated it should be "included and will contribute" to any Palestinian national discussion on Gaza's future.

Hamas has previously offered to release all hostages and transfer administration of the Gaza Strip to another entity.

Earlier on Friday, Trump warned that "all HELL" would break out in Gaza if Hamas failed to agree to his proposal by Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.

Hamas was not involved in the negotiations that produced the proposal.