Hamas announced Friday that it will release all Israeli hostages and enter negotiations for a lasting peace in Gaza under President Donald Trump’s new ceasefire plan.
The plan calls for the simultaneous release of all 48 hostages, a phased Israeli withdrawal, disarmament of Hamas, the formation of a civilian Palestinian governing authority, and large-scale humanitarian aid.
In a statement, Hamas said it had held “in-depth consultations” and was prepared to negotiate Trump’s 20-point peace proposal. The group said hostages, both living and dead, would be freed once “field conditions” were met. That refers to Israeli forces pulling back to positions outlined in the U.S. plan.
Trump hailed the development as a “very special, maybe unprecedented” moment. He said he believed Hamas was “ready for a lasting PEACE.” The president thanked regional partners including Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan for their role in facilitating the proposal. “We’re very close to achieving peace,” Trump said in a video message. “Very importantly, I look forward to having the hostages come home to their parents.”
The president issued Hamas a 6 p.m. Sunday deadline to accept the deal or face consequences. He warned that “all hell” would break loose if the group refused. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that.”
The White House said Hamas had agreed to Trump’s framework for releasing the hostages. But the group stopped short of accepting U.S. demands that it disarm and relinquish control of Gaza.
Trump urged Israel to pause military operations to allow the hostage releases to proceed. “We are already in discussions on details to be worked out,” he wrote. “This is not about Gaza alone. This is about long-sought peace in the Middle East.”
The response from Hamas has divided opinion among officials and observers. Some see it as a genuine step toward peace. Others view it as an attempt to delay or weaken the terms of Trump’s proposal.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called Hamas’s statement a “classic ‘Yes, but’” response. He noted that the group’s refusal to disarm and its desire to keep Gaza under Palestinian control were signs of resistance. Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog called it “a ‘no’ cloaked as a ‘yes.’”
Israel, for its part, has indicated support for the first stage of Trump’s plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Friday that it was preparing for the “immediate release of all the hostages.” The government said it would continue working “in full cooperation with the President and his team.” Netanyahu has also warned that Israel will “finish the job” if Hamas fails to comply.
Trump urged Hamas to act quickly once Israel halts its operations. “Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off,” he wrote Saturday. “I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Let’s get this done, fast.”
Hamas officials signaled conditional acceptance but objected to some aspects of the plan’s timeline and oversight. Mousa Abu Marzouk, head of Hamas’s foreign-relations office, said the demand to free all hostages within 72 hours was “theoretical and unrealistic.”
He confirmed that Hamas agreed in principle to transfer administrative control of Gaza to a Palestinian technocratic body backed by Arab and Islamic nations. But he said details around peacekeeping forces and governance “need understandings and clarification.”
Families of the hostages expressed cautious optimism. Ronen Neutra, whose son Omer is among those still held, said he hoped Hamas’s response was sincere. “We’re hopeful that this is the beginning of the end,” he said. “They understand they have to give the hostages back and they’re not going to start fooling around.”
As negotiations move forward, questions remain about whether Hamas will meet Trump’s full list of demands. Disarmament remains the most significant sticking point. It is also unclear whether Israel will halt operations long enough to facilitate the deal.