Hamas has said it accepts several elements of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan to end Israel’s war on Gaza but stressed that further negotiations are needed on key points, including the future governance of the besieged territory.
The armed group submitted its formal response to Trump’s proposal on Friday, just hours after the US president gave Hamas until Sunday to decide.
Trump’s 20-point plan included an immediate ceasefire, the release of 48 Israeli captives – of which 20 are believed to be alive – in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the creation of a transitional governance body, and the disarmament of Hamas.
In its reply, Hamas agreed “to release all occupation captives – both living and the remains – according to the exchange formula outlined in President Trump’s proposal, with the provision of field conditions necessary for the exchange.”
The group added it was ready to “immediately enter negotiations through mediators to discuss the details” of the exchange.
Hamas also declared its readiness to hand over Gaza’s administration to a Palestinian technocratic body backed by Arab and Islamic states. However, it rejected Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace,” an international governance body to be co-led by Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk dismissed the idea outright, saying, “We will never accept anyone who is not Palestinian to control the Palestinians,” while pointing to Blair’s controversial role in the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Trump’s ultimatum and reaction
Earlier, Trump warned on Truth Social that failure to reach an agreement by Sunday would unleash “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before” against Hamas.
After receiving Hamas’s response, however, Trump struck a more positive note, suggesting that the group was “ready for a lasting PEACE” and urging Israel to halt its bombing campaign so hostages could be freed safely.
“This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East,” Trump wrote.
Mediators and international reactions
Qatar, a key mediator alongside Egypt, welcomed Hamas’s response and confirmed it had begun working with Cairo and Washington to advance talks. Egypt also voiced hopes for a “positive development,” pledging to coordinate efforts with Arab states, the US, and European countries.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described Hamas’s statement as encouraging and urged all parties to “seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end.”
Al Jazeera analyst Ali Hashem noted that Hamas’s acceptance of much of Trump’s plan opened “a window for negotiations,” though the group remains cautious about proposals that could isolate Gaza from the broader Palestinian cause.
The political moves come as Israel continues its offensive in Gaza. Reports suggest the military is deploying remote-controlled vehicles loaded with explosives to demolish neighborhoods in Gaza City, after issuing a “last chance” warning for civilians to leave.
Since October 2023, more than 66,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the war, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
