Gaza [Palestine]: In a major diplomatic development, Hamas has agreed to release all Israeli hostages, dead or alive, in response to the 20-point Gaza peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump earlier this week. The announcement was made via a statement on Telegram, quoted by Al Jazeera, on Friday.
Hamas’ statement and readiness for negotiations
Hamas said it was prepared to immediately enter negotiations through mediators to discuss the specifics of the agreement. The group also committed to hand over the Gaza administration to an independent Palestinian technocrats’ body, operating under Palestinian national consensus and with Arab and Islamic support.
“Other issues in President Trump’s proposal, concerning the future of Gaza and Palestinian rights, will be addressed through a comprehensive Palestinian national framework, in which Hamas will participate responsibly,” the statement added.
Trump’s warning and ultimatum
The development followed a stern warning by US President Donald Trump, who described Hamas as “militarily trapped” and urged the group to accept the peace deal, which had the backing of regional and global powers.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Hamas has been a ruthless and violent threat for many years… culminating with the October 7th massacre in Israel.” He emphasised that over 25,000 Hamas fighters have already been killed, and the remainder are surrounded and awaiting orders.
Trump called for civilian precaution, urging innocent Palestinians to leave areas of potential conflict for safer zones in Gaza. He framed the peace initiative as historic, stating that “great, powerful, and very rich nations of the Middle East, along with the United States and Israel, have agreed to peace after 3,000 years.”
He further demanded the immediate release of all hostages, including the deceased, and gave an ultimatum for agreement by Sunday 6 PM Washington D.C. time, warning that refusal would lead to unprecedented military action against Hamas.
Regional support and urgency
President Trump highlighted that all Arab and Muslim countries in the region, along with Israel, have signed the plan. He stressed the urgency, saying Hamas had “three or four days” to respond. The initiative is framed as a comprehensive solution to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with broad backing from Israel, Arab nations, and Muslim-majority countries.
Conclusion
Hamas’ agreement to release hostages marks a significant step towards de-escalation in Gaza. The coming days will be critical as negotiations progress and the implementation of the 20-point peace plan is closely monitored. Observers note that this could be a turning point in the Middle East conflict, with potential implications for regional stability and international diplomacy.