04
Oct
Oct
HAMAS AGREES TO RELEASE ALL ISRAELI HOSTAGES UNDER TRUMP’S GAZA PEACE PLAN, PAVING WAY FOR POTENTIAL CEASEFIRE
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CapitalTimesNews / 2 months
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- 2 min read
Hamas has announced its agreement to release all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, as part of a 20-point peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the nearly two-year Gaza war. The militant group’s acceptance marks a significant breakthrough in efforts to secure the release of captives taken during the October 2023 assault on Israel. “In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter into negotiations through mediators to discuss the details of this agreement,” Hamas stated, indicating openness to talks on implementing the hostage-prisoner exchange outlined in Trump’s proposal. While Hamas agreed to release hostages, it stressed that other elements of Trump’s plan require further negotiation. Notably, the group did not commit to disarmament, a central demand in the US peace initiative. A senior Hamas official disclosed that disarmament wouldn’t occur until Israel fully withdraws from Gaza, highlighting ongoing challenges in achieving a lasting ceasefire. Trump’s plan envisions a phased process: a 72-hour ceasefire facilitating prisoner exchange, gradual Israeli withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and establishment of a transitional authority under international supervision. The proposal also includes humanitarian aid surge and massive Gaza reconstruction efforts. Reacting to Hamas’s agreement, President Trump urged Israel to immediately halt Gaza bombing to enable safe hostage release. “Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” Trump posted on Truth Social. World leaders welcomed Hamas’s move as a significant step toward peace. French President Emmanuel Macron said, “The release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach!” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz deemed Trump’s plan “the best chance for peace”. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari welcomed Hamas’s agreement, supporting Trump’s call for an immediate ceasefire. Hamas also expressed willingness to transfer Gaza administration to a “Palestinian body of independent technocrats” backed by Arab and Islamic nations, signaling openness to transitional governance arrangements. Despite progress on hostage release, thorny issues like disarmament and long-term governance remain unresolved, underscoring complexities in implementing Trump’s Gaza peace plan.