CAIRO: Hamas said that it accepts parts of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the Gaza conflict, including provisions for releasing hostages. However, the group stopped short of agreeing to key demands such as disarmament and instead called for further negotiations.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump responded optimistically, claiming Hamas’s statement shows it is “ready for a lasting PEACE.” He also urged Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” to enable the safe release of hostages.
“Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that,” he added. Trump said talks were already underway and emphasized that the issue extended beyond Gaza, framing it as part of a broader push for Middle East peace, according to Reuters.
Hamas’s statement came in response to a 20-point peace proposal Trump had presented earlier in the week, which included a Sunday deadline for acceptance. Failure to agree, he warned, would lead to severe consequences.
Trump posted Hamas’s letter on Truth Social, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a behind-the-scenes image on X of Trump recording a message responding to the group’s statement.
Israel has not yet officially responded, although it continues to support Trump’s peace framework. Meanwhile, residents in Gaza reported intensified Israeli airstrikes shortly after Hamas’s announcement, particularly targeting homes in Gaza City’s Remal neighborhood and areas in Khan Younis. No casualties were immediately reported, Reuters stated.
Meanwhile, in Washington, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham criticized Hamas’s statement as an expected rejection. “A classic ‘Yes, but,’” he posted on X, highlighting the group’s refusal to disarm and its conditional approach to hostage release. “This is, in essence, a rejection by Hamas of President Trump’s ‘take it or leave it’ proposal.”
A senior Hamas official told Al Jazeera that disarmament would only be considered after Israel ends its occupation of Gaza — a point that highlights the continued distance between the parties as the conflict nears its second year.
Meanwhile, Qatar confirmed it has begun working with Egypt and the United States to advance further negotiations around Trump’s proposal, according to a statement from its foreign ministry on X.
In its official response, Hamas said it values the efforts of Arab, Islamic, and international actors, including Trump, in trying to end the war, facilitate a prisoner exchange, and ensure urgent humanitarian aid reaches Gaza.
The group declared it is ready to release all Israeli hostages — both living and deceased — according to the terms outlined in Trump’s plan, provided conditions on the ground allow for it. However, it also reiterated the need for negotiations to finalize implementation details.
Additionally, Hamas expressed its willingness to hand over governance of Gaza to an independent Palestinian administration based on national consensus and backed by regional support. The group has previously indicated openness to transferring control to a neutral technocratic body and to releasing all hostages as part of a broader agreement.
(Inputs from Reuters)
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