Cliff Notes
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Donald Trump expressed optimism about a potential “lasting peace” after Hamas agreed to release all remaining hostages in Gaza. He urged Israel to cease bombardment to facilitate the safe extraction of hostages.
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Hamas indicated its readiness to negotiate details of President Trump’s peace plan, which includes handing over Gaza administration to a Palestinian body, but emphasised that some points require additional consultation within Palestinian factions.
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Key figures, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, have called for immediate implementation of the agreement, citing an unprecedented opportunity to end the conflict and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
Trump tells Israel ‘stop bombing Gaza’ – as Hamas agrees to release Israeli hostages and to parts of peace deal | UK News
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Donald Trump has said Hamas is ready for a “lasting peace” after the Palestinian militants agreed to release all remaining hostages, as he called on Israel to stop bombing Gaza.
The US leader was responding to a statement by Hamas on Friday in which the group committed to returning all remaining hostages in Gaza, dead and alive.
Hamas also said it wants to engage in negotiations to discuss further details of the president’s peace plan, including handing over “administration of the enclave to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats”.
However, other aspects of the 20-point document, it warned, would require further consultation among Palestinians.
The Hamas statement came after Mr Trump warned he would unleash “all hell” if they did not respond to his peace plan, announced earlier this week, by Sunday.
Following the Hamas statement, the president said there was now a real chance of peace.
“I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” Mr Trump posted on Truth Social. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!
“Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
In a video later posted on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump called it a “very special day” and said the end of the war was “very close”.
Starmer calls for ‘agreement without delay’
Sir Keir Starmer said Hamas’ partial acceptance of the peace plan was a “significant step forwards” and called for an “agreement without delay”.
The prime minister said Mr Trump’s efforts “have brought us closer to peace than ever before” and added: “There is now an opportunity to end the fighting, for the hostages to return home, and for humanitarian aid to reach those who so desperately need it.
“We call on all sides to implement the agreement without delay.”
He went on to say the UK was ready to support further negotiations and work “towards sustainable peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike”.
French President Emmanuel Macron said “the release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach”, while a spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged “all parties to seize the opportunity”.
Hamas agrees to release hostages
The breakthrough came just hours after Mr Trump had set a new deadline of Sunday to respond to his proposals, backed by the Arab nations.
The US president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled the peace plan at the White House on Monday.
Israel agreed to the terms, which include an immediate ceasefire; the release of all hostages; Hamas disarming; a guarantee no one will be forced to leave Gaza and a governing “peace panel” including Sir Tony Blair.
And on Friday, a statement from Hamas confirmed “its approval to release all prisoners of the occupation – whether alive or the remains of the deceased – according to the exchange framework included in President Trump’s proposal”.
Israel estimates 48 hostages remain in Gaza, 20 of whom are alive.
Hamas official says group will not disarm ‘before Israeli occupation ends’
The group also said it was ready to engage in negotiations through mediators and it appreciated “Arab, Islamic and international efforts, as well as the efforts of US President Donald Trump”.
But, Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera news the group would not disarm “before the Israeli occupation ends”.
Hamas does not know where all hostages are
Sky News Middle East correspondent Adam Parsons said the “most important part” of the Hamas response was that it showed a willingness to do a deal.
“The peace plan could have died – Hamas could have rejected it – but it is still alive.”
He said there were still “huge obstacles” which would prevent outright acceptance though.
In spite of a pledge to release hostages, he said Hamas did not entirely know where all of them were – some were even being held by other groups.
Hamas’s support for a new government for Palestine was positive, he said, but the specification in the Hamas response that it should be purely Palestinian and not, as Mr Trump had proposed, a “panel” that included external representatives, would be problematic.
