Hamas, calling for further negotiations, says it agrees to full hostage release
President Trump, reacting to the statement, said he believes Hamas is ‘ready for a lasting PEACE’ despite the group’s clear differences with the White House proposal
JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images
A sign identifying Israeli hostages Gali and Ziv Berman is raised by the barbed-wire fence during a demonstration by the families of the hostages taken captive in the Gaza Strip
Hamas said in a statement on Friday night that it was ready to enter final negotiations over the Trump-authored peace plan and that it was willing to release all the hostages remaining in Gaza.
The Palestinian terror group said it would release the living hostages and the bodies it has held hostage since the Oct. 7 attacks nearly two years ago. Twenty of the 48 hostages are believed to still be alive.
Hamas added it is willing to hand over administration of the Gaza Strip to a “Palestinian body composed of independents.” But the terror group also insisted — contradicting the terms of the Trump proposal — that Hamas will maintain a role in discussions over the future of Gaza through a “comprehensive Palestinian national framework.”
The deal is not yet final, and in its response to the Trump plan, Hamas said that the group is ready to enter negotiations to discuss the remaining details.
In response, Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he believes Hamas wants to make a deal, and called on Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza.”
“Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” Trump wrote. “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.”
A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy declined to comment.
This story was updated at 5:32 p.m.
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