US President Donald Trump on Friday welcomed Hamas’ reply to his ceasefire and prisoner-exchange proposal, calling it a step toward “lasting peace.” Trump urged Israel to immediately stop bombing Gaza, warning the strikes endangered hostage release efforts and broader discussions for regional stability.
The White House earlier hinted at a forthcoming pre-recorded message on Gaza, though its release time remains uncertain. Hamas formally responded to Trump’s plan, agreeing to release all Israeli captives, return bodies of the dead, and transfer Gaza’s administration to a technocratic Palestinian authority.
Israel estimates 48 of its nationals are held in Gaza, including 20 believed alive, while over 11,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli prisons under harsh conditions. A Hamas statement stressed that broader issues—such as Gaza’s future and Palestinian rights—require a unified national stance grounded in international law.
The group said it consulted internally, with Palestinian factions, and with mediators before adopting what it described as a responsible position. Hamas praised Arab, Islamic, and international initiatives, including Trump’s efforts, highlighting demands for aid access, rejection of displacement, and an end to Gaza’s occupation.
Trump has set a Sunday evening deadline for Hamas to approve the plan, which seeks to transform Gaza into a weapons-free zone under transitional governance. The proposal envisions Israel’s phased withdrawal, Hamas’ disarmament, and oversight by an international body led directly by Trump.
In exchange, Israeli hostages would be freed within 72 hours, alongside the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Nearly 66,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since October 2023, amid an 18-year blockade now deepened by famine. Humanitarian agencies warn Gaza faces total collapse as displacement, starvation, and disease spread across the besieged enclave.