Hamas on Saturday partially agreed to Donald Trump 's 20-point Gaza peace plan and came to a consensus to release all remaining Israeli hostages . Hamas however made it clear that several provisions in the US-brokered 20-point peace plan will need further negotiation. While the group has welcomed parts of the proposal, it has pushed back on crucial clauses related to Gaza’s future governance and its own role in the territory.
In a statement, Hamas said it agreed “to release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump's proposal” if proper conditions are met.
However, it added that several issues “regarding the future of Gaza and the rights of Palestinians” remain under discussion.
The announcement came hours after US President Donald Trump gave Hamas a Sunday deadline to accept the peace plan or face “all hell.” After receiving Hamas’s response, Trump posted on Truth Social, “I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE.” He urged Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” and added that discussions on details were already underway.
Also read: Hamas agrees to free Israeli hostages; Trump asks Israel to stop bombing Gaza — Key things to know
Tahir al-Nounou, media adviser to the head of Hamas’s political bureau, told the BBC : “President Trump's statements are encouraging, and the movement is ready to begin negotiations immediately to achieve a prisoner exchange, end the war, and secure the withdrawal of the occupation.”
Although Hamas has not accepted the overall 20-point plan, it has accepted the proposal partially and signalled a willingness to engage.
These are the key areas where the group wants changes or further negotiations:
The US plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release within 72 hours of 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of others believed to be dead, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans. Once both sides agree, full humanitarian aid would be sent into Gaza. Around 48 hostages are still held by Hamas, with 20 believed to be alive.
Also Read | 'Significant step forward': PM Modi hails Trump's Gaza peace plan; affirms India's support
Under the proposal, Hamas would have no governing role in Gaza, and it leaves the door open for an eventual Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected this, reiterating his opposition to a Palestinian state. “It's not written in the agreement. We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state,” he said.
Hamas stated on Friday that parts of the proposal relating to Gaza’s governance and Palestinian rights are still being discussed “within a national framework,” in which Hamas intends to participate.
Earlier, Trump warned that failure to accept the deal would lead to severe consequences. “If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER,” he wrote on Truth Social.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the repercussions of rejecting the plan would be “very grave” for Hamas. “Hamas has an opportunity to accept this plan and move forward in a peaceful and prosperous manner in the region. If they don't, the consequences, unfortunately, are going to be very tragic,” she said.
The plan has been welcomed by European and Middle Eastern leaders, and the Palestinian Authority has called Trump’s efforts “sincere and determined.” Trump has also said that if Hamas refuses to agree, Israel will have US backing to “finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas.” Netanyahu has echoed this stance.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and led to the taking of 251 hostages. Since then, more than 66,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israeli forces continue operations in Gaza City, with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant saying they are “tightening the siege” around the area.
James Elder, spokesperson for Unicef , criticised the concept of designated safe zones in Gaza, calling it “farcical”. “Bombs are dropped from the sky with chilling predictability. Schools, which have been designated as temporary shelters, are regularly reduced to rubble,” he said.
In a statement, Hamas said it agreed “to release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump's proposal” if proper conditions are met.
However, it added that several issues “regarding the future of Gaza and the rights of Palestinians” remain under discussion.
The announcement came hours after US President Donald Trump gave Hamas a Sunday deadline to accept the peace plan or face “all hell.” After receiving Hamas’s response, Trump posted on Truth Social, “I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE.” He urged Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” and added that discussions on details were already underway.
Also read: Hamas agrees to free Israeli hostages; Trump asks Israel to stop bombing Gaza — Key things to know
Tahir al-Nounou, media adviser to the head of Hamas’s political bureau, told the BBC : “President Trump's statements are encouraging, and the movement is ready to begin negotiations immediately to achieve a prisoner exchange, end the war, and secure the withdrawal of the occupation.”
Although Hamas has not accepted the overall 20-point plan, it has accepted the proposal partially and signalled a willingness to engage.
These are the key areas where the group wants changes or further negotiations:
- Further negotiations on key issues: Hamas has made it clear that several provisions related to Gaza’s political future and Palestinian rights require additional talks before acceptance.
- Complete Israeli withdrawal: Hamas insists on a full and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, not the staged or partial withdrawal proposed in the plan.
- Administration of Gaza: The group proposes handing over control of Gaza to “a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support,” rather than following the US blueprint directly.
- Disarmament clause: The Hamas statement makes no reference to disarmament, a central demand of the US plan, signalling opposition to giving up its weapons or withdrawing completely from Gaza’s military structure.
- Rejection of international oversight: Hamas has rejected the proposed "Board of Peace," an international transitional body chaired by Trump, viewing it as an external form of control.
- Role in governance: Hamas has not accepted the requirement that it have no role in Gaza’s future governance, indicating it may seek to retain influence through a national framework.
- Negotiation before implementation: The group wants to negotiate the details of the hostage exchange and other elements of the plan before committing to the timeline outlined by Washington.
The US plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release within 72 hours of 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of others believed to be dead, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans. Once both sides agree, full humanitarian aid would be sent into Gaza. Around 48 hostages are still held by Hamas, with 20 believed to be alive.
Also Read | 'Significant step forward': PM Modi hails Trump's Gaza peace plan; affirms India's support
Under the proposal, Hamas would have no governing role in Gaza, and it leaves the door open for an eventual Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected this, reiterating his opposition to a Palestinian state. “It's not written in the agreement. We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state,” he said.
Hamas stated on Friday that parts of the proposal relating to Gaza’s governance and Palestinian rights are still being discussed “within a national framework,” in which Hamas intends to participate.
Earlier, Trump warned that failure to accept the deal would lead to severe consequences. “If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER,” he wrote on Truth Social.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the repercussions of rejecting the plan would be “very grave” for Hamas. “Hamas has an opportunity to accept this plan and move forward in a peaceful and prosperous manner in the region. If they don't, the consequences, unfortunately, are going to be very tragic,” she said.
The plan has been welcomed by European and Middle Eastern leaders, and the Palestinian Authority has called Trump’s efforts “sincere and determined.” Trump has also said that if Hamas refuses to agree, Israel will have US backing to “finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas.” Netanyahu has echoed this stance.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and led to the taking of 251 hostages. Since then, more than 66,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israeli forces continue operations in Gaza City, with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant saying they are “tightening the siege” around the area.
James Elder, spokesperson for Unicef , criticised the concept of designated safe zones in Gaza, calling it “farcical”. “Bombs are dropped from the sky with chilling predictability. Schools, which have been designated as temporary shelters, are regularly reduced to rubble,” he said.
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