Gaza City, 3 October 2025 — Hamas announced on Friday that it has agreed in principle to release all Israeli hostages — both alive and deceased — under the terms of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace proposal, and expressed willingness to enter mediated negotiations immediately to finalize the details.
Hostage Release at the Core of the Plan
The U.S.-backed 20‑point plan, unveiled earlier this week by President Trump alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for an immediate ceasefire, the staged withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the release of all hostages within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance of the agreement. In exchange, Israel would free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, including women and children held since October 2023.
International Oversight and Reconstruction
The proposal envisions Gaza being administered by a technocratic transitional authority, overseen by an international “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump and including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. It also promises large‑scale humanitarian aid, infrastructure rehabilitation, and the creation of a special economic zone to support Gaza’s redevelopment.
Reactions and Next Steps
While Hamas has signaled readiness to negotiate, Israeli officials have stressed that the group must fully disarm and renounce governance in Gaza as part of any settlement. Netanyahu has warned that if Hamas rejects or undermines the plan, Israel will “finish the job by itself.”
Regional mediators, including Egypt and Qatar, are expected to facilitate the next stage of talks. The Palestinian Authority has cautiously welcomed the framework, while several Arab states have praised the plan’s focus on ending hostilities and preventing displacement.
The coming days are seen as decisive: if negotiations proceed, the agreement could mark the first major breakthrough in nearly two years of war, but failure could trigger a renewed escalation.
