Hamas has agreed to release hostages in response to Donald Trump’s peace proposals for Gaza. In a statement on Telegram, Hamas announced its intention to transfer control of the Gaza Strip to an independent Palestinian body supported by Arab and Islamic nations. This decision followed Trump’s ultimatum, giving Hamas until Sunday at 6pm to accept his proposed agreement.
Trump emphasized the urgency of reaching an agreement with Hamas, warning of severe consequences if the “last chance” deal was not accepted by the deadline. Despite accepting certain aspects of Trump’s plan, such as relinquishing power and releasing hostages, Hamas indicated the need for further consultations among Palestinians on other elements. The group expressed willingness to adhere to the plan’s “formula” for releasing hostages, likely involving the release of Palestinian prisoners.
While Hamas reiterated its readiness to transfer power to an independent Palestinian entity, it insisted that decisions regarding the Gaza Strip’s future and Palestinian rights should align with a unanimous Palestinian stance and international law. Notably, the statement did not address Hamas disarming, a crucial demand from Israel included in Trump’s proposal. Although Israel and international stakeholders endorsed the plan, mediators like Egypt and Qatar highlighted the need for additional negotiations on certain aspects.
Under the proposed plan unveiled by Trump alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas would release the remaining hostages, surrender power, and disarm. In exchange, Israel would cease its offensive, withdraw from a significant portion of the territory, release Palestinian prisoners, facilitate humanitarian aid, and defer plans to relocate Gaza’s population.
The plan entails placing the territory, housing two million Palestinians, under international governance overseen by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, it does not outline a pathway for the eventual reunification of Gaza with the Israeli-occupied West Bank within a future Palestinian state. Hamas officials expressed reservations about certain plan elements, indicating a need for modifications, without specifying further details.
Amidst the desire for an end to the conflict, Palestinian sentiments toward US proposals remain skeptical, perceiving them as biased in favor of Israel. A recent UN-commissioned inquiry concluded that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide, citing four out of five genocidal acts defined by international law. The inquiry, led by senior independent rights investigators, accused Israel of intending to eradicate Palestinians in Gaza through specific criteria outlined in the Genocide Convention.
Chair of the commission, Navi Pillay, affirmed the findings, stating that Israel bears responsibility for genocide in Gaza based on the observed acts. The report underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for a resolution to the longstanding conflict.