Trump’s Historic Gaza Breakthrough: Hamas Agrees to Release Hostages in Shocking Turn of Events
- Hamas agrees to return Israeli hostages as part of Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan
- But sticking points remain, including disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza
- Trump hails response as “big day” and welcomes potential for “lasting PEACE”
In a stunning development, Hamas has agreed to release Israeli hostages as part of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, a move that has raised hopes for a potential breakthrough in the two-year conflict.
According to a statement seen by Reuters, Hamas has accepted some of the terms outlined in Trump’s plan, including the release of hostages, but has avoided addressing more contentious issues such as disarmament and demilitarization.
The response has been hailed by Trump, who has been pushing for a deal to end the conflict in Gaza. “I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” he wrote on social media. “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.”
In a video shared later, Trump expanded on his remarks, saying: “This is a big day… We’ll see how it all turns out. We have to get the final word down in concrete. Very importantly I look forward to having the hostages come home to their parents.”
The agreement represents a significant shift in Hamas’s stance, which has previously rejected calls for disarmament. However, the group’s response has also been met with caution, with many experts warning that the deal is far from certain.
A senior Hamas official told Al Jazeera that the group would not disarm before Israel’s occupation of the enclave ends, underscoring the significant gaps that remain between the parties.
Trump’s plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body.
The development comes after weeks of intense diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to broker a deal. The US president had earlier warned that “all HELL” would break out in Gaza if Hamas failed to sign up to his proposal.
The United Nations has welcomed the development, with aid chief Tom Fletcher saying that the initiative “opens a window of opportunity” for Palestinians to receive life-saving aid and for hostages to be released.
The latest move is seen as a significant step towards a potential peace deal in Gaza, but many challenges remain. As one senior diplomat warned, “the devil is in the details,” and it remains to be seen whether the parties can overcome their differences to reach a lasting agreement.