Hamas Accepts Parts of U.S. Peace Proposal
In a surprising turn of events, Hamas announced on Friday that it has agreed to certain aspects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan. The militant group stated it is prepared to release all Israeli hostages, including both survivors and the remains of the deceased, under the exchange terms outlined in Trump’s proposal.
Hamas also confirmed its readiness to enter mediated negotiations to finalize the details of the exchange. However, the group noted that several provisions of the 20-point plan still require discussion, particularly those concerning Gaza’s future governance and Palestinian rights. Importantly, Hamas did not address the plan’s call for disarmament—a central demand from Israel.
Trump Demands Israel End Airstrikes
Following Hamas’s partial acceptance, Trump made a direct appeal to Israel via Truth Social. In a post, he wrote:
“I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. 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.”
This statement marks Trump’s most direct intervention in the conflict since his return to office. He previously set a deadline, warning Hamas to accept the proposal by Sunday evening or face “unprecedented consequences.” His call for Israel to suspend airstrikes reflects growing urgency to secure the release of hostages before further escalation.
Mixed Signals Between Washington and Jerusalem
Israeli officials were reportedly caught off guard by Trump’s endorsement of Hamas’s statement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after internal deliberations, viewed Hamas’s response as insufficient and close to a rejection of the U.S. proposal.
In a government release, Israel said preparations were underway to implement the first phase of Trump’s plan—focused on the safe release of hostages. However, the statement made no reference to halting military operations in Gaza. This sile
