Hamas ready to release hostages, hand over Gaza administration

Group responds to Trump's 20-point plan after US president gave it until Sunday night to accept or reject the proposal

Hamas has said it would agree to some aspects of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war, including releasing hostages and handing over administration of the enclave, but that it would seek negotiations over many of its other terms.

In a statement seen by Reuters, Hamas on Friday issued its response to Trump’s 20-point plan after the US president gave the group until Sunday to accept or reject the proposal. Trump has not said whether the terms would be open to negotiation, as Hamas is seeking.

Notably, Hamas did not say whether it would agree to a stipulation that it disarm, a key demand by Israel and the United States that the group has previously rejected.

Hamas said it “appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of President Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners, (and) the immediate entry of aid,” among other provisions.

It said it was announcing its “approval of releasing all occupation prisoners – both living and remains – according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, with the necessary field conditions for implementing the exchange.”

But Hamas added: “In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter, through the mediators, into negotiations to discuss the details.”

The group also said it was ready “to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats) based on Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Hamas’ response to the proposal, which is backed by Israel as well as Arab and European powers.

Trump’s plan specifies an immediate ceasefire, the exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body.

Trump gave Hamas until Sunday night to agree to his proposal to end Israel's war in Gaza, warning "all HELL" would break out in the Palestinian enclave if it fails to get on board.

Trump issued his latest threat to the militant group in a social media post on Friday after senior Hamas officials said they would reject being told to "take it or leave it" but were holding talks with Arab mediators to shape their response.

The group is under considerable pressure to accept the plan, backed by major Arab and European powers. Trump's marking of a deadline and Hamas' apparent preference for further talks underscore the wide gaps between the parties as the war approaches its two-year mark.

Describing his plan as "one last chance" for Hamas, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "An agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) pm, Washington, DC time."

Trump added: "Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas."

Trump, who has frequently wielded the threat of violence toward adversaries who do not meet his demands, on Tuesday said he would give Hamas three to four days to accept his plan, without setting an explicit deadline.

Asked by reporters earlier this week whether there was scope for further talks on his proposal, Trump said: "Not much."

HAMAS 'LOOKING FOR GRAY AREAS WITHIN WHICH WE CAN MOVE'

Trump's plan specifies 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.

After presenting his plan to Arab and Muslim nations last week, Trump hosted Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House where the Israeli prime minister endorsed the document, saying it satisfied Israel's war aims.

Hamas was not involved in the negotiations that led to the proposal, which calls on the Islamist militant group to disarm, a demand it has previously rejected.

Mohammad Nazzal, a senior Hamas political official, told Al Jazeera on Thursday the group had many comments on the plan. He added: "We do not speak in black and white terms, but rather we are looking for gray areas within which we can move."

Also on Thursday, a Hamas official told Reuters that the group had yet to finalize its response to Trump's plan, but that "intensive discussion is under way." The official said Hamas had held talks with Arab mediators, Turkey and Palestinian factions to shape "the Palestinian response."

Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said: "The president has made it very clear to Hamas that this is an acceptable and detailed proposal that they must accept or the consequences are going to be very grave for them."

TRUMP PLAN 'A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY,' UN AID CHIEF SAYS

Israel blocked Gaza City's main road on Thursday and has told its million residents to flee south, warning it was their last chance to escape a major offensive. The United Nations has repeatedly said that nowhere in Gaza is safe.

"President Trump's Gaza initiative opens a window of opportunity. It offers both a chance for Palestinians to receive life-saving aid at the scale urgently needed, and to bring the hostages home," UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said in a statement on Friday. "We are ready and eager to act."

Trump’s plan calls for aid to Gaza to be distributed without interference by neutral international groups, with the UN promising 170,000 metric tons ready to enter.

Israel began its offensive in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken as hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel says 48 hostages remain, 20 of whom are alive. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 66,000 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.