Hamas said on Friday that it was ready to release all of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza and the bodies of those who had died, but made clear there was still much more to negotiate.
The group embraced parts of President Trump’s peace plan while not addressing some specific elements it previously refused, including a requirement that the group disarm. Mr. Trump, who aggressively pushed Hamas and Israel to accept his plan, said the development had brought a cease-fire in Gaza closer than ever, and he demanded that Israel stop bombing the enclave.
But many questions remained, and it was not immediately clear whether both sides would be able to take the final steps needed to end the nearly two-year-old war that has brought immense civilian suffering in Gaza. Interviews with Palestinians in the enclave have indicated wide support for the proposal, hopeful that it could finally deliver relief from an Israeli campaign that has killed more than 60,000 Gazans.
What did Hamas say?
In a statement on Friday, Hamas said it would release all of the hostages held in Gaza and the bodies of those who had died “according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, and as the field conditions for the exchange are met.”
Israel believes there are about 20 living hostages in Gaza and the bodies of about 30 more. If Hamas releases them, Mr. Trump’s proposal calls for Israel to free 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained during the war.
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The post What to Know About Hamas’s Response to Trump’s Peace Plan appeared first on New York Times.
