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.
Hamas’s statement also said the group agreed “to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats, based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support.”
What was ambiguous in Hamas’s statement?
Hamas’s response, though potentially significant, had key ambiguities that could present obstacles to an agreement. It was not clear whether Hamas had a timetable for releasing the hostages or what exactly it meant by the “field conditions” that had to be met.
It was also unclear whether Hamas would relent on proposals it previously considered unacceptable. The statement did not address whether the group would give up its arms, whether Hamas had agreed to a stipulation barring it from exercising political power in Gaza in the future, or if it saw a place for itself or its members among the body of technocrats.
How did President Trump respond?
Mr. Trump said on social media Friday evening that he believed Hamas was “ready for a lasting peace” in Gaza and demanded that Israel stop bombing the enclave so that the Israeli hostages could be evacuated safely.
Mr. Trump also said in a minute-long video from the Oval Office that he was thankful to the countries involved in the peace plan, specifically mentioning Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey.
He did not mention Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in the video.
How did Israel respond?
A statement released by Mr. Netanyahu’s office early Saturday said Israel was preparing to implement the first stage of Mr. Trump’s plan.
“We will continue to work in full cooperation with the president and his team in order to bring the war to an end in accordance with the principles set forth by Israel, which are consistent with President Trump’s vision,” the statement said.
The leader of Israel’s parliamentary opposition, Yair Lapid, said that he would provide Mr. Netanyahu the political backing necessary to move ahead with an agreement.
How did other countries respond?
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain said in a statement on social media that Hamas’s response to Mr. Trump’s plan was a “significant step forward.” It had brought the conflict “closer to peace than ever before,” he continued, calling on all sides to “implement the agreement without delay.”
President Emmanuel Macron of France said in a statement on social media, “The release of all hostages and a cease-fire in Gaza are within reach!” He said that Hamas’s statement must be followed up without delay, calling it an “opportunity to make decisive progress towards peace.”
Have we been close to breakthroughs before?
Efforts to bring an end to the war in Gaza have tended to end in frustration. Israel and Hamas have agreed only to temporary cease-fires before: for about a week in November 2023 and for less than three months early this year.
One fundamental dispute between Israel and Hamas has been an obstacle to lasting peace since the last cease-fire ended in March. Hamas wants a permanent cease-fire in which it retains influence in postwar Gaza, while Israel wants only a temporary deal that would let it renew its failed efforts to defeat Hamas.
But Hamas’s statement indicating willingness to release all of the Israeli hostages brought at least some optimism that the recent negotiations would have an enduring effect.
John Yoon is a Times reporter based in Seoul who covers breaking and trending news.
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