Hamas’ Tentative Agreement on Hostages
Hamas has expressed a tentative willingness to release all remaining hostages and step back from power, contingent upon what they call a “consensus of the Palestinian people” and support from the broader Arab and Islamic community regarding a ceasefire under President Donald Trump’s proposed plan.
While Hamas claims there is a framework to release the 48 hostages, they noted that additional discussions about terms aligned with a “unanimous Palestinian stance” are still needed. This development marks a significant shift in long-standing negotiations, although it’s uncertain how Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will react to this partial agreement.
On Friday, Trump emphasized that Hamas must accept the terms by Sunday, or the deal would be off. He stated, “If we reach this last accidental agreement, all hell will break out against Hamas, as no one has seen it before.”
In the meantime, Palestinians under Hamas’s rule are increasingly exhausted and are urging the group to finalize a peace agreement that might restore stability and hope to their impoverished regions. As a result of ongoing Israeli actions, over 33,000 Palestinians have been displaced, and a significant portion of Gaza’s population is facing hunger, according to United Nations data.
Trump’s peace plan envisions the immediate release of hostages in Gaza, with the region’s control transitioning to an International Stabilization Force (ISF). Discussions regarding the administration of Palestinian affairs would be led by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Under this agreement, Israel would pull out its troops based on specific milestones and would first withdraw after the establishment of ISF governance post-release of all hostages. A security buffer zone is also proposed between Gaza and Israel.
The White House is optimistic that Hamas will accept the terms. Before a meeting with Netanyahu on September 30, officials suggested that the proposal was “very close” to fruition.
In response to Hamas’s statement, Trump urged Israel to refrain from targeting hostages and to cease bombing Gaza as part of efforts to secure long-lasting peace. He declared, “Based on the statement that Hamas just issued, we believe they are ready for lasting peace. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that hostages can be safely and quickly released!”
As of now, there has been no immediate response from the White House or the Israeli Foreign Ministry regarding these developments.
