WASHINGTON (Kashmir English): US President Donald Trump called on Israel early Saturday that it must stop bombing Gaza immediately as he said Hamas has conditionally agreed to the peace plan.
Trump believes that Hamas is ready for peace after an earlier statement by the Palestinian resistance group.
The group said it would agree to some of the terms in Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war, including releasing hostages, but avoided addressing more vexing issues like disarmament adding it would seek further negotiations.
Soon after, Trump posted Hamas’ response to his Truth Social account. The US President had earlier not specified whether the terms would be subject to negotiation, as Hamas is seeking.
Demilitarising Gaza
Notably, Hamas did not say if it would agree to disarm and demilitarise Gaza — something Israel and the US want but Hamas has rejected before.
The group also didn’t agree to an Israeli withdrawal in stages, as opposed to the immediate, full withdrawal the group seeks.
Al Jazeera quoted a senior Hamas official as having said that it would not disarm before Israel’s occupation of the besieged enclave ends, comments that underscored the gap between the parties as the war approaches its two-year mark.
Hamas seeks further negotiations
In its statement, Hamas said it “appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of US President Donald Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners, (and) the immediate entry of aid,” among other terms.
It said it was announcing its “approval of releasing all occupation captives — 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 resistance group 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.”
Hamas has previously offered to release all hostages and to hand over administration of the Gaza Strip to a different body.
Earlier, Trump had given Hamas until 2200 GMT on Sunday (3am PKT on Monday) to accept his plan for peace in Gaza, warning the Palestinian resistance group faced “all hell” if it did not agree to the terms.
“If this last chance agreement is not reached, all hell, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,” Trump had posted on his Truth Social platform.
“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.”
