A sliver of hope that the Israel-Gaza will finally come to an end emerged on Friday evening, with Al Jazeera first reporting that Hamas has handed over its mostly positive response to Donald Trump’s peace plan to the mediators.
The Qatar-based media outlet, which has a significant presence in the encircled Palestinian enclave and is deemed as wholly pro-Palestinian, cited what it called a “source familiar with the matter.”
Hamas reportedly announced on Friday it would agree to some aspects of the US President’s plan to end the war, including releasing Israeli hostages and handing over the administration of the territory. However, it added that it would seek negotiations over many of the plan’s other terms.
Releasing the hostages taken during the terrorist attacks and incursions into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, as well as laying down their arms, has been Israel’s standing demand to end its military operations.
According to Reuters, which cites a copy of a statement seen by its editors, Hamas issued its response to Trump’s 20-point plan after the U.S. president gave the Palestinian militants until Sunday to accept or reject the proposal.
“Trump has not said whether the terms would be subject to negotiation, as Hamas is seeking,” Reuters stated.
United Nations vehicles drive on a road as displaced Palestinians, fleeing northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation, move southwards following Israeli forces’ orders to leave Gaza City, in the central Gaza Strip October 3, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Notably, Hamas did not say whether it would agree to a stipulation that it disarm, a demand by Israel and Washington, that it has previously rejected.
The same statement has Hamas stating that it “appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of U.S. 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 others.
It acknowledges 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…In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter, through the mediators, into negotiations to discuss the details.”
Hamas, as per the statement cited by Reuters, accepts “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.”
Trump’s plan envisions an immediate ceasefire for the exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the enclave, the disarmament of Hamas, deemed as a terrorist group by many western governments, and the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body.
