Hamas Agrees to Trump’s Ceasefire Plan, Ready to Release Israeli Hosts

Kokcha News Agency: Hamas announced its acceptance of Trump’s peace plan, which includes the release of all Israeli hostages and the transfer of Gaza’s administration to an independent Palestinian technocratic body. However, Hamas has called for further negotiations on certain aspects of the plan, particularly regarding the conditions for the release of hostages and the future political role of Hamas in Gaza.

In response to the announcement, Israel’s military has been ordered to halt its offensive operations in Gaza City, limiting its actions to defensive maneuvers. This decision followed intense consultations with U.S. officials, who have been pushing for a ceasefire to facilitate the release of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the agreement, calling it a historic step toward peace in the Middle East. In a video message, Trump thanked key regional players, including Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan, for their efforts in brokering the deal. He emphasized that the U.S. would treat all parties fairly and expressed confidence that the agreement would bring an end to the conflict.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also welcomed Hamas’s response, describing it as a “significant step forward.” He urged all parties to implement the agreement immediately and reiterated the UK’s commitment to supporting further negotiations for a lasting peace.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Hamas’s acceptance of the plan “encouraging” and urged all parties to seize the opportunity to end the “tragic conflict” in Gaza. He reiterated the UN’s call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unrestricted access to humanitarian aid for those in need.

Egypt and Qatar, key mediators in the negotiations, have expressed optimism about the agreement and pledged to continue their efforts to finalize the deal. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry stated that Hamas’s response reflects a “serious desire to end the bloodshed” and protect innocent civilians. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, welcomed Hamas’s positive response and described it as a step toward ending the war and initiating political negotiations.

Meanwhile, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to join the agreement immediately, despite potential resistance from right-wing coalition members. Lapid offered his political support to Netanyahu to advance the deal, emphasizing the importance of securing the release of Israeli hostages and ending the conflict.

The families of Israeli hostages have also called on Netanyahu to act swiftly, urging him to begin effective and rapid negotiations to bring their loved ones home.