U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Hamas is prepared to release hostages as part of his plan to end the war. Along with this, he called on Israel to immediately stop bombing Gaza.
According to Al Jazeera, Hamas formally responded to Trump’s proposal on Friday, agreeing to release hostages. Expressing belief that Hamas is ready for long-term peace, Trump on Friday urged Israel to halt its attacks in Gaza.
The New York Times reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement early Saturday, saying preparations were underway to release the hostages in line with the first phase of Trump’s plan. Likewise, Reuters reported that Israel’s political leadership had instructed the military to stop bombing Gaza.
Trump persuaded Netanyahu on Monday to agree to end the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza. Speaking at a joint press conference at the White House after his meeting with Netanyahu, Trump announced a peace agreement for Palestinian territories.
He also warned Hamas that if the plan was rejected, Israel would receive full U.S. backing to take any necessary steps. Trump’s 20-point document calls for an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the formation of a transitional government under international leadership.
Although Hamas has not yet agreed to disarmament and other issues, it accepted the first phase—releasing hostages—due to Trump’s pressure. Various media outlets reported that Hamas still seeks further negotiations on disarmament and other matters.
International Support for Reconstruction of Gaza
Hamas still holds 48 hostages from its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, including Nepali national Bipin Joshi. Israel believes 20 of them may still be alive, though their exact condition is unknown. Hamas has now agreed to return both surviving hostages and the bodies of the deceased.
Under the plan, Trump himself will lead the board responsible for Gaza’s reconstruction, with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair also playing a role. The plan has the backing of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, and other Muslim nations. Reports had already suggested that wealthy Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar would finance the reconstruction effort.
Since Hamas’s October 7 attack in 2023, Israel has devastated Gaza. During the 22 months of war, tens of thousands of Palestinians are alleged to have been massacred. Inside Israel itself, criticism has grown that Netanyahu has tarnished Israel’s image worldwide by killing innocent Palestinian children.
Recently, Western nations including France, the UK, Canada, and Australia formally recognized Palestine as a state, putting additional pressure on Israel to end the war.
Trump’s plan does not guarantee a separate Palestinian state, but Netanyahu has agreed to stop the destruction in Gaza under international pressure.
