Hamas has agreed to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners as part of a peace plan brokered by US President Donald Trump, marking the most significant breakthrough in efforts to end the nearly two-year Gaza war.
In a statement on Friday evening, the Palestinian militant group asked for further negotiations on other parts of the plan, and did not say whether it would lay down its arms – a key part of Trump’s proposal unveiled on Monday.
Hamas said it approved “the release of all occupation prisoners – both living and remaining – according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, with the necessary field conditions for implementing the exchange.”
The group also expressed readiness to hand over administrative control of the Gaza Strip to a “Palestinian body of independent technocrats” supported by Arab and Islamic nation.
Following the announcement, Trump hailed Hamas’s response as a major step toward peace and called on Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” to enable the safe release of hostages. “Based on the statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We are already in discussions on details to be worked out.
The US leader described it as a “very special day” and said the plan was not just about Gaza, but about achieving “long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
Israel’s government welcomed Hamas’s agreement in principle to release the hostages, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office saying the country was “preparing for the immediate implementation” of the first phase of Trump’s plan. However, the statement stopped short of addressing Trump’s demand for an immediate halt to air strikes.
Trump’s proposal outlines a phased plan beginning with a 72-hour ceasefire to facilitate the prisoner exchange, followed by the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, the disarmament of Hamas, and the formation of a transitional authority under his supervision. The plan also includes a surge of humanitarian aid and a massive reconstruction effort for Gaza, where widespread destruction and famine have deepened the humanitarian crisis.
A senior Hamas official told Al Jazeera that while the group was ready to hand over hostages and governance, it would not disarm until Israel fully withdraws from the enclave — a stance that underscores ongoing challenges in achieving a lasting ceasefire.
Still, analysts say Hamas’s acceptance of the hostage release marks a pivotal moment in the conflict, potentially setting the stage for the most serious peace negotiations since the war began.
Melissa Enoch
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