In a dramatic turn amid the grinding conflict in Gaza, Hamas announced Friday that it has agreed to release all remaining Israeli hostages—both living and deceased—under the terms of President Donald Trump's sweeping peace proposal. The militant group, long defiant in the face of Israeli military operations, signaled readiness for immediate mediated talks, though it hedged on several key elements of the 20-point plan. This comes just hours after Trump issued a stark warning, demanding Israel halt its bombing campaigns to allow safe extraction of the captives.
The proposal, hammered out with input from Arab and Muslim nations, calls for an immediate end to hostilities in exchange for the hostage release and the freeing of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hamas leaders emphasized their acceptance of the first nine points, including unrestricted aid entry into the devastated strip and a phased Israeli withdrawal. However, they insisted on further consultations among Palestinian factions for the rest, particularly thorny issues like Hamas's disarmament and long-term governance of Gaza. Indeed, the group's statement praised Trump's involvement but stopped short of full endorsement, leaving room for prolonged negotiations.
Trump, addressing the nation from the Oval Office, welcomed the response with characteristic bravado, declaring that "everybody was unified in wanting this war to end." He directly ordered Israel to cease airstrikes, noting the current dangers to the roughly 100 hostages still unaccounted for since the October 2023 attacks. Yet, even as mediators in Qatar and Egypt prepared to convene talks, reports emerged of fresh Israeli strikes killing dozens in Gaza overnight, underscoring the fragility of this apparent breakthrough. Netanyahu's government, caught between its hardline stance and pressure from its key ally, has yet to respond publicly to Trump's directive.
Moreover, the plan envisions a broader regional peace, rejecting any "occupation" of Gaza and promising reconstruction aid. But skeptics point to past failed ceasefires, wondering if this latest accord can hold amid deep-seated mistrust. As the sun rises over the rubble-strewn enclave, one can't help but ponder whether this fragile accord might finally pave the way for lasting quiet, or if it's just another fleeting hope in an endless cycle.