In a statement on Friday, the Egyptian foreign ministry said Hamas’s decision “reflects an awareness of the necessity of ending this war, thereby laying the groundwork for moving forward toward realizing the Palestinian people’s aspirations to establish their state.”
Cairo also stated that it “appreciates President Trump’s efforts and his vision for achieving peace and stability in the region,” highlighting what it called his “categorical rejection of the annexation of the West Bank or the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land.”
The foreign ministry noted that Trump’s plan “ensures that Palestinians remain on their land and that those wishing to return to their homeland may do so.”
Egypt urged all sides to commit to the deal, saying it hoped the development would “encourage all parties to rise to the level of responsibility by committing to the implementation of President Trump’s plan on the ground and to ending the war.”
“This includes ensuring the unfettered delivery of humanitarian assistance through United Nations mechanisms, the release of hostages and detainees, and laying the foundations for a new phase toward peace,” the statement added.
Cairo also reaffirmed its role as mediator, stressing its “determination to exert the utmost effort, in coordination with its Arab and Islamic brothers, the United States, the European side, and the wider international community, to reach a permanent ceasefire, alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, and advance the reconstruction of Gaza.”
Earlier on Friday, Hamas stated it had agreed to release Israeli captives and hand over administration of the strip to a technocrat government in response to US President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war.
Shortly after, in a post to Truth Social, US President Donald Trump said that Hamas' response to the ceasefire indicates the group is ready for peace and said Israel "must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly."
The 20-point Trump Gaza plan stipulates an immediate ceasefire and the release within 72 hours of 20 living Israelis held in Gaza, as well as the remains of those thought to be dead, in exchange for hundreds of detained Palestinians.
In its statement, Hamas said other issues in Trump’s plan relating to Gaza’s future and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people must be decided through a comprehensive Palestinian national framework, grounded in international law and relevant UN resolutions, in which Hamas will participate “with full responsibility.”
Hamas added that it values Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as those of President Trump, that aim to stop the war on Gaza, secure an exchange of prisoners, bring in humanitarian aid immediately, reject the occupation of the Strip, and prevent the displacement of the Palestinian people.
A senior Egyptian source told Al Qahera News on Saturday that preparations are underway to begin discussions on providing the necessary field conditions for a prisoner exchange between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel.
The source said Egypt is actively working with all parties to create an environment that would allow for the implementation of an exchange deal, which has been central to recent diplomatic efforts to end Israel’s war on Gaza.
In parallel, the source also revealed that Cairo is preparing to host a comprehensive Palestinian dialogue aimed at discussing the future of the Gaza Strip.
Egypt and Qatar have led mediation efforts to bring an end to Israel’s two-year-long genocidal war on Gaza.
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