A Palestinian boy stands near bodies of Palestinians killed by Israel in Deir al-Balah, at themorgue of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza Strip. AFP
The Palestinian resistance group said it "has agreed to releasing all occupation prisoners, both living and remains, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, with the necessary field conditions for implementing the exchange."
"In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter, through the mediators, into negotiations to discuss the details," it added.
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.
The group reiterated it was ready "to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats) based on Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing."
As for other issues in Trump’s proposal relating to Gaza’s future and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Hamas said these 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.”
In its reply, Hamas said 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.
The Palestinian resistance group said it made this decision after extensive consultations within its leadership, with Palestinian factions, and with mediators and allies.
The Hamas response, delivered to mediators in Qatar and Egypt, comes amidst a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israeli genocidal war on the strip two years ago.
The Israeli war has killed and wounded nearly 230,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and reduced most of the strip to rubble.
In tandem, the two year old Israeli blockade on food, water and medicine forced the UN in August to declare famine in Gaza, the first in the Middle East.
Hamas strategic deferral in its response on decisions on all issues related to the future of Gaza and the and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people a comprehensive Palestinian national framework serves as an apparent pushback against other non-humanitarian components of the Trumpo plan, which is understood to demand the demilitarisation of Hamas and the installation of a US-led “Board of Peace” to oversee the territory’s reconstruction.
By demanding a national consensus, Hamas seeks to maintain its relevance in the political sphere and resist terms amounting to unconditional surrender.
The response arrived less than two days before the a Sunday deadline set by the White House for Hamas to accept or reject the proposal, which President Trump described as a "last, best offer."
The Trump ultimatum has put immense pressure on the group, which has been severely weakened by the continuous Israeli military operations, but remains militarily resilient.
The 20-point framework, co-endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has received cautious support from several key Arab and Islamic states, including Qatar and Egypt, the primary mediators.
Scepticism remains high among the Palestinian public and regional analysts, who view the plan as heavily skewed toward Israeli security demands, particularly following Netanyahu’s recent insistence that Israel will not withdraw completely, but rather maintain an "open-ended security presence" inside the territory.
As mediators now review the Hamas text, all eyes turn to Washington and Tel Aviv for their reaction to what is clearly a conditional and strategically nuanced acceptance.
The negotiations over the coming days are expected to focus heavily on whether the American administration is willing to amend the final political terms to secure the humanitarian and administrative breakthroughs offered by Hamas.
On Thursday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said more time might be needed to fill holes in the Trump plan in order to end the Israeli occupation and achieve the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
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