Hamas announced on Friday its willingness to release all Israeli hostages after reviewing President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan. The group stated it would enter negotiations through mediators to discuss handover details and transfer Gaza governance to an independent Palestinian body of technocrats based on national consensus and Arab-Islamic support. Hamas agreed to the prisoner exchange formula but did not address full disarmament, stating other issues would be discussed within a Palestinian national framework that would involve the group.
Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzook told Al Jazeera that stopping the war was the priority, but releasing all hostages within 72 hours before Trump's deadline was unrealistic. He said weapons would be transferred to the coming Palestinian state and its governing authority. Trump demanded Hamas accept his proposal by 6 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday or face destruction. The militants hold nearly 50 hostages from the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that killed at least 1,200 people and triggered Israel's Gaza operation.
Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzook told Al Jazeera that stopping the war was the priority, but releasing all hostages within 72 hours before Trump's deadline was unrealistic. He said weapons would be transferred to the coming Palestinian state and its governing authority. Trump demanded Hamas accept his proposal by 6 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday or face destruction. The militants hold nearly 50 hostages from the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that killed at least 1,200 people and triggered Israel's Gaza operation.
