A Deal on the Table: Hamas Approves Hostage Freedom and New Gaza Government

A substantive deal is now on the table to end the Gaza war, with Hamas announcing its approval of a framework that includes the release of all Israeli hostages and the formation of a new government. The group’s acceptance of key parts of Donald Trump’s peace plan on Saturday has injected new momentum into efforts to resolve the crisis.
This breakthrough follows a period of intense pressure from Trump, who had set a Sunday deadline for Hamas to respond to his 20-point proposal. The group’s statement affirmed its readiness for immediate negotiations to implement the agreement, which calls for a full Israeli military withdrawal in exchange for the captives’ freedom.
A transformative part of the deal is the agreement on Gaza’s future governance. Hamas has consented to hand over administrative control to a body of “independents (technocrats),” which would be established with broad Palestinian consensus and the backing of regional powers. This is a critical step towards creating a stable, post-conflict political environment.
While agreeing on these crucial points, Hamas noted that its acceptance is not comprehensive. The group’s statement indicated that other long-term issues mentioned in the Trump plan, such as the final status of Gaza and Palestinian rights, require further internal discussions and are tied to international law.
Donald Trump immediately welcomed the development, stating his belief that Hamas is prepared for a lasting peace. He followed this with a call for Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” to ensure the safe and swift recovery of the hostages, pushing the deal from a proposal to the first stage of implementation.