Archive October 3, 2025

Hamas has agreed to release all of Israel’s held captives, but it has asked to negotiate other details of the 20-point plan in response to US President Donald Trump’s request to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza.

Trump has reacted by requesting that Israel stop bombing Gaza and giving the Palestinian group a Sunday deadline to respond favorably.

Is this the end of a nearly two-year conflict that has left more than 66, 000 Palestinians dead? Or will there be more potential pitfalls?

Let’s examine this more closely.

What was Hamas’ exact response?

Hamas has stated that it will release all Israeli prisoners held in Gaza, both dead and alive, “in a way that puts an end to Israel’s war” and force Israel to completely leave the Gaza Strip.

Additionally, it stated that a group of Palestinian technocrats would take control of Gaza.

The group said that the rest of Trump’s 20-point plan, which included Hamas’s disarmament, should be “discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework, in which Hamas will be included and will contribute fully responsibility,” and that it should be discussed.

Trump: Has he taken a chance?

Trump expressed his gratitude for Hamas’ response on his Truth Social website, saying that they were “ready for a lasting PEACE.”

He added that “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” in a major announcement to allow the release of the prisoners.

“We are already negotiating details,” he said. He wrote, “This is not just about Gaza; it is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”

Trump then retorted that Hamas’ response was a win in a video message.

“This is a significant day. We’ll see how everything turns out. He said, “We have to write down the last word in concrete.” Everyone voted in favor of ending this war and bringing peace to the Middle East, and we are very close to doing that, to be sure to say.

What position does Israel hold?

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were present at the White House on Monday to make their peace plans for Gaza.

Netanyahu claimed at the time that he was in favor of Trump’s strategy because it would help Israel achieve its war goals.

“It will free Israel from all of its hostages, end Hamas’s military and political dominance, and prevent Gaza from ever becoming a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu said.

However, there were some limitations for the prime minister. Netanyahu claimed in the White House that Israel would “finish the job by itself” if Hamas rejected the plan “or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it” in the White House.

And a few hours later, Netanyahu stated in Hebrew to a domestic Israeli audience that he had no intention of supporting a Palestinian state and that the Israeli military would remain in Gaza for the most part.

What will be the main issues?

Hamas has made it abundantly clear that it is unmoved to accept Trump’s plan, including the creation of an interim administration led by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

According to Hamas senior official Mousa Abu Marzouk, “We will never accept anyone who is not Palestinian to control the Palestinians,” adding Blair’s appointment was unwelcome in light of his previous involvement with the invasion of Iraq.

Disarmament will also pose a problem. Hamas has only stated that it is willing to discuss the subject, but Trump and Netanyahu insist that the group must do so right away.

According to Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem, Hamas’s statement states that the fate of Gaza and the entire conflict will be decided by the Palestinians. They want a more comprehensive Palestinian consensus before a final decision is reached. What is clear is that Hamas said, “Yes, but… “

Israel’s bombing of Gaza won’t stop, though.

Because Hamas has not merely accepted all of its demands, the Israeli government is likely to be unhappy with Trump’s positive response. According to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, it is already reported that Netanyahu was “surprised” by Trump’s response and that Hamas’s response was viewed as a “rejection” of the plan.

The far-right have warned that they will overthrow the prime minister if he agrees to a deal that they oppose, dominating Netanyahu’s government. The Israeli opposition has voiced its support for the agreement, but a coalition between them and Netanyahu won’t be easy to come together due to their lack of confidence.

Much will now depend on how much of Trump is willing to force a deal out of Netanyahu.

According to Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi, a reporter from Washington, “You can picture the forces gathered here in Washington, DC, right now trying to change Donald Trump’s mind.”

According to Rattansi, “All of this now depends on how committed he is and how much pressure the mediators are putting on him to adhere to the terms of this agreement” and not, as in the past, allow Hamas to fulfill the agreement and allow Israel to restart the conflict,”