• Demand comes after group shows flexibility in response to his peace plan
• Hamas reply conveyed via Qatari mediators, indicates willingness to free prisoners held in Gaza
• Group appreciates efforts by Islamic nations, international bodies; thanks Trump for his proposal
• Approves handing over Gaza administration to body of local technocrats, says future of Palestinians cannot by decided by Hamas alone
• Qualms over call for Hamas disarmament persist; group indicates willingness to negotiate further

CAIRO: After Hamas showed flexibility with a ‘largely positive’ response to his 20-point peace plan, US President Donald Trump declared that the Palestinian group was “ready for peace”, and called on Tel Aviv to immediately stop bombing Gaza.

The announcement from the US president was the culmination of fast-moving events on Friday night, which began when the US president issued an ultimatum to the group, asking it to respond to his proposal by Sunday.

“Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

In response, Hamas conveyed its reply via Qatari mediators, which was also shared by President Trump on his Truth Social account.

In the statement, Hamas announced its willingness to agree to some aspects of his peace plan, including the release of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza, and relinquishing administration of the enclave.

The group also said it would seek negotiations over many of the other terms, which according to Reuters also includes the demand for its disarmament.

The White House proposal, backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for a ceasefire, the release of Israeli prisoners within 72 hours, Hamas’s disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

That would be followed by a post-war transitional authority, headed by Trump himself.

Earlier on Friday, Mohammad Nazzal, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, had said in a statement that the “plan has points of concern, and we will announce our position on it soon”.

He maintained that the group wants to respond “in a way that serves the interests” of the Palestinian people.

Hamas reply

In its latest statement, Hamas said it “appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of US President Donald Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners, (and) the immediate entry of aid, the rejection of the occupation of the Strip, and the rejection of the displacement of our Palestinian people from it”.

It said it was announcing its “approval of 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.”

The group said it was willing to “immediately engage in negotiations through mediators” to discuss the details of the release.

However, according to senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk, “handing over prisoners and bodies within 72 hours is theoretical and unrealistic under the current circumstances”.

“We have agreed nationally to hand over the administration of Gaza to independents, and that this should be under the Palestinian Authority. Shaping the future of the people is a national issue that Hamas cannot decide alone,” Middle East Eye quoted Abu Marzouk as saying.

“The priority is to stop the war and massacres, and from this perspective, we dealt positively with the plan,” he said. However, according to Abu Marzouk, the group would not disarm before the Israeli occupation ends, adding that issues over Gaza’s future should be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework, which Hamas will be part of.

The official added that Hamas would enter negotiations on all issues related to the group and its arms.

Hamas ‘ready for peace’

However, President Donald Trump shared a copy of Hamas’ statement on his Truth Social account. Interesting, that statement made no mention of the demand for its disarmament.

Subsequently, he wrote on Truth Social that he believed Hamas was ready for peace, and called on Tel Aviv to stop bombing Gaza immediately, as it could threaten the prospects of getting Israeli prisoners out alive.

“Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” Trump wrote.

“Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East,” he said.

But shortly after it offered its response to Trump’s plan, Hamas’ Mahmoud Mardawi told AFP: “The American proposal is vague, ambiguous, and lacks clarity”, and would require further negotiations.

It remains unclear if the US or Israel would be willing to engage in further negotiations.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2025