President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that he believes Hamas is “ready for a lasting PEACE” after the group accepted the central terms of his Gaza peace proposal. The agreement includes the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for an immediate ceasefire and the full withdrawal of the Israeli military, marking the most significant diplomatic progress to date.
Hamas’s acceptance came in a formal statement, just a day after Trump issued a stark ultimatum with a Sunday deadline. The group affirmed its readiness for immediate, mediated talks to hash out the details, a move that Trump quickly shared and framed as a major victory for his diplomatic efforts. The focus now shifts to implementing this breakthrough agreement on the ground.
Central to the plan is the proposed political restructuring of Gaza. Hamas has agreed to cede administrative authority to an independent, technocratic body. This new governing entity would be formed by a Palestinian national consensus and backed by regional Arab and Islamic powers, providing a pathway to stable, non-militant governance in the territory.
However, the path forward is not without its complexities. The Hamas statement clarified that while they agree on the immediate steps, other points in the 20-point plan require further discussion. Issues concerning the final status of Gaza and Palestinian rights will be negotiated separately within a national framework, suggesting a phased approach to resolving the broader conflict.
In his response, Trump took the decisive step of ordering Israel to cease its military operations in Gaza. He emphasized that a halt to the bombing is critical for the “safe and quick” return of the hostages. This public directive puts significant pressure on Israel to de-escalate immediately and honor the terms of the proposal it had already accepted.