Hamas has agreed to release all remaining Israeli hostages but says it wants further negotiations on a number of key points outlined in the US peace plan.
In a statement, Hamas said it agreed "to release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal" – if the proper conditions for the exchanges were met.
The US President Donald Trump responded by saying he believed Hamas was ready for “lasting peace”. He wrote on his Truth Social media platform: “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!”
Hamas’ acceptance of some of the peace deal came hours after the US president had given Hamas until Sunday to agree to his plan, warning that “all hell” would break loose if an agreement was not reached by that deadline.
The Hamas statement suggests it is seeking further negotiation on various issues regarding the future of Gaza and the rights of Palestinians. It’s understood that Arab and Turkish mediators had been strongly pressing Hamas to give a positive response to the US proposal.
Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by John Sudworth in Jerusalem and Tom Bateman in Washington.
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