Hamas has just dropped a bombshell response to President Donald Trump’s peace plan, mere hours before a do-or-die deadline that could reshape the Gaza conflict.
In a stunning turn of events reported by Al Jazeera on Friday, Hamas has signaled a willingness to release all Israeli captives and cede administrative control of Gaza to an independent Palestinian body, though it sidesteps a key demand to lay down arms.
Let’s rewind to the start of this high-stakes drama: President Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas, demanding a response to his peace proposal by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, with the threat of total destruction looming if they failed to comply.
Hamas, facing this ticking clock, didn’t just twiddle their thumbs—they delivered a reply that’s got everyone talking, even if it’s not a full surrender to every point on the table.
The group’s statement, shared on Telegram, declared, “In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter into negotiations through the mediators to discuss the details of this agreement.”
Well, that sounds cooperative, but let’s not pop the champagne just yet—agreeing to talk isn’t the same as agreeing to disarm, a sticking point for both Israel and the United States.
Speaking of disarmament, Hamas conveniently dodged that core demand, which raises eyebrows about how serious they are about lasting peace or if this is just a strategic sidestep to buy time.
On the brighter side, Hamas did express a readiness to free all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, as part of an exchange tied to ending Israel’s military operations in Gaza and securing a full withdrawal of forces.
If this promise holds water, it could pile pressure on all sides to hammer out a compromise, especially with the emotional weight of those captives hanging in the balance.
Let’s not forget the symbolic timing here—a potential deal could emerge close to the second anniversary of the horrific Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, which sparked the current war and left deep scars.
That attack, which coincided with the final day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, carries extra poignancy this year as October 7, 2025, marks the holiday’s first day, a reminder of the cyclical pain in this conflict.
Meanwhile, Hamas’s agreement to transfer Gaza’s administration to a body of independent Palestinian technocrats, backed by national consensus and regional support, sounds like a step toward stability—on paper, at least.
But without a commitment to disarm, one has to wonder if this is just window dressing, a way to appear conciliatory while keeping their powder dry for future fights.
Trump’s ultimatum, notably, didn’t explicitly require Hamas to sign off on every single one of the 20 points in his proposed deal, leaving some wiggle room for negotiation—or, cynics might say, for more stalling.
At the end of the day, while this response from Hamas offers a sliver of hope for those desperate for an end to the violence, the refusal to address disarmament keeps the specter of conflict very much alive.