Hamas has agreed to some parts of a 20-point US-backed ceasefire plan and committed to releasing hostages. In response, Israel has instructed its military to “stop operations” in Gaza and limit its actions to defensive measures. US President Trump, who put out this ceasefire plan, thanked the countries that supported and helped facilitate the agreement. Prime Minister Modi also welcomed Trump’s move, calling it a “significant step forward” in the Gaza peace efforts.
Hamas’s letter to Trump on peace deal: Read full text
“Out of keenness to end the aggression and genocide being carried out against our steadfast people in the Gaza Strip, and stemming from national responsibility, and in defense of the constants, rights, and higher interests of our people, the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas has conducted in-depth consultations within its leadership institutions, broad consultations with Palestinian forces and factions, and consultations with brothers, mediators, and friends, in order to reach a responsible position in dealing with US President Donald Trump’s plan,” the statement from Hamas read.
It added, “After thorough study, the movement has made its decision and conveyed the following response to the mediators: Hamas appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of the US President Donald Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners, 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.”
“Within this framework, and in a manner that achieves an end to the war and a full withdrawal from the Strip, the movement announces 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. In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter, through the mediators, into negotiations to discuss the details,” it continued.
Hamas further stated, “The movement also reaffirms its approval to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats) based on Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing. As for other issues included in President Trump’s proposal concerning the future of the Gaza Strip and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, this is tied to a collective national position and, in accordance with relevant international laws and resolutions, to be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework, in which Hamas will be included and will contribute with full responsibility.”
It ended with the words: “The Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas.”
Gaza ceasefire: Trump’s statement
“I want to thank the countries that helped me put this together: Qatar, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and so many others. So many people fought so hard.
This is a big day. We’ll see how it all turns out. We have to get the final word down in concrete.
Very importantly, I look forward to having the hostages come home to their parents and having some of the hostages, unfortunately, you know the condition they are in, come home likewise to their parents because their parents wanted them just as much as though that young man or that young woman were alive.
So, I just want to let you know that this is a very special day. Maybe unprecedented in many ways. It is unprecedented.
But thank you all, and thank you all to those great countries that helped. We were given a tremendous amount of help.
Everybody was unified in wanting this war to end and seeing peace in the Middle East. And we are very close to achieving that.
Thank you all, and everybody will be treated fairly.”