Hamas has formally accepted core provisions of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire proposal to end the genocide in Gaza, marking a potentially pivotal moment in the nearly two-year conflict.
The announcement came late Friday, just days before Trump’s deadline for full agreement, and follows intense consultations with Palestinian factions, regional mediators, and international partners.
In its official statement, Hamas said the decision was made “out of national responsibility and in defense of our people’s rights and interests,” and confirmed it had delivered its response to mediators.
The group expressed appreciation for Arab, Islamic, and international efforts—including those of President Trump—aimed at ending the war, facilitating prisoner exchanges, and enabling urgent humanitarian relief.
Hamas agreed to release all Israeli captives, both living and deceased, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, contingent on field conditions that would allow the exchange to proceed. It also affirmed readiness to enter immediate negotiations to finalize operational details.
The movement reiterated its willingness to transfer administrative control of Gaza to a Palestinian technocratic body formed through national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic states.
However, Hamas emphasized that broader issues—such as Gaza’s long-term governance and Palestinian national rights—must be addressed within a unified Palestinian framework and grounded in international law and UN resolutions.
The Trump plan, unveiled earlier this week alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, includes:
- An immediate ceasefire and phased Israeli withdrawal.
- Release of hostages and prisoners.
- Restoration of essential services and infrastructure.
- Establishment of a transitional governing body composed of Palestinian technocrats.
- Oversight by a “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump, with participation from international figures including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
According to CBS News and Al Jazeera, the plan also calls for Hamas to disarm and relinquish political control, while Israel would halt its offensive and allow humanitarian aid and reconstruction.
The territory would be placed under “temporary international governance,” though no path to reunification with the West Bank is outlined.
Hamas has not publicly committed to disarmament, a key Israeli and U.S. demand, and has signaled that final-status issues, including borders, refugees, and Jerusalem, require broader Palestinian consensus.
A Hamas official told Reuters that some elements of the plan remain unacceptable and subject to negotiation.
Hamas has submitted its response to Trump’s Gaza plan, saying it is ready to release all Israeli captives – both living and dead – in exchange for an end to Israel’s war and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave, as outlined in Trump’s proposal. pic.twitter.com/9sCwJUbbpO
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 3, 2025
Trump has given Hamas until Sunday at 6 p.m. Washington time to accept the full proposal, warning that failure to comply would trigger “unprecedented consequences.” While Israel has reportedly endorsed the plan, key mediators including Egypt and Qatar have called for further clarification and revisions.
The international community remains cautiously optimistic, with regional leaders urging diplomacy over ultimatums. As the deadline approaches, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, and the prospect of a negotiated ceasefire hangs in the balance.
#ICYMI: US President Trump’s Gaza plan has no guarantees to protect Palestinians but does guarantee a “long-term occupation by foreign troops,” says Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Policy Studies. pic.twitter.com/DnY1V9qv8A
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 3, 2025
Talking to Al-Jazeera, Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Policy Studies said: “There are no guarantees here to protect Palestinian interests, there are no guarantees that the war would come to a permanent end, there is every indication that at any point Israel decides it wants to go back to the war as soon as they get their hostages back, they’re going to say ‘well, we are not getting the kind of cooperation we expected with this, so we got to go back to war…”
Despite Hamas’ conditional acceptance of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan and his public call for Israel to halt its bombing campaign, Israeli military operations have escalated across the Gaza Strip.
More than ten Israeli airstrikes struck the Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City, igniting widespread fires and resulting in the explosion of three Israeli armored vehicles. The area remains engulfed in smoke and debris, with emergency crews struggling to reach affected zones.
Two additional airstrikes targeted the vicinity of the Al-Noor Center for the Blind. A nearby school, which had just been evacuated, was also hit, raising concerns about deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure.
Thousands of civilians, including displaced families, remain stranded in the streets and along major roads without shelter, as bombardment continues unabated.
Breaking | Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand for an immediate cessation of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, the occupation forces are intensifying their airstrikes on the City. pic.twitter.com/Ub6vvHrXne
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 3, 2025
Israeli shelling and drone strikes have intensified in the Al-Shati refugee camp, Sheikh Radwan, and Al-Jalaa neighborhoods. Explosions from armored vehicles have added to the destruction, further destabilizing densely populated areas.
Artillery and aerial attacks persist across the northern, eastern, and southern sectors of Gaza City, with no signs of de-escalation. Local officials warn that the continued bombardment undermines ceasefire efforts and worsens the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
In the past 24 hours alone, at least 63 Palestinians were killed and 227 others injured in Israeli strikes across Gaza.
This brings the total death toll since October 7, 2023, to at least 66,288, with more than 169,165 wounded. The fatalities include thousands of children, women, and elderly civilians, and the numbers continue to rise amid ongoing bombardment and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
In addition, 457 Palestinians—including 152 children—have died from starvation and malnutrition due to the blockade on food, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid.
These deaths are part of a worsening famine crisis, with over 500,000 people now living under Phase 5 conditions—the highest level of food insecurity—marked by starvation, destitution, and death. Gaza’s essential services have collapsed, and humanitarian agencies warn that without immediate access, the toll will continue to rise.
