Hamas agrees to release hostages, relinquish power over Gaza

Hamas said it tentatively agreed to release all remaining hostages and relinquish power under President Donald Trump’s proposed ceasefire agreement, assuming there is “Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support,” according to breaking reports on Friday afternoon.

Hamas said there could be agreement on relinquishing its power and the release of the remaining 48 hostages, but such a move would need further discussion on the other terms of the agreement in accordance with a “unanimous Palestinian stance,” multiple outlets reported Friday. The agreement marks a major breakthrough in negotiations that have dragged on for years, but it remains unclear how Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will react to a partial agreement.

President Donald Trump gave the terrorist group an ultimatum on Friday, saying on Truth Social Hamas must accept the terms by Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or the deal is off.

“If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,” Trump wrote.

Palestinian residents have been chafing under Hamas leadership, begging the group to sign the peace deal to bring some semblance of stability and hope for the destitute region. Over 33,000 Palestinians have been displaced as a result of Israeli campaigns, while nearly one in four Gazans face famine as an average of eight mass casualty incidents occur daily, according to United Nations (UN) data.

Trump’s peace plan called for the immediate release of all hostages in the Gaza Strip, while handing over control of the region to an “International Stabilization Force (ISF).” The international government, which would include the consultation of “Palestinian technocrats,” would be headed by Trump himself, along with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Israel, under the full agreement, would withdraw its troops in accordance with certain milestones, withdrawing first once all hostages are released then withdrawing once more upon the ISF’s establishment of governance. A small security buffer between Gaza and Israel would also be set up inside the border.

The White House was confident that Hamas would accept the proposal, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying before Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting on September 30 that a deal was “very close.”

The White House and the Israeli Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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