Hamas says ready to negotiate so-called peace plan presented by Trump

The movement issued a statement on Friday following an “extensive study” of the plan and after conducting “in-depth consultations” with various Palestinian factions. The statement emphasized the movement’s commitment to halting aggression and ending what it described as a war of extermination.

The organization announced that its response was formulated “based on national responsibility and with a commitment to the principles, rights, and overarching interests of our people.”

In a bid to halt ongoing hostilities and facilitate the withdrawal of Israeli forces, Hamas has announced its agreement to “release all Israeli captives, both living and deceased.”

The organization stated that the release is contingent upon ensuring that the necessary field conditions for the exchange process are met.

The group has expressed its readiness to engage in negotiations with mediators to achieve their objective.

In another section of the statement, Hamas announced its endorsement for transferring the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body composed of independent technocrats, in alignment with Palestinian national consensus and bolstered by Arab and Islamic backing.

The group emphasized that the remaining elements outlined in Trump’s proposal must be settled “through a comprehensive Palestinian national framework, involving Hamas, which will participate and contribute with full responsibility.”

The decision’s latter portion was attributed to the provisions being tied to a comprehensive national stance and grounded in pertinent international laws and resolutions.

Initially, the movement had conveyed its doubts about the proposal, stating that given the sensitive aspects at play, its response would be decidedly collective, incorporating the perspectives of multiple Palestinian factions.

The matters at hand have been recognized as the future of the Palestinian issue, the rights of Palestinians, fundamental principles, and political identity. It has stated that a definitive response will be given after further consultations with Palestinian groups.

On Friday, Musa Abu Marzouk of Hamas addressed the reaction to the plan during an interview with Al Jazeera. He stated that while the movement agreed to the plan “in its main headings as a principle,” he emphasized that “its implementation requires negotiation.”

He stated that the plan’s implementation requires negotiation.

Hamas has pushed back against being labeled as a “terror” organization, expressing their refusal to be sidelined from political engagement.

In response to the proposal’s continuous reference to the United States’ classification of the movement as a “terrorist organization,” the official expressed concerns and disagreement.

Hamas is characterized as a national liberation movement, thereby rendering the plan’s definition of terrorism inapplicable to it.

According to Osama Hamdan, a prominent figure within Hamas, efforts to marginalize the organization from the Palestinian political landscape are unlikely to succeed.

International authorities have declared that no foreign entity will be permitted to assume governance over the Gaza Strip.

Hamdan further emphasized that the group would not tolerate foreign control over the coastal region.

The comments followed reports concerning the proposal’s details, which outlined the establishment of a “temporary technocratic committee” to oversee governance in Gaza, under the guidance of a “Board of Peace.”

As per the plan, the leadership of the board is expected to include Trump, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as other distinguished members and heads of state.

Following the release of the reports, Hamas stated that the Palestinian people are capable of managing their own affairs independently.

Hamdan emphasized that there is a consensus among Palestinians for Gaza to be governed by a Palestinian authority.

He has categorically dismissed the possibility of “entry of foreign forces” into the Gaza Strip, labeling it as “unacceptable.”

On Monday, Trump unveiled a proposal advocating for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The plan includes the exchange of Israeli captives held by Hamas for Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails, alongside a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Trump proposed the plan as Washington continues to provide extraordinary military, intelligence, and political backing for the conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 66,300 Palestinians, predominantly women and children.

The United States has significantly increased its arms support for Israel to unprecedented levels while consistently vetoing United Nations resolutions intended to halt the ongoing military aggression.

Israeli bombing intensifies in the wake of Hamas’ actions.

Trump took to X, previously known as Twitter, to call for an “immediate” cessation of the Israeli regime’s bombing in Gaza.

Resistance outlets have reported that the response from Hamas was met with what they described as “hysterical” bombardment in northern Gaza by Israeli warplanes.