Hamas has announced its agreement to release all remaining Israeli hostages while calling for additional negotiations on several provisions outlined in the United States’ proposed peace plan for Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government was “preparing to immediately implement” the first phase of the plan put forward by former US President Donald Trump.

The statements from both sides came just hours after Trump issued an ultimatum, giving Hamas until Sunday to accept the peace proposal or face what he described as “all hell.”

In a post on social media, Trump said he believed Hamas was “ready for a lasting peace” and urged Israel to “stop the bombing of Gaza,” signalling a rare public appeal for restraint from the longtime ally of the Israeli state.

On the ground, confusion and uncertainty gripped Gaza, where hundreds of residents contacted news outlets seeking clarity over the latest political developments and whether they might finally lead to an end to the devastating humanitarian crisis.

Our Jerusalem correspondent notes that while Hamas’s statement marks a significant step, numerous issues remain unresolved. 

The group’s announcement notably omitted reference to key elements of the plan — including demands for its disarmament and its withdrawal from any future role in governing Gaza.

SMS/