“Hamas values the Arab, Islamic and international efforts… calling for an end to the war… and we declare our acceptance to release all occupation war prisoners (both living and dead) within the exchange formula… we affirm our readiness to immediately engage, through the mediators, in negotiations,” the movement said in a written response delivered Friday.
It also stated it would “entrust the administration of the Gaza Strip to an independent Palestinian administration [a technocratic authority] based on Palestinian national consensus.”
US President Donald Trump welcomed the move, writing: “Based on the statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel is preparing for the “immediate implementation” of the first stage of the plan for the release of hostages and will “continue to work in full cooperation with the president and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which align with President Trump’s vision.”
Key mediators publicly signaled go-ahead for next steps. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said it “welcomes Hamas’s announcement of its approval… and its readiness to release all hostages within the exchange framework,” adding it supports an immediate ceasefire to enable a safe, swift release.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry called Hamas’s reply a “positive development” and voiced hope that all parties would implement the plan through continued coordination with Washington.
Things left to be dealt with
There are cautions. Hamas has not committed to disarmament in its text, a core Israeli and US demand. A senior Hamas official, Mousa Abu Marzouk, also told Al Jazeera that releasing all living hostages and bodies within 72 hours is “unrealistic under the current circumstances.”
Families of the abducted renewed their plea to the government “to immediately order negotiations for the return of all hostages.” That imperative must remain Israel’s North Star.
This newspaper prays for the success of this deal. It is not perfect. It does not give Israel all that it wants and deserves. Yet if it brings our people home quickly and safely, if it creates enforceable mechanisms that prevent Hamas from rearming or regrouping, and if it advances a stable postwar governance structure that is neither Hamas nor chaos, then Israel should test the offer vigorously and soberly.
The first test is verifiable implementation. Israel must insist on clear timetables and third-party monitoring for the release of all hostages, living and fallen, with real-time verification at every handover.
The second is security. Any pause in fighting must not be exploited for rearmament or regrouping. The plan must include sustained interdiction of smuggling, robust inspection of aid flows, and unambiguous consequences for violations.
The third is governance. Hamas says it is prepared to hand Gaza’s administration to an independent Palestinian technocratic body. That is welcome in principle, but the details matter.
The authority must be competent, accountable, and supported by responsible Arab partners. It cannot be a revolving door for the same terror infrastructure under a new label. The mediators’ statements from Qatar and Egypt point to regional willingness to shoulder this burden. That willingness should be translated into binding commitments, financing, training, and security coordination that serve civilians and deny terrorists a future.
Israel’s red lines remain: no return of Hamas rule, no tolerance for terror capabilities, and freedom of action to defend our citizens if the other side violates its obligations. At the same time, our greatest moral and strategic obligation is to bring the hostages home.
As Trump wrote, the operating logic at this stage must be to “get the hostages out safely and quickly,” without surrendering Israel’s core security requirements.
We have seen false dawns. Skepticism is warranted, especially given Hamas’s record and its hedging on disarmament and timelines. But the combination now on the table – a formal written commitment from Hamas to release all captives, a readiness by Israel to implement stage one, and active backing from the mediators – creates a narrow window that must be used.
Our prayer is simple. Bring them all home. If an imperfect deal achieves that while safeguarding Israel’s security and laying foundations for a different future in Gaza, we should seize it with clear eyes and firm conditions. That is not capitulation. It is a responsible choice to save lives today while preserving Israel’s safety tomorrow.