The Trump Plan in Motion: Hamas Accepts Hostages-for-Withdrawal Deal

The Gaza peace plan championed by Donald Trump has been set in motion, with Hamas formally accepting a hostages-for-withdrawal deal on Saturday. The Palestinian group agreed to release all Israeli captives in return for a complete Israeli military withdrawal and an end to the war, meeting the core demands of the U.S.-led proposal.
This acceptance was announced just ahead of a Sunday evening deadline imposed by Trump, who had threatened dire consequences for rejection. In a statement, Hamas confirmed it is prepared to enter into immediate, mediated negotiations to finalize the terms, a development that breaks months of political and military stalemate.
A pivotal component of the plan is the future administration of Gaza. Hamas has consented to a proposal to transfer governance to a non-partisan body of Palestinian technocrats. This is seen as a critical step towards disarming Hamas and establishing a new, stable political authority in the Strip with broad regional and international support.
However, the group’s agreement is not a rubber stamp on the entire 20-point proposal. Hamas clarified that while it accepts the immediate de-escalation measures, longer-term issues related to Palestinian rights and the final status of Gaza require a “comprehensive Palestinian national framework” for resolution, signaling that the road ahead remains complex.
Following the announcement, Donald Trump hailed the move as a major step toward peace and immediately called on Israel to cease its bombing campaign. His call for a halt to military action is aimed at creating the necessary conditions for the safe recovery of the hostages, effectively kickstarting the first phase of his ambitious peace plan.