Hamas said Friday it has agreed to parts of the ceasefire and hostage release deal that President Trump outlined earlier this week.
A source familiar with the talks told CBS News that Hamas is ready to enter further negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the deal on Monday. Earlier Friday, Mr. Trump gave Hamas until Sunday evening to accept the deal, or “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas.”
Hamas said in a statement it is willing to release all living hostages and the remains of deceased hostages “in accordance with the exchange formula set forth in President Trump’s proposal.” The proposal laid out by the White House called for Hamas to release all hostages taken on Oct. 7, 2023, within 72 hours, and for Israel to release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 other Gazans who were detained following the start of the conflict.
The deal also called for an immediate end to fighting if both sides accept the deal, and for Israel’s military to withdraw to an “agreed upon line.”
Hamas also said it is willing to “hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and with the support of Arab and Islamic parties” — another portion of Mr. Trump’s proposal.
The group was less clear on other portions of the deal. The statement said some aspects of Mr. Trump’s proposal “remain linked to a comprehensive national stance, grounded in relevant international laws and resolutions.” It said those issues will need to be discussed “within an inclusive Palestinian national framework” that includes Hamas.
This is a breaking story; it will be updated.
