On Friday, October 3, Hamas announced that it is ready to release all Israeli hostages held in Gaza and hand over the bodies of those killed, while stressing that difficult negotiations still lie ahead.
The group expressed willingness to accept certain elements of President Trump’s peace plan, without commenting on the provisions it had previously rejected outright—including the demand to disarm. Trump, who has been vigorously promoting the deal and pressuring both sides, said the progress achieved brings a Gaza ceasefire “closer than ever before” and called on Israel to halt its bombardment of the enclave.
Still, many questions remain, and it is unclear whether the parties can take the final steps needed to end the nearly two-year war that has brought immense suffering to Gaza’s civilian population. Interviews with Palestinians in the enclave show broad support for the initiative—many hope it will finally bring a respite after the Israeli campaign that has claimed more than 60,000 lives.