A decisive moment in the Middle East conflict has arrived, with Hamas saying ‘yes’ to the core tenets of Donald Trump’s peace plan. The group’s announcement on Saturday that it will release all Israeli hostages and agree to a ceasefire has fundamentally changed the dynamic of the long-standing crisis.
The affirmative response was delivered shortly before a critical deadline imposed by Trump, who had warned of dire consequences. Hamas’s statement, shared by Trump, not only accepted the immediate terms but also expressed readiness to “immediately enter into negotiations” to finalize the agreement, which includes a full Israeli withdrawal.
Central to this new dynamic is Hamas’s agreement on a political transition in Gaza. The group has consented to hand over administrative authority to a body of independent technocrats, a move aimed at creating a stable, internationally-supported government to oversee reconstruction and daily affairs in the post-war period.
However, the ‘yes’ is conditional. Hamas’s statement carefully carved out exceptions for longer-term political issues, noting that matters of Palestinian rights and the final status of Gaza require a “comprehensive Palestinian national framework” for resolution. This signals that while the war may end, the political conflict is far from over.
Donald Trump seized the moment, declaring that Hamas is “ready for a lasting PEACE” and ordering Israel to halt its military operations. This decisive acceptance has shifted the entire landscape, moving the focus from warfare to the complex, high-stakes diplomacy required to build a sustainable peace.
