October 4, 2025 | 03:26 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - US President Donald Trump on Friday welcomed Hamas' response to the ceasefire proposal and prisoner exchange, saying he believes the Palestinian group is "ready for a lasting peace." He also urged Israel to stop the bombing in Gaza.
In a televised speech as reported by Al Jazeera, President Trump lauded the development as "unprecedented" and said, "This is a very special day."
"Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!" he said on his Truth Social platform, as reported by Anadolu.
"It's far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East."
The White House previously posted a video apparently showing Trump recording a prerecorded message about Gaza, although it is still unclear when the video will be released.
Hamas earlier issued its official response to Trump's plan to approve the release of all Israeli captives, send the bodies of the deceased, and hand over the Gaza administration to an independent Palestinian technocratic body.
Israel estimates that 48 Israeli citizens are being held in Gaza, including 20 who are still alive. Meanwhile, about 11,100 Palestinian residents are detained in its prisons, suffering torture, starvation, and medical neglect, resulting in many deaths, according to reports from Palestinian and Israeli media and human rights organizations.
In a statement on Telegram, the Palestinian group said that "other issues raised in President Trump’s proposal concerning the future of the Gaza Strip and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people are tied to a unified national position based on relevant international laws and resolutions."
A Palestinian source told Anadolu that Hamas formally conveyed its response to Trump's plan to the mediators and requested clarification on some clauses.
Hamas indicated that they had conducted "in-depth consultations within its leadership institutions and broad consultations with Palestinian forces and factions, as well as with mediators and friends, to reach a responsible position in dealing with US President Donald Trump’s plan."
It added that they appreciate the "the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as those of US President Donald Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, a prisoner exchange, the immediate entry of aid, the rejection of the occupation of the Strip, and the rejection of the displacement of our Palestinian people from it."
Earlier on Friday, Trump gave Hamas until Sunday at 06:00 p.m. Washington time to approve his plan.
The plan aims to turn Gaza into a weapon-free zone, with a transition governance mechanism directly overseen by Trump through a new international body tasked with monitoring its implementation.
The plan includes the release of all Israeli captives held by Hamas within 72 hours of the agreement, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
The plan mandates the cessation of hostilities, disarmament of all armed groups in Gaza, and the gradual withdrawal of Israel from the war-torn coastal enclave, which will be governed by technocratic authorities under the supervision of the international body led by the U.S. president.
Israel has maintained a naval blockade in Gaza, home to nearly 2.4 million people, for nearly 18 years. Israel tightened the blockade on March 2 when it closed the border crossings and blocked the delivery of food and medicine, pushing the enclave into famine.
Since October 2023, Israeli airstrikes have killed nearly 66,300 Palestinian residents, mostly women and children. The UN and human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that the enclave is becoming increasingly uninhabitable, with famine and diseases spreading rapidly amid widespread displacement.
Editor’s Choice: Hamas Agrees to Trump's Gaza Plan "in Principle", But Seeks More Talks
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
World Leaders Welcome Hamas' Response to Trump's Gaza Peace Plan
3 menit lalu
World leaders and the United Nations Secretary-General have welcomed Hamas' positive response to President Trump's peace proposal for Gaza.
Global Sumud Flotilla Activists Launch Hunger Strike in Israeli Detention
3 jam lalu
Activists from Global Sumud Flotilla have been on an indefinite hunger strike since being detained by Israeli forces from international waters to Gaza
Hamas Agrees to Trump's Gaza Plan "in Principle", But Seeks More Talks
3 jam lalu
Hamas agrees in principle to Trump's ceasefire plan for Gaza and expresses readiness for negotiations
Israel Expels Palestinians from Gaza, Declares Remaining Residents Terrorists
20 jam lalu
Israel expelled Palestinian residents from Gaza City, forcing them to flee.
Israel Intercepts Last Ship of the Global Sumud Flotilla
20 jam lalu
On Wednesday, Israel intercepted the last ship of the Global Sumud Flotilla approaching Gaza.
Marinette Emerges as Closest Global Sumud Flotilla Ship to Gaza
22 jam lalu
The Global Sumud Flotilla claims that Israel has intercepted dozens of its ships and detained hundreds of activists, but one ship is still heading to Gaza.
World Leaders Condemn Israel's Interception of Global Sumud Flotilla
1 hari lalu
At least 44 countries were represented in the 500-member Global Sumud Flotilla. They were intercepted by Israel as they near Gaza waters.
Garuda Indonesia Seeks KPK Supervision in Rp51.2 Trillion Boeing Aircraft Purchase
1 hari lalu
Garuda Indonesia's VP Corporate Secretary hopes that the meeting with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) could mitigate the risk of corruption in the procurement of Boeing aircraft.
Foreign Ministry Confirms No Indonesians on Global Sumud Flotilla Intercepted by Israel
1 hari lalu
The Foreign Ministry confirmed that none of the passengers on the Global Sumud Flotilla ship that was intercepted by Israel were Indonesian citizens.
One Flotilla Ship Reportedly Breaches Israeli Blockade, Enters Gaza's Waters
1 hari lalu
A ship from the Global Sumud Flotilla broke through the Israeli blockade and entered Gaza's waters.
