Hamas responds to 20-point plan on Gaza, Trump immediately responds

President Trump believes Hamas is “ready for a lasting peace” after the militant group responded to the US leader’s 20-point plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip.

The militant group Hamas said on October 3 that it would accept some of the terms of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip, according to Reuters news agency.

Hamas responded to Mr. Trump’s 20-point plan after the US president asked the group to accept or reject it by October 5.

Mr. Trump’s plan includes an immediate ceasefire; an exchange of all Hamas hostages for Palestinians held in Israel; a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza; Hamas disarming and the establishment of an interim government headed by an international body.

In a statement on October 3, Hamas said the group “appreciates the efforts of Arab, Muslim and international countries, as well as President Trump’s efforts to call for an end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip, the exchange of hostages and the immediate entry of emergency aid.”

“We agree to release all Israeli hostages – dead or alive – according to the exchange formula outlined in President Trump’s proposal, with the necessary conditions on the ground for the implementation of the exchange,” the statement said.

“In this context, we confirm our readiness to immediately enter into negotiations through intermediaries to discuss the details,” the statement added.

The group also declared its readiness to “hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to an independent Palestinian authority (technocratic government) based on the Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Muslim countries.”

However, Hamas did not say whether it would agree to disarm and demilitarize Gaza, something Israel and the US have repeatedly rejected.

The group also does not accept a phased Israeli withdrawal.

A senior Hamas official told Al Jazeera that the group would not disarm while Israel maintains a military presence in Gaza.

Hamas said it wants further negotiations.

President Trump on October 3 expressed optimism about Hamas' response, saying he believes Hamas is "ready for a lasting peace".

The US president also called on Israel to stop bombing Gaza so that the hostages can be rescued.

"Israel must immediately stop bombing Gaza so we can get the hostages out safely and quickly. We have already begun discussing the details," Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social.

Israel has not commented on Hamas' response.