TL;DR : Hamas says it will release all Israeli hostages, alive and dead, if a ceasefire starts under President Trump’s Gaza peace plan. They want to negotiate other parts of the deal, like who will govern Gaza and what happens to Hamas weapons. The plan needs full agreement by Sunday night or Trump warns of severe consequences.
What Happened
- Hamas agreed to release all 48 Israeli hostages (around 20 alive, rest deceased) “according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal,” announced October 3, 2025.
- The release would occur within 72 hours of a ceasefire, in exchange for Israel releasing 250 prisoners with life sentences and 1,700 other detainees.
- Hamas requested "immediate mediated negotiations" to finalize the deal but said other parts of the plan “require further consultations among Palestinians.”
Statement just issued by Hamas :
Trump’s Response
Key Terms of Trump’s Plan
Element | Trump’s Proposal | Hamas Position |
Hostage Release | 48 hostages in 72 hours | Agreed |
Prisoner Swap | 250 + 1,700 Palestinian detainees | Agreed |
Ceasefire/Withdrawal | Immediate ceasefire, phased IDF pullout | Open to talks |
Disarmament | Full Hamas disarmament | Not accepted |
Gaza Governance | Arab-led force, no Hamas role | Wants joint Palestinian decision |
Reconstruction Aid | $50B+ rebuilding, no relocations | Welcomes with conditions |
Reactions
- Israel (PM Netanyahu):
- Palestinian Authority: Welcomed the deal but demanded Palestinian statehood guarantees.
- Mediators (Qatar, Egypt): Praised progress; talks have begun.
- UN: Called it a “window of opportunity” to bring in aid and stop civilian deaths.
- Public: Mixed reaction; #HamasHostageDeal trended with over 200K posts. Some praised Trump; others called it a stalling move by Hamas.
"A positive development, but incomplete"; IDF paused some operations.
Current Status (as of Oct 4, 2025)
- Negotiations are underway via mediators.
- Hostage agreement seen as a breakthrough, but major parts (like disarmament and governance) remain unresolved.
- Trump expected to speak again today.
- Israeli airstrikes reduced; some aid allowed into Gaza.
- Death toll: 1,219 Israelis, 66,000+ Palestinians since Oct 2023.