The chances that there soon will be a less violent Middle East rose on Friday, when Hamas apparently agreed to release hostages, dead and alive.
The movement from the terrorist organization that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, slaughtering some 1,200 Israelis and taking others hostage, came just hours after the White House set a deadline for a response to a peace proposal.
The Daily Signal said Hamas reportedly agreed to the hostage release and to give up power to a Palestinian body.
“Hamas has signaled it is ready to begin negotiations to determine the details of the deal,” the report said.
““Hamas says it has agreed to release all Israeli hostages and signaled its readiness to enter negotiations to work out the details. Don’t get too excited – it’s the ‘details’ that could be the dealbreaker,” author and pro-Israel activist Aviva Klompas wrote on X Friday.
“We will have PEACE in the Middle East one way or the other. The violence and bloodshed will stop. RELEASES THE HOSTAGES, ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING THE BODIES OF THOSE THAT ARE DEAD, NOW! An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C.… pic.twitter.com/TiIzOLFhE5
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 3, 2025
Behind the Scenes in the Oval Office: President Trump responds to Hamas’ acceptance of his Peace Plan.
Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/iw1fXIWyls
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) October 3, 2025
BREAKING: Hamas said it agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details https://t.co/vT609rlQxy pic.twitter.com/jclvmUbtT8
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 3, 2025
The Daily Caller News Foundation said Hamas’ agreement was tentative.
It assumes there is “Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support.”
The report said, “The agreement marks a major breakthrough in negotiations that have dragged on for years, but it remains unclear how Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will react to a partial agreement.”
Trump’s deadline had been set at 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Sunday.
“If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,” Trump wrote.
The report explained, “Palestinian residents have been chafing under Hamas leadership, begging the group to sign the peace deal to bring some semblance of stability and hope for the destitute region. Over 33,000 Palestinians have been displaced as a result of Israeli campaigns, while nearly one in four Gazans face famine as an average of eight mass casualty incidents occur daily, according to United Nations (UN) data.”
Trump’s plan is for release of hostages, control passing to an “international stabilization force,” withdrawal of Israel’s troops, creation of a security buffer between Gaza and Israel and more.
President Trump posted to his Truth Social account Friday evening a statement from Hamas:
Later Trump posted this statement about the developments:
“Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, 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.”