Hamas has accepted some elements of Donald Trump’s peace plan, including releasing all of the remaining hostages in Gaza.
The statement came hours after the US president gave Hamas until Sunday to agree to his ceasefire plan, as he warned “all hell” will break loose if an agreement is not reached by that deadline.
Hamas said it was willing to return all remaining hostages according to the plan's "formula," likely referring to the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
It also reiterated its openness to handing power over to a politically independent Palestinian body, but said aspects of the proposal touching on the future of the Gaza Strip should be decided on the basis of a "unanimous Palestinian stance" reached with other factions and based on international law.
The statement also made no mention of Hamas disarming, and senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera on Friday that the group would not disarm before the Israeli occupation of the enclave ends.
There was no immediate response from the United States or Israel.
Key Points
- Hamas agrees to release all hostages as part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan
- Trump gives Hamas until Sunday to agree Gaza ceasefire plan
- 53 Palestinians killed as Israel intensifies Gaza assault
- Hamas expected to push for key changes to Trump’s peace plan - report
- Trump will draw a 'red line' on any response from Hamas - Leavitt
Qatar welcomes Hamas' acceptance of peace plan
22:40
,
Athena Stavrou
Qatar has welcomed Hamas’ acceptance of part of Donald Trump’s peace plan.
Dr. Majed Al Ansari, an advisor to Qatar’s prime minister, wrote on X: “The State of Qatar welcomes the announcement by the Hamas movement of its agreement to the proposal of His Excellency Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza, its readiness to release all hostages, within the framework of the exchange formula outlined in the proposal.
“We also affirm our support for the statements of His Excellency the U.S. President calling for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate the safe and swift release of hostages and to achieve rapid results that stop the bloodshed of our Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip.
“At the same time, the State of Qatar confirms that it has begun working with its partners in mediation in the Arab Republic of Egypt, in coordination with the United States of America, to complete discussions on the plan to ensure an end to the war.”
ترحّب دولة قطر بإعلان حركة حماس موافقتها على مقترح فخامة الرئيس دونالد ترامب لإنهاء الحرب في غزة، واستعدادها لإطلاق سراح جميع الرهائن، ضمن صيغة التبادل الواردة في المقترح.
— د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) October 3, 2025
كما نؤكد دعمنا لتصريحات فخامة الرئيس الأمريكي الداعية للوقف الفوري لإطلاق النار لتيسير إطلاق سراح الرهائن…
Trump says Israel must immediately stop bombing Gaza
22:20
,
Athena Stavrou
Donald Trump has said Israel must “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” after Hamas accepted part of his peace plan.
“Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“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.”
Donald Trump to give press conference
22:18
,
Athena Stavrou
Donald Trump is expected to speak at a press conference shortly.
His press secretary posted a picture of the US president preparing for the press conference shortly after Hamas accepted part of his peace plan.
Karoline Leavitt wrote: “Behind the Scenes in the Oval Office: President Trump responds to Hamas’ acceptance of his Peace Plan. Stay tuned!”
Behind the Scenes in the Oval Office: President Trump responds to Hamas’ acceptance of his Peace Plan.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) October 3, 2025
Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/iw1fXIWyls
Hamas 'ready to hand over the administration of Gaza'
22:10
,
Athena Stavrou
Hamas have said it is willing to hand over the administration of Gaza to an Independent Palestinian body.
The group said it was ready "to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats) based on Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing."
Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official based outside of Gaza also said Hamas was willing to hand over its weapons to a future Palestinian body that runs Gaza.
Hamas officials say negotiations needed
22:00
,
Athena Stavrou
Trump's proposal "cannot be implemented without negotiations," senior Hamas officials have said.
Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior official based outside of Gaza, spoke to the Al Jazeera network on Friday after Hamas said it would accept aspects of Donald Trump’s plan.
He said it might be difficult for Hamas release all the hostages within 72 hours as the proposal dictates, because it could take days or weeks to locate the remains of some of the captives.
Abu Marzouk said Hamas was willing to hand over its weapons to a future Palestinian body that runs Gaza, but there was no mention of that in the official statement.
He also took issue with the proposal's language about ridding Gaza of terrorists, since Hamas considers itself a national liberation movement.
Another Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, told Al Araby television that Hamas would refuse foreign administration of the Gaza Strip and that the entry of foreign forces would be "unacceptable."
Hamas will not disarm before Israeli occupation ends - senior official
21:34
,
Joe Middleton
Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera on Friday the group would not disarm before the Israeli "occupation" ends, adding the issues over Gaza’s future should be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework which Hamas will be part of.
The official added that Hamas will enter negotiations on all issues related to the group and its arms.
BREAKING NEWS: Hamas agrees to release all hostages as part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan
21:08
,
Joe Middleton
Hamas said on Friday it would agree to some aspects of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war, including releasing hostages and handing over administration of the enclave, but that it would seek negotiations over many of its other terms.
In a copy of the statement seen by Reuters, Hamas issued its response to Trump's 20-point plan after the U.S. president gave the Palestinian militant group until Sunday to accept or reject the proposal. Trump has not said whether the terms would be subject to negotiation, as Hamas is seeking.
Notably, Hamas did not say whether it would agree to a stipulation that it disarm, a demand by Israel and the U.S. that it has previously rejected.
In its statement, Hamas said it "appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners, (and) the immediate entry of aid," among other terms.
It said it was announcing its "approval of releasing all occupation prisoners both living and remains according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, with the necessary field conditions for implementing the exchange."
But Hamas added: "In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter, through the mediators, into negotiations to discuss the details."
Water supply to resume in central Gaza after nine-month cut-off
21:00
,
Taz Ali
The Palestinian Water Authority says running water would return to central Gaza after Israeli strikes damaged supply lines, cutting access for more than nine months.
The Ramallah-based authority said that during a trial, water flows were restored to nearly one million people in al-Maghazi, al-Bureij, Nuseirat and Deir Al-Balah, areas where displaced Gazans have crowded amid ongoing conflict.
Repairs were delayed due to Israeli military activity and had to be coordinated with Israeli authorities, the authority said, according to a report by the AFP news agency.
The main water line is supplied by Mekorot, Israel’s state-owned water company, with costs covered by the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Humanitarian organisations say 80 per cent of Gaza’s water distribution network remains damaged, leaving most Palestinians without safe or reliable access. Many rely on humanitarian water trucks or temporary distribution sites.
Erdogan tells Trump peace in Middle East depends on Israel halting attacks
20:00
,
Taz Ali
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Donald Trump in a phone call that Turkey supports regional peace efforts but warned they cannot succeed unless Israel halts its attacks,
In the US-requested call on Friday, Erdogan said his country would back peace initiatives and contribute to the US president’s global peace vision, the Turkish presidency said in a statement.
The two also discussed strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in defence cooperation, the statement added.
IDF threw grenades near peacekeepers and Lebanese troops in southern Lebanon, says Unifil
19:00
,
Taz Ali
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) said Israeli forces threw grenades near its personnel and Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon.
Unifil and Lebanese troops were assisting civilian workers clearing the ruins of war-damaged homes in the village of Maroun ar-Ras on Thursday when grenades exploded near their teams at two sites, the peacekeeping force said.
“Moments later, the first group saw a drone fly overhead and witnessed an explosion about 30-40 metres away,” Unifil said in a statement.
“About 20 minutes after that, the second group saw another drone drop a grenade that exploded just 20 metres over their heads.”
No casualties were reported in the incident, and there was no immediate comment from the IDF.
Trump's statement in full
18:00
,
Taz Ali
"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
Gulf states to advance Trump peace plan without Hamas - report
17:00
,
Taz Ali
The Gulf states plan to move forward with Donald Trump’s 21-point plan without Hamas's cooperation, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
They aim to implement Article 17 of the plan, which allows Israel to transfer “terror-free zones” to a temporary international stabilisation force even if Hamas delays or rejects the proposal, according to the report.
Gulf officials acknowledge the plan is incomplete and lacks definitions for “terror-free zones”. It does not offer details on the international force’s composition, deployment timeline or its role in dismantling Hamas's control.
One Gulf official called it the best plan since the war began, saying: “No one is willing to waste the opportunity.”
Palestinian Authority cautiously welcomes Trump's Gaza plan but flags major gaps
16:00
,
Bel Trew
The Palestinian authorities in the occupied West Bank have welcomed Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan as a “starting point” for a comprehensive peace deal, but said there is too much “ambiguity” in timeline of key aspects, including the withdrawal of Israeli troops and no mention of the West Bank.
Omar Awadallah, deputy foreign minister for the Palestinian Authority (PA) - the internationally recognised Palestinian government in the occupied West Bank - told The Independent that while Hamas had previously agreed not to be involved in the future running of Gaza, he was not sure if the militant group would agree to the rest of the proposal.
From the PA’s perspective they were concerned about the “ambiguity”.
“There are items which need clarification. This plan needs a timeframe, an action plan, and a schedule for the implementation of its aspects,” he told The Independent.
“The plan should be clearer about what kind of reforms are needed.”
The other gaping hole was the lack of mention of the occupied West Bank where at least 1,000 people have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers since October 2023 , according to the UN.
“For ending the war in Gaza, we have no issue with this plan. We are open to engage and discuss it in good faith. But what about the West Bank? Where is the West Bank? Where is the state of Palestine? Where is the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination? Where is the mention of annexation, the settlements, and settler terrorism?” he asked.
Trump gives Hamas until Sunday to agree Gaza ceasefire plan
15:30
,
Taz Ali
US president Donald Trump has given Hamas until Sunday to agree to his Gaza ceasefire plan, or else “all hell” will break out if a deal is not reached by then.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, he warned Hamas will be given “one last chance”.
“An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time,” he wrote.
“Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas.”
In pictures: Palestinians flee northern Gaza
15:00
,
Taz Ali
14:00
,
Taz Ali
Greta Thunberg is to be deported after her aid vessel was intercepted by the Israeli military as it neared the besieged Gaza Strip, Israeli officials have said.
The final sailing flotilla vessel, Marinette, has been captured 42 nautical miles from Gaza, organisers said on Friday.
The move to stop the Global Sumud Flotilla has sparked backlash from the international community. Turkey’s foreign ministry called Israel’s interception “an act of terror”.
Read more here:
Situation for mothers and babies 'never been worse' in Gaza, says Unicef
13:00
,
Taz Ali
Mothers and newborn babies in Gaza face dire conditions, as Nasser hospital in the south of the enclave is overwhelmed with patients fleeing from the north and medical resources running out, Unicef said on Friday.
"The situation for mothers and newborns in Gaza has never been worse. In Nasser hospital, we're seeing hospital corridors lined with women who've just given birth," said James Elder, a spokesperson for the UN children’s agency.
He denounced the Israel-designated safe zones in the south of Gaza as “places of death”.
“The notion of a safe zone in the south is farcical,” he said, pointing out that “bombs are dropped from the sky with chilling predictability; schools, which had been designated as temporary shelters are regularly reduced to rubble, (and) tents… are regularly engulfed in fire from air attacks”.
Dutch supreme court orders government to review of F-35 parts exports to Israel
12:00
,
Taz Ali
The Netherlands' highest court has ordered the Dutch government to review its policy on exporting weapons to Israel.
The supreme court on Friday overturned a lower court's ruling that banned the export of F-35 fighter jet parts, but said the government must decide for itself whether there was a risk that the jet parts would be used in violation of international law.
The court gave the government six weeks to complete the review. Until then, the export of the jet parts remains suspended.
Last year, the court of appeal in The Hague ruled that the Netherlands could no longer supply these components because they would constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.
MSF denounces killing of 14th staff member in Israeli attack in Gaza
11:00
,
Taz Ali
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said one of its staff members was killed in an airstrike while waiting for a bus in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza.
Occupational therapist Omar Hayek, 42, was killed in the attack that seriously injured four others, the international medical group said on Thursday.
“The attack took place on a street where our teams were waiting to take a bus to the MSF field hospital in Deir Al-Balah. All staff were wearing MSF vests, clearly identifying them as medical humanitarian workers,” the group said in a statement.
Mr Hayek was described as a "quiet man of profound kindness and utter professionalism". MSF said he had recently fled from Gaza City to the south.
He is the 14th MSF staff member killed in Gaza since the war began, the organisation said.
Israel launches airstrike near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon
10:00
,
Taz Ali
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) says it struck a Hezbollah facility near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, targeting weapons, buildings and underground infrastructure after detecting "terror activity".
The site, previously hit in May and June, was used to manage Hezbollah’s fire and defence operations, the IDF said on Thursday.
Pakistan foreign minister says Trump's Gaza plan 'not ours'
09:01
,
Taz Ali
Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar claimed US president Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza plan does not align with the draft proposed by a group of Muslim-majority countries.
Speaking during a national assembly session in Islamabad on Friday, he said changes had been made to the original proposal.
"I have made it clear that these 20 points which Trump has made public are not ours,” he said.
“These are not the same as ours. I say that some changes have been made in it, in the draft we had.”
Leaders of Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia and the UAE held a meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last month, where the US president discussed his plan for ending the war in Gaza.
Hamas leader in Gaza opposes US ceasefire plan - report
08:35
,
Taz Ali
Hamas’s military chief in Gaza, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, has reportedly opposed the new US ceasefire plan, believing it aims to dismantle Hamas regardless of its response, according to the BBC.
Israel has accepted the 20-point plan to end the war, put forward by US president Donald Trump, which requires Hamas to disarm and relinquish power in Gaza.
Some Hamas political leaders in Qatar are reportedly open to a modified version of the plan, but they have limited influence as they do not control the hostages held by the group.
Egypt trying to persuade Hamas to accept Trump’s peace plan
08:30
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Egypt is working with Qatar and Turkey to persuade Hamas to accept Trump’s proposal, Egypt’s foreign minister Badr Abdelatty said.
Speaking in Paris, he stressed that Hamas must disarm and Israel should not be given a pretext to continue its assault on Gaza.
“Let’s not give any excuse for one party to use Hamas as a pretext for this mad daily killings of civilians. What’s happening is far beyond the seventh of October,” he said.
“It is beyond revenge. This is ethnic cleansing and genocide in motion. So enough is enough,” Abdelatty said.
Hamas reviewing Trump's peace plan
08:00
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Hamas is reviewing Trump’s peace plan, aiming to halt Israel’s war on Gaza, and will soon announce its position, according to political bureau member Mohammed Nazzal.
According to Al Jazeera, he said Hamas has the right to voice its views “in a way that serves the interests” of the Palestinian people.
“We are not dealing [with the plan] under the logic that time is a sword pointed at our neck,” Nazzal said.
The White House’s 20-point plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, a prisoner exchange, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas disarmament, and a transitional government.
Trump earlier gave Hamas three to four days to respond.
Hamas reportedly facing internal divisions over Trump's plan
07:30
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Hamas’s leadership is reportedly facing internal divisions that complicate its response to Trump’s peace plan, a report has said.
While Turkey and Qatar are urging concessions, a major sticking point is the plan’s demand that Hamas fully disarm, The Guardian reported, citing a source close to the group.
Hamas is expected to push for key changes to Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan, but is likely to accept it as a framework for negotiations, the outlet said.
Gaza crisis features in march remembering 1968 Mexican massacre
07:00
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
The annual march in Mexico City to commemorate the 1968 student massacre has been overshadowed by demands to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza:
Israel says Greta Thunberg is ‘safe’ as Gaza aid flotilla intercepted by military
06:00
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Greta Thunberg’s aid flotilla was intercepted by Israeli military and its crew detained as it made its final approach to Gaza, Israeli officials have confirmed.
Three vessels in the Global Sumud Flotilla were cut off by a naval blockade around 70 nautical miles, or 130km, from the besieged strip at around 8:30pm Gaza time on Wednesday evening, according to activists on board.
It said Israeli forces boarded and detained passengers on the Alma, Surius, and Adara boats, which were carrying Ms Thunberg alongside other prominent members of the flotilla’s steering committee.
The group accused Israel of using “water cannons” and “active aggression” on the vessels Florida, Yulara, and Meteque among others.
Read more here:
Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying aid in international waters. Can it do that?
05:33
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
The Israeli intervention of a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and hundreds of activists raises questions about what any nation can legally do to enforce a blockade in international waters:
-AP
53 Palestinians killed as Israel intensifies Gaza assault
05:00
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
At least 53 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on Thursday as Hamas weighed whether to accept Donald Trump’s ceasefire ultimatum.
Israel intensified its assault on Gaza City, warning remaining residents they would be treated as “terrorists”.
Israeli forces struck multiple sites across Gaza on Thursday, including the southern al-Masawi area, previously designated a safe zone, where a food store was hit, killing nine members of the same family: a grandfather, his four sons, and a grandson.
Defence minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces were nearing a full encirclement of Gaza City and warned that anyone who chose to stay would be treated as “terrorists or supporters of terror”.
Hamas expected to push for key changes to Trump’s peace plan - report
04:08
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Hamas is expected to push for key changes to Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan but is likely to accept it as a framework for negotiations, according to a report in The Guardian.
Trump’s 20-point proposal – already endorsed by Israel – demands Hamas disarm, release hostages within 72 hours, and accept an international administration of Gaza, while offering Israeli troop withdrawals, a surge of aid, and the release of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Pictured: Gaza City rocked by Israeli strikes on Thursday
02:58
,
James Reynolds
Egypt backs Trump's proposal - but plan 'needs more discussion'
02:03
,
James Reynolds
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty indicated on Thursday he was broadly supportive of Trump’s plan and vision to end the war in Gaza.
He said that the plan needed more discussions on implementation, especially on issues of governance and security arrangements.
But he said that if there is a political will, “I believe that this plan for Gaza can be implemented on the ground”.
Abdelatty indicated Egypt was talking with Hamas to see what their reaction was to the plan.
Foreign Office 'very concerned' by flotilla detentions
01:01
,
James Reynolds
The British Foreign Office said it was “very concerned” after the flotilla of boats bound for Gaza was intercepted by the Israeli navy.
British nationals are on board the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), including British-Polish activist Ewa Jasiewicz, from London.
The Foreign Office said it expected the situation to be resolved safely and according to international law. It called for the aid on board to reach Gaza.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are very concerned about the situation with the Sumud flotilla, we are in touch with the families of a number of British nationals involved, and we have been in contact with the Israeli authorities to make clear that we expect the situation to be resolved safely, in line with international law and with due respect for the rights of all those on board.”
The aid carried by the flotilla, they said, “should be turned over to humanitarian organisations on the ground to be delivered safely into Gaza”.
An official said the Government had been in contact with Israeli authorities.
In pictures: Students protest during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Madrid on Thursday
Friday 3 October 2025 00:03
,
James Reynolds
Tunisians remember the Israeli strike that bound their fate with Palestinians 40 years ago
Thursday 2 October 2025 23:02
,
James Reynolds
Forty years ago, Israeli warplanes struck the Palestine Liberation Organization’s headquarters outside Tunisia’s capital.
Jamel Bahrini still remembers the smell of dust and blood that clung to the air when he arrived at the scene of the strike among hundreds of other first responders.
Read the full report:
Football cannot solve conflicts, but must carry message of peace - FIFA President
Thursday 2 October 2025 22:08
,
James Reynolds
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
"At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich.
"Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity."
Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but "it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values."
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
Gaza civilian injuries similar to soldiers fighting wars, study finds
Thursday 2 October 2025 21:00
,
Maira Butt
Civilians in Gaza are sustaining injuries more commonly seen in professionally trained soldiers, according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal.
The “military grade severity of injuries” includes significant wounds reported in the head, chest, and limbs.
Of the 23,726 trauma-related injuries reported, 67 per cent were due to explosives, with the remainder linked to gunshot wounds.
Don’t be fooled – Trump’s Gaza peace plan is a colonial con-trick on the Palestinians
Thursday 2 October 2025 20:00
,
Maira Butt
Donald Trump’s plan for peace in Gaza has been welcomed by many around the world because it snares Benjamin Netanyahu’s government into accepting a future Palestinian state – but it is also doomed as a colonial con-trick on the Palestinians.
First, the trap. The plan, which has been endorsed by Netanyahu but not by his cabinet (where the extreme right holds the whip hand), demands that Israel accepts “a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood”.
