Hamas agrees to release all hostages as Trump issues Sunday deadline for peace deal

Hamas has announced its readiness to release all hostages and begin negotiations on a peace plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has set a firm Sunday deadline.

3 oct 2025 - 20:20 • 2 min read

Hamas has officially stated its willingness to release all hostages currently held in Gaza, adhering to a 20-point plan put forward by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The militant group also expressed readiness to immediately commence negotiations on the specifics of the American proposal.

According to reports, Hamas has agreed to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to an independent Palestinian body, contingent on Arab and Islamic support. However, the organization indicated that certain additional points within Trump's proposal require further discussion.

Former President Trump had previously set a firm deadline of Sunday evening, 18:00 local time, for Hamas to respond to his proposals. In a message on his social media platform, Truth, Trump warned of severe consequences if an agreement was not reached, stating, "Hell, as nobody has ever seen before, will be unleashed upon Hamas. There will be peace in the Middle East, one way or the other."

This announcement follows a period of intense diplomatic activity and pressure. Just hours earlier, Hamas had reportedly requested more time to respond. Egyptian sources informed the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar that senior U.S. officials had conveyed to their Egyptian counterparts that Trump's plan represented the "last chance," implying that Israel would be granted a free hand to dismantle Hamas militants if the proposal was rejected.

Sources suggest that the Trump administration is refusing to entertain any modifications to the current proposal, particularly concerning the timeline for hostage releases, the details of the Israeli Defense Forces' withdrawal, and post-war governance.

Arab nations have been actively lobbying for the implementation of the peace plan, even without Hamas's full consent, and are reportedly rejecting any possibility of a veto from the group. A Gulf official described the plan as "the best since the start of the war," emphasizing that "no one is willing to lose the opportunity."

Mediators including Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey have been exerting unprecedented pressure to secure an agreement. On the Palestinian political front, a significant development has been reported, with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas deciding to reconcile with a rival, Nasser al-Qudwa, grandson of Yasser Arafat.