UPDATE: Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza are urgently calling for an immediate end to the ongoing conflict. This plea comes as Israel continues its airstrikes on Gaza, despite a recent appeal from US President Donald Trump to halt the bombardment.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel, leading to 1,219 deaths, primarily civilians. In response, Israeli forces have reportedly killed at least 66,288 Palestinians in their retaliatory strikes, according to health ministry figures from the Hamas-run territory.
Trump has urged Israel to cease its attacks following Hamas’s statement indicating a willingness to release all hostages and engage in negotiations regarding a peace plan he proposed. In a statement released on Friday, Hamas confirmed its readiness to release hostages but demanded discussions on the specifics of Trump’s 20-point plan.
“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!”
Trump’s plan includes a 72-hour ceasefire, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the disarmament of Hamas. He also insists that Hamas and other factions should not have any governance role in Gaza, proposing instead a technocratic administration overseen by a transitional authority led by Trump.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum stated, “President Trump’s demand to stop the war immediately is essential to prevent serious and irreversible harm to the hostages.” They have urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to commence swift negotiations to ensure the safe return of all hostages.
Despite Trump’s intervention, violence escalated overnight, with reports from Gaza’s civil defense agency indicating numerous airstrikes on Gaza City. Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for the agency, reported that at least 20 homes were destroyed in the bombardments, and multiple hospitals treated casualties from strikes.
Gaza City’s Baptist Hospital reported four fatalities and numerous injuries from a strike in the Tuffah neighborhood, while Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis confirmed the deaths of two children and injuries to eight others from a drone attack.
Trump has given Hamas a deadline of 2200 GMT on Sunday to accept his peace plan or face severe consequences. In response, Hamas officials have expressed readiness to begin negotiations immediately to finalize all aspects of the proposed agreement.
Hamas’s willingness to transfer power in Gaza to technocrats was met with cautious optimism from the international community, with leaders from Britain, France, and Germany expressing hope for a resolution. Key mediators, Qatar and Egypt, also welcomed Hamas’s statements, signaling potential pathways to de-escalation.
As the situation unfolds, the humanitarian implications remain dire. Displaced individuals in Gaza reacted with a mix of hope and fear as news of Hamas’s response spread. Samah Al-Hu, a displaced Palestinian, shared, “The moment I read the news… my body trembled. A feeling came over me, like. ‘Oh Allah, at last relief has come to us.'”
As the clock ticks down to Trump’s deadline, the world watches closely to see if a breakthrough can be achieved to end this devastating conflict.
