Under pressure from Washington: Hamas says it is ready to release all hostages

What happened

Hamas announced that it agrees to release all Israeli hostages (dead and alive) and to enter into mediated negotiations «immediately». The statement also reaffirmed its readiness to hand over civilian governance of the Gaza Strip to independent Palestinian technocrats.

Deadline and plan parameters

US President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Hamas: to accept his multi-point plan by Sunday, 5 October, 18:00 Washington time (01:00 Monday, 6 October, Kyiv time), otherwise «the consequences will be unprecedented». The plan calls for a ceasefire, hostage and prisoner exchange, and interim international/transitional administration of Gaza; Hamas disarmament is also a key requirement.

Reactions of Washington and Jerusalem

Following Hamas's response, Trump publicly called on Israel to «immediately stop bombing» Gaza, saying that the agreement should be implemented to ensure the safe release of hostages and de-escalation. At the same time, the Israeli authorities announced that they were preparing to implement the first stage of the US proposal.

What else remains unresolved

Despite agreeing to the release of hostages and the transfer of civilian control, Hamas has not confirmed its readiness to fully disarm, which is one of the key stumbling blocks to finalising the agreement. The parameters of Israel's security presence during the transition period also remain open.

What does «transfer of control» of Gaza mean?

It is a temporary model of governance for the sector - through an independent Palestinian technocratic body/international transitional trusteeship designed to ensure order, humanitarian access and subsequent reconstruction. This is the element that is embedded in the US proposal and has been the subject of intensive consultations with mediators.

What's next

Prior to the deadline, the parties, through Qatar, Egypt and other channels, agree on details such as the release schedule, routes and security guarantees. Further implementation depends on whether a compromise is reached on security conditions and disarmament. We will update this story when the first phase is officially announced.