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This past Friday, Hamas announced that it had backed certain aspects of Donald Trump's demand to conclude the war in the Gaza region, consenting to a hostage exchange and to relinquish governing authority in the coastal enclave, but indicated that it wished additional negotiations on other parts of the plan.

The group did not specify whether it would agree to disarm – a crucial component of Trump's proposal – and remained unclear its answer to other parts of the 20-part strategy initially suggested by Trump last Monday.

The response remained uncertain how the former president would react to a conditional response to his proposal, which arrived just a short time after he set a Sunday cutoff for the organization to respond. He stated that if an agreement was not achieved "all hell" would ensue against the faction, whose fighters he described as encircled and trapped.

Major Agreements and Conditions

In a announcement, the group said that it was giving its "endorsement of releasing all Israeli captives – both living and deceased – according to the exchange formula included in president Trump's plan, with the necessary practical arrangements for executing the exchange."

The communication went on to state that Hamas was ready to hand over "governance of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian entity of independent technocrats founded on Palestinian national agreement and backed by Arab and Islamic backing."

Issues Requiring Further Discussion

However, the group said that "remaining matters" in the proposal would require to be negotiated more "within a unified Palestinian national framework." The unspecified topics that Hamas will request negotiations on are likely to involve the issue of its arms, the pullout of Jewish state troops from Gaza, and global assurances for the enforcement of a permanent truce.

The former president's proposal demanded an swift cessation to hostilities in Gaza, an exchange of captives and local detainees within three days of the deal's approval, a gradual retreat of state military from Gaza, as well as the disarmament of Hamas and a postwar transitional authority headed by Trump.

Aid and Reconstruction Provisions

The agreement also specified a increase of assistance to Gaza, areas of which are presently experiencing famine, and reconstruction to the mostly demolished strip.

The proposal was mostly seen as unfavourable to the faction and if accepted in full, would probably mean the organization's end as an armed Palestinian group while demanding few concessions from Israel. Global influence on the faction to approve the strategy, was immense however, with most local and world powers welcoming the Trump administration imitative.

Consequences of the Hostage Release

Though the organization did not right away consent to lay down weapons, its consent to release captives will be seen as important. The 48 individuals have been used by the group as primary bargaining power during the nearly 24-month conflict in its discussions with the United States and Israeli officials. Releasing them will result in the organization with few negotiating tools going forward.

Not the White House nor Israeli officials have so far replied to Hamas's appeal for changes to the Trump's demand.

War Casualties and Background

The Israeli military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 62,622 Palestinians and wounded about 170,000, according to the Gaza health authority. The war was launched by Israel in reaction to Hamas-affiliated fighters murdering about 1,200 individuals and taking two hundred fifty-one hostages in the Jewish state about nearly 24 months ago.