Hamas Endorses Gaza Ceasefire Plan in Principle
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Senior Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzouk said the Palestinian resistance movement has agreed “in principle” to US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire proposal for Gaza, while stressing that any implementation hinges on the complete cessation of Israel’s ongoing attacks.
Abu Marzouk told Qatar’s Al Jazeera network that Hamas “would hand over its weapons to a future Palestinian state,” emphasizing that the fate of Gaza is “a national matter that Hamas alone cannot decide.”
He said the group accepted the “main outlines” of Trump’s proposal but underlined that its application “requires detailed negotiations through mediators.”
“Hamas will negotiate all issues related to the movement and its weapons,” Abu Marzouk said, noting that discussions would cover “all details concerning the peacekeeping force” and other operational aspects.
He added that the resistance group’s weapons would be handed over “to whoever governs Gaza within the coming Palestinian state.”
“The future of our people is a national question,” he said, urging Washington to “look positively at the future of the Palestinian people.”
Abu Marzouk confirmed there is “a national agreement” to transfer Gaza’s administration to independent figures aligned with the Palestinian Authority.
He rejected any attempt to brand Hamas as a terrorist organization, affirming it is “a national liberation movement.”
Hamas earlier stated that it approved the release of all Israeli captives, the delivery of bodies, and the transfer of Gaza’s administration to a neutral Palestinian technocratic body as part of its response to Trump’s plan.
The movement said other aspects of the proposal — particularly those concerning Gaza’s future and the rights of the Palestinian people — must be decided collectively by all national factions and in accordance with international law.
According to Palestinian sources cited by Anadolu, Hamas has submitted its formal response to mediators, seeking clarifications on several clauses. The group said it held “in-depth consultations within its leadership and with Palestinian factions, mediators, and allies” before reaching its position.
The White House plan, issued Sept. 29, calls for an immediate ceasefire, Gaza’s reconstruction, and the creation of a transitional governance mechanism to oversee the enclave’s political and security affairs. It aims to transform Gaza into a so-called “weapons-free zone,” under an international body directed by Trump himself.
Trump said Friday that Hamas’s response signals readiness for “lasting peace,” urging Israel to “immediately stop bombing Gaza so that hostages can be freed safely.”
“This is not only about Gaza,” he said on Truth Social. “This is about long-sought peace in the Middle East.”
Since October 2023, Israel’s relentless bombardment and siege have killed nearly 66,300 Palestinians — mostly women and children — while leaving the enclave in ruins.
Gaza’s 2.4 million residents remain trapped under a suffocating blockade that has choked off food, medicine, and fuel supplies, creating famine-like conditions described by UN agencies as catastrophic.
Rights organizations have for long condemned the Israeli regime for collective punishment and systematic war crimes, while the Palestinian resistance maintains that any real peace must begin with ending occupation, lifting the siege, and restoring the rights of the Palestinian people.
