U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that Hamas’s acceptance of his prisoner exchange proposal signaled a possible path toward lasting peace in the Middle East, urging Israel to immediately halt its military operations in Gaza to allow for the safe release of hostages.
“Based on the statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly. Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that.”
The president confirmed that discussions are already underway with mediators to work out the technical details of the proposed exchange, which would see Hamas release all Israeli captives, both living and deceased, in return for a ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Trump emphasized that his initiative was “not about Gaza alone,” describing it instead as an opportunity for “long-sought peace in the Middle East.”
Hamas had earlier announced its formal approval of the U.S. plan, adding that it is ready to begin immediate negotiations through mediators to finalize the exchange mechanism.
The move marks the most significant diplomatic opening since the outbreak of the conflict nearly a year ago, though Israel has yet to respond to either Hamas’s announcement or the president’s latest remarks.
Analysts say Trump’s statement signals a rare moment of convergence between Washington and Hamas on a humanitarian issue, though questions remain about whether the Israeli government will pause its military campaign long enough to test the new proposal.
Follow the latest news on Google News
