On October 3, Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced its agreement to release Israelis taken hostage. Following this, U.S. President Trump demanded that Israel immediately stop bombing Gaza.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Trump wrote on social media: "Based on Hamas' just-released statement, I believe they are ready to achieve lasting peace." He stated that Israel "must immediately halt the bombing of Gaza" so that the detained personnel can be safely and swiftly released.
On the morning of the 3rd, Trump demanded that Hamas agree to a "20-point plan" to end the Gaza conflict and rebuild Gaza by 6:00 a.m. on the 6th Malaysia time (6:00 p.m. on the 5th U.S. Eastern time), or face "hellish consequences."
Trump said this plan was Hamas' "last chance." He also urged Palestinians to "immediately leave this potentially even more dangerous area and move to safer places in the Gaza Strip."
Hours later, Hamas issued a statement saying it agreed in principle to release all Israelis detained and the bodies of deceased under the framework of the "20-point plan." However, the statement added that other issues in the plan regarding the future of Gaza and broader rights of the Palestinian people would be resolved within the framework of Palestinian national self-determination, according to international law and relevant international resolutions.
According to White House documents, the "20-point plan" requires Hamas to release all detained personnel within 72 hours after Israel’s public acceptance of the plan; after all hostages are released, Israel would allow international humanitarian aid into Gaza; Gaza would be temporarily managed by a committee of technical experts under international supervision; a demilitarization process would begin in Gaza, Hamas would disarm and would not participate in Gaza’s governance; Israel would establish a buffer zone in Gaza and withdraw troops in phases, among other steps. However, the plan does not specify a clear or binding timetable for Israel’s full withdrawal, and several conditions had previously been rejected by Hamas.