The militant group Hamas has made a significant announcement indicating its willingness to release Israeli hostages and hand over administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian governing body. This development comes as part of a broader proposal aimed at achieving a lasting peace and ending the ongoing violence, built on “Palestinian national consensus and Arabic and Islamic support.”
In a notable response, former President Donald Trump, who has garnered support from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and numerous global leaders for a proposed 20-point plan, urged Israel to cease its bombings in Gaza. He expressed his belief that Hamas is ready for a peace agreement, characterizing the group’s recent statements as “encouraging.”
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres also welcomed Hamas’s declaration, which he believes opens the door for further negotiations. “The Secretary-General welcomes and is encouraged by the statement issued by Hamas announcing its readiness to release hostages and to engage on the basis of the recent proposal by US President Donald J. Trump,” said a spokesperson for Guterres. The Secretary-General emphasized the urgent need for all involved parties to take advantage of this opportunity to bring an end to the tragic conflict in Gaza.
Guterres extended his gratitude to Qatar and Egypt for their crucial mediation efforts in fostering dialogue, alongside the involvement of the United States. He reiterated his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian access to the region.
In a separate statement, the UN’s relief chief Tom Fletcher expressed readiness to act on the potential opening created by the US initiative. He highlighted that approximately 170,000 metric tons of essential supplies—including food, medicine, and shelter materials—are poised to enter the stricken Gaza Strip, pending the opening of Israeli-controlled crossings.
Fletcher emphasized the necessity for safe movement for civilians and aid workers, the unrestricted entry of goods, and the issuance of visas for humanitarian staff. He underscored the importance of creating an environment conducive to humanitarian operations and revitalizing the private sector.
As the situation in northern Gaza continues to deteriorate amid ongoing Israeli military operations, UN officials have raised alarms about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. With tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians trapped and unable to flee, the UN reports that military strikes are intensifying in residential areas, contributing to a rising death toll and further chaos.
“The military operations and heavy strikes hitting residential areas and buildings are driving up the death toll and continue to wreak havoc on the area,” stated UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric during a daily briefing in New York. The call for humanitarian intervention remains urgent as the global community watches closely to see if this new dialogue will lead to meaningful change and a cessation of violence in the region.
