Hamas Agrees to Release Hostages Under Trump's Gaza Peace Plan

Hamas has agreed to release all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, as part of a Gaza peace proposal initiated by former U.S. President Donald Trump. This development follows Trump's ultimatum, warning of severe consequences if the group did not comply by the upcoming Sunday deadline.

The proposed 20-point plan aims to end the two-year-long Israel-Hamas conflict. Key provisions include the demilitarization of Hamas, a phased Israeli military withdrawal, unimpeded humanitarian aid entry, and the establishment of a transitional apolitical Palestinian committee to govern Gaza. A central element of the deal is the release of all hostages in exchange for Israel releasing 1,950 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences.

While Hamas has agreed to release the hostages, internal divisions persist regarding disarmament and the conditions for releasing the hostages. Some military leaders within Hamas are reportedly hesitant to lay down arms, fearing that fighters recruited since the war began may be unwilling to comply.

In a related development, six individuals have been arrested in connection with a deadly attack on the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, England. The attack, which occurred during Yom Kippur, resulted in the deaths of two congregants. The assailant, Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian origin, was shot dead by police after ramming a car into pedestrians and attempting to enter the synagogue. Authorities are investigating potential links to extreme Islamist ideology.