Iran (IMNA) - The Palestinian resistance movement issued a statement early Thursday confirming the agreement, which includes a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, entry of humanitarian aid, and the exchange of remaining Israeli captives in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas said it engaged in “responsible and serious” consultations with other Palestinian resistance factions before agreeing to the deal. The movement emphasized that its involvement was motivated by a strong desire to end what it described as a “war of extermination against our Palestinian people” and to secure the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation from Gaza.
Negotiations began after Hamas responded positively to Trump’s 20-point proposal, agreeing to release Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian detainees and to transfer administrative control of Gaza to a Palestinian body.
The response was met with broad approval from regional resistance groups, who praised Hamas' approach as both measured and politically astute.
In a separate statement, Hamas confirmed that it had submitted lists of Palestinian prisoners eligible for exchange under the terms of the agreement. The group said it is awaiting final confirmation of the names and will announce them publicly through the Prisoners' Media Office once procedures are finalized.
However, Hamas also warned of the possibility of Israeli non-compliance, pointing to previous breaches of similar agreements by the regime in 2023 and January 2025. The movement stressed that the agreement’s implementation depends on all sides fulfilling their obligations.
Hamas called on the United States and other close allies of Israel to ensure the regime fully adheres to the agreement and does not evade or delay its obligations.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s Government Media Office urged residents to remain cautious, warning that areas they might seek to return to following the agreement may not yet be safe. It specifically advised against movement along Rashid and Salah al-Din Streets without official guidance ensuring public safety.
The Israeli regime launched its war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, following “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm,” a large-scale assault by Palestinian fighters who stormed Israeli bases and took hundreds of captives. Since then, the war has claimed the lives of more than 67,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and displaced millions, under what has been widely condemned as a genocidal campaign backed by the United States.
The war has also included a near-total siege on Gaza, weaponizing starvation and blocking humanitarian aid. Human rights organizations have criticized this as collective punishment and a violation of international law.
Throughout the conflict, the U.S. has provided unprecedented political, military, and intelligence support to Israel, including billions in military aid and repeated vetoes of UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire.
Despite this, Hamas has offered repeated concessions, including the release of captives. However, Israel only observed a single temporary ceasefire before intensifying its attacks. Multiple sources, including Israeli officials, have reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu actively sabotaged negotiation efforts aimed at ending the war.
In its statement, Hamas praised the people of Gaza for their resilience, saying they had thwarted Israel’s objectives, including full occupation of the Strip and mass expulsion of its population.
“The Palestinians recorded unparalleled positions of glory, heroism, and honor, and confronted the fascist occupation projects that targeted them and their national rights,” the statement read.
Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ Political Bureau, called the ceasefire deal a “national achievement par excellence” that reflected the unity of the Palestinian people and their commitment to resistance. He stated that what Israel failed to achieve through genocide and starvation, it would also fail to achieve through negotiations.
Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha echoed this sentiment, crediting the unity of Palestinian factions in the negotiations for further isolating the Israeli regime.
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