The Hamas militant group has announced that it has agreed to release all Israeli prisoners, both those who are still alive and those who have died.
The decision was announced by Hamas on the night of Friday, October 3, 2025 just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the group must accept his proposed peace plan by Sunday, October 5, 2025.
Hamas stated that it is ready to engage in talks through mediators regarding the new peace initiative presented by President Trump.
Trump welcomed Hamas’s decision with enthusiasm, writing on Truth Social:
“Based on the statement Hamas has just released, I believe they are ready for lasting peace. Israel must immediately cease its attacks on Gaza so that we can rescue the hostages quickly and safely!”
In a video message he added, “This is a great day. We’ll see how it unfolds.”
Reports indicate that there are 48 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, of whom about 20 are believed to be alive.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel “is preparing to immediately implement the first phase of Trump’s peace plan to release all hostages” and will “continue to work closely with President Trump and his team to end the war.”
On its part, Israel also agreed to release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, as well as 1,700 others arrested following Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023.
Trump’s peace plan calls for an immediate halt to Israeli strikes on Gaza once both sides agree, the release of hostages within 72 hours, and a guarantee that no civilians will be forcibly displaced. The plan could pave the way toward eventual Palestinian statehood, though that outcome is not guaranteed.
However, Hamas has not commented on one of the key demands from the U.S. and Israel that it must lay down its arms which could pose a major obstacle to negotiations.
The United Nations, Qatar, Egypt, and several other regional countries welcomed this development as a positive step forward.
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