U.S. President Donald Trump received Hamas's response to his peace plan for Gaza on October 3rd, 2025, between 8:37 PM and 9:06 PM UTC, with the group expressing willingness to release hostages and negotiate details but not accepting immediate disarmament demands. The IDF warned of unprecedented escalation if Hamas refuses the plan, stating remaining residents in Gaza City would be required to evacuate or be defined as terrorists. This development comes as Hamas leader Osama Hamdan stated to Al-Aaraby television that the plan can be resolved through negotiation and that any foreign force entering Palestinian land is rejected. Hamas issued a statement acknowledging President Trump's efforts and agreeing "in principle to release all Israeli hostages under the terms outlined in Trump’s plan" and is "ready to begin mediated negotiations to work out the details." They also agreed to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independent figures. However, a previous report from N12 indicated that Hamas "is not agreeing to release all hostages immediately" and that "without this everything else falls apart." Osama Hamdan further elaborated that the Palestinian governing body must be independent and connected to the Palestinian Authority, and mentioned the existence of bodies of captives in areas where Israeli forces are present. The IDF's preparedness for escalation suggests that Hamas's response, which does not immediately address disarmament, is viewed as a significant obstacle, potentially leading to intensified military operations if negotiations fail. The prior report from N12 also cited that "the remaining residents in the Gaza City will be required to evacuate within a short period of time, and those who remain will be defined as a terrorist."
