The Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas handed its response to mediators regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for the Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera initially reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Very quickly the news was carried by all international agencies, with the first details of the response becoming public.

In an official statement, Hamas welcomed Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza. It announced that it is willing to release all the hostages in return for the guarantee of a permanent ceasefire and to immediately enter into negotiations on the details of a comprehensive agreement.

According to Axios journalist Barak Ravid, Hamas expresses an intention to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body made up of independent personalities not affiliated with any political organization.

This position by Hamas is interpreted as a significant shift in its stance and raises expectations for progress in the negotiations that, if they move forward, could open the way to ending the hostilities.

Earlier today Donald Trump had issued a new ultimatum to Hamas, calling the organization “ruthless” and recalling the massacre of October 7.

The American president set a final deadline — Sunday at 6:00 p.m. Washington time — for a peace proposal to be accepted that, he said, has been signed by powerful countries in the region and by Israel. According to the U.S. president, if there is no agreement, “hell will break loose” against Hamas.

Specifically, in a post Trump described Hamas as “a ruthless and violent threat” in the Middle East. He said the pinnacle was “the massacre of October 7,” and claimed that in retaliation more than 25,000 fighters of the organization have been killed and that the rest are “surrounded and militarily trapped,” awaiting his order to be eliminated.

At the same time, he addressed the civilians of the Gaza Strip, asking “all innocent Palestinians” to immediately leave areas that, in his assessment, are at very high risk to their lives and move to safer parts, stressing that “everyone will be well cared for by those preparing to help.”