Donald Trump has said Hamas is ready for a “lasting peace” after the Palestinian militants agreed to release all remaining hostages, as he called on Israel to stop bombing Gaza.

The US leader was responding to a statement by Hamas on Friday in which the group committed to returning all remaining hostages in Gaza, dead and alive.

Hamas also said it wants to engage in negotiations to discuss further details of the president’s peace plan, including handing over “administration of the enclave to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats”.

However, other aspects of the 20-point document, it warned, would require further consultation among Palestinians.

The Hamas statement came after Mr Trump warned he would unleash “all hell” if they did not respond to his peace plan, announced earlier this week, by Sunday.

Following the group’s response, the president said there was now a real chance of peace.

“I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” Mr Trump posted on Truth Social. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!

“Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”

In a video later posted on his social media platform, Mr Trump called it a “very special day” and said the end of the war was “very close”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was prepared for the implementation of the “first stage” of Mr Trump’s plan, apparently in reference to the release of hostages.

Moshe Emilio Lavi, brother-in-law of Israeli hostage Omri Miran, told Sky News he “can’t wait” to see his family reunited.

“We’ve received necessary guarantees from President Trump and the wider international community and now we have to keep pressuring Hamas to ensure that they abide by the Trump framework, that they disarm and release all the hostages within the 72 hours the framework outlines.

“There should be no buts and no delays, there should be only a yes to President Trump’s vision to end the conflict and bring home all the remaining hostages.”

Starmer calls for ‘agreement without delay’

Sir Keir Starmer said Hamas’s partial acceptance of the peace plan was a “significant step forwards” and called for an “agreement without delay”.

The prime minister said Mr Trump’s efforts “have brought us closer to peace than ever before” and added: “There is now an opportunity to end the fighting, for the hostages to return home, and for humanitarian aid to reach those who so desperately need it.

“We call on all sides to implement the agreement without delay.”

He went on to say the UK was ready to support further negotiations and work “towards sustainable peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike”.

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French President Emmanuel Macron said “the release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach”, while a spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged “all parties to seize the opportunity”.

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Hamas agrees to release hostages

The breakthrough came just hours after Mr Trump had set the Sunday deadline to respond to his proposals, backed by the Arab nations.

The US president and the Israeli prime minister unveiled the peace plan at the White House on Monday.

Israel agreed to the terms, which include an immediate ceasefire; the release of all hostages; Hamas disarming; a guarantee no one will be forced to leave Gaza and a governing “peace panel” including Sir Tony Blair.

And on Friday, a statement from Hamas confirmed “its approval to release all prisoners of the occupation – whether alive or the remains of the deceased – according to the exchange framework included in President Trump’s proposal”.

Israel estimates 48 hostages remain in Gaza, 20 of whom are alive.

Hamas official says group will not disarm ‘before Israeli occupation ends’

The group also said it was ready to engage in negotiations through mediators and it appreciated “Arab, Islamic and international efforts, as well as the efforts of US President Donald Trump”.

But, Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera news the group would not disarm “before the Israeli occupation ends”.

Hamas does not know where all hostages are

Sky News Middle East correspondent Adam Parsons said the “most important part” of the Hamas response was that it showed a willingness to do a deal.

“The peace plan could have died – Hamas could have rejected it – but it is still alive.”

He said there were still “huge obstacles” which would prevent outright acceptance though.

In spite of a pledge to release hostages, he said Hamas did not entirely know where all of them were – some were even being held by other groups.

Hamas’s support for a new government for Palestine was positive, he said, but the specification in the Hamas response that it should be purely Palestinian and not, as Mr Trump had proposed, a “panel” that included external representatives, would be problematic.

We are in the endgame. Nearly exactly two years since the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023, it looks like we are on the brink of a breakthrough.

The diplomacy of the past 12 hours has been head-spinning and uniquely Trumpian. Assuming everything holds, this is Donald Trump‘s success. It is the consequence of his unorthodox style, his ability to call the shots and crucially his willingness to do so now.

The tragedy is that it could have happened many months ago. But that doesn’t make it any less significant a moment now.

Word came from Hamas late afternoon on Friday Washington time that the group had responded to Mr Trump’s 20-point plan for peace in Gaza, which he unveiled at the White House on Monday.

Within minutes, the US president had posted the Hamas response on his own social media. It was clear from the wording of the Hamas statement that it was by no means an unequivocal acceptance of the 20-point plan.

But then, via his press secretary, again on social media, a clear indication that the US president was reading the Hamas statement as an acceptance of his deal even though, in black and white, it falls short of that.

“President Trump responds to Hamas’ acceptance of his Peace Plan,” Karoline Leavitt wrote.

Hamas had basically said “yes, but” to Mr Trump’s 20-point plan, and yet intriguingly Mr Trump was choosing to take it as an acceptance of his plan.

Then, moments later, the president spelt it out, again on social media, and with game-changing demands – not for Hamas, but for Israel.

A remarkable statement

“Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”

This was a remarkable statement and represents a huge moment. Neither Mr Trump, nor Joe Biden before him, has ever asked this of Israel before. The American president was telling Israel to stop; to stand its military down and to bring this war to an end. Extraordinary.

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Praise and fury for Trump’s Gaza peace deal

For the first time in this two-year war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in a corner. President Trump has put him there.

Mr Trump and his team know that the Hamas response does not yet commit to disarmament and it does not yet agree to fully disband – both conditions of the 20-point plan. But Hamas does commit to releasing all the hostages now. And for Mr Trump, who wants this over, that’s enough.

The word from Israel overnight is that Mr Netanyahu did not expect the US president to take this position because he sees the Hamas response as a rejection of the 20-point plan.

On Monday, Mr Netanyahu said Mr Trump was the best friend Israel had ever had. But Mr Trump is not an ideologue. He is pragmatic, he is a deal-maker, he wants to further his Abraham Accords, he wants to be a winner, and he wants the Nobel Peace Prize.

He can also see where the chips are falling. His 20-point plan has unanimous support across Europe and among Muslim majority countries, which all seem to accept that Hamas as an organisation is over.

Israeli attack on Hamas in Qatar was pivot point

Public opinion is also a factor. The number of Americans with an unfavourable view of Israel and its Gaza policy has been steadily rising.

President Trump’s own view of Mr Netanyahu’s Israel has also evolved. The two men have never actually been close. And the Israeli attack on Hamas negotiators in Qatar last month really angered Mr Trump and his advisors. They saw it as a clear undermining of the Gaza negotiations. It was a pivot point for Mr Trump.

The diplomacy behind the scenes, through the Qatari government mediators and others, has been intense, particularly this past week. The challenge has been to persuade the military wing of Hamas, in Gaza, to get to the position outlined in their statement.

Mr Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, told me on Monday: “I am hopeful, I really am. All the stakeholders in this want to see it happen and the president believes it is going to happen and he is dug in.”

I was sceptical. Maybe I was wrong to be. Still, there are huge immediate challenges in the hours and days ahead.

But the overnight news that the Israeli Defence Forces have shifted to defensive operations is a huge development.

There is a genuine momentum for peace right now. This could be the moment.

The families of the two victims of the Manchester synagogue attack have paid tribute to them as “heroic, beloved and cherished”.

Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were killed in the attack at Heaton Park synagogue in Crumpsall on Thursday.

Mr Daulby, a member of the congregation, was shot accidentally when police opened fire on attacker Jihad al Shamie.

The synagogue’s rabbi told Sky News it happened as Mr Daulby “was holding the doors to make sure everyone inside stayed safe”.

His family said he was a “hero” and a “lovely down-to-earth man” whose “final act was one of profound courage and he will forever be remembered for his heroic act”.

The family of Mr Cravitz – a security guard at the synagogue who was attending the service – said he would “do anything to help anyone”.

“He was so kind, caring and always wanted to chat and get to know people,” they said.

“He was devoted to his wife, family and loved his food. He will be sorely missed by his wife, family, friends and community.”

The tributes came as police said three more people – a man and two women – had been arrested on suspicion of terror offences, bringing the total to six.

They also revealed the attacker had been on bail over a suspected rape, but wasn’t on the radar of counter-terror police.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the shooting – standard practice when a member of the public is killed.

The investigation would include “whether police may have caused or contributed to the death” of Mr Daulby.

Sir Stephen Watson, the head of Greater Manchester police, confirmed Mr Daulby’s injury appeared to be “a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers”.

‘Gentle giant’

Other relatives of Mr Cravitz told Sky News he was a “gentle giant” who “would never harm a fly”.

His cousin, Phil Bentley, said his death was even more tragic as he would never normally be at the synagogue that early.

Hindi Cohen, a friend and neighbour, said he was a “lovely man” with a good sense of humour, adding: “Our kids loved him. He called himself uncle Melvin to my kids.”

One of Mr Daulby’s neighbours was also emphatic in his praise for a man he lived next door to for 20 years.

Abdul Rahimi called him “one of the best guys I’ve ever seen in my life” and a “very, very good man”, who often bought books and toys for children on their street.

Another neighbour, Waqas Hussain, said the pair bonded over a shared love of nature, animals and birds.

He said Mr Daulby was a cancer survivor, who lived alone and started going to the synagogue more after his father died a few years ago.

“Just one of them people… so innocent, so approachable and so pure,” he told Sky News.

He said his friend hadn’t been fasting for health reasons and was debating whether or not to go the synagogue on Thursday.

Increased police patrols are being put in place near synagogues across the country following the atrocity.

Lammy heckled at vigil

Police in London and Manchester have urged people not to hold planned protests in the cities this weekend so they can keep officers free.

A vigil for the victims was also held in Manchester on Friday – but Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy walked out to shouts of “shame on you” and boos from a few in the crowd.

“Go to Palestine but leave us alone,” one person shouted.

Another protester shouted “my children’s school was closed today – you allowed this to happen.”

Read more:
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Attacker’s family condemn ‘heinous act’

Thirty-five-year-old Jihad al Shamie was named as the attacker on Thursday and is believed to be of Syrian descent.

He is understood to have been granted British citizenship when he was around 16, having entered the UK as a young child.

Police shot him dead seven minutes after the first emergency call as they feared he was wearing an explosive device – later identified as a fake.

Three men also remain in hospital after the attack, with two of them named as Yoni Finlay and Andrew Franks.

One suffered a stab wound, a second was hurt after being hit by a car that al Shamie is said to have driven towards the synagogue, and the third suffered a gunshot wound.

One of the injured victims was working for the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which provides security to the Jewish community.

Its chief executive, Mark Gardner, said: “One of our CST personnel was seriously injured in yesterday’s terror attack at Heaton Park Synagogue.

“We pray for his continuing recovery and salute the courage of all those who helped stop the terrorist from getting into the shul.”