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The Palestinian faction consenting to free the outstanding captives, although subject to talks and certain terms being fulfilled, will give genuine optimism to the relatives in Israel who have been eagerly waiting for this type of development for a considerable period

In its statement addressing the American peace initiative, the organization agreed to "release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, in line with the swap formula outlined in the US President's plan, provided the practical conditions for the swap are met"

That framework, outlined by President Trump at the US capital in recent days, proposes an swift end to the fighting and the handover within three days of all living Israeli hostages held by Hamas – as well as the bodies of hostages thought to be no longer alive – in exchange for hundreds of imprisoned Palestinian people

There are believed to be 48 hostages still being kept in the Gaza Strip by the militant faction, only 20 of whom are considered to be alive

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The endorsement by the faction of another key part of the US ceasefire proposal, the concept of transferring the administration of Gaza to local technocrats, is also clearly significant

But there are plenty of additional elements of the comprehensive, twenty-part proposal that are conspicuous by their absence

The most notable of these is the requirement that Hamas surrender its arms

"It marks a major day", Trump says of Hamas response to truce agreement

The Israeli government will now be poring over the language of the announcement to determine the true intent

It will have to determine whether it sees this as a genuine good faith approval of some of the central provisions of the agreement, or merely an attempt to delay and reopen protracted negotiations

Given that it came just a few hours after the US leader delivered his last demand for Hamas to agree by the weekend deadline or face "serious consequences", several officials of the Israeli premier's government are likely to be highly doubtful

That is particularly true now the American leader has urged the Israeli state to without delay halt the bombing of the territory

"In light of the Communication just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a enduring CEASEFIRE", President Trump stated shortly after the Hamas statement was published

"The Israeli government must promptly stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can secure the Captives out safely and swiftly", he added. "Right now, it's far too dangerous to do that"

The Israeli officials will not like the final paragraph of his announcement implying that Hamas would keep a participation in talks over the future governance of the coastal enclave

The Hamas statement is important, no doubt. In a video message broadcast later on Friday, Trump declared it was a "big day" and expressed gratitude to a number of nations which he said had assisted him put the proposal forward

But there is still a huge amount of specifics to be resolved before a truce in the area becomes remotely close to a certainty. And the US leader appeared to acknowledge this was not a done deal

"It remains to be seen how it everything unfolds", he commented. "We have to get the final word in place and firmly established"