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On Friday, Hamas declared that it had endorsed certain aspects of Donald Trump's ultimatum to conclude the conflict in the Gaza region, consenting to a hostage exchange and to surrender administrative authority in the Gaza strip, but stated that it wished additional discussions on other parts of the proposal.

Hamas remained silent on whether it would comply to lay down its arms – a critical component of Trump's plan – and kept unclear its response to other sections of the comprehensive plan first proposed by Donald Trump earlier this week.

The response remained uncertain how Trump would respond to a qualified response to his plan, which came just a short time after he issued a weekend cutoff for the group to respond. He claimed that if an deal was not achieved "all hell" would break out against Hamas, whose fighters he portrayed as encircled and trapped.

Key Concessions and Stipulations

In a announcement, Hamas said that it was giving its "endorsement of releasing all occupation prisoners – both alive and remains – according to the swap terms included in Donald Trump's plan, with the necessary practical arrangements for executing the exchange."

The statement went on to say that the organization was ready to turn over "governance of the Gaza Strip to a local entity of non-partisan technocrats founded on local agreement and supported by Arab and Islamic support."

Issues Requiring Further Negotiation

Nonetheless, the faction said that "other issues" in Trump's strategy would need to be discussed further "within a unified Palestinian national framework." The unstated issues that the group will seek talks on are expected to include the matter of its arms, the pullout of Israeli troops from the region, and international assurances for the enforcement of a lasting truce.

The former president's plan called for an immediate end to hostilities in the area, an swap of hostages and Palestinian prisoners within 72 hours of the deal's approval, a phased retreat of Israeli forces from Gaza, as well as the disarmament of the group and a postwar transitional administration led by Trump.

Aid and Reconstruction Provisions

The deal also stipulated a surge of assistance to the territory, areas of which are presently undergoing starvation, and reconstruction to the mostly demolished strip.

The deal was mostly viewed as disadvantageous to the faction and if accepted in full, would likely spell the organization's demise as an militant Palestinian faction while requiring minimal concessions from Israel. International influence on the group to approve the strategy, was tremendous though, with most local and world powers welcoming the Trump administration imitative.

Consequences of the Captive Exchange

Though the group did not right away consent to lay down weapons, its consent to hand over captives will be seen as important. The 48 individuals have been used by the faction as primary bargaining power throughout the almost two year war in its negotiations with the US and Israeli officials. Releasing them will result in the organization with limited negotiating tools going forward.

Not the U.S. administration nor Jewish state officials have yet replied to Hamas's request for changes to the Trump's demand.

Conflict Toll and Context

Israel's war in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 62,622 Palestinians and wounded about 170,000, according to the local health ministry. The war was launched by Israel in response to Hamas-affiliated militants killing about 1,200 individuals and taking 251 captives in the Jewish state about nearly 24 months ago.