GAZA — Hamas announced Friday that it approved the release of all Israeli captives, the return of deceased bodies, and the transfer of Gaza’s administration to an independent Palestinian body as part of its response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire proposal.

In a statement on Telegram, the group said other issues in Trump’s plan “concerning the future of the Gaza Strip and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people are tied to a unified national position based on relevant international laws and resolutions.”

Hamas has delivered its response to mediators and sought clarifications on several clauses. The group said it held consultations with Palestinian factions, mediators, and international partners before finalizing its position.

Hamas said it agreed to release all Israeli captives, living and deceased, “according to the exchange formula included in President Trump’s proposal, and with the necessary conditions on the ground for carrying out the exchange.”

Israel estimates that 48 captives remain in Gaza, including 20 alive, while around 11,100 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons.

The group also confirmed its willingness to hand over Gaza’s administration to a technocratic Palestinian body “based on national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing.”

Trump has given Hamas until 6 p.m. Washington time (2200 GMT) on Sunday to approve the plan.

On Sept. 29, the White House unveiled a 20-point proposal calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, reconstruction efforts, and the reorganization of the enclave’s political and security structures.

The plan seeks to disarm Hamas, release all captives within 72 hours, and gradually withdraw Israeli forces while installing a transitional technocratic authority under international oversight led by Trump.

Israel has enforced a blockade on Gaza’s 2.4 million residents for nearly 18 years, tightening it further in March by blocking food and medicine deliveries.

Since October 2023, Israeli bombardment has killed nearly 66,300 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to Palestinian and international reports.

The United Nations has warned that Gaza is being rendered uninhabitable, with famine and disease spreading rapidly. — Agencies