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The Palestinian faction consenting to release the remaining captives, although dependent on negotiations and specific conditions being met, will give genuine hope to the relatives in Israel who have been desperate for this kind of development for a considerable period

In its official communication responding to the American peace initiative, the group expressed willingness to "free all Israel's detainees, both living and deceased, according to the exchange formula outlined in President Donald Trump's plan, on condition the field circumstances for the exchange are met"

That formula, outlined by President Trump at the US capital earlier this week, proposes an immediate cessation to the hostilities and the handover within 72 hours of all living Israel's hostages held by Hamas – as well as the remains of hostages believed to be dead – in exchange for a large number of imprisoned Palestinian people

There are believed to be forty-eight hostages still being kept in the Palestinian territory by the militant faction, only twenty of whom are thought to be alive

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The acceptance by the faction of an additional key part of the US ceasefire plan, the idea of handing over the administration of Gaza to Palestinian technocrats, is also clearly significant

But there are plenty of other aspects of the comprehensive, 20-point plan that are glaring by their absence

The most notable of those is the stipulation that Hamas surrender its weapons

"It marks a big day", the President says of Hamas reply to peace deal

The Israeli government will now be poring over the wording of the announcement to glean the true intent

It will have to determine whether it sees this as a genuine trustworthy approval of several of the central points of the agreement, or simply an attempt to delay and reopen protracted negotiations

Considering that it came just a few hours after President Donald Trump issued his final demand for the faction to comply by the weekend deadline or confront "serious consequences", some officials of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government are expected to be highly doubtful

That is particularly the case now the American leader has called on Israel to without delay stop the bombing of Gaza

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

"The Israeli government must promptly cease the military strikes of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out without harm and quickly", he said. "At present, it's extremely risky to do that"

The Israeli officials will not like the last section of his announcement suggesting that Hamas would keep a role in negotiations over the future governance of the coastal enclave

The group's response is important, no doubt. In a video message released on Friday evening, Trump declared it was a "major step" and thanked a number of countries which he claimed had assisted him develop the proposal together

But there is nonetheless a huge amount of detail to be resolved before peace in the region becomes remotely close to a reality. And the president appeared to recognize this was far from a done deal

"It remains to be seen how it all turns out", he commented. "It is necessary to get the final word in place and concrete"