HAMAS SAYS IT AGREES TO 1ST PHASE OF US PRESIDENT TRUMP’S GAZA CEASEFIRE PLAN

ISTANBUL, Oct 9 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The Palestinian group Hamas announced early Thursday that it has agreed to the first phase of US President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan, appreciating his efforts along with those of Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt, Anadolu Ajansı reported.

"Hamas announces that an agreement has been reached providing for an end to the war on Gaza, the withdrawal of the occupiers, the entry of humanitarian aid, and a prisoner exchange," it said in a statement on Telegram.

"We greatly appreciate the efforts of our mediator brothers in Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye. We also commend the efforts of US President Donald Trump, which aim for a final end to the war and the complete withdrawal of the occupying Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip," the statement added.

The statement also addressed the guarantor states of the ceasefire agreement and various Arab and Islamic nations and international circles, as well as Trump, calling for pressuring Israel to fulfil the responsibilities of the agreement.

"We emphasise that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain, that we will remain true to our word, and that we will not relinquish our national rights, such as the right to freedom, independence, and self-determination," the statement added.

The group's remarks came right after Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had signed off on the first phase of the US-proposed Gaza deal.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed nearly 67,200 Palestinians in the enclave, most of them women and children, and rendered it uninhabitable.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU