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The Palestinian faction consenting to release the remaining hostages, although dependent on talks and certain terms being met, provides genuine hope to the relatives in the Israeli state who have been desperate for this kind of development for a considerable period

In its official communication addressing the American peace proposal, the organization expressed willingness to "release all Israeli detainees, both living and dead, in line with the exchange formula contained in President Donald Trump's plan, on condition the field circumstances for the swap are satisfied"

That formula, detailed by President Trump at the White House in recent days, proposes an swift cessation to the hostilities and the release within three days of all surviving Israeli hostages held by Hamas – as well as the bodies of individuals believed to be dead – in exchange for a large number of imprisoned Palestinian people

There are estimated to be 48 hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip by the armed group, only 20 of whom are considered to be surviving

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

But there are numerous of additional elements of the comprehensive, 20-point plan that are conspicuous by their omission

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

"It marks a big development", Trump remarked of the group's reply to peace deal

The Israel's leadership will now be poring over the wording of the statement to determine the underlying meaning

It will need to determine whether it sees this as a sincere trustworthy approval of several of the central provisions of the deal, or merely an effort to buy time and resume protracted discussions

Considering that it came just a short time after President Donald Trump issued his final demand for the faction to comply by the weekend deadline or face "all hell", several officials of the Israeli premier's cabinet are likely to be deeply doubtful

That is particularly true now the American leader has urged Israel to without delay halt the airstrikes of the territory

"Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are prepared for a lasting CEASEFIRE", President Trump said soon after the group's message was published

"The Israeli government must immediately cease the bombing of the region, so that we can secure the Hostages out safely and quickly", he added. "Right now, it's far too dangerous to do that"

The Israeli officials will be displeased by the last section of his statement implying that the faction would keep a participation in talks over the long term future of Gaza

The group's statement is significant, undoubtedly. In a recorded address released on Friday evening, Trump said it was a "major step" and expressed gratitude to a number of countries which he claimed had helped him put the initiative forward

But there is still a substantial deal of specifics to be resolved before a truce in the area becomes remotely close to a reality. And the president seemed to recognize this was not a done deal

"It remains to be seen how it everything turns out", he said. "It is necessary to finalize the definitive terms down and firmly established"