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The Palestinian faction agreeing to free the outstanding captives, although subject to negotiations and certain terms being fulfilled, provides real hope to the relatives in Israel who have been eagerly waiting for this kind of development for a very long time

In its statement responding to the US peace initiative, the organization agreed to "free all Israeli prisoners, both alive and deceased, according to the swap arrangement outlined in President Donald Trump's proposal, on condition the field conditions for the swap are satisfied"

That framework, outlined by Trump at the US capital in recent days, envisions an immediate end to the fighting and the handover within three days of all living Israeli hostages detained by Hamas – as well as the bodies of individuals believed to be dead – in exchange for hundreds of detained Palestinian people

There are believed to be forty-eight captives still being held in the Palestinian territory by the armed group, only 20 of whom are thought to be surviving

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The acceptance by the faction of another key part of the American peace proposal, the concept of handing over the governance of the Gaza Strip to Palestinian experts, is also evidently noteworthy

But there are numerous of additional aspects of the comprehensive, twenty-part plan that are conspicuous by their omission

The most prominent of those is the stipulation that the organization surrender its arms

"It marks a major day", the President remarked of the group's response to peace deal

The Israeli government will now be scrutinizing the language of the announcement to glean the true intent

It will have to decide whether it views this as a genuine trustworthy acceptance of some of the key points of the agreement, or merely an effort to buy time and reopen long drawn out negotiations

Given that it was issued just a short time after the US leader issued his final demand for Hamas to agree by the weekend deadline or confront "all hell", some officials of the Israeli premier's cabinet are likely to be highly sceptical

That is especially true now the American leader has called on the Israeli state to without delay stop the airstrikes of Gaza

"In light of the Statement just released by Hamas, I am convinced they are ready for a lasting CEASEFIRE", President Trump stated shortly after the group's statement was released

"The Israeli government must immediately stop the military strikes of Gaza, so that we can secure the Hostages out without harm and swiftly", he said. "At present, it's far too risky to do that"

The Israelis will be displeased by the final paragraph of his announcement suggesting that Hamas would retain a participation in negotiations over the long term future of Gaza

The Hamas statement is significant, undoubtedly. In a video message broadcast later on Friday, the President declared it was a "big day" and thanked a series of nations which he said had assisted him develop the initiative forward

But there is nonetheless a huge amount of specifics to be resolved before a truce in the region becomes remotely close to a reality. And the president seemed to recognize this was not a done deal

"We'll see how it all unfolds", he said. "It is necessary to finalize the final word down and firmly established"