Peter Baker Says Hamas Statement Is a ‘Promising Development’ — Warns Details Could Still ‘Bollocks Things Up’
Hamas responded to President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan on Friday afternoon, agreeing to release all Israeli hostages, both living and dead, according to MSNBC. Peter Baker with The New York Times told MSNBC, it was a “very promising development,” but warned that Hamas adding new conditions could “bollocks things up.”
Anchor Erielle Reshef began the segment by reading from the Hamas statement:
In order to achieve a cessation of hostilities and a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the movement announces its agreement to release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead. According to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal provided the conditions for the exchange are met. In this context, the announcement affirms its readiness to immediately enter into negotiations through the mediators to discuss the details of this agreement.
Hamas posted more to Telegram, writing, “The movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter into negotiations through the mediators to discuss the details of this agreement.”
Hamas agreed to hand over the administration of Gaza to an independent body of Palestinians, “based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support”.
“Other issues mentioned in President Trump’s proposal regarding the future of the Gaza Strip and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people are connected to a unified national position and relevant international laws and resolutions,” Hamas said, adding, They “will be addressed through a comprehensive Palestinian national framework, in which Hamas will participate and contribute responsibly.”
On Truth Social Friday, Trump gave Hamas until 6 p.m. Sunday to agree to the peace deal, or risk “All HELL, Like No One Has Seen Before” breaking out.
“Now the devil is going to be in the details,” Baker says. “[Hamas] says it’s going to negotiate details. And we’ve seen moments before where it looked like they were moments of progress, and then the details, you know, bollocks things up.”
Baker continued, “For instance, they do say that they want to agree to surrender control of Gaza to a Palestinian independent body. Well, that’s not exactly what President Trump proposed. He proposed a body that he would actually chair with other notable figures like Tony Blair, the former British prime minister. So it’s not quite clear whether Hamas is agreeing to what President Trump stipulated on that part of the plan, or whether they have some other ideas in mind, and whether that could be negotiated. But on the whole, it’s very promising.”
Watch the clip above via MSNBC.
