Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed over the weekend that Hamas has accepted President Donald Trump’s proposed framework for peace in Gaza, which includes the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by the group. Rubio shared the update during a Sunday interview with “Fox News Sunday” guest host Gillian Turner.
Turner asked Rubio whether Hamas’s initial partial acceptance of the plan was simply a stalling tactic. Rubio dismissed that notion, clarifying that Hamas had agreed to the entire framework regarding the hostages, which includes 48 individuals — 20 alive and 28 deceased.
“There are ongoing talks to finalize the logistics,” Rubio said. “Details like who will handle the releases, the timing, and how it will all work are being addressed.”
Rubio emphasized that the next challenge will be the long-term governance of Gaza. “It can’t be Hamas or any terrorist organization,” he stated. Expelling terrorists from Gaza, he added, is central to achieving lasting stability in the region.
“The top priority is the safe and swift release of all forty-eight hostages,” Rubio said, acknowledging the complexity of the negotiations and the difficult compromises sometimes required to secure lives.
Turner highlighted the controversial aspect of the plan, noting that the release of terrorists in exchange for hostages could be seen as a bitter pill for Israel. Rubio explained that such agreements, though seemingly unfair, underscore the priority placed on saving lives and credited President Trump’s international coalition — including Arab and Islamic nations — for enabling the negotiations.
