Currently Online 
Trump ally Graham calls for Hamas to release captives before peace talks start
Earlier, we reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office had signalled Israel’s readiness to implement the “first stage of Trump’s plan for the immediate release of all the hostages”.
Republican Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham, a major Trump ally, has now said in a post on X that he “totally agree[s]” with the Israeli leader’s statement.
“Release the hostages and then we can negotiate within the confines of Israel’s war aims and President Trump’s 20 point plan for peace,” he said.
In an earlier post on X, Graham described Hamas’s acceptance of the main elements of Trump’s plan as “a classic ‘Yes, but’.”
“This is, in essence, a rejection by Hamas of President Trump’s ‘take it or leave it’ proposal,” he said.
Crucially, Netanyahu’s statement made no reference to Trump’s call for Israel to immediately halt its attacks on Gaza, which he said was a vital precondition for the safe return of the captives.
Hamas’ recent response to President Trump’s plan to end the war — which Israel had accepted — is unfortunately predictable. A classic “Yes, but.”
No disarmament, keeping Gaza under Palestinian control, and tying hostage release to negotiations, along with other problems.
This… https://t.co/s4Q31AkZac
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 3, 2025
Anyway people in Gaza are getting a bit of a break from the daily massacres
Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza reports ‘de-escalation’ in attacks after Trump announcement
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, said it was unclear if the Israeli bombing of the territory had stopped, as demanded by President Trump.
But the enclave had experienced an unusual quietness around midnight as Trump was due to speak in Washington, DC, after Hamas had agreed in principle to key points in his 20-point plan for the war-torn territory.
Smoke is still rising over the north of the enclave and small arms fire and the movement of Israeli military vehicles can still be heard clearly, he said.
But “compared to the past few days, the intensity of the bombardment and the use of extreme firepower is definitely less this morning and could be the beginning of a complete halt. But we don’t know when that is going to happen,” Mahmoud said.
“There is a clear de-escalation,” he said, adding that the distinct sound of Israeli drones – ever present in the sky over Gaza – could not be heard this morning.
Relatives and loved ones mourn those killed in Israeli attacks at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza, on Friday
