BBC Breakfast interrupted for breaking Trump Gaza update: 'This is a big day'

BBC Breakfast interrupted its regular programming on Saturday morning with breaking news after Hamas issued a formal response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza peace deal. Anchors Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt announced that Hamas had agreed to release all remaining Israeli hostages while also signaling a potential willingness to leave Gaza.

The development came after President Trump demanded an immediate halt to Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza. In a post on his social media platform, he declared that Hamas appeared “ready for a lasting peace” and urged Israel to “stop the bombing of Gaza.” In a video statement, Trump described Friday as “a big day” for the region, calling Hamas’s move a partial acceptance of his ultimatum designed to end nearly two years of war.

Hamas’s reply focused on parts of Trump’s 20-point peace framework for Gaza’s future. Although the group’s statement fell short of complete acceptance, it did align with some of the core conditions set by Western and Middle Eastern nations as necessary for a permanent settlement. The most notable commitment was the release of all Israeli hostages, a decision that came just hours after Trump set a Sunday deadline of 18:00 ET (22:00 GMT).

However, Hamas stopped short of agreeing to key demands. The group did not commit to disarmament, nor did it agree to step away from Gaza’s political governance. These omissions leave uncertainty about whether the deal will hold in the long term.

The international community has cautiously welcomed Hamas’s announcement. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the move as “encouraging” and urged world leaders to seize the moment. UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer echoed the sentiment, calling it a “significant step forward.”

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres also weighed in, urging all sides to embrace the opportunity: “This moment could finally bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz added that peace was “within reach,” stressing that after nearly two years of war, this was “the best chance for peace.”

While Trump struck a hopeful tone in his response, experts warn that Hamas’s rejection of key provisions leaves the peace plan on uncertain ground. The coming days will reveal whether both sides are willing to compromise further, or if the agreement will stall before achieving the “lasting peace” that so many around the world are now calling for.