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Defense &
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PRESENTED BY LOCKHEED MARTIN

The Big Story

Hamas open to parts of Trump peace deal to end Gaza war

Hamas reportedly said Friday it could accept parts of a Trump administration peace deal to end the war in Gaza, including the release of living and dead Israeli hostages.

This is the first public response since President Trump laid out a Sunday deadline that promised “HELL” if Hamas rejected the deal.

Hamas said other elements of Trump’s 20-point peace plan would require further consultation, The Associated Press reported.

Trump on Friday demanded Hamas accept the full proposal and gave a deadline of Sunday at 6 p.m. EDT to receive a response. He warned he would give Israel a green light to scale up its Gaza Strip military offensive, which is currently focused on a full assault on Gaza City.

Trump’s 20-point plan, unveiled Monday, demands Hamas lay down its arms and enter into an immediate ceasefire with Israel. Hamas fighters who renounce fighting and wish to remain in Gaza will be granted amnesty while others can take advantage of safe passage to third countries.

Trump had given Hamas 72 hours to hand over hostages it kidnapped from Israel during its Oct 7, 2023, terrorist attack. This is said to include 20 living hostages and the bodies of 28 deceased hostages.

Israel is also set to release Palestinian prisoners from jai as part of the truce and in return for hostages.

A ceasefire respected by both sides would also allow for a surge of humanitarian support into the Gaza Strip, where more than 1 million Palestinians are enduring hunger and displacement.

Read the full report from The Hill’s Laura Kelly at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.

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Essential Reads

How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
the future:

US Special Operations Command general retires

The head of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Gen. Bryan Fenton, retired from his role Friday. “As I hand over the reins, I do so with the utmost confidence in your ability to continue this vital work. The future of USSOCOM is bright because of our people, our commitment to winning and our relentless drive to transform,” said Fenton, who was the 13th commander of USSOCOM, in a letter that was published by the command …

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Hegseth says 4 killed in latest strike on ‘narco-trafficking vessel’

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military killed four “narco-terrorists” on a boat he said was carrying narcotics off the coast of Venezuela on Friday morning, the latest strike on “narco-trafficking” vessels in the Caribbean Sea. Hegseth said a “kinetic” strike took out a boat affiliated with a designated terrorist organization in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. No U.S. …

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Putin: Possible supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine threatens US relationship with Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that any supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine would threaten the U.S. relationship with Russia, but that Moscow’s defense systems will swiftly adapt to the new weaponry. Putin, during a foreign policy forum in Sochi, Russia, said the U.S. potentially sending Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine will indicate a “qualitatively new stage of escalation, including in relations between …

Full Story

On Our Radar

Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:

The Center for Strategic and International Studies will discuss “Responding to Trump’s new foreign policy paradigm,” Monday at 9 a.m. EDT
Stimson Center will hold a talk on “Between Peace and War: Exploring China’s Gray Zone Strategy Toward Taiwan,” at 9 a.m. EDT on Monday
The Center for Strategic and International Studies also will host a conversation on “Big deal, small deal, or no deal? Possible outcomes of a Trump-Xi summit,” Monday at 12:30 p.m. EDT

What We’re Reading

News we’ve flagged from other outlets:

They celebrated vigilante justice on the battlefield. Then they brought it home. (The New York Times)
Trump administration taps Army Reserve and National Guard for temporary immigration judges (The Associated Press)
What troops need to know about Hegseth’s new memos for the force (Military Times)

Trending Today

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Live updates: Senate reject measures to end shutdown; House GOP to extend recess through Oct. 13

Senate Democrats and Republicans on Friday failed to pass competing bills to fund the government, extending the shutdown into next week. The measures … Read more

Supreme Court takes up new Second Amendment case

The Supreme Court took up its next Second Amendment case Friday, agreeing to hear a challenge to Hawaii’s ban on carrying concealed weapons on private … Read more

Opinions in The Hill

Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill:

You’re all caught up. See you next week!

Hamas open to parts of Trump peace deal to end Gaza war

Defense &
National Security

Defense &
National Security

Hamas open to parts of Trump peace deal to end Gaza war

Paul Klee

Michael Parkes

Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky

Defense & National Security

Defense & National Security

Hamas open to parts of Trump peace deal to end Gaza war

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