As focus turns to the next phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, comments from US officials on amnesty for Hamas members were seen as an “important step”.

A U.S. official said the disarmament of Hamas in Gaza would be accompanied by “some form of amnesty” for the Palestinian group.

The unnamed U.S. official made the comments to reporters after the bodies were buried on Monday. The last Israeli prisoner in Gaza has been restored, a move that paves the way for the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreed in October.

“We’re hearing a lot of their people talk about disarmament. We think they’re going to do that. If they don’t disarm, then they’re violating the agreement. We think disarmament comes with some kind of amnesty, and frankly we think we have a very, very good disarmament plan,” the official said, according to Reuters.

Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan reported from Washington, D.C., that the official made the remarks during a background briefing with senior officials and reporters from the U.S. President Trump’s administration.

“A senior administration official told reporters that Hamas agreed to disarm and that it would happen,” Jordan said.

“The same official also mentioned the fact that – when asked whether Hamas could be recognized as a political entity in exchange for (dis)arming – the official said the possibility of amnesty for Hamas fighters who lay down their weapons was part of the discussion,” Jordan said.

“But the official gave no further details. Even so, the fact that it’s out there for reporters to discuss publicly is an important step,” she said.

“How long will it take to work out these terms? Well, it certainly depends on the Israelis, the Americans and their various interlocutors – the Qataris, the Turks, the Egyptians – what they can offer Hamas in order to resolve this issue. But now there has been a public offer of some kind of amnesty,” she added.

Israel confirmed on Monday that the body of Gaza’s last prisoner, Ram Gweli, had been identified and that all those held in the war-torn Palestinian territory “have now been repatriated.”

Hamas said on Monday that the return of the captives’ remains underscored its commitment to the first phase of the ceasefire agreement and that it had “fulfilled all its obligations in a clear and responsible manner.”

Israel must now adhere to the ceasefire “without any deductions or delays.”

“Especially Rafah border crossing opens “The parties will meet the required quantities of demands in the Gaza Strip without restrictions in both directions, lift the ban on any demand, completely withdraw troops from the Gaza Strip, and facilitate the work of the National Council for the Management of the Gaza Strip,” the organization said.

Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan states that Hamas members who decommission their weapons will receive amnesty once all prisoners are repatriated. Under the plan, Hamas members wishing to leave Gaza would be given safe passage. The plan also stipulates that aid must flow “freely” into the enclave and that the Rafah crossing with Egypt will be reopened.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Hamas officials in Ankara on Monday to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire agreement and the humanitarian situation in the enclave, a Turkish foreign ministry source told Reuters.

The source added that the minister briefed Hamas officials on Turkey’s efforts to protect the rights of Palestinians in Gaza at international platforms, including the Trump Peace Council.

Türkiye’s official Anadolu news agency reported that Fidan said he “will firmly continue” to provide urgently needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.