Sanae Takaichi, 64, has been elected as the new leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in October 2025, making her the first woman to hold the party's presidency and positioning her to become Japan's first female prime minister.

The 64-year-old defeated Shinjirō Koizumi in a runoff election, securing 185 votes to his 156, and is expected to be formally appointed prime minister by the Diet, as the LDP holds a majority in the lower house.

Takaichi is known for her hardline conservative and nationalist views, including opposition to same-sex marriage, separate surnames for married couples, and an empress regnant, and she supports revising Article 9 of Japan's Constitution to strengthen military capabilities.

“I’m abandoning the phrase ‘work–life balance.’ I will work, work, work, work, and go on working!” she declared in a speech.

Born on March 7, 1961, in Yamatokōriyama, Nara Prefecture, Takaichi is the daughter of a Toyota-affiliated automobile company employee and a police officer. She graduated from Nara Prefectural Unebi High School.

Despite qualifying for prestigious private universities like Keio and Waseda, Takaichi chose to attend Kobe University, where she studied business management, because her parents refused to fund her education if she moved out of home or attended a private institution. She commuted six hours daily to attend university and later studied at the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management.

To fund her education, Takaichi worked part-time jobs  In 1987, she was sponsored by the Matsushita Institute to spend a year in the United States as a congressional fellow for Democratic U.S. Representative Pat Schroeder, gaining experience in American politics. Upon returning to Japan, she became a legislative analyst and author, and later worked as a TV anchor for TV Asahi.

Takaichi was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1993 as an independent candidate. She joined the LDP in 1996 and has been re-elected nine times since.

A protégée of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi held several ministerial roles, including Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications and Minister of State for Economic Security. She is a staunch conservative and ultraconservative, affiliated with the ultranationalist group Nippon Kaigi, and has visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine multiple times.

Hamas has agreed to key elements of President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan, including the release of all remaining Israeli hostages and the handover of Gaza's administration to a Palestinian technocratic body, according to a statement released Friday, just hours after Trump issued a Sunday deadline.

The group stated it is ready to immediately enter negotiations through mediators to discuss the details of the exchange, provided "field conditions" are met, but did not commit to the plan's demand for its disarmament or the creation of an international oversight committee.

In response, Trump declared on Truth Social that Hamas is "ready for a lasting PEACE" and called on Israel to "immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!"

The Palestinian militant group announced its agreement to release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula in Trump's proposal, contingent on the necessary field conditions being fulfilled. It confirmed its readiness to hand over the administration of Gaza to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats) based on national consensus and with Arab and Islamic support.

However, Hamas stated that other points in the plan, particularly those concerning the future of Gaza and the rights of Palestinians, are still under discussion within a "comprehensive national Palestinian framework" and that it will contribute to this framework with full responsibility. The group did not address the establishment of the "Board of Peace" international oversight committee.

Trump had earlier issued an ultimatum, warning that if the agreement is not reached by Sunday, "all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas" and that "PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER" would be achieved.

Hamas press release:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

Important Statement

Regarding Hamas's Response to the Proposal of U.S. President Trump

Out of concern to stop the aggression and the genocide being inflicted upon our steadfast people in the Gaza Strip, and based on national responsibility and a commitment to the principles, rights, and supreme interests of our people, the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, conducted in-depth consultations within its leadership bodies, extensive consultations with Palestinian forces and factions, as well as discussions with brotherly mediators and friends, in order to reach a responsible position in dealing with the plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

After thorough study, the movement has made its decision and has delivered the following response to the brotherly mediators:

(The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at halting the war on the Gaza Strip, achieving a prisoner exchange, allowing immediate entry of humanitarian aid, rejecting the occupation of the Strip, and opposing the displacement of our Palestinian people from it.

In this context, and in a manner that achieves an end to the war and the full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the movement announces its approval to release all prisoners of the occupation—both living and the bodies of the deceased—according to the exchange formula included in President Trump's proposal, and with the provision of appropriate field conditions for carrying out the exchange process. In this regard, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter into negotiations, through the mediators, to discuss the details.

The movement also reiterates its approval to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body composed of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing.

As for the other issues included in President Trump's proposal that relate to the future of the Gaza Strip and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, these are subject to a comprehensive national position and must be based on relevant international laws and resolutions. These matters shall be discussed within a unified Palestinian national framework, in which Hamas will participate and contribute with full responsibility.)

The Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas

Friday, 11 Rabi’ al-Akhir 1447 AH

Corresponding to: October 3, 2025 AD

Following Hamas's response, President Trump posted on Truth Social, stating, "I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE" and urging Israel to halt its bombardment of Gaza to ensure the safe and swift extraction of hostages. He emphasized that the situation was "far too dangerous" for such an operation while bombing continues.

Trump in video posted to Truth Social later, also thanked Middle Eastern leaders and countries involved in crafting the 20-point peace plan. "We have to get the final word down in concrete," he said.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement confirming Israel's preparation to implement the first stage of the plan. The office stated that Israel is working in full cooperation with the U.S. to end the war in accordance with principles set forth by Israel, which are consistent with Trump's vision.

"In light of Hamas’s response, Israel is preparing to immediately implement the first phase of Trump’s plan for the immediate release of all hostages," the statement said.

The 20-point plan, unveiled by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of 48 Israeli hostages (20 believed alive) within 72 hours, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel in exchange. It also proposes the destruction of Hamas's infrastructure, the establishment of a temporary International Stabilization Force led by Arab partners, and the eventual creation of a reformed Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza.

The plan has been met with mixed reactions; while regional mediators like Egypt and Qatar welcomed Hamas's response as a "positive development" and a potential breakthrough, Netanyahu has reiterated his opposition to a Palestinian state, despite agreeing to the framework.

The conflict began after a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages. Since then, Israeli military operations in Gaza have reportedly killed at least 66,288 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. And the United Nations has declared that Israeli military is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.