Trump Orders Israel to Halt Gaza Bombing Amid Hamas' Partial Acceptance of Peace Plan

U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed Israel to halt its bombing of the Gaza Strip after Hamas indicated partial acceptance of his peace plan aimed at ending the nearly two-year conflict and securing the release of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack.

Hamas expressed willingness to release the hostages and transfer power to other Palestinian entities but stated that certain aspects of the proposal require further consultation among Palestinian factions. Senior Hamas officials suggested that significant disagreements remain, necessitating additional negotiations.

Israel has not immediately responded to Hamas' statement, as the country observes the Jewish Sabbath. Hamas' response does not fully meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's demands for the group to surrender and disarm.

President Trump welcomed Hamas' response, stating,

"I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE."

He further emphasized the urgency of the situation, writing on social media:

"Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out."

Hamas highlighted that issues concerning the future of the Gaza Strip and Palestinian rights should be determined through a unanimous Palestinian stance, reached in collaboration with other factions and based on international law. The group's statement did not address the disarmament requirement, a key demand in Trump's proposal.

Trump's plan aims to end the fighting and facilitate the return of hostages ahead of the second anniversary of the 2023 attack. While Israel has accepted the plan and it has received international support, mediators Egypt and Qatar have indicated that some elements require further negotiation.

Egypt welcomed Hamas' statement, interpreting it as a sign that Palestinians seek to "end a dark period in the history of the region" and move toward establishing a future state, a concept opposed by Israel.

Earlier, Trump warned that Hamas must agree to the deal by Sunday evening, threatening intensified military action if they do not comply. He stated on social media:

"If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER."

Under the proposed plan, Hamas would immediately release the remaining 48 hostages—approximately 20 of whom are believed to be alive—relinquish power, and disarm. In return, Israel would cease its offensive, withdraw from significant portions of the territory, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and allow humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts. Plans to relocate much of Gaza's population to other countries would be abandoned.

The Gaza Strip, home to about 2 million Palestinians, would be placed under international governance, with Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair overseeing the administration. The plan does not provide a path for eventual reunification with the Israeli-occupied West Bank in a future Palestinian state.

While Palestinians desire an end to the conflict, many perceive this and previous U.S. proposals as heavily favoring Israel.

In media interviews, Hamas officials expressed reservations about the plan. Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official, told Al Jazeera that the proposal "cannot be implemented without negotiations." He noted potential difficulties in releasing all hostages within the proposed 72-hour timeframe, as locating the remains of some captives could take days or weeks. Abu Marzouk also mentioned that Hamas is willing to hand over its weapons to a future Palestinian governing body in Gaza, though this was not included in the official statement.

Another Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, told Al Araby television that Hamas would reject foreign administration of the Gaza Strip and deemed the entry of foreign forces "unacceptable."

Israel has increased pressure on Hamas since ending a previous ceasefire in March, imposing a blockade on food, medicine, and other goods for two and a half months, and conducting military operations that have depopulated large areas. Experts determined that Gaza City had entered famine conditions shortly before Israel launched a major offensive aimed at occupying it. An estimated 400,000 people have fled the city in recent weeks, but hundreds of thousands remain.

Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office, reported seeing several displaced families staying in the parking lot of Shifa Hospital during a recent visit. She noted that many are unable to move south due to financial constraints, including vulnerable individuals such as pregnant women, elderly people, and those with disabilities.

Despite significant losses among its leadership and fighters, Hamas continues to exert influence in areas not controlled by the Israeli military and conducts sporadic attacks. The group has maintained that it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal, terms that Netanyahu has rejected, insisting on Hamas' surrender and disarmament.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which reports that women and children constitute around half of the fatalities. The offensive has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza's population and rendered much of the territory uninhabitable.

Both the Biden and Trump administrations have sought to end the fighting and secure the return of hostages while providing extensive military and diplomatic support to Israel.