Trump Urges Hamas to Expedite Gaza Peace Plan Amid Reduced Israeli Strikes

President Trump has welcomed a noticeable decrease in Israeli military operations in Gaza, coinciding with U.S. negotiators' efforts in Cairo to broker an end to the two-year conflict. In a social media post on Saturday, Trump urged Hamas to "move quickly" to capitalize on the current lull, emphasizing that he would "not tolerate delay" and cautioning that without prompt action, "all bets will be off."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope that Hamas would return all remaining hostages by October 13, aligning with the conclusion of an upcoming Jewish holiday. A hospital official in Gaza City reported a significant reduction in Israeli airstrikes, though at least five Palestinian fatalities were recorded, and three airstrikes occurred overnight into Saturday.

Earlier this week, the White House introduced a 20-point peace plan, which Hamas has partially accepted. A key provision requires the immediate release of all remaining hostages within three days of the plan's implementation. Following Hamas' agreement to this term, Trump stated on Friday that Israel "must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza" to facilitate the hostage release.

Facing increasing international and domestic pressure, Netanyahu issued a rare late-night statement on Friday, acknowledging a commitment to end the war in accordance with Trump's plan. Israeli leaders have instructed the military to minimize activity in Gaza, focusing solely on defensive actions. This operational pause aims to allow Hamas to locate the 48 remaining hostages, with fewer than half believed to be alive.

U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff is set to travel to Egypt to lead the American negotiating team, accompanied by Trump's son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner. Discussions are expected to address the positioning of Israeli forces during a phased withdrawal from Gaza, humanitarian aid, and the scope of a prisoner exchange involving Palestinians held in Israeli detention in exchange for the hostages still in Gaza.

Hamas has indicated that successful negotiations will require approval from other Palestinian factions, including Islamic Jihad, which recently endorsed Hamas' acceptance of Trump's plan. Protests demanding an end to the war have erupted across Europe, as Gaza's Health Ministry reports a Palestinian death toll exceeding 67,000 since the conflict began.

Israel's main opposition leader, Yair Lapid, expressed support for Trump's proposal and the Israeli government's implementation of it. A group representing the families of some hostages stated that the chances of their loved ones returning "has never been closer."

Note: This summary is based on information available as of October 5, 2025.