Trump asks Israel to cease bombing Gaza, saying Hamas is prepared for peace

President Donald Trump advised Israel on Friday to right away cease bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to launch hostages and another phrases in a U.S. plan to finish the struggle, however vexing points like disarmament appeared unresolved.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace stated that Israel was getting ready for an “rapid implementation” of the primary stage of Trump’s Gaza plan for the discharge of Israeli hostages following Hamas’ response.

The Palestinian militant group on Friday issued its response to Trump’s 20-point plan after the U.S. president gave Hamas till Sunday to just accept or face grave penalties.

Trump, who has forged himself as the one individual able to reaching peace in Gaza, has invested vital political capital in efforts to finish a two-year-old struggle that has killed tens of 1000’s and left U.S. ally Israel more and more remoted on the world stage.

Trump stated he believed Hamas had confirmed it was “prepared for an enduring PEACE” and he put the onus on Netanyahu’s authorities.

“Israel should instantly cease the bombing of Gaza, in order that we are able to get the Hostages out safely and shortly!” Trump wrote on his Fact Social platform.
“We’re already in discussions on particulars to be labored out. This isn’t about Gaza alone, that is about lengthy sought PEACE within the Center East.”

Netanyahu’s workplace stated Israel “will proceed to work in full cooperation with the President and his crew to finish the struggle in accordance with the ideas set out by Israel, which align with President Trump’s imaginative and prescient.”

In line with residents, Israeli tanks bombarded Talateeni Avenue, a serious artery within the coronary heart of Gaza Metropolis, after Trump’s message to Israel to cease.

Witnesses stated Israeli navy planes additionally intensified bombing in Gaza Metropolis within the hour after Hamas issued its assertion, hitting a number of homes within the Remal neighborhood.

There have been additionally strikes on Khan Younis however no experiences of casualties, residents stated.

Israel, which backs Trump’s proposal, has not but commented on the Hamas response or on Trump’s demand for an finish to bombing in Gaza.

However Israel’s parliamentary opposition chief Yair Lapid urged Netanyahu to maneuver ahead with the plan. In a submit on X he stated: “Israel ought to announce it’s becoming a member of the discussions led by the president to finalize the main points of the deal.”

Households of these being held by Hamas in Gaza referred to as on Netanyahu “to right away order negotiations for the return of all hostages.”

Domestically, the prime minister is caught between rising stress to finish the struggle — from hostage households and a war-weary public — and calls for from hardline members of his far-right coalition who insist there have to be no let-up in Israel’s marketing campaign in Gaza.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who spearheaded efforts for wider recognition of a Palestinian state in a bid to assist finish the battle, stated in a submit on X: “Hamas’ dedication have to be adopted up at once.”

Israel started its offensive in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel through which some 1,200 folks have been killed and 251 taken as hostages again to Gaza, in line with Israeli tallies. Israel says 48 hostages stay, 20 of whom are alive.

Israel’s navy marketing campaign has killed greater than 66,000 folks in Gaza, most of them civilians, in line with Gaza well being authorities. Its assault has destroyed a lot of the strip whereas assist restrictions have triggered a famine in components of Gaza, with situations dire throughout the enclave.

A U.N. Fee of Inquiry and a number of human rights consultants have concluded that Israel has dedicated genocide in Gaza. Netanyahu’s authorities says it has acted in self-defense.

Hamas, in a replica of its response seen by Reuters, didn’t say if it could comply with disarm and demilitarize Gaza — one thing Israel and the U.S. need however Hamas has rejected earlier than.

It additionally didn’t comply with an Israeli withdrawal in phases, versus the rapid, full withdrawal Hamas calls for.

A senior Hamas official advised Al Jazeera that the group wouldn’t disarm earlier than Israel’s occupation of the enclave ends, feedback that underscored the hole between the events because the struggle approaches its two-year mark.

Qatar has begun coordination with mediator Egypt and the USA to proceed talks on Trump’s Gaza plan, the Qatari international ministry spokesperson stated on X.

Trump’s plan specifies a direct ceasefire, an change of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and the introduction of a transitional authorities led by a world physique.

In its response to Trump’s plan, Hamas stated it “appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and worldwide efforts, in addition to the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump, calling for an finish to the struggle on the Gaza Strip, the change of prisoners, (and) the rapid entry of assist,” amongst different phrases.

It stated it was saying its “approval of releasing all occupation prisoners — each dwelling and stays — in line with the change formulation contained in President Trump’s proposal, with the mandatory area situations for implementing the change.”

However Hamas added: “On this context, the motion affirms its readiness to right away enter, by means of the mediators, into negotiations to debate the main points.”

The group stated it was prepared “handy over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian physique of independents (technocrats) based mostly on Palestinian nationwide consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing.”

However Hamas didn’t clarify whether or not it could comply with Trump’s proposal that or not it’s barred from exercising political energy in Gaza. However the group stated it must be “included and can contribute” to any Palestinian nationwide dialogue on Gaza’s future.

Hamas has beforehand provided to launch all hostages and handy over administration of the Gaza Strip to a distinct physique.

Earlier on Friday, Trump warned that “all HELL” would escape in Gaza if Hamas did not comply with his proposal for the enclave by Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.

Hamas was not concerned within the negotiations that led to the proposal.