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

President Donald Trump instructed 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 warfare, however vexing points like disarmament appeared unresolved.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned that Israel was making ready for an “quick 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 simply accept or face grave penalties.

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

Trump mentioned he believed Hamas had confirmed it was “prepared for a long-lasting 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 rapidly!” Trump wrote on his Reality 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 mentioned Israel “will proceed to work in full cooperation with the President and his group to finish the warfare in accordance with the rules set out by Israel, which align with President Trump’s imaginative and prescient.”

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

Witnesses mentioned 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 studies of casualties, residents mentioned.

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 put up on X he mentioned: “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 known as on Netanyahu “to right away order negotiations for the return of all hostages.”

Domestically, the prime minister is caught between rising strain to finish the warfare — from hostage households and a war-weary public — and calls for from hardline members of his far-right coalition who insist there should 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, mentioned in a put up on X: “Hamas’ dedication should be adopted up immediately.”

Israel started its offensive in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel by which some 1,200 individuals 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 individuals in Gaza, most of them civilians, in line with Gaza well being authorities. Its assault has destroyed a lot of the strip whereas help restrictions have triggered a famine in elements 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 duplicate of its response seen by Reuters, didn’t say if it might conform to disarm and demilitarize Gaza — one thing Israel and the U.S. need however Hamas has rejected earlier than.

It additionally didn’t conform to an Israeli withdrawal in levels, versus the quick, full withdrawal Hamas calls for.

A senior Hamas official instructed 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 warfare 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 overseas ministry spokesperson mentioned on X.

Trump’s plan specifies a right away ceasefire, an alternate 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 mentioned 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 warfare on the Gaza Strip, the alternate of prisoners, (and) the quick entry of help,” amongst different phrases.

It mentioned it was asserting its “approval of releasing all occupation prisoners — each residing and stays — in line with the alternate formulation contained in President Trump’s proposal, with the mandatory subject situations for implementing the alternate.”

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

The group mentioned 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 might conform to Trump’s proposal that it’s barred from exercising political energy in Gaza. However the group mentioned it needs to be “included and can contribute” to any Palestinian nationwide dialogue on Gaza’s future.

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

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

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