Trump Orders Israel to Stop Gaza Bombing After Hamas Accepts Deal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump ordered Israel to halt its bombing of Gaza after Hamas agreed to parts of his proposed peace plan to end the two-year war. The militant group said it would release all remaining hostages but sought further talks on political terms. The move has drawn international support and renewed hopes for a ceasefire before the war’s second anniversary.
Gaza Peace Push: Quick Looks
- Trump orders immediate halt to Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza.
- Hamas accepts key elements of Trump’s peace plan.
- Hostage release forms first stage of agreement.
- Hamas says full implementation requires broader Palestinian talks.
- Israel signals readiness but maintains its own conditions.
- Global leaders — from Macron to Guterres — welcome the move.
- Trump warns Hamas to finalize deal by Sunday or face “hell.”
- 66,000 Palestinians killed since Israel’s campaign began in 2023.
Trump Orders Israel to Stop Gaza Bombing After Hamas Accepts Deal
Deep Look
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — In a dramatic turn, President Donald Trump on Friday ordered Israel to halt its bombing of Gaza, citing Hamas’ partial acceptance of his peace plan to end nearly two years of war.
The announcement followed a statement by Hamas confirming it was willing to release all remaining hostages and transfer governance of Gaza to other Palestinians, marking its most conciliatory public position since the war began after the October 7, 2023, attacks.
Hamas’ political bureau said the group still had concerns and would consult with other Palestinian factions before finalizing the deal. It also did not agree to fully disarm — a key Israeli demand embedded in Trump’s 20-point peace framework.
“I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!”
Israel Prepares for “First Stage” Implementation
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel was “prepared for immediate implementation” of the first stage of the U.S. plan — the release of hostages. However, it reaffirmed that Israel’s ultimate goal remains “ending the war on its own terms,” without explicitly committing to a ceasefire.
The hostages, believed to number 48, include around 20 still alive, according to Israeli officials. Under the Trump plan, Hamas would release all captives within 72 hours, while Israel would halt its offensive, withdraw from much of Gaza, and allow humanitarian and reconstruction efforts to begin under international oversight.
The plan also proposes an international administration for Gaza, overseen by Trump himself and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair — an idea Hamas officials have publicly resisted.
Global Reactions and Ceasefire Optimism
The U.N., France, Egypt, and Qatar welcomed the development.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties to seize “the opportunity to end the tragic conflict.”
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media, “The release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach!”
The main Israeli Hostages’ Families Forum praised Trump’s demand to pause the war, saying it was “essential to prevent irreversible harm” to the captives and urging Netanyahu to begin “swift negotiations.”
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said it would “continue discussions on the plan,” while Egypt called the development “a vital step toward restoring regional stability.”
Hamas Voices Caution
Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera that the group “cannot implement the plan without further negotiations.” He also noted logistical challenges in releasing all hostages within three days, saying “some may be deceased or missing.”
Another official, Osama Hamdan, said Hamas rejects “foreign administration” of Gaza, describing the proposed U.S.-backed international authority as “unacceptable.”
Hamas’ statement stressed that Gaza’s future must be determined by a “unified Palestinian stance” and that political arrangements should align with international law and Palestinian sovereignty.
War Fatigue and Humanitarian Collapse
The U.N. and humanitarian organizations continue to describe catastrophic conditions inside Gaza. Entire neighborhoods lie in ruins after months of relentless airstrikes, and famine conditions have been reported in Gaza City.
“Families are trapped with no means to move south,” said Olga Cherevko, a U.N. humanitarian official who visited Shifa Hospital this week. “We met pregnant women and disabled residents living in parking lots because they can’t afford to flee.”
More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s offensive began, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry — figures that international monitors consider broadly accurate. Roughly 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced multiple times.
Trump’s Ultimatum
Trump has given Hamas until Sunday evening, 6 p.m. Washington time, to finalize the agreement. Otherwise, he warned, the group would face “all HELL like no one has ever seen before.”
He framed the peace deal as a “last chance for stability” before the war’s second anniversary. “There will be peace in the Middle East one way or another,” Trump said.
His administration views the plan as a chance to reset U.S. diplomacy in the region, with aides describing it as “the most consequential negotiation since Camp David.”
The Road Ahead
While Hamas’ acceptance of key provisions and Trump’s ceasefire order represent major shifts, deep mistrust remains between the parties. Netanyahu’s coalition — one of Israel’s most right-wing in history — faces pressure from hardliners to reject any halt that leaves Hamas intact.
At the same time, hostage families and war-weary Israelis are demanding an end to the conflict.
“We’re fed up with war. We don’t want revenge — we want to live,” said Efrat Machikawa, whose uncle was freed earlier this year. “This is the moment to end it.”
The coming days could determine whether the ceasefire plan marks the start of a fragile peace or yet another failed bid to end one of the century’s bloodiest conflicts.
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