Trump Urges Israel to Halt Gaza Bombing After Hamas Agree for Peace
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he believes Hamas is prepared for a “lasting peace” and urged Israel to stop its bombing campaign in Gaza. His comments followed a statement by Hamas declaring readiness to release hostages under the framework of his ceasefire plan. This is the first time since his return to office in January that Trump has directly called on Israel to suspend military operations.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Hamas appeared ready for peace and that Israel should halt strikes immediately so that hostages could be released safely. He added that conditions on the ground remain dangerous and discussions on the details of the plan are continuing. Later, in a video message from the Oval Office, Trump praised the statement by Hamas, thanked Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Jordan for mediation, and emphasized that all parties would be treated fairly.
Hamas welcomed Trump’s call as encouraging but criticized aspects of his proposal as vague and lacking detail. The group indicated a willingness to negotiate on the release of hostages and governance arrangements for Gaza, but it did not commit to disarmament, one of the central conditions of Trump’s 20-point program.
Israel has not officially responded to Trump’s remarks. Reports suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was surprised by the U.S. president’s position. Israeli officials argue that Hamas must fully comply with the terms of the peace plan announced earlier in the week. Israel has signaled readiness to move forward with an initial stage focused on hostage release, but views Hamas’s response as incomplete.
Trump’s plan includes a ceasefire, phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, transitional international oversight, and eventual disarmament of Hamas. He gave Hamas until Sunday evening to respond, warning of consequences if the group did not accept the terms.
Reactions from the international community have been cautious but generally supportive of renewed talks. Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey welcomed Hamas’s readiness to engage, while European leaders and the United Nations called on both sides to seize the chance for de-escalation. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains severe, with heavy displacement and damage to infrastructure. Observers note that although the development opens the door to diplomacy, challenges over security guarantees, hostage release, and disarmament remain unresolved.
✍️ This article is written by the team of The Defense News.