Trump orders Israel to halt Gaza strikes after Hamas signals partial acceptance of peace plan

Washington (Web Desk): US President Donald Trump has directed Israel to halt airstrikes on Gaza after Hamas announced it was willing to accept parts of his proposed peace plan and expressed readiness to release the remaining hostages taken during the October 7 attacks.

Hamas issued a statement declaring its preparedness to enter talks on specific aspects of the plan while agreeing in principle to free the captives.

In response, Trump wrote on social media Friday night that he believed Hamas was prepared for a lasting peace.

A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released early Saturday confirmed that Israel was moving ahead with the initial stage of Trump’s plan, beginning with the immediate release of hostages.

The statement said Israel would continue to work in close coordination with the American president and his team to conclude the war in a manner consistent with Israel’s principles, which were aligned with Trump’s vision.

In a video message posted to Truth Social, Trump described Friday as a very special day but emphasized that significant details still required resolution. He added that he looked forward to seeing the hostages return to their families.

The message issued by Hamas, however, was less clear on the hostage question.

It stated that hostages would be freed according to the exchange formula outlined in Trump’s proposal and as conditions in the field allowed, without explaining what those conditions were or setting out a timetable for the process.

Hamas further declared its agreement to transfer the administration of Gaza to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats, supported by Palestinian consensus as well as Arab and Islamic backing.

The group did not, however, address the part of the American plan that called for it to disarm, a central demand of Israel.

Hamas’s statement came only hours after Trump published a 300-word post setting a Sunday deadline for the group to accept the cease-fire proposal he unveiled on Monday.

According to casualty figures most often reported by international organizations and humanitarian agencies, and supported by multiple independent studies, Israeli forces have killed more than 66,000 Palestinians—most of them women and children—since the war began in October 2023.