‎Trump Orders Halt to Gaza Bombing as Hamas Considers Hostage Deal Under U.S. Peace Plan

‎U.S. President Donald Trump has called for an immediate halt to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following Hamas’ partial endorsement of elements in his recently proposed plan to end the nearly two-year conflict. The proposal, aimed at securing the release of remaining hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks, outlines a roadmap for ceasefire, reconstruction, and political transition in the Gaza Strip.

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‎Trump urges Israel to stop bombing Gaza after Hamas signals partial acceptance of U.S. peace plan tied to hostage release and ceasefire talks.

‎Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images

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‎Hamas confirmed its willingness to release the hostages and transfer authority to other Palestinian entities. However, senior leaders stated that several key elements still require further consultations with other Palestinian factions. Points of disagreement remain, particularly regarding governance and security arrangements in Gaza post-conflict.

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‎Israel has not officially responded to Hamas’ statement, as much of the country remains closed for the Jewish Sabbath. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously insisted on Hamas' full surrender and disarmament—conditions not addressed in Hamas’ latest statement.

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‎Trump, reacting to Hamas’ signal of engagement, posted on social media: “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that.” He described the moment as a potential turning point and indicated that discussions on the plan’s specifics were already underway.

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‎The proposed U.S. plan calls for the immediate release of the remaining 48 hostages—around 20 believed to be alive—along with Hamas relinquishing power and disarming. In exchange, Israel would pause its military offensive, withdraw from large parts of Gaza, release hundreds of Palestinian detainees, and allow humanitarian aid and reconstruction to begin. Provisions to relocate Gaza’s population would be canceled, and the territory would be placed under international administration led by Trump and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.

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‎Key regional mediators, including Egypt and Qatar, have expressed cautious optimism. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry confirmed ongoing discussions, and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged all sides to capitalize on the opportunity to end the conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron also echoed support, calling the release of hostages and a ceasefire "within reach."

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‎Despite initial steps, Hamas officials voiced concern over aspects of the plan. Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas figure, stated on Al Jazeera that full implementation would require negotiation and time, especially regarding the release of hostages. Locating the remains of some captives could take days or even weeks, making the proposed 72-hour timeline difficult.

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‎In separate comments, Osama Hamdan, another senior Hamas official, rejected the concept of foreign control over Gaza, saying the entry of international forces would not be accepted. The official Hamas statement did not mention disarmament but reaffirmed openness to transferring power to an independent Palestinian authority.

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‎As international diplomatic efforts intensify, pressure on Hamas has increased. Since March, Israel has tightened restrictions on Gaza, cutting access to essential goods and launching expanded military operations. Large swaths of Gaza have been evacuated or destroyed, and humanitarian conditions have worsened significantly.

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‎The U.N. and aid organizations have reported signs of famine in Gaza City. U.N. humanitarian spokesperson Olga Cherevko described seeing families sheltering in hospital parking lots due to lack of resources and safe transit options. Displaced residents face compounded risks, with limited access to food, medicine, and shelter.

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‎More than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government. Independent experts and U.N. agencies widely consider its casualty data the most consistent available. The ministry reports that women and children represent about half of the dead. The war has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza's 2 million residents.

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‎The U.S. peace initiative follows repeated efforts by both the Biden and Trump administrations to bring an end to the hostilities and secure the return of hostages, while continuing military and diplomatic support for Israel. Trump has warned that failure to accept the agreement by Sunday evening would lead to intensified military action, stating: “If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas.”

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‎The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an assault on Israeli territory, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251, mostly civilians. Since then, periodic ceasefires have led to the release of most hostages, but dozens remain captive.