Trump Orders Israel to Halt Gaza Bombing After Hamas Partially Accepts Peace ...

In a significant development aimed at ending the nearly two-year-long conflict in Gaza, U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered Israel to cease its bombing campaign after Hamas announced it had accepted parts of a White House-proposed peace plan. The directive from Washington came on Friday, October 3, 2025, following a statement from Hamas indicating its willingness to release all remaining hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks. President Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, declared his belief that Hamas is "ready for a lasting PEACE" and urged an immediate halt to Israeli military operations to ensure the safe recovery of hostages. "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," Trump stated. The move signals a potential, albeit fragile, breakthrough in a war that has devastated the Gaza Strip and seen prolonged diplomatic deadlock.

The American peace initiative, a 20-point proposal unveiled by President Trump alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the week, calls for a comprehensive ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the disarmament of Hamas. In its response, Hamas agreed to release the remaining 48 hostages—of whom around 20 are believed to still be alive—and to hand over governing power in Gaza to an independent body of Palestinian technocrats. However, the group's acceptance is conditional, as it seeks further negotiations on several key aspects of the plan and has not agreed to the demand to disarm. In response to the developments, Prime Minister Netanyahu's office announced that Israel is preparing to implement the "first stage" of the plan, focusing on the return of the hostages, and would work in "full cooperation" with the U.S. president. Despite Trump's call for a ceasefire, some Israeli strikes were still reported in Gaza, highlighting the tenuousness of the situation.

• Background on the Conflict: The war began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,139 deaths and the capture of approximately 200 hostages. The subsequent Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip has, as of October 2025, led to the deaths of over 66,000 Palestinians and the displacement of 90% of Gaza's population, causing widespread destruction of infrastructure. Previous ceasefire attempts in late 2023 and early 2025 collapsed, leading to a resumption of intense fighting.
• Key Elements of the Trump Peace Plan: The 20-point proposal is the result of intense recent negotiations involving the U.S., Israel, and Arab leaders. Its core tenets include an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages within 72 hours of an agreement, and a full Israeli withdrawal from much of Gaza. It also demands that Hamas disarm and relinquish its role in governing Gaza, to be replaced by a transitional authority of Palestinian technocrats under international supervision. The plan further outlines a massive reconstruction effort and shelves previous discussions about relocating Gaza's population.
• Hamas's Conditional Acceptance: While Hamas agreed to release all hostages, both living and deceased, and to cede administrative control, its statement emphasized the need for further talks on other details. Senior Hamas officials have publicly stated that the group will not disarm before a complete end to the Israeli occupation of the enclave. This remains a major point of contention, as the disarmament of Hamas is a primary Israeli demand included in Trump's framework.
• Israel's Official Position: The Israeli government, which had previously accepted Trump's plan, stated it is preparing for the "immediate implementation" of the first phase, centered on the hostage release. A statement from Prime Minister Netanyahu's office affirmed Israel's commitment to ending the war based on its established principles, but did not directly address the potential gaps with Hamas's conditional acceptance. The move puts pressure on Netanyahu, who has been accused by some hostage families of previously obstructing a deal.
• International Reaction and Mediation: Key international mediators, including Qatar and Egypt, have welcomed Hamas's announcement and confirmed the start of discussions to finalize the details. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it was working with the U.S. and Egypt to ensure an end to the war. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed encouragement, urging all parties to seize the opportunity to end the conflict. UN rights chief Volker Turk described the plan as a "vital opportunity" to stop the bloodshed.
• President Trump's Direct Involvement: President Trump has taken a direct and public role in the negotiations, issuing an ultimatum to Hamas with a Sunday deadline to accept the deal or face a severe escalation. Following Hamas's response, he posted their statement in full on social media and followed up with his own video message, calling it a "big day" and a "very special day." His unprecedented public order for Israel to stop its bombing campaign underscores the high level of U.S. pressure being applied to its ally.
• Situation on the Ground: Despite the diplomatic momentum and Trump's call for a halt in fighting, the situation in Gaza remains volatile. Gaza's civil defence agency reported that Israel carried out dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City overnight after the announcement. Al Jazeera reported that at least 20 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes since dawn on Saturday, including two children in a drone strike on a tent in al-Mawasi, an area previously designated a safe zone by the Israeli military.
• Potential Next Steps and Sticking Points: The immediate future hinges on mediated negotiations to bridge the gap between Hamas's conditions and the full terms of the U.S. proposal. The primary sticking points are the disarmament of Hamas and the specifics of a permanent Israeli withdrawal. Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk stated that the plan "cannot be implemented without negotiations." The success of the agreement will depend on whether mediators can work out these critical details to the satisfaction of both sides.