Trump Says Hamas Ready for Peace, Urges Israel to Halt Gaza Bombing

ISLAMABAD: Former US President Donald Trump on Saturday declared that Hamas is “ready for a lasting peace” and called on Israel to immediately stop its bombing campaign in Gaza following the group’s partial acceptance of his 20-point plan to end the war. His remarks, posted on Truth Social, came shortly after Hamas issued a formal response to Trump’s ultimatum, expressing willingness to negotiate while leaving key issues unresolved, including disarmament and Israeli military withdrawal.

In a video address later released by the White House, Trump hailed the development as a “historic day” and thanked mediators for supporting the peace initiative. He emphasized that the moment presented a rare opportunity to end a conflict that has devastated Gaza since the war began in October 2023. Trump added that securing the safe return of hostages should now be the priority.

The Israeli government responded cautiously but signaled readiness to begin implementing the first stage of Trump’s plan, which includes the release of hostages. Israeli media reported that the military had been instructed to scale down its offensive operations. However, airstrikes and shelling reportedly continued in parts of Gaza, including Gaza City’s Talateeni Street and the Remal neighborhood in Khan Younis.

Read more: Trump’s Peace Plan and Hamas’s Conditional Consent: A New Turn on Palestine’s Political Horizon

Trump’s proposed roadmap includes an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, a phased Israeli withdrawal, the disarmament of Hamas, and the establishment of a transitional governance structure under international oversight. Hamas has agreed to release all hostages, both living and deceased, and to hand over administrative control of Gaza to a technocratic Palestinian body supported by Arab and Islamic countries. However, the group has rejected calls for disarmament and foreign-led governance, particularly any role for former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

A senior Hamas official told Al Jazeera that disarmament was not possible until Israel ends its occupation and withdraws fully from Gaza. The group’s response also stopped short of clarifying whether it would give up political control, instead advocating for a national Palestinian consensus to decide Gaza’s future.

Qatar announced it had begun coordinating with Egypt and the US to advance the negotiations, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the development and urged all parties to seize the opportunity for peace.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. According to local health authorities, more than 66,000 people—mostly women and children—have been killed in Israel’s offensive since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages. Aid restrictions have intensified the crisis, with UN investigators accusing Israel of genocide, a charge the Israeli government strongly denies, insisting its actions are in self-defense.