US President Donald Trump has called for an immediate halt to Israeli airstrikes on Gaza following Hamas’ agreement to release hostages and accept parts of a US plan aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. However, significant issues, particularly disarmament, remain unresolved.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced preparations to initiate the first phase of Trump’s plan, focusing on the release of Israeli hostages in response to Hamas’ agreement. Hamas reacted to Trump’s 20-point proposal after he set a deadline for their acceptance, threatening consequences if they failed to comply by Sunday.
Trump portrayed himself as a peacemaker, stating that he is committed to resolving the two-year conflict that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and left Israel increasingly isolated on the global stage. He expressed confidence that Hamas is open to achieving lasting peace and urged Netanyahu to take decisive action. On his Truth Social platform, he emphasized, “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly! This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought peace in the Middle East.”
Despite Trump’s entreaty, Israeli forces continued their strikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis, reporting no immediate casualties. Netanyahu has not yet addressed either Hamas’s response or Trump’s demand, while opposition leader Yair Lapid has urged the Israeli government to engage in negotiations. Families of the hostages have also called for immediate talks.
French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the importance of following up on Hamas’ commitments without any delay. The ongoing conflict escalated significantly following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages. Current reports indicate that there are still 48 hostages in captivity, 20 of whom are alive.
Gaza health officials report over 66,000 deaths, primarily among civilians, and the extensive destruction has created dire famine conditions in certain areas. A UN commission and human rights experts have suggested that Israel may be committing genocide, whereas the Netanyahu government maintains that its military actions are acts of self-defense.
Hamas has not confirmed whether it will disarm or permit a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, asserting that disarmament will not occur until Israel ends its occupation. Diplomatic mediation continues, involving Qatar, Egypt, and the US.
Trump’s plan proposes a ceasefire, the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, a staged withdrawal of Israeli forces, Hamas disarmament, and a transitional government led by international actors. While Hamas has shown a willingness to negotiate and release prisoners, the group has not clearly agreed to limitations on its political influence in Gaza.
Trump warned that a failure to accept the proposal by Sunday evening could lead to severe unrest in Gaza, adding that Hamas was not part of the drafting process for the plan.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/world/trump-urges-israel-to-halt-gaza-bombings-after-hamas-hostage-deal.html
Category: Top News,World,Donald Trump,Gaza,Hamas,Israel
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Publish Date: 2025-10-04 10:10:00
