Trump Orders Israel to Stop Bombing Gaza as Hamas OKs Partial Peace Plan

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered Israel to stop bombing the Gaza Strip after Hamas said it had accepted some elements of his plan to end the nearly two-year war and return all remaining hostages taken in the October 7, 2023, attack, Wafaa Shurafa, Bassem Mroue, and Joseph Krauss reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Hamas said issues concerning the future of the Gaza Strip and Palestinian rights should be decided through a “unanimous Palestinian stance” reached with other factions and grounded in international law. (Photo: Mark Hrkac Wikimedia Commons)

Hamas said it was willing to release the hostages and hand over power to other Palestinians, but that other aspects of the plan required further consultation among Palestinian factions.

Senior Hamas officials suggested there were still major disagreements that would need more negotiations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was prepared to implement the “first stage” of Trump’s plan, apparently referring to the release of hostages.

His office said Israel remained committed to ending the war based on principles it had previously outlined.

Hamas said issues concerning the future of the Gaza Strip and Palestinian rights should be decided through a “unanimous Palestinian stance” reached with other factions and grounded in international law.

The Israeli statement made no mention of Hamas disarming — a key Israeli demand included in Trump’s proposal.

Key mediators Egypt and Qatar welcomed the latest developments. Majed Al Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, said they would “continue discussions on the plan.”