President Donald Trump has made a bold demand: Israel must stop the bombing of Gaza. This comes after Hamas reacted positively to his peace proposal, which includes their agreement to release all hostages and relinquish power, albeit without a commitment to disarm.
In a direct statement on social media, Trump declared, “Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. 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.” This clarity emphasizes that the negotiations are not merely about Gaza but about achieving enduring peace in the Middle East.
Earlier in the day, Trump issued Hamas an ultimatum: they had 48 hours to accept his proposal, which was detailed during a joint statement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
Hamas responded through mediators with a message indicating they are willing to end the conflict, provided that Israel withdraws its forces from Gaza. They pledged to release all Israeli captives, both living and deceased, according to the terms outlined by Trump.
“In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter into negotiations to discuss the details of this agreement,” Hamas stated, also expressing a desire to transfer governance of Gaza to an impartial group of Palestinian technocrats.
However, it’s crucial to note that Hamas failed to commit to disarmament—a significant Israeli condition. The absence of this pledge raises serious questions about their intentions.
As of now, Israel has refrained from issuing a response; with Friday evening marking the Jewish Sabbath, many government operations are paused. Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to provide clarity later this weekend.
