United States President, Donald Trump, has told Israel to stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to release hostages under a United States peace plan, even as Israeli forces pressed ahead with heavy strikes.
Residents in Gaza said tanks shelled Talateeni Street, a key artery in the centre of Gaza City, shortly after Trump’s call, Reuters reports.
Witnesses reported intensified air raids on the Remal neighbourhood, while strikes also hit Khan Younis. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Trump, who has positioned himself as the only leader capable of delivering a breakthrough, said Hamas had shown readiness for peace and placed responsibility on Israel to hold back.
“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office responded that Israel was preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan and stressed Israel “will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which align with President Trump’s vision.”
Israeli media reported that political leaders had instructed the military to scale down attacks, though the army’s chief of staff said only that forces were advancing readiness for Trump’s plan.
Hamas, in a written response seen by Reuters, said it “appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners, (and) the immediate entry of aid.”
The group confirmed its “approval of releasing all occupation prisoners — both living and remains — according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, with the necessary field conditions for implementing the exchange.”
It added: “In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter, through the mediators, into negotiations to discuss the details.”
Hamas also said it was prepared “to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats) based on Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing.”
But the group did not commit to disarmament or to phased Israeli withdrawal.
A senior Hamas official told Al Jazeera that disarmament would not happen before Israel’s occupation ended, underlining gaps between the parties.
The conflict, now in its second year, began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli figures. Israel says 48 hostages remain in Gaza, 20 of them alive.
Gaza’s health authorities report more than 66,000 deaths, most of them civilians, while aid restrictions have left parts of the enclave in famine.
A United Nations Commission of Inquiry and human rights experts have accused Israel of committing genocide, charges Netanyahu’s government rejects, saying it is acting in self-defence.
Qatar said it has started coordinating with Egypt and the U.S. to keep mediation efforts alive.
Trump’s plan calls for a ceasefire, exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, a staged Israeli withdrawal, Hamas disarmament and a transitional administration under international oversight.
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