After US President Donald Trump proposed a peace plan to resolve the conflict in Gaza, Hamas responded on Friday saying that they have accepted certain parts of the plan.
Hamas told Trump that they are agreeing to give up power and release all remaining hostages, but the group said that other elements require further consultations among Palestinians, reported AP. This comes days after Trump’s peace plan was accepted by Israel after it was unveiled alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
IDF to halt operations to occupy Gaza City: The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) on Saturday said in a statement that they will shift their defensive operation to only the Gaza Strip, and the operations to halt the Gaza City will halt, reported Reuters.
This comes shortly after Donald Trump, on social media, urged Israel to stop bombing Gaza immediately in an effort to get the hostages out. Latest ceasefire effort is widely welcomed Trump appears keen to deliver on pledges to end the war and return dozens of hostages ahead of the second anniversary of the attack on Tuesday.
UN rights chief Volker Turk has described Trump’s Gaza plan as a “vital opportunity” to end the ongoing bloodshed in the Palestinian territory. Speaking via X, Turk emphasised that the plan could “pave the way for a permanent cessation of hostilities, followed by recovery and reconstruction.”
He urged that any resolution be carried out in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian laws and support the long-sought two-state solution.
Turk added that the initiative offers “a vital opportunity for all parties and influential states to pursue in good faith and stop — once and for all — the carnage and the suffering in Gaza, to flood the strip with humanitarian aid, and to ensure the release of the hostages and numerous detained Palestinians.”
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement on X that the World Health Organization welcomed President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the Gaza war.
“WHO welcomes the peace plan for #Gaza proposed by @POTUS and supported by other countries for an immediate end to the war, the release of all hostages, the resumption of humanitarian aid, reconstruction, including of hospitals, peaceful and prosperous coexistence for Palestinians and Israelis. The best medicine is peace,” Tedros said.
The IDF posted on X, “The Chief of the General Staff convened a special situation assessment in light of recent developments. In accordance with the directives from the political echelon, the Chief of the General Staff instructed to advance readiness for the implementation of the first phase of the Trump plan for the release of the hostages.
At the same time, it was emphasized that the safety of IDF troops is a top priority and that all IDF capabilities will be allocated to the Southern Command to ensure the protection of the troops.
The Chief of Staff noted that, given the operational sensitivity, all troops must maintain high alertness and vigilance, in addition to reinforcing the need for a rapid response to neutralize any threat.”
Trump orders Israel to stop bombing Gaza
Donald Trump on Friday 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 the remaining hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
Hamas said it was willing to release the hostages and hand over power to other Palestinians, but that other aspects of the plan require further consultations among Palestinians. Senior Hamas officials suggested there were still major disagreements that required further (AP).
Israel says it is preparing to implement ‘first stage’ of Trump’ plan
Israeli Prime Minister Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is preparing to implement the “first stage” of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza.
A statement from the prime minister’s office Saturday said Israel would work “in full cooperation” with Trump to end the war in accordance with its principles.