Trump urges an immediate halt to Gaza bombardment
In a provocative turn amid rising tensions, US President Donald Trump called on Israel to stop the bombing of the Gaza Strip at once. He argued that halting military operations would pave the way to secure and expedite the release of hostages. The remarks, posted on Truth Social, framed the request not merely as a tactical pause but as a prerequisite for achieving broader regional peace.
“Israel must immediately end the bombardment of Gaza, so we can safely and quickly free the hostages!” Trump wrote, reiterating that the situation is about more than Gaza itself, but about a long-awaited peace in the Middle East. He welcomed what he described as Hamas’s readiness to release all hostages and suggested that discussions over the plan’s details were already underway. The tone underscored a bid to reframe the conflict as part of a larger, diplomatic settlement rather than a continuing cycle of violence.
Hamas response and the conditions it attached
Hamas responded to the Trump plan with conditions tied to the exchange of captives. The group said it was prepared to release hostages contingent on the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and on-site guarantees for the exchange. The details, however, were not elaborated. A Hamas official also indicated that disarming the group would come only after the end of Israeli occupation, signaling that a unilateral disarmament concession would not be forthcoming. While the stance suggested openness to negotiation, it did not amount to an unconditional endorsement of Trump’s initiative.
Additionally, Hamas conveyed that it had communicated its replies to intermediary states and sought to push the negotiations into concrete, granular discussions. Observers noted that Hamas could seek changes to the plan, a possibility that would complicate the administration’s hopes for a clean, rapid agreement.
What the Trump plan entails at a glance
The plan proposed by Trump includes a rapid hostage release procedure: all 48 hostages held by Hamas could be moved out of Gaza within 72 hours. Following the hostage dimension, Israel would release around 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life terms and approximately 1,700 detainees arrested after October 7, 2023. The framework envisions a transitional phase in which Gaza would be governed by a technocrat-led administration under the oversight of an international body, with the future trajectory of the territory to be settled within a single Palestinian framework.
Crucially, the plan emphasizes unity and a shared Palestinian approach, insisting that Hamas be part of any sustained governance discussion. The unidentified mediator states would play a central role in facilitating negotiations, while the ultimate status of the Gaza Strip would be resolved in a way that seeks durable peace rather than a temporary offset to the conflict.
Regional dynamics and likely reactions
In Washington, the plan was presented at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reportedly expressed agreement with the broad strokes of the proposal. Israel’s response and the feasibility of rapid hostage exchanges remain a focal point for international observers. The Israeli side has signaled a readiness to proceed with an agreement only under conditions that align with their security concerns and political calculus, including how Hamas would be treated post-conflict and how the transition would be monitored.
Regional actors—Egypt, Jordan, and Gulf states—have long served as backchannels for diplomacy in Gaza. A plan that links a hostage deal with a transition governance framework could renew diplomatic traffic, but it would also face scrutiny over enforcement, trust-building measures, and guarantees for civilian protections. The looming question is whether the plan can withstand demands for changes from Hamas and whether Israeli assurances on security can be sustained through a transition period.
What to watch next
Key variables include the timeline of hostage handovers, the precise conditions attached to prisoner releases, and the governance mechanism envisioned for Gaza after the war. The feasibility of a transitional technocratic government under international oversight will test the commitments of all sides and could serve as the most delicate fulcrum of the plan. As pressure mounts, analysts will monitor whether a genuine pause in bombardment emerges or if hostilities resume, complicating any prospect of lasting peace in the region.
Bottom line
The exchange of hostages, prisoner releases, and a transitional governance framework lie at the heart of Trump’s peace offer. While Hamas indicates willingness to engage, it conditions any agreement on the pace of Israeli withdrawal and the terms of governance in Gaza. The coming days will determine whether a negotiated pause can translate into a durable peace settlement—or a continuation of conflict under new terms.
