Israel’s government and military are making preparations to implement the initial phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza ceasefire plan, following Hamas’ announcement that it is ready to “immediately” begin negotiations for the release of all hostages.
In reaction to Hamas’ statement, Trump posted on social media, expressing his belief that the militant group is “ready for a lasting PEACE” and urged Israel to halt its bombing campaign in Gaza to facilitate the extraction of hostages. According to an Israeli source, the U.S. president’s remarks caught Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu off guard in two different ways.
Meanwhile, hospitals in Gaza report that 20 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes over the past 12 hours. Although Hamas has shown willingness to engage, it has not fully accepted Trump’s proposal, leaving the prospects for a finalized ceasefire agreement still uncertain.