Israel prepares to scale back Gaza strikes after Hamas take first steps toward Trump’s peace plan

Hamas said it was ready to release the hostages and allow other Palestinian groups to take over governing Gaza. However, it added that some parts of the plan still needed more discussion among Palestinian leaders.

Israel’s leaders have told the army to slow down its attacks in Gaza as the country prepares to begin the first step of U.S. President Donald Trump’s new Gaza peace plan. The move came after Hamas said it was ready to accept parts of Trump’s proposal. In a statement on Saturday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said the country would work closely with Trump to end the fighting according to the plan’s guidelines, according to the Associated Press.

A day earlier, President Trump had asked Israel to stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to some parts of the deal aimed at ending the nearly two-year-long war and freeing the hostages still held since the October 7, 2023, attack.

Hamas said it was ready to release the hostages and allow other Palestinian groups to take over governing Gaza. However, it added that some parts of the plan still needed more discussion among Palestinian leaders. Hamas officials also said there were still major differences that would need more talks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that Israel was preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages following Hamas’ response.

Trump welcomed Hamas’s response, saying he believed they were ready for lasting peace.

“Israel must stop the bombing in Gaza right away so that we can safely rescue the hostages. It’s too dangerous to do that right now,” Trump said on social media, adding that talks on the details were already underway.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Friday released its response to Trump’s 20-point peace plan, after Trump gave the group until Sunday to accept the proposal or face serious consequences.

Trump, who has described himself as the only leader capable of bringing peace to Gaza, has poured major political effort into ending the two-year-long conflict that has killed tens of thousands and left U.S. ally Israel increasingly isolated internationally.