WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has urged Israel to “immediately stop bombing Gaza” after Hamas announced it was ready to enter negotiations on his 20-point ceasefire plan.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the development was “unprecedented”. Trump said he believed Hamas was “ready for a lasting PEACE” and that halting Israeli airstrikes was critical to securing the release of hostages. “Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out,” he wrote.
In a follow-up video, the president called the development “a big day,” but cautioned that it was important “to get the final word down in concrete.”
Hamas Signals Readiness for Negotiations
Hamas confirmed it was prepared to immediately begin talks, through mediators, on the release of hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks. The group also said it was willing to transfer governance of Gaza to a “Palestinian authority of independents (technocrats)” supported by Arab and Islamic countries.
While stopping short of unconditional acceptance, Hamas’ response marked a potential breakthrough after months of failed efforts to end the war. The announcement was relayed to Washington through mediators and obtained by CNN.
Trump had given Hamas until Sunday evening to respond to his proposal, warning that “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out” if they disagreed.
Key Demands and Red Lines
Two central conditions in Trump’s plan — the release of the remaining 48 hostages within 72 hours and Hamas relinquishing control of Gaza — had been widely seen as red lines. But Hamas’s willingness to discuss both points opened a potential pathway towards a ceasefire.
Still, Hamas avoided addressing disarmament, another cornerstone of the Trump plan that it has consistently rejected. The group also dismissed the proposed “Board of Peace,” an international oversight body to be chaired by Trump himself, as part of the governance arrangement.
The militant group instead said outstanding issues tied to Gaza’s future and Palestinian rights would be discussed later, and insisted it would remain part of a “comprehensive national Palestinian framework.”
Glenn Carle, a former US intelligence officer, told Al Jazeera that both parties in the conflict are seeing Trump’s plan for Gaza as a “way out” of the fighting that also allows “a lot of wiggle room” to interpret details to their advantage.
“There has been an impasse from both sides,” Carle said, adding that the comments by all sides on the ceasefire plan “give them outs and leeway to continue doing what they want to do”.
“So I think it is a success in the making in that it will stop the fighting – that’s progress. And it will ease the situation for the Palestinians. But both sides have given themselves a lot of wiggle room, as you read their statements,” Carle said.
“Hamas is in a tight spot. It really has no way forward except to release the hostages. It is doing so to take some of the pressure off and survive,” he said.
“There is a recognition that the White House is pressuring Netanyahu and Hamas is in a difficult circumstance, and so it is in each side’s interest – at least in the narrow sense – to stop the fighting for now,” he added.
Mediators and Regional Reactions
Mediators Egypt and Qatar hailed Hamas’ reply as a “positive development.” Egypt’s foreign ministry said it hoped the momentum would “elevate all parties to the level of responsibility” and help implement Trump’s plan on the ground. Qatar added that it had already begun coordinating with Cairo and Washington to move discussions forward.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid described the moment as an “unprecedented opportunity” to end the conflict and free hostages. He urged the Netanyahu government to join talks and pledged to provide political backing to support a deal.
International observers, however, warned that bridging the remaining gaps — especially on security arrangements and governance — would be challenging in the short timeline set by Trump.
Trump’s 20-Point Plan
Announced at the White House earlier this week alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump’s 20-point plan calls for the dismantling of all Hamas infrastructure, with independent monitors ensuring it cannot be rebuilt.
It proposes that Israel release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained since the war began in exchange for the hostages. Hamas members could be granted amnesty if they disarm and commit to peaceful coexistence.
Under the framework, Israel would gradually withdraw as an Arab-led International Stabilisation Force assumes control. Gaza would then be run by a Palestinian committee under international oversight until a reformed Palestinian Authority is prepared to take over.
Trump said the plan was designed to present a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” while guaranteeing security for Israel.
