Illustrative image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was ordered to halt its offensive to capture Gaza City on October 4, after United States President Donald Trump announced that his peace plan for the Strip was accepted by Hamas.
Trump said late on October 3 that Hamas was “ready for a lasting PEACE” in the Strip after receiving the group’s positive response.
“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The peace plan, announced by Trump on September 29, demands an immediate ceasefire, hostage release within 72 hours, and Hamas’s disarmament, with Israel withdrawing on several stages and Palestinian technocrats taking over under international oversight for up to five years.
Hamas’ response welcomed parts of the plan, while hinting at resistance to other sections and saying further negotiations were needed to finalize details of the hostage exchange.
“In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
In an effort to halt the aggression and war of extermination being waged against our steadfast people in the Gaza Strip, and based on national responsibility and concern for the fundamentals, rights, and supreme interests of our people, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has held in-depth consultations within its leadership institutions, extensive consultations with Palestinian forces and factions, and consultations with mediators and friends to reach a responsible position in dealing with US President Donald Trump’s plan.
After a thorough study, the movement made its decision and submitted the following response to the mediating brothers:
The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of US President Donald Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, an exchange of prisoners, the immediate entry of aid, the rejection of the occupation of the Gaza Strip, and the displacement of our Palestinian people from it.
In this context, and in order to achieve a cessation of hostilities and a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the movement announces its agreement to release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, provided the field conditions for the exchange are met. In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter into negotiations through the mediators to discuss the details of this agreement.
The movement also renews its agreement to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support.
The other issues mentioned in President Trump’s proposal regarding the future of the Gaza Strip and the inherent rights of the Palestinian people are linked to a comprehensive national position and based on relevant international laws and resolutions. They are to be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework. Hamas will be part of it and will contribute to it with full responsibility,” the letter Trump received from Hamas reads.
According to Channel 12, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and those around him saw this as “a negative response,” but they are going along with Trump’s efforts “because they see no other option.”
A statement released by the premier’s office overnight said that Israel is “prepared for the immediate implementation of the first stage of Trump’s plan for the immediate release of all the hostages.”
“We will continue to work in full cooperation with the president and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles laid out by Israel, which correspond with Trump’s vision for ending the war,” reads the statement.
Later, the IDF said in a statement that “per the orders of the political echelon,” Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir instructed troops to gear up “for the implementation of the first stage of Trump’s plans to free the hostages.”
The statement appeared to confirm that the IDF was ordered to carry out only defensive operations and halt its operation to take over Gaza City.
“The chief of staff emphasized that in light of the operational sensitivity, forces must demonstrate increased readiness and awareness. Likewise, the need for a quick response to remove any threat was clarified,” the statement added.
In a separate statement released afterwards, the IDF warned Palestinians against approaching troops in all parts of Gaza or returning to Gaza City.
“IDF troops are still encircling Gaza City, and returning there is very dangerous,” said the military’s Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee, adding that the area north of the Wadi Gaza stream is a “dangerous combat zone.”
“For your safety, avoid returning north or approaching areas where IDF troops are operating anywhere in the Strip — even in its south,” he added.
Amid the political breakthrough, the Hamas-run health ministry announced that the Palestinian death toll from the Israeli war on Gaza has surpassed 67,000, after 66 people were killed in the past 24 hours. The ministry also said that two more people died of malnutrition and starvation in the enclave, raising deaths from such causes to 459 people, including 154 children, since the war started.
Trump’s plan offers a real chance to end the war in Gaza. However, Hamas’ response does show that the group has some reservations.
Talks on implementing the plan will reportedly begin shortly in Egypt, with Hebrew media reports suggesting that Israel was expecting hostages to be released within days. Still, Israel could escalate again after securing the hostages using the reservations of Hamas as a pretext to keep its grip over the Strip.
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“ still, israel could escalate again after securing the hostages using the reservations of hamas as a pretext to keep its grip over the strip.”
of course they will. why are people so stupid? they already made their intentions known numerous times. and they already made it known they are interested in all the beachfront, and offshore gas —and to annex all of it.
the global bankers using western sock poppet officials also made it known they want russia “balkanized” and partitioned.
putler is a traitor and a kidnapper. he captured m assad and s hassan and forced them to teach practical exercises at the putler military school. he betrayed syria and so now the deaths will come in iran and venezuela. watch the movie final destination and know that iran and venezuela are now in danger.
fdf…………….
they are sexual predators and now they are going to undress all the nun penguins.
what netanyahu says in public, often in english, is completely different from what he says in hebrew to the extremist settlers. it is evident that jews are monstrous animals addicted to cowardly, vicious violence.
i’m tired of jewish kabuki theater
it’s not a peace break but an extended weekend break.
israel does not honor anything