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U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday publicly called on Israel to halt its bombardment of Gaza, signaling a rare moment of pressure on America’s closest ally in the region. Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump said Hamas’ response to his proposed ceasefire showed the group was “ready for peace” and that Israel should “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly.”
A few hours later, the White House released a one-minute video showing Trump in the Oval Office, describing the negotiations as “unprecedented.” He said all sides were “unified in wanting this war to end” and expressed hope that hostages would soon be reunited with their families.
The remarks came days after Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood side by side in Washington to unveil a 20-point U.S.-led plan aimed at ending the Gaza war and securing the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Hamas said it was ready to release all Israeli captives, both dead and alive, as part of an arrangement that ends Israel’s war and secures a full withdrawal from Gaza. The group added that it would hand over administrative control of Gaza to a Palestinian technocratic body.
Still, Hamas did not endorse Trump’s proposal in full. It insisted that issues such as disarmament be discussed within a “comprehensive Palestinian national framework,” signaling it expects to remain part of any postwar political process.
That phrasing appeared designed to show flexibility while maintaining the group’s leverage. It also underscored Hamas’ intent to be seen not as an obstacle to peace, but as a central actor in determining Gaza’s political future.
Trump quickly welcomed Hamas’ message, describing it as proof the group was “ready for a lasting PEACE.” In another Truth Social post, he declared that “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” to allow hostages to be released and confirmed that “discussions on details” were already underway.
“This is not about Gaza alone,” he wrote. “This is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
The tone marked a break from the traditional U.S. approach of offering Israel unconditional support during wartime. Trump’s remarks suggested a willingness to publicly pressure Jerusalem—an approach that could test the boundaries of the U.S.-Israel relationship if Netanyahu resists.
During Monday’s joint announcement, Netanyahu expressed support for Trump’s plan, calling it consistent with Israel’s war objectives: the return of hostages, the dismantling of Hamas’ military and political wings, and assurances that Gaza “never again poses a threat to Israel.”
But Netanyahu also added clear caveats. He warned that if Hamas “rejects the plan or accepts it in bad faith,” Israel would “finish the job by itself.”
Later that day, addressing Israelis in Hebrew, he clarified that he had not agreed to a Palestinian state and pledged that Israeli troops would remain deployed across much of Gaza.
Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid called Hamas’ statement a “genuine opportunity to release the hostages and end the war.” He urged the government to “join the discussions led by the president to finalize the details of the deal,” adding that he had told U.S. officials Netanyahu “has political backing at home to continue the process.”
Lapid’s comments suggest there is at least partial cross-party support for engaging with Washington’s new initiative.
Still, skepticism remains widespread regarding the far-right government’s intentions under Netanyahu and Trump’s ability to enforce any agreement.
Despite Trump’s calls, there is no indication that Israel will halt its bombing campaign in the short term. Medical sources in Gaza have reported that Israel was still bombing Gaza, despite Trump ordering it to cease.
Axios reported that Netanyahu was “surprised” by Trump’s warm reaction to Hamas’ response, viewing it instead as a rejection of the plan. Many Israeli publicists on social media were attempting to frame Hamas’ answer as a rejection of President Trump.
Much will now come down to how far Trump is willing to twist Netanyahu’s arm and force him to agree to a deal.
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