London, UK – October 4, 2025

The pursuit of peace in the Middle East has taken a dramatic turn, with U.S. President Donald Trump publicly ordering Israel to halt its military action in Gaza immediately following a statement from Hamas that appeared to accept key tenets of his 20-point peace plan.
The unexpected intervention from the White House, just hours after Hamas conditionally agreed to release all remaining Israeli hostages, has sent shockwaves through the Israeli government, which was observing the Jewish Sabbath and offered no immediate official response.

The Peace Plan’s Unexpected Progress

The stunning development unfolded on Friday afternoon, shortly after the White House’s self-imposed Sunday deadline for the Palestinian militant group. Hamas submitted a response to mediators in Qatar and Egypt, announcing its “approval of releasing all occupation captives—both living and remains—according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal.”

This crucial concession, which meets a core Israeli war objective, instantly shifted the diplomatic landscape. Hamas also signaled its readiness to hand over control of Gaza to an independent body of Palestinian technocrats and to enter talks to discuss the deal’s fine print. However, the group was notably evasive on the most vexing issue for Israel: disarmament. Hamas said the question of its military future would need to be “discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework,” falling short of the unequivocal surrender demanded by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump’s Immediate and Decisive Order

Ignoring the caveats, President Trump quickly seized on the hostage release pledge, taking to his social media platform to issue a directive to the Israeli government. He declared the move a major step toward lasting peace.

“Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” Trump wrote. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”

The demand for an immediate ceasefire, framed by the necessity of a safe hostage return, represents a significant escalation of U.S. pressure on its primary ally in the conflict. It came just days after Trump had given Hamas an ultimatum, threatening to unleash “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before,” should they reject the proposal.

Silence and Conflict in Jerusalem

The timing of the announcement—coinciding with the start of the Jewish Sabbath—meant there was no immediate official statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office or the cabinet. This silence, however, masked a fierce internal political conflict over the American-led initiative.

While Prime Minister Netanyahu had publicly backed the 20-point plan earlier in the week during his visit to the White House, the conditional nature of the Hamas response, coupled with President Trump’s direct order to halt operations, is widely reported to have caused shock and dismay within the hard-line government. Reports filtering through Israeli media suggest that Netanyahu’s inner circle viewed Hamas’s “yes-but” reply as a practical rejection of the plan’s core demand for complete demilitarisation.

The Israeli government had previously insisted that the war’s objectives—dismantling Hamas’s military and political capabilities—would be achieved regardless of the diplomatic path. Now, the government faces the profound dilemma of choosing between continued military action, which would defy an explicit order from its most critical global patron, or accepting a partial deal that allows the armed group a say in its own future.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, leaders of the far-right factions vital to Netanyahu’s coalition, have already vehemently opposed the plan. They are expected to mount a strong internal challenge, pressuring the Prime Minister to resist the U.S. demand for a halt to the fighting. Any decision to pause the military campaign will likely trigger a severe coalition crisis.

Headline Points

 * TRUMP ORDERS CEASEFIRE:

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly told Israel to stop bombing Gaza immediately following Hamas’s response to his peace plan.

 * HOSTAGE DEAL AGREED:

Hamas conditionally approved the plan’s formula for the release of all remaining Israeli hostages, alive and dead.

 * DISARMAMENT REMAINS STICKING POINT:

Hamas rejected immediate and unconditional disarmament, saying the matter requires further Palestinian consultation.

 * ISRAELI SILENCE:

The Israeli government offered no immediate official response due to the Jewish Sabbath, but internal reports suggest surprise and resistance to the ceasefire order.

 * POLITICAL SHOCKWAVE:

The development puts immense political pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is facing hard-line coalition partners who oppose any deal short of total Hamas surrender.

 * SUNDAY DEADLINE NOW HOSTAGE FOCUSED:

The initial Sunday evening deadline for Hamas to accept the plan has now effectively become a deadline for Israel to implement a safe, operational ceasefire for the exchange.

 * POST-WAR GOVERNANCE ACCEPTED:

Hamas agreed to transfer administrative control of Gaza to a body of Palestinian technocrats, another key element of the U.S. proposal.