The Israeli government late Friday responded to Hamas’s tentative agreement to President Trump’s Gaza peace plan by saying it is making “preparations for the immediate implementation of the first phase” involving the release of hostages.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement to Israeli media outlets pledging to work with Trump — though it did not include a commitment to cease military action in Gaza, which the US president demanded in a statement on Friday.
“In light of the Hamas response [to the Trump peace plan], Israel is making preparations for the immediate implementation of the first phase of the Trump plan which is the immediate release of all of the hostages,” the statement read.
“We will continue to fully cooperate with the president and his team in order to end the war in accordance with the principles that Israel laid out and which are in line with President Trump’s vision.”
Meanwhile, there are signs that Trump’s embrace of the Hamas response to his peace plan is having an effect on the ground.
According to Israeli Army Radio, the government has instructed military chiefs to halt their planned invasion of Gaza City.
The report indicated that the Israeli civilian leadership has told army generals to reduce activity in Gaza “to a minimum” and to limit their operations to strictly defensive actions.
The practical implications is that the Israeli army plan to occupy Gaza City and remove its inhabitants has been effectively blocked for the moment, according to Army Radio.
Earlier on Friday, reports from Israel indicated that Netanyahu was surprised by Trump’s statement welcoming Hamas’ tentative agreement to release hostages — which is contingent on further talks over a ceasefire and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
While Trump on Friday hailed what he called Hamas’s “acceptance” of his Gaza peace plan, the Israeli leader told confidantes that he viewed the Palestinian group’s statement as a rejection of the president’s proposals, according to Axios.
While Hamas said it would be willing to free Israeli hostages — both dead and alive, as demanded by Trump — the Palestinian group would not commit to disarmament or relinquishing power in Gaza to an international force.
Hamas also balked at Trump’s demand in the 20-point peace plan for the group to free Israeli hostages within 72 hours.
Read the full article here
