Sat Oct 04 01:17:52 UTC 2025: **Trump Demands Immediate Halt to Gaza Bombing After Hamas Accepts Hostage Release Terms**
**Washington D.C. – October 3, 2025** – In a dramatic turn of events, President Donald Trump has called on Israel to immediately cease bombing Gaza after Hamas signaled its agreement to a US-backed plan for hostage release and an end to the two-year-old war.
“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” Trump declared on his Truth Social platform. He emphasized the broader implications of the deal, stating, “This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office responded, stating that Israel is preparing for an immediate implementation of the first stage of Trump’s plan for the release of Israeli hostages following Hamas’ response and continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war.
Despite the apparent breakthrough, reports from Gaza indicate that Israeli tanks and military planes continued to bombard areas within the city, raising concerns about the immediate feasibility of the ceasefire.
The Hamas response to Trump’s 20-point plan, which was delivered after a Sunday deadline set by the US president, has been met with cautious optimism internationally. French President Emmanuel Macron urged immediate follow-up on Hamas’s commitment, stating, “The release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach!”
However, significant issues remain unresolved, including the disarmament of Hamas and the nature of a future Palestinian government in Gaza. While Hamas indicated its willingness to hand over the administration of Gaza to a body of technocrats and release all prisoners, they also emphasized their readiness to discuss the details and did not explicitly agree to disarm before Israel’s occupation of the enclave ends.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid urged Netanyahu to move forward with the plan.
Qatar has begun coordination with mediator Egypt and the United States to continue talks on Trump’s Gaza plan.
Trump’s plan specifies an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body.
The war in Gaza began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has resulted in the deaths of over 66,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and has led to a severe humanitarian crisis.
First Piper 