Hamas has said that it accepts several parts of United States President Donald Trump’s plan for a ceasefire in Israel’s nearly two-year genocidal war on Gaza, but that some elements of the proposal require further negotiations.
Trump has responded early Saturday by telling Israel to “immediately stop bombing Gaza”, adding that Hamas was “ready for a lasting peace”.
Israel says it is preparing to implement the “first stage of Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza”. The government has instructed the military to reduce offensive activity in Gaza after it said it was preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan following Hamas’s response to the plan, Israeli media reported.
On the ground in Gaza, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, said it was unclear if the Israeli bombing of the territory had stopped, as demanded by Trump.
But the enclave had experienced an unusual quietness around midnight as Trump was due to speak in Washington, DC, after Hamas had agreed in principle to key points in his 20-point plan for the war-torn territory, he said.
Smoke is still rising over the north of the enclave, and small arms fire and the movement of Israeli military vehicles can still be heard clearly, he added.
But “compared to the past few days, the intensity of the bombardment and the use of extreme firepower is definitely less this morning and could be the beginning of a complete halt. But we don’t know when that is going to happen”, Mahmoud said.
“There is a clear de-escalation,” he said, adding that the distinct sound of Israeli drones – ever present in the sky over Gaza – could not be heard this morning.
Hamas handed over its response to Trump’s 20-point plan to halt the war on Friday, an informed source told Al Jazeera, hours after Trump gave the group until Sunday to respond to the proposal.
Trump’s 20-point plan included demands for an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of all remaining 48 Israeli captives – 20 are believed to be alive – for Palestinian prisoners, the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body, and the disarmament of Hamas.
FP/MI
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