Trump urges Israel to halt Gaza bombing as Hamas agrees to release hostages

Shiva K Dhakal
National Press Corporation(NPC)
United Kingdom-A potential breakthrough in the Gaza conflict appears to be taking shape, after Hamas announced its agreement to release all remaining Israeli hostages — a move it says could pave the way for new peace talks under Donald Trump’s proposed plan.

The militant group said it was ready to begin releasing hostages but requested further negotiations on several issues outlined in the US peace framework, which includes conditions for disarmament and governance changes in Gaza.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was “preparing to immediately implement” the first phase of Trump’s plan, while the former US president urged Israel to “stop the bombing of Gaza”, saying he believed Hamas was “ready for a lasting peace.”

Trump’s comments — shared on his social media platform — have reignited global debate about how soon the fighting could end, and what a sustainable peace might look like for both sides.

Hundreds of Gazans have contacted the BBC’s Gaza bureau seeking clarity on whether these new political signals could finally bring relief to civilians facing months of airstrikes, shortages, and displacement.

However, despite the announcement, key questions remain unanswered, including Hamas’ disarmament and its future political control of the territory — both major sticking points in the Trump proposal.

White House map outlines phased Israeli withdrawal

Earlier this week, the White House released a map showing the proposed stages of Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza under the Trump plan.

While the borders appear approximate, the illustration gives an indication of what the plan would mean for Gaza’s control and security zones:

• Initial withdrawal: Gaza remains about 55% occupied.
• Second phase: Occupied territory reduced to roughly 40%.
• Final phase: After a “security buffer zone” is created, around 15% would stay under Israeli military control.

The map also highlights what the IDF currently calls its “line of control”, though analysts note that it doesn’t precisely match independent data on evacuation areas or combat-designated zones.

A separate IDF map, published on Thursday, shows that about 80% of Gaza remains classified as a “dangerous combat zone”, with only a small section in the south designated as a “humanitarian area.”