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The president of the United States, Donald Trump, celebrated this Saturday the decision of Israel to temporarily halt bombings on Gaza to allow for the release of hostages held by Hamas, as part of the peace plan promoted by Washington.
I appreciate that Israel has temporarily halted the bombings to give a chance for the release of hostages and for the peace agreement to be completed. Hamas must act quickly, or everything will be canceled. I will not tolerate delays, nor any outcome in which Gaza poses a threat again. Let's do this, quickly! Everyone will be treated fairly!,” the leader wrote on his social media Truth Social.
In a video released from the Oval Office, Trump appeared optimistic following Hamas's announcement to release all hostages —alive or dead— under the terms of the U.S. proposal.
This is a great day. We were all united in our desire for this war to end and for peace to be achieved in the Middle East, and we are very close to accomplishing that, he stated.
The Republican leader thanked the countries that contributed to the mediation of the agreement, mentioning Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan.
Many people worked with dedication to make this happen. It is a special day, perhaps unprecedented in many ways, he added.
Trump emphasized that the most important thing is that “the hostages return home,” even if some of them have passed away.
"Their parents loved them as if that boy or girl were alive", he said, visibly moved.
The announcement from Hamás, confirmed by the Reuters agency, includes their willingness to begin immediate negotiations to define the operational aspects of the agreement.
The decision came after the ultimatum from Trump, who had warned that if the group did not accept the plan by Sunday at 6:00 PM (Washington time), “there would be hell unleashed like never seen before.”
The 20-point peace plan, presented on Monday by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, outlines the end of the war in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and a reconstruction program overseen by an international commission. Israel has already confirmed its acceptance of the agreement.
After Hamas's announcement, Trump urged Israel to stop the airstrikes to facilitate the safe delivery of hostages and prevent further civilian casualties.
"At this moment, it is too dangerous to continue the bombings. A pause is necessary to ensure that the rescue is carried out safely.", the leader noted.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the war has resulted in over 66,000 Palestinian deaths —including about 17,000 children— since the onset of the conflict on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacks left 1,200 dead in Israel and more than 250 kidnapped.
Trump insisted that his goal is to achieve lasting peace. “It’s not just about Gaza; it’s about the long-desired peace across the Middle East,” he stated, adding that the United States “will continue to lead efforts to ensure that this conflict comes to an end and that everyone is treated fairly.”
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