Israel ready to implement Trump Gaza plan after Hamas response

Israel has announced it is preparing to implement the “first phase” of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, hours after Hamas said it was ready to enter negotiations to release hostages under the proposal.

The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office early Saturday marked a potential breakthrough in efforts to end the nearly two-year-long war, though it made no mention of Trump’s demand for Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza.”

“In light of Hamas’s response, Israel is preparing to immediately implement the first phase of Trump’s plan for the immediate release of all hostages,” Netanyahu’s office said.

It added that Israel would “continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set forth by Israel that are consistent with President Trump’s vision.”

The statement came just hours after Trump warned Hamas to respond by Sunday evening or face dire consequences. Hamas had earlier said it agreed to release hostages according to Trump’s proposal but stressed that negotiations were still required on issues like disarmament and Gaza’s governance.

Israel’s military chief of staff held an overnight meeting with senior commanders, intelligence officials, and hostage negotiators to assess readiness for the plan.

The army said troops in Southern Command, which oversees operations in Gaza, had been ordered to maintain “high alertness and vigilance” while preparing for the “sensitive implementation” of the first phase.

Army Radio reported that Israel’s political leadership had directed the military to reduce activity in Gaza “to a minimum” and focus only on defensive operations, effectively halting the planned ground takeover of Gaza City.