On October 3, 2025, a dramatic shift unfolded in the protracted Gaza conflict as U.S. President Donald Trump publicly ordered Israel to halt its bombing campaign, following Hamas’s partial acceptance of his high-profile peace plan. The move, which came just days before the second anniversary of the devastating Hamas-led attacks on Israel, immediately raised hopes—and skepticism—across the Middle East and beyond.
According to reports from the Associated Press, France24, and NBC News, Trump’s directive was issued after Hamas announced its willingness to release all remaining Israeli hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, assault, in which roughly 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 abducted. Of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza, about 20 are believed to be alive. In a statement, Hamas said it would hand over power in Gaza to a Palestinian body of independents—technocrats—based on national consensus, but stopped short of addressing the critical issue of disarmament, a core Israeli demand and a central pillar of Trump’s 20-point peace proposal.
Trump, who unveiled his plan at the White House earlier in the week alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responded to Hamas’s statement with optimism. “Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East,” Trump declared on Truth Social.
In a subsequent video address, he added, “This is a big day. We’ll see how it all turns out. We have to get the final word down in concrete.” The president’s move marked a decisive intervention, signaling his determination to deliver on campaign pledges to end the war and secure the release of hostages—an outcome that had eluded his predecessor, President Joe Biden.
Netanyahu’s office quickly welcomed the Hamas response, saying in a statement: “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. We will 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 Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in turn, announced that they were taking preliminary steps to prepare for the plan’s implementation, following directives from the political echelon.
Yet, the fine print of the agreement remains a sticking point. Hamas’s official statement, while affirming readiness to “immediately enter into negotiations through the mediators to discuss the details of this agreement,” emphasized that “the other issues mentioned in President Trump’s proposal regarding the future of the Gaza Strip and the inherent rights of the Palestinian people are linked to a comprehensive national position and based on relevant international laws and resolutions. They are to be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework.” Hamas’s willingness to relinquish control of Gaza to an independent Palestinian body was seen as a significant concession, but the group’s silence on disarmament left a major gap.
Trump’s plan, as outlined by multiple sources, calls for an immediate halt to Israel’s offensive, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from much of Gaza, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and a significant influx of humanitarian aid and reconstruction. Crucially, it also stipulates that Gaza’s population—estimated at around 2 million—would not be forcibly displaced, and those who have left would be permitted to return. The territory would be placed under international governance, overseen by Trump himself and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, the proposal does not provide a clear path for reunification with the Israeli-occupied West Bank or guarantee Palestinian statehood, leaving the question of long-term sovereignty unresolved.
Hamas, for its part, said it was willing to release all hostages “as long as the field conditions for the exchange are met.” Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera that while the group was open to handing over its weapons to a future Palestinian-run administration, the official statement did not reference disarmament. Another Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, told Al Araby television that Hamas would refuse foreign administration of Gaza and that the entry of foreign forces would be “unacceptable.”
Trump imposed a deadline of 6 p.m. on October 5 for Hamas to accept the ceasefire proposal, warning in stark terms, “If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas.” The president’s hardline stance was matched by his outreach to key regional actors. In his video address, Trump thanked Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan for their roles in brokering the deal. Both Egypt and Qatar, central mediators in the conflict, welcomed the latest developments and pledged to continue discussions.
The international community, too, responded with cautious optimism. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, through spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, urged all parties “to seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end.” French President Emmanuel Macron echoed the sentiment, writing on social media that “the release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach!” The Palestinian Authority praised Trump’s “sincere and tireless efforts” and reaffirmed its commitment to reforms that could pave the way for a future Palestinian state. Muslim powers including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey issued a joint statement calling Trump’s efforts “sincere.”
On the ground, however, the situation remained dire. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry—whose figures are regarded as the most reliable by the U.N. and independent experts—Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, with women and children making up around half the dead. The offensive has displaced about 90% of Gaza’s population, often multiple times, leaving much of the territory uninhabitable. Reports from humanitarian workers, including Olga Cherevko of the U.N., described families sheltering in hospital parking lots, unable to flee due to poverty or disability.
Despite the apparent breakthrough, skepticism lingers. A senior Arab diplomat told NBC News that Hamas’s response was “positive,” but a former Western diplomat cautioned, “This may be the beginning of the end, but there is still more work to do. Hamas has not accepted key elements of the plan nor the timeframe for hostage releases. Trump’s call on Israel to halt strikes will call Hamas’s bluff over the coming days. It’s now up to Hamas. We either see hostages coming out this week or the war will restart.”
As the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks approaches, the world watches closely. Trump’s intervention has brought the promise of peace closer than it has been in years, but the road ahead is fraught with unresolved issues and deep-seated mistrust. The coming days will determine whether this moment marks a genuine turning point or just another fleeting chance in a long and bloody conflict.
