WASHINGTON : U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Israel to immediately stop its military bombardment of Gaza, saying he believes Hamas is “ready for a lasting peace” following the group’s formal response to his proposed ceasefire plan.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote:

“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.”

The remark marks a significant shift in tone from the White House, as Trump seeks to accelerate an end to the months-long war that has devastated Gaza and strained global diplomatic ties.

Israeli media outlets reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “surprised and shocked” by Trump’s statement. Sources quoted by local journalists said Netanyahu had hoped to coordinate a joint Israeli-American response to Hamas’s message to prevent it from being perceived as a positive breakthrough.

According to reports, Hamas’s response to Trump’s 20-point ceasefire proposal was “essentially heading in a positive direction,” with indications that the group may be open to negotiations toward a long-term truce.

Netanyahu is now expected to convene his cabinet to discuss the next steps, as the deal will ultimately require approval from his coalition partners. However, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has said his party would provide a “political safety net” — potentially paving the way for a temporary unity government to approve the agreement if far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition refuse to back it.

Such a move could allow Israel to move forward with a ceasefire deal and then proceed to national elections, marking a dramatic political turning point in both Israeli governance and the trajectory of the Gaza conflict.

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