Trump Orders Israel To Halt Gaza Airstrikes After Netanyahu Call

After Hamas cautiously welcomed US President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza peace proposal, Trump celebrated it as a major breakthrough, only for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismiss it as insignificant, leading to a tense, expletive-laced exchange between the two leaders.

Hours after Hamas said it "partially welcomed" Trump's peace plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict, the American president called Netanyahu, hopeful that the militant group's statement marked the start of a diplomatic breakthrough. According to Axios, which first reported the details of the October 3 call, Netanyahu was skeptical, calling Hamas' response "nothing to celebrate." This prompted an irritated Trump to respond: "I don't know why you're always so f***ing negative. This is a win. Take it."

Trump's proposal, which advocates for Gaza's demilitarization and excludes any future governing role for Hamas, offers its members the opportunity to remain in Gaza if they renounce violence and surrender their weapons. Washington has viewed this framework as the most concrete peace initiative since the conflict erupted in October 2023.

While Netanyahu has publicly endorsed the plan, Hamas stated it is willing to negotiate the release of all remaining hostages in exchange for a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and inclusion in a broader "Palestinian national framework." Speaking to Axios a day after the call, Trump described his conversation with Netanyahu as decisive. "I told him this was his chance for victory," Trump said. "He was fine with it. He's got to be fine with it. He has no choice. With me, you've got to be fine."

Shortly after the call, Trump issued a statement urging Israel to halt airstrikes in Gaza, a directive Netanyahu implemented within three hours.

As the deadline for Hamas to cede control of Gaza under the plan passed at 6 PM Sunday (3:30 AM IST Monday), Trump indicated that he expected negotiations to take "a couple of days" and urged both sides to "move fast."

Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are set to begin in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh, a familiar hub for Middle East diplomacy. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will participate, tasked with guiding the initial phase of the talks.

The Gaza conflict, which began after Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has claimed the lives of over 67,000 Palestinians, including more than 18,000 children, and left around 170,000 injured, according to UN figures. Nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced, amid what aid agencies describe as catastrophic humanitarian conditions.

Israel has rejected accusations of genocide and of blocking aid, asserting that its military operations are legitimate acts of self-defense against Hamas.