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* Trump says he believes Hamas ready for peace, Israel must stop bombing * Hamas responds to Gaza plan already accepted by Israel * Trump earlier warned of consequences if Hamas rejected proposal (Adds context in paragraphs 2 and 16, Israeli opposition in paragraph 10, hostage families in paragraph 11, French president in paragraphs 12-13,) By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Gram Slattery CAIRO/WASHINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump told Israel on Friday to immediately stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to release hostages and some other terms in a U.S. plan to end the war, but vexing issues like disarmament appeared unresolved. Hamas on Friday issued its response to Trump's 20-point plan after the president gave the Palestinian militant group until Sunday to accept or face grave consequences. The president, who has cast himself as the only person capable of achieving peace in Gaza, has invested significant political capital in efforts to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and left U.S. ally Israel increasingly isolated on the world stage. Trump said he believed Hamas had showed it was "ready for a lasting PEACE" and he put the onus on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. "Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "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." CONTINUED BOMBARDMENT REPORTED BY RESIDENTS According to residents, Israeli tanks bombarded Talateeni Street, a major artery in the heart of Gaza City, after Trump's message to Israel to stop. Witnesses said Israeli military planes also intensified bombing in Gaza City in the hour after Hamas issued its statement, hitting several houses in the Remal neighborhood. There were also strikes on Khan Younis but no reports of casualties, residents said. Israel, which backs Trump's proposal, has not yet commented on the Hamas response or on Trump's demand for an end to bombing in Gaza. But Israel's parliamentary opposition leader Yair Lapid urged Netanyahu to move forward with the plan. In a post on X he said: "Israel should announce it is joining the discussions led by the president to finalize the details of the deal." Families of those being held by Hamas in Gaza called on Netanyahu "to immediately order negotiations for the return of all hostages." Domestically, the prime minister is caught between growing pressure to end the war — from hostage families and a war-weary public — and demands from hardline members of his far-right coalition who insist there must be no let-up in Israel’s campaign in Gaza. FOLLOW UP ON HAMAS COMMITMENT IMMEDIATELY, URGES FRANCE French President Emmanuel Macron, who spearheaded efforts for wider recognition of a Palestinian state in a bid to help end the conflict, said in a post on X: "Hamas' commitment must be followed up without delay." Israel began its offensive in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken as hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel says 48 hostages remain, 20 of whom are alive. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 66,000 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities. Its assault has destroyed much of the strip while aid restrictions have triggered a famine in parts of Gaza, with conditions dire across the enclave. A U.N. Commission of Inquiry concluded last month that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Netanyahu's government denies this and says it has acted in self-defense. THORNY ISSUES STILL TO BE IRONED OUT Hamas, in a copy of its response seen by Reuters, did not say if it would agree to disarm and demilitarize Gaza — something Israel and the U.S. want but Hamas has rejected before. It also did not agree to an Israeli withdrawal in stages, as opposed to the immediate, full withdrawal Hamas demands. A senior Hamas official told Al Jazeera that the group would not disarm before Israel's occupation of the enclave ends, comments that underscored the gap between the parties as the war approaches its two-year mark. Qatar has begun coordination with mediator Egypt and the United States to continue talks on Trump's Gaza plan, the Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said on X. Trump's plan specifies an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body. HAMAS SEEKS FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS In its response to Trump's plan, Hamas said it "appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners, (and) the immediate entry of aid," among other terms. It said it was announcing its "approval of releasing all occupation prisoners — both living and remains — according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, with the necessary field conditions for implementing the exchange." But Hamas added: "In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter, through the mediators, into negotiations to discuss the details." The group said it was ready "to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats) based on Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing." But Hamas did not make clear whether it would agree to Trump's proposal that it be barred from exercising political power in Gaza. But the group said it should be "included and will contribute" to any Palestinian national discussion on Gaza's future. Hamas has previously offered to release all hostages and to hand over administration of the Gaza Strip to a different body. Earlier on Friday, Trump warned that "all HELL" would break out in Gaza if Hamas failed to agree to his proposal for the enclave by Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Hamas was not involved in the negotiations that led to the proposal. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Yomna Ehab and Ahmed Tolba in Cairo; Gram Slattery, Bhargav Acharya and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Andrew Mills in Doha and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing by Costas Pitas and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Howard Goller and Cynthia Osterman)
(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)
