The U.S. outlet Axios and Israeli media reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was surprised by U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks stating that Hamas is “ready for lasting peace” and calling on Israel to immediately halt airstrikes on Gaza.
اضافة اعلان
According to Israel’s Channel 12, Netanyahu held internal consultations before Trump’s announcement regarding Hamas’s response to the U.S. plan for ending the war and freeing hostages. In those discussions, he told participants that he viewed the response as a “rejection of the proposal,” emphasizing the need to coordinate with Washington to avoid giving the impression that Hamas had agreed to the initiative.
However, Israeli technical officials involved in the hostage file assessed the situation differently, saying Hamas’s response could be seen as “positive” and as opening the way toward a possible deal to end the war and secure the release of the hostages.
Trump had earlier declared on Truth Social that Hamas was ready for long-term peace, stressing that halting the war was not only about Gaza but a step toward the “long-awaited peace in the Middle East.”
