Israeli cabinet orders suspension of military operation in Gaza

Israel has ordered its military to suspend continuous operation in Gaza, signaling a shift after Hamas indicated partial acceptance of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace initiative, reports Al Jazeera.

According to state-funded Army Radio, the government has directed forces to restrict operations to defensive measures, halting the planned seizure of Gaza City.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed Israel is preparing to implement the first phase of the proposal after Hamas agreed to release all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased.

The move comes ahead of Trump’s Sunday deadline, under which Hamas was warned of “severe consequences” if it rejected the plan.

In a surprise announcement before the deadline, the group pledged to free hostages and called for further talks on conditions including humanitarian access and troop withdrawal.

Trump welcomed Hamas’s stance, saying the group had shown readiness to pursue lasting peace. His plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of 20 surviving hostages within 72 hours, the return of remains, and reciprocal release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.