Hamas has welcomed US President Donald Trump's demand that Israel halt its military strikes in Gaza, calling on the American leader to pressure Israel into executing the next stage of his regional peace initiative.
Hazem Qassem, a spokesperson for Hamas, stated on Monday that Trump's recent comments "confirm President Trump's commitment to the ceasefire track." Qassem urged the US administration to compel Israel to adhere to previous agreements so that the second phase of the peace plan can begin.
The remarks follow statements from Trump, who declared that "Israelis should not be striking in Gaza" and asserted that "Hamas agreed to lay down their weapons." Trump also revealed the existence of an independent channel of communication between Washington and Hamas, stating, "We have a different channel with Hamas, and ultimately they are giving up their guns."
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts have intensified on the ground. Jared Kushner, Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Monday. According to reports in Israeli media, Kushner was accompanied by Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace’s lead envoy for Gaza, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who serves as a board member.
Citing an unnamed source, reports indicated that the discussions focused on advancing all elements of Trump's 15-point peace plan rather than obtaining a formal signature from Tel Aviv. This meeting followed a Sunday visit to Cairo, where Kushner, Mladenov, and Blair held similar talks with Hamas officials.
The diplomatic push comes amid ongoing violence. Although a ceasefire has officially been in place since October 2025 under the first phase of the plan, Israeli attacks in Gaza have persisted, killing at least 1,260 people and wounding over 4,100 others, according to the Gaza health ministry. The overall conflict, which began in October 2023, has resulted in more than 73,000 deaths and over 174,000 injuries in the enclave.
The proposed second phase of Trump's plan outlines a transition of authority in Gaza to a Palestinian technocratic committee, the deployment of an international stabilization force, and the transfer of weapons to the National Committee for Gaza Administration under international oversight. This phase also includes a gradual Israeli military withdrawal and extensive reconstruction efforts.
