President Trump calls for a ceasefire and demands Israel stop bombing the Gaza Strip, citing Hamas’ acceptance of his peace proposal.
WASHINGTON D.C.—In a dramatic and highly unusual move, the White House on October 3, 2025, amplified a call from President Trump for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, following what the administration sees as a breakthrough response from Hamas.
The official White House X account (@WhiteHouse) posted a direct quote from President Trump’s Truth Social, cementing the U.S. commitment to an urgent peace push just ahead of a crucial Sunday deadline.
White House Signals Green Light for Peace
The White House post, published around 5:26 PM ET, quoted the President: “Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly… this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
The post, which quickly gained thousands of likes and shares, marked a notable endorsement of the President’s optimistic framing, despite his more forceful ultimatum to Hamas earlier in the week.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced the strategy during a 1:00 PM ET briefing, describing the post as a deliberate push for momentum. “Hamas has an opportunity to accept this plan and move forward in a peaceful and prosperous manner,” Leavitt stated, warning that refusal would bring “very tragic” consequences. She confirmed the administration was engaged in “sensitive discussions” via Qatar and Egypt ahead of the Sunday 6:00 PM ET deadline. The move to publicly spotlight Hamas’s signal is rare, underscoring the U.S. commitment to de-escalation.
Trump Pressures Israel to Halt Airstrikes
Building on the White House’s public support, President Trump expanded his message on Truth Social around 5:30 PM ET, explicitly demanding that Israel pause its military operations to facilitate the safe release of captives.
His full statement emphasized: “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that… This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
This statement represented a carefully calibrated pressure tactic on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s genocidal government, which was continuing airstrikes in Gaza City’s Remal area that day, reportedly killing at least 31 Palestinians. While Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz labeled the timing “unhelpful,” Netanyahu’s office was quick to stress “close coordination” with the U.S., likely to safeguard the $3.8 billion in annual U.S. aid.
The families of the 48 remaining hostages expressed cautious hope, viewing Trump’s intervention as a viable path home after two years of uncertainty. Experts suggest the President’s move aims to maintain a delicate pro-Israel equilibrium while using the deadline to prioritize hostage extractions and prevent an escalation with Iranian proxies.
Hamas Agrees to Peace Plan Terms
The diplomatic breakthrough arrived around 2:45 PM ET when Hamas delivered its official response through its Doha political bureau and Qatari mediators.
“The movement announces its agreement to release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal—provided the field conditions for the exchange are met,” the statement read. Furthermore, Hamas committed to “immediate negotiations” on the releases and endorsed transitioning Gaza’s administration to a “Palestinian authority of independents (technocrats) based on Palestinian national consensus.”
Crucially, the group avoided an immediate commitment to disarmament, framing it as needing “further consultations.” With an estimated 20 living captives remaining among the 48 total hostages, the focus now shifts to the immediate logistics of the swap. Qatar’s Prime Minister hailed the agreement as a crucial “window of opportunity.”
Details of the 20-Point Peace Deal
The framework, publicly revealed on September 29, 2025, after meetings between Trump and Netanyahu, is a 20-point plan for an “immediate end” to the conflict sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack. Key provisions include:
- Ceasefire and Hostage Exchange: An immediate halt to fighting. Hamas must release all 48 hostages (living and remains) within 72 hours. In exchange, Israel will release 250 life-sentence Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 post-October 7 detainees.
- Disengagement and Demilitarization: The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) will execute a staged withdrawal to pre-war lines, eventually yielding to an International Stabilization Force (ISF) composed of U.S., Arab, and UN personnel. Hamas must dissolve its military wing and decommission its weapons.
- Governance and Aid: A technocratic committee led by experts will manage services under a “Board of Peace” (chaired by Trump). Aid will significantly ramp up to facilitate infrastructure fixes and debris removal. Gaza is envisioned to evolve into a “de-radicalized, terror-free zone.”
While the deal outlines a conditional path to Palestinian statehood, it includes mechanisms for rejection, which would trigger Israeli advances into “terror-free” zones policed by the ISF.
The Shadow of Gaza’s Crisis
The push for a ceasefire occurs against the devastating backdrop of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which has drawn global accusations of genocide.
By October 3, 2025, Gaza’s Health Ministry recorded 66,414 direct deaths since October 2023, with the majority being women and children. The Lancet estimates the total toll, including indirect deaths from illness and starvation, may surpass 186,000. Famine conditions are catastrophic, affecting over 641,000 people in the North.
Israel consistently counters these claims as “blood libel” and asserts its actions are a lawful defense against Hamas. However, the ICJ’s November 2024 order of “plausible” genocide and the September 2025 ICC warrants against Netanyahu intensify the debate.
Trump’s initiative promises crucial relief through a ceasefire and aid, though skeptics worry the plan may simply facilitate hostage releases without establishing robust international oversight for governance and long-term peace.