Internally displaced Palestinians evacuate Gaza City toward southern Gaza during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, October 3, 2025. Photo: VCG

US President Donald Trump told Israel on Friday to immediately stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to release hostages and some other terms in a US plan to end the war, but vexing issues like disarmament appeared unresolved, Reuters reported on Friday local time.

In a previous press statement, Hamas announced that it had agreed to "immediately" enter negotiations for the release of all hostages according to US President's Gaza peace plan, CNN reported. 

The group said it is ready to immediately enter negotiations through mediators to discuss the details of the exchange and said it is ready to hand over the governance of Gaza to "a Palestinian authority of independents (technocrats) based on Palestinian national consensus and with reliance on Arab and Islamic support," per CNN.

Following the statement by Hamas, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Friday that "they are ready for a lasting peace. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza," adding that "We are already in discussions on details to be worked out."

Previously, Trump has issued a weekend ultimatum for Hamas to accept his 20-point plan for a ceasefire in Gaza. He warned that an agreement must be reached by 6 pm US Eastern time on Sunday, or else Gaza would face further violence, Al Jazeera reported.

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday they have agreed to a 20-point plan proposed by Washington to end the conflict in Gaza, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The US-proposed plan combines a ceasefire-for-hostages deal, phased Israeli withdrawal, and international oversight on Gaza's reconstruction and governance after the end of the conflict.

Netanyahu's office released a two-line statement, saying the country will work with the US on "Trump's plan" for peace, BBC reported on Friday. "In light of Hamas's response, Israel is preparing to immediately implement the first phase of Trump's plan for the immediate release of all hostages," Netanyahu said in a statement translated from Hebrew, per BBC. 

However, 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, per Reuters. There were also strikes on Khan Younis but no reports of casualties, residents said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the statement issued by Hamas announcing its readiness to release hostages and to engage on the basis of the proposal by Trump, the UN chief's spokesperson said Friday, Xinhua reported.

The secretary-general "welcomes and is encouraged" by the statement issued by Hamas, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Global Times