Middle East Updates: Trump Says Hamas Is Ready for Peace and Tells Israel to Stop Bombing
The Middle East has entered one of its most volatile chapters in years, and in the last few days, the world watched closely as former U.S. President Donald Trump made headlines again — this time by declaring that Hamas is “ready for lasting peace” and demanding that Israel immediately stop its bombing in Gaza.
On the surface, the shift in language seems dramatic. But in a conflict so deeply rooted in history, faith, identity, and trauma, nothing is ever quite what it appears.
A Flashpoint Moment
It began when Hamas issued a response to the 20-point peace plan that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled earlier this week. (AP News) In that response, the militant group said it would release all hostages — both living and deceased — and was willing to hand over administrative authority of Gaza to an independent Palestinian technocratic body. (Politico)
But—and this is a big “but”—Hamas did not agree to fully disarm, nor did it commit to every clause in the proposal. Some elements, it said, required further internal deliberation. (The Washington Post)
Trump, eager to cast this as a breakthrough, jumped on the moment. He posted on Truth Social:
“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!” (The Guardian)
It was the first time in recent memory that a U.S. figure so plainly urged Israel to cease its offensive mid-conflict—especially while declaring optimism about Hamas’ intentions.
