President urges Israel to halt bombing amid talks

Call for Restraint

President Donald Trump urged Israel to halt its bombing campaign while talks over a hostage-release framework continue, Reuters reported. In a statement issued from the White House Thursday evening, Trump called Israeli military operations "counterproductive to diplomacy" and urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to implement an immediate operational pause to allow negotiators space to finalize agreements.

The appeal followed a briefing from negotiators who said Hamas signaled willingness to move elderly captives first if strikes pause. U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein presented the President with intelligence assessments suggesting that Hamas leadership, under pressure from families of hostages and deteriorating conditions in Gaza, may be prepared to release up to 15 elderly and medically vulnerable hostages as a confidence-building measure—but only if Israeli strikes cease during negotiations.

"We're closer than we've been in months to bringing Americans home," Trump said during a brief appearance in the Rose Garden. "But bombs falling while diplomats are talking doesn't work. Israel needs to give peace a chance—temporarily halt operations, let's get our people out, and then we reassess."

The President's statement represents his most direct public pressure on Israel since taking office, marking a notable shift from his administration's previous posture of unwavering support for Israeli military operations. Sources within the National Security Council told Reuters that Trump became increasingly frustrated with what he perceives as Netanyahu's reluctance to prioritize hostage negotiations over military objectives.

The timing of Trump's appeal coincides with intelligence reports indicating that several American hostages face deteriorating health conditions, creating domestic political urgency for the administration to demonstrate progress on securing their release. Families of American hostages have intensified pressure on the White House, with several making high-profile media appearances urging more aggressive diplomatic intervention.

Diplomatic Channels

The White House said it is coordinating with Egypt and Qatar to broker verification mechanisms that would let humanitarian aid surge into Gaza. The three-way coordination involves establishing neutral inspection protocols that would allow aid convoys to enter Gaza through Egyptian crossing points while providing Israel with real-time manifests and inspection reports to address security concerns.

Officials told Reuters the administration is weighing sanctions relief for specific humanitarian programs if both sides comply. Under consideration is a framework that would allow international financial institutions to process payments for humanitarian goods without triggering U.S. sanctions on entities dealing with Hamas-controlled authorities—a technical obstacle that has hampered aid delivery despite rhetorical commitments from all parties.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi spoke with Trump twice in the past 48 hours, offering to expand Egypt's role in facilitating both hostage negotiations and humanitarian operations. Egypt has proposed establishing a neutral humanitarian corridor under Egyptian-U.S. supervision that would bypass Israeli checkpoints entirely, though Israeli officials have expressed reservations about arrangements that diminish their security oversight.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who has served as the primary intermediary with Hamas leadership, communicated to U.S. officials that Hamas would require written commitments from Israel regarding the operational pause duration and geographical scope before agreeing to begin hostage release procedures. Qatar has invested significant diplomatic capital in maintaining credibility with both sides, and officials there emphasize that any breach of agreed terms would devastate prospects for future mediation.

The State Department has assembled a specialized team of humanitarian logistics experts, hostage negotiation specialists, and regional affairs officers who have been conducting round-the-clock talks with counterparts in Tel Aviv, Cairo, and Doha. This "surge diplomacy" approach reflects the administration's recognition that the current moment may represent a narrow window of opportunity before hardline elements on either side undermine negotiations.

International humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations and Red Cross, have been briefed on the proposed framework and have pre-positioned resources to rapidly scale up operations if an operational pause takes hold. The UN estimates that a sustained pause of just 72 hours could allow delivery of food, medicine, and fuel sufficient to stabilize conditions for Gaza's most vulnerable populations.

Regional Reaction

Israeli ministers responded that any pause must be strictly time-limited and tied to verifiable steps by Hamas. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told reporters that Israel would consider a 48-hour tactical pause in specific sectors if Hamas simultaneously releases at least five hostages and provides verifiable information about the condition and location of remaining captives.

Arab League diplomats welcomed the U.S. push but warned that civilian casualties are driving protests across the region, pressuring allies. Large demonstrations erupted in Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia following Trump's statement, with protesters demanding their governments take stronger stands against Israeli operations. Jordanian officials privately expressed concern to U.S. counterparts that continued high civilian casualties could destabilize the kingdom's domestic politics.

Netanyahu's office issued a carefully worded response acknowledging the U.S. position while emphasizing Israel's security imperatives. "Israel values President Trump's counsel and remains committed to diplomatic solutions," the statement read. "However, we cannot provide Hamas with operational respite that allows regrouping and rearmament. Any pause must include ironclad verification mechanisms."

Right-wing members of Netanyahu's coalition government reacted more forcefully, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stating that halting operations now would constitute "surrender to terror" and threaten to withdraw coalition support if Netanyahu agrees to U.S. demands. This internal political pressure constrains Netanyahu's flexibility in responding to Trump's appeal.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued joint statements praising Trump's intervention and offering to participate in any verification mechanisms or reconstruction planning that emerges from successful negotiations. Both nations view engagement in Gaza diplomacy as opportunities to demonstrate regional leadership and strengthen ties with the Trump administration.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has maintained indirect communication channels with Hamas despite U.S. objections, publicly endorsed Trump's call for an operational pause while criticizing what he termed insufficient pressure on Israel. Ankara has positioned itself as a potential mediator, though Israeli officials remain skeptical of Turkey's neutrality given Erdogan's strong pro-Palestinian rhetoric.

Domestic Political Stakes

Republican leaders urged the White House to maintain leverage by holding back reconstruction funds until hostages are freed. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Marco Rubio stated that while he supports the President's diplomatic engagement, Congress should condition any Gaza aid on complete hostage release and dismantlement of Hamas military infrastructure.

Democrats said the president's statement reflected growing concern from constituents about humanitarian outcomes. Progressive Democrats including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib praised Trump's call for pausing strikes while urging more aggressive action to address what they characterized as ongoing violations of international humanitarian law.

The political dynamics create an unusual alliance where Trump finds support from progressive Democrats on restraining Israeli operations while facing skepticism from hawkish Republicans traditionally aligned with his foreign policy approach. This realignment reflects the complex domestic politics surrounding Israel-Palestine issues, where traditional partisan divisions have become increasingly blurred.

Evangelical Christian leaders, a crucial Trump constituency, have expressed mixed reactions. While some prominent voices support Israel unconditionally, others have highlighted biblical imperatives regarding humanitarian concern and treatment of civilians, creating space for Trump to pursue more balanced diplomacy without alienating his base.

Jewish American organizations span a wide spectrum of responses, with mainstream groups like AIPAC emphasizing Israel's security needs while progressive Jewish organizations like J Street strongly supporting Trump's call for operational restraint. This diversity of opinion within the American Jewish community provides political cover for the administration to pursue pressure on Israel despite concerns about domestic backlash.

Path Forward

Negotiators expect another round of shuttle diplomacy this weekend to test the proposal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel, Egypt, and Qatar beginning Saturday to present a detailed framework for the operational pause, hostage release sequencing, and humanitarian access protocols. The trip represents one of the most intensive diplomatic engagements of Trump's second term.

U.S. officials said they will reassess support if rocket fire resumes during the proposed pause. The administration has privately communicated to both Israeli and Hamas leadership that violations of any agreed pause—whether Israeli strikes or rocket attacks from Gaza—would result in immediate consequences including potential withdrawal of U.S. diplomatic engagement and reconsideration of aid commitments.

Intelligence assessments suggest that smaller militant groups operating in Gaza, including Islamic Jihad splinter factions, pose the greatest risk to any pause agreement since they operate with partial autonomy from Hamas command structures. U.S. officials have asked Egypt to use its intelligence channels to communicate warnings to these groups that violations will not be tolerated.

The proposed framework includes a phased approach: an initial 48-hour "humanitarian pause" allowing aid delivery and hostage release preparation, followed by a 72-hour period during which the first cohort of hostages would be released, with subsequent phases contingent on compliance and progress. Each phase would be accompanied by specified humanitarian access improvements and verification procedures.

Planning is already underway for hostage reception protocols, with the U.S. military pre-positioning medical and psychological support teams in Germany to receive freed Americans. The State Department has assigned family liaison officers to maintain communication with hostage families and prepare them for the complex process of reunion and recovery.

Ultimately, U.S. officials acknowledge that this diplomatic initiative faces long odds given the deep mistrust between parties, internal political pressures on both Israeli and Hamas leadership, and the challenge of enforcing agreements without direct U.S. military presence. However, they view the current moment—with Trump personally engaged and multiple parties signaling openness—as potentially the best opportunity for breakthrough that may not recur if the window closes.