U.S. President Donald Trump’s unexpected endorsement of Hamas’ partial acceptance of his Gaza peace plan has sent political shockwaves through Israel. Declaring that Hamas is “ready for lasting peace,” Trump ordered Israel to halt its strikes in Gaza, a move that reportedly caught Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu off guard. Israeli officials, quoted by Channel 12, described Hamas’ statement as an “effective rejection,” while U.S. and Israeli diplomats discussed ways to downplay Hamas’ seemingly affirmative tone. Despite the confusion, Netanyahu’s office announced implementation of Trump’s plan, instructing the IDF to scale back operations to a “defensive minimum.” However, reports indicate that Israeli forces have continued strikes in Gaza. Watch for more
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