World reacts to Hamas’s response to Trump’s Gaza plan

Hope-filled reactions follow Hamas’s response, which marks a potential turning point in Israel’s two-year war on Gaza.

Israeli media reported on Saturday that Trump’s demand after Hamas responded that Israel “immediately stop bombing Gaza” and his insistence that Hamas is ready for “lasting peace” were received with “shock” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu’s office later announced that the military was “preparing for the immediate implementation of the first stage of the Trump plan for the release of all the hostages”.

His office added it will continue to work in cooperation with the US president to end the war “in accordance with the principles set out by Israel”, indicating it may not accept changes to the original White House plan.

Some major sticking points remain. Hamas made no mention of disarming – a key demand from Israel, which was included in Trump’s plan.