Israeli gov. orders halt to Gaza City offensive awaiting 'first stage'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
Today 10:56

"Israel" halts its offensive in Gaza following US President Trump’s call for a ceasefire and Hamas' conditional acceptance of his plan.

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Israeli tanks at a staging area outside the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, on September 21, 2025. (AP)

"Israel’s" political leadership has ordered Israeli occupation forces to halt their ongoing ground offensive in Gaza City, according to Israeli media outlets.

The move reportedly followed pressure from US President Donald Trump to pause strikes and prioritize ending the war and freeing captives held by the Palestinian Resistance. It also comes after the Islamic Resistance Movement - Hamas released an initial response to Trump's plan.

Zamir announces new measures

According to Israeli media, troops on the ground will now focus exclusively on “defensive operations,” emphasizing that all capabilities will be redirected to the Israeli Southern Command to protect occupation soldiers while preparing for the “first stage” of Trump’s plan to secure the captives’ release.

Israeli Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir convened a meeting with senior generals for a “special situational assessment in light of the developments.” In a statement, Zamir stressed that operational readiness and quick response to potential threats remain paramount, even as offensive operations are suspended.

“In light of the operational sensitivity, forces must demonstrate increased readiness and awareness,” the statement read.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that "Israel" is prepared to implement the initial phase of the US-brokered plan, which calls for the release of all captives.

Hamas agrees to conditional implementation

Hamas, for its part, has announced its willingness to cooperate with the first phase of the plan while maintaining its core national and political principles. In a statement, the group affirmed its readiness to release all Israeli captives, including both living and dead, according to the terms proposed by Trump.

The movement also confirmed its agreement to transfer Gaza’s administration to a technocratic Palestinian administration, as part of a broader framework of national consensus and under Arab and international supervision.

Hamas emphasized that other aspects of Trump’s proposal, including questions about Gaza’s future governance and Palestinian rights, will be addressed within a unified Palestinian national framework.

“Hamas values the efforts of Arab, Islamic, and international actors, as well as President Trump, aimed at halting the war on Gaza, facilitating the exchange of prisoners, and delivering humanitarian aid, while rejecting occupation and forced displacement of our people,” the statement said.