By Manisha Sahu, America News World
October 4, 2025
In what could mark a turning point in one of the most devastating conflicts of the decade, U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ordered Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza,” following Hamas’ announcement that it had accepted parts of his 20-point peace plan. The move has reignited global hopes for an end to the nearly two-year-long Gaza war — one that began with Hamas’ deadly October 2023 assault on Israel and spiraled into a humanitarian catastrophe.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India joined world leaders in welcoming what he called “decisive progress” in the peace efforts. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi praised Trump’s leadership and pointed to signs that Hamas might release hostages as a “significant step forward.”
“We welcome President Trump’s leadership as peace efforts in Gaza make decisive progress. Indications of the release of hostages mark a significant step forward. India will continue to strongly support all efforts towards a durable and just peace,” Modi wrote, tagging Trump and the official U.S. presidential account.
Trump’s Peace Push Gains Traction
President Trump’s latest intervention comes as part of an aggressive diplomatic effort to end the bloodshed that has defined much of his first year back in office. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday, adding that both sides now appeared “ready for a lasting PEACE.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the government was preparing for “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s plan, which centers on the release of hostages and a verified ceasefire mechanism. Yet, Gaza residents told Reuters that Israeli tanks and warplanes continued to pound areas of Gaza City and Khan Younis shortly after Trump’s announcement, signaling that the path to peace remains fraught with challenges.
The War That Shook the Middle East
The current crisis began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people and abducting 250 others, according to Israeli officials. The assault, unprecedented in scale, triggered an immediate and massive Israeli retaliation. Within days, Hezbollah in Lebanon fired missiles into northern Israel, opening a second front.
By October 13, Israel had ordered the evacuation of Gaza City ahead of a full-scale invasion. On October 27, Israeli ground forces entered Gaza, beginning months of urban warfare that devastated large parts of the enclave.
The conflict’s humanitarian toll mounted rapidly. On November 15, 2023, Israeli troops raided Al Shifa Hospital — Gaza’s largest — alleging it was being used as a Hamas command center. Days later, the first ceasefire took effect, freeing 105 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian detainees.
International outrage grew as the civilian death toll soared. On January 26, 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take measures to prevent genocide in Gaza. By the end of February, Gaza’s health ministry reported over 30,000 deaths.
Despite U.S. efforts to send humanitarian aid — including the announcement of a floating pier by then-President Joe Biden in March 2024 — fighting continued. Netanyahu declared the “intense fighting phase” over by June 23, 2024, but insisted the war itself was not finished.
In late 2024, the conflict spilled across borders once again. Hezbollah’s strike on the Golan Heights killed 12 children, and Israel retaliated by killing senior Hamas commanders, including Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar.
Trump’s Diplomatic Entry
Trump, who was then President-elect, entered the fray in December 2024 with a warning to Hamas: release hostages before his inauguration or face “consequences.” That message set the stage for a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on January 15, 2025, which took effect just days before Trump’s swearing-in.
However, the fragile truce collapsed by March 2025, as Israel resumed bombings and accused Hamas of renewed attacks. To stabilize the situation, Trump’s administration — working with Israel and regional partners — launched the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in May 2025, focused on rebuilding infrastructure in Rafah and coordinating international relief.
Two months later, Trump announced Israel’s agreement to a 60-day ceasefire, which provided a brief reprieve from hostilities. But tensions flared again as global condemnation intensified. On September 16, 2025, the United Nations formally accused Israel of committing genocide — a charge Israel rejected outright.
The 20-Point Peace Plan
In response, Trump unveiled his 20-point peace plan on September 29, 2025, aimed at securing a phased truce, the release of hostages, and the establishment of a joint security mechanism in Gaza. The proposal also calls for a multinational rebuilding effort and a conditional framework for political dialogue between Israel and Palestinian representatives.
While Hamas initially dismissed the plan, Friday’s partial acceptance — reportedly covering provisions related to prisoner swaps and humanitarian corridors — appears to have triggered the current diplomatic momentum.
A Fragile but Historic Opening
For now, Trump’s demand that Israel halt airstrikes has injected a fresh sense of urgency into peace talks. Yet, analysts warn that the success of the plan hinges on the simultaneous release of hostages and verifiable cessation of hostilities — conditions that have repeatedly unraveled in the past.
Still, after nearly two years of relentless war, the world is watching closely as the prospect of peace, however fragile, reemerges. Whether this moment leads to genuine reconciliation or yet another fleeting pause remains to be seen — but for the first time in months, there are real signs that the guns of Gaza might finally fall silent.
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