Israel Prepares First Phase of Trump's Gaza Plan

Israel's government and military say they are preparing to implement the first phase of former President Donald Trump's Gaza plan after Hamas signaled it accepted key elements, including a commitment to release Israeli hostages under an exchange formula, though several terms still require negotiation. The Israeli military reportedly shifted to a defensive posture and ordered reductions in operations — including scaling back a planned Gaza City invasion — while remaining ready to act in self‑defense. Netanyahu's office pledged cooperation with international mediators, and Egypt, Qatar and other states moved into talks to finalize details. Trump publicly urged Israel to halt bombing to facilitate a safe hostage exchange and celebrated the apparent agreement, but Netanyahu did not explicitly accept a halt and some witnesses reported intensified Israeli air activity after the announcements. Officials cautioned the deal remains fragile and that significant disagreements must be resolved before a truce and full return of hostages can occur.