Israel Shifts to Defensive Posture in the Gaza Strip Following Trump’s Call to Halt Bombing

Israel is aligning itself with US President Donald Trump’s demand to halt bombing in Gaza, and from Saturday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have ceased offensive operations across the Strip. The army is now focused solely on defensive measures to protect its forces on the ground, while maintaining the siege on Gaza City and holding current positions without retreat.

Until dawn, Israeli airstrikes continued throughout the Strip, but the political echelon has since ordered the IDF to transition to a defensive posture, attacking only if immediate threats to troops are identified.

Preparations for Negotiations and Hostage Release

Israeli officials say the move is intended to test whether negotiations will open following encouraging statements from Hamas and regional mediators. If talks advance, mechanisms will be built to enable the release of hostages, followed by a staged withdrawal of IDF forces deeper into the Strip, as outlined in Trump’s proposal.

Negotiation teams have been instructed to prepare a delegation for departure “as soon as possible,” though officials noted that the initial phase of talks could be structured differently from previous negotiation frameworks.

Chief of Staff Convenes Emergency Assessment

Overnight, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi convened a high-level situation assessment with senior commanders, including the Deputy Chief of Staff, the heads of the Operations and Intelligence Directorates, the Commander of the Southern Command, and Air Force leadership.

According to an IDF statement, Halevi instructed the army to advance readiness for implementing the first phase of Trump’s plan while ensuring that “the security of our forces remains the highest priority.” He emphasized vigilance and rapid response capabilities to neutralize any threats.

"Israel Ready for First Phase of Plan"

Early Saturday morning, the Prime Minister’s Office announced:

“Israel is preparing for the immediate implementation of the first phase of Trump’s plan to release all abductees. We will continue to work in full cooperation with the president and his team to end the war in accordance with Israel’s principles, which are consistent with President Trump’s vision.”

The statement came two hours after Trump himself publicly urged Israel to stop the bombing, declaring:

“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can safely and quickly remove the hostages. Right now, it is too dangerous to do so. This is not just about Gaza—this is about peace in the Middle East. We are very close to ending the war. Everyone will be treated fairly.”

Hamas Response and Israeli Debate

Hamas announced late Friday night that it is ready to release all Israeli hostages, alive and dead, and to enter immediate negotiations. The group also said it accepts transferring Gaza’s administration to an independent Palestinian body with Arab-Islamic backing, though without explicitly addressing Trump’s proposal for an internationally managed “Peace Council.”

Israeli assessments of Hamas’s statement are divided. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially viewed the response as a rejection of Trump’s plan, professional officials handling the hostage file considered it a positive development that could open the door to a deal.

One senior Israeli official told Channel 12 that Netanyahu was “surprised” by Trump’s swift declaration and stressed the importance of coordinating closely with Washington to avoid the perception that Hamas had given an unconditional positive reply.