Following statements by Hamas and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the proposal to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir held a high-level meeting with senior generals for a “special assessment of the situation in light of recent developments.”
According to a military statement, “under the directive of the political leadership,” Zamir instructed the IDF to prepare “for the implementation of the first phase of Trump’s plan for the release of hostages,” without providing specific details about the order’s contents, Times of Israel reported.
The statement also confirmed reports that political leaders had ordered the IDF to halt its offensive to capture Gaza City and instead shift focus to defensive operations, stressing that:
“The safety of our forces is of paramount importance, and all IDF capabilities will be assigned to the Southern Command to ensure the protection of our troops.”
The Chief of Staff emphasized that, due to operational sensitivity, forces must maintain “heightened readiness and awareness.” The statement further noted the need for “rapid response to neutralize any emerging threats.”
This development follows a video message from U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he urged Israel to “immediately stop the bombings in Gaza” after Hamas accepted the American peace proposal to end the conflict.
Israel’s military radio reported that the new order instructs a significant reduction in operations, limiting ground forces to so-called “defensive maneuvers.”
The directive reportedly came after overnight talks between Israeli and American officials.
