In a dramatic turnaround spurred by direct U.S. intervention, Israel’s political leadership has ordered the military to halt its major offensive in Gaza City, according to reports from Israel’s Army Radio and the Kan public broadcaster. The order came down on Saturday after the U.S. President reportedly demanded an end to the strikes to create space for his high-stakes peace initiative, which received a surprisingly positive, albeit partial, acceptance from Hamas late last night.
According to Army Radio, the directive instructs Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip to reduce offensive operations to a minimum and shift to a defensive posture. This sudden halt to what was an intense and ongoing campaign to conquer the city is the most tangible sign yet that a major diplomatic breakthrough is underway. The order was reportedly issued following urgent overnight talks between senior Israeli and American officials.
The move is a direct consequence of the diplomatic momentum created by Hamas’s formal response to the U.S. peace plan. On Friday night, Hamas agreed to the immediate release of all Israeli hostages and to cede administrative control of Gaza, two core tenets of the American proposal. While the group sidestepped the issue of its own disarmament, its positive response on the other key points was enough to trigger a powerful push by the U.S. to de-escalate the fighting and seize the opportunity for a deal.
In parallel with the halt in offensive operations, the IDF is actively preparing for the first stage of the U.S. plan: securing the release of the hostages. The IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, held a late-night operational assessment with top commanders, ordering the military to prepare for the complex mission.
According to a military statement, all necessary IDF capabilities are being shifted to the Southern Command to provide maximum protection for Israeli forces and to facilitate the hostage exchange process. The military stressed the need for “vigilance, speed, and full security priority,” indicating that while the main offensive is on hold, forces are on high alert to respond to any threats during the delicate implementation phase.
The twin developments—a halt to the Gaza City assault at Washington’s behest and active military preparations for a hostage release—show a clear and decisive pivot from a military-first strategy to a diplomatic one. With negotiations on the final details of the deal expected to begin imminently, the focus of the conflict has shifted from the battlefield in Gaza to the negotiating table.
Footage Charlie Kirk has been shot
Charlie Kirk has been shot
