Smoke rises over Gaza City following an airstrike on the 3rd (local time). EPA=Yonhap News.

It has been reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will temporarily halt operations to capture Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip following significant progress in negotiations with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, mediated by the U.S. government.

According to Israeli media outlets such as The Times of Israel, the Israeli government ordered the military to suspend its Gaza City capture operations after U.S. President Trump urged Israel to stop the bombing on the 3rd (local time).

The order, issued following consultations between Israeli and U.S. authorities, also includes instructions to scale back operations to a minimum, directing ground troops in the Gaza Strip to shift solely to defensive activities.

In relation to this, the IDF effectively confirmed the reports, stating, "The safety of our troops is our top priority, and all military capabilities will be deployed under the Southern Command to focus on force protection."

Previously, Hamas announced its willingness to release all Israeli hostages, accepting part of the peace initiative for the Gaza Strip proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The halt to the IDF’s Gaza City operations serves as a preparation for a ceasefire to implement the terms outlined in the peace plan, including the release of hostages and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.

IDF Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir has ordered his forces to be prepared for the implementation of the first phase of the hostage release plan proposed by President Trump, in accordance with government directives. However, the military did not disclose specific details of the instructions.

Israel had previously intensified pressure on Hamas by launching a ground offensive aimed at taking control of Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had designated Gaza City as Hamas's final stronghold, vowing to completely seize the area and eliminate the group.

Out of the 20-point peace initiative proposed by President Trump, Hamas has accepted only the provision regarding the release of hostages.

The group did not specifically address the issues of disarmament and the surrender of weapons, which form the core of Israel's demands in the proposal.

Following Hamas's decision to release all Israeli hostages, Israel also expressed its intention to begin the process of ending the war in the Gaza Strip under U.S. mediation.

The office of Prime Minister Netanyahu released a statement early this morning, declaring, "Israel will end the war in full cooperation with President Trump."

In a post on Truth Social just two hours after Hamas's statement, President Trump stated that he believes Hamas "is preparing for a lasting peace" and urged that "Israel must immediately stop the bombing of the Gaza Strip."

As President Trump has also responded positively to Hamas's stance on his peace proposal, there is growing speculation that an exit strategy for the war in the Gaza Strip, which has lasted for nearly two years, may finally be in sight.

Yonhap News