LAST UPDATE | 4 Oct

US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has urged Hamas to accept the proposed peace deal for the end of war in Gaza as the deadline for acceptance he set nears.

He wrote on Truth Social: “I appreciate that Israel has temporarily stopped the bombing in order to give the Hostage release and Peace Deal a chance to be completed. Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off.

“I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Let’s get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly!”

This announcement came hours after Trump ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza once Hamas said it had accepted some elements of his plan.

Trump welcomed the Hamas statement, saying: “I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE.”

Earlier, Israel’s army said that it would advance preparations for the first phase of Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza and return all the remaining hostages, after Hamas said it accepted parts of the deal while others still needed to be negotiated.

The army said it was instructed by Israel’s leaders to “advance readiness” for the implementation of the plan.

Smoke rises following an Israeli army shelling in central Gaza Strip today. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

An official who was not authorised to speak to the media on the record said that Israel has moved to a defensive-only position in Gaza and will not actively strike.

The official said no forces have been removed from the strip.

The president appears keen to deliver on pledges to end the war and return dozens of hostages ahead of the second anniversary of the attack on Tuesday.

His proposal unveiled earlier this week has widespread international support and was also endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Tánaiste Simon Harris has welcomed the commitment by Hamas to release all hostages, saying this morning it “must happen immediately”.

“This moment to end the unconscionable human suffering must be grasped by all. Stop the bombing, silence the guns, end the famine and allow a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza,” he said.

“There is also an opportunity to agree a path to a permanent peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Ireland steadfastly supports a Two State Solution.” He added that Ireland “stands ready to assist in every practical way to achieve peace”.

Mourners pray over the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli army shelling, during their funeral outside Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. AP Photo / Abdel Kareem Hana AP Photo / Abdel Kareem Hana / Abdel Kareem Hana

On Friday, Netanyahu’s office said Israel was committed to ending the war, without addressing potential gaps with the militant group.

Netanyahu has come under increasing pressure from the international community and Trump to end the conflict.

The official told the Associated Press that Netanyahu put out the rare late-night statement on the sabbath saying that Israel has started to prepare for Trump’s plan after pressure from the US administration.

The official also said that a negotiating team was getting ready to travel, but there was no date specified.

A senior Egyptian official says talks are under way for the release of hostages, as well as hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention.

The official, who is involved in the ceasefire negotiations, also said Arab mediators are preparing for a comprehensive dialogue among Palestinians.

The talks are aimed at unifying the Palestinian position towards Gaza’s future.

Today, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the second most powerful militant group in Gaza, said it accepted Hamas’ response to the Trump plan.

The group had previously rejected the proposal days earlier.