Gaza Faces Intense Israeli Bombardment Despite Trump’s Order to Halt Assault

The Gaza Strip, particularly Gaza City, has been under relentless Israeli bombardment, with residents describing it as if ‘the gates of hell’ have been opened on the Palestinian enclave, despite US President Donald Trump ordering Israel to stop the bombing of Gaza ‘immediately’ following a positive response from Hamas to his Gaza plan.

Hamas submitted on Friday its response to US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan to end the two-year genocide, agreeing to release all Israeli captives. The group said it is ready to “immediately enter negotiations through mediators to discuss the details” of the exchange.

Trump welcomed the Hamas response, and wrote on his Truth Social site that he believes the Palestinian group is “ready for a lasting PEACE”.

In a major announcement, he also said that “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” so that the captives could be released.

World leaders also welcomed the group’s response and called on Israel to stop the genocide immediately.

Israeli Claims of Reducing Assault

Unconfirmed reports from Israel’s Army Radio also claim Israel has instructed the military to reduce Gaza operations to a “minimum”, following Trump’s order, and only “carry out defensive actions” in Gaza.

“The practical implication: the operation to conquer [Gaza City] has been blocked – and halted for now,” Army Radio’s military correspondent, Doron Kadosh, said in a post on X.

Gaza Under Israeli Attack

However, local sources and residents reported that last night was particularly harsh amid relentless and indiscriminate Israeli bombardment, especially targeting Gaza City. Attacks have also been reported since the early hours of Saturday morning.

Gaza’s Civil Defence said on Saturday that Israel carried out dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City.