US President Donald Trump has ordered Israel to stop bombing the Gaza Strip after Hamas accepted some elements of his plan to end the nearly two-year war and return all the remaining hostages taken in the October 7, 2023 attack.

Hamas said it was willing to release the hostages and hand over power to other Palestinians, but that other aspects of the plan require further consultations. Senior Hamas officials suggested there were still major disagreements that required further negotiations.

There was no immediate response from Israel, which is largely shut down for the Jewish Sabbath, and Hamas' response fell short of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's demands that the group surrender and disarm.

But Trump welcomed Hamas' response, saying: "I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE."

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