(TJV NEWS) The Israeli military was ordered on Saturday to suspend its major offensive in Gaza City after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Hamas had accepted his ceasefire proposal, The Times of Israel reported.

According to The Times of Israel, the directive came from Israel’s political leadership after overnight talks with U.S. officials. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was told to halt further advances in Gaza City, restrict activity to defensive operations, and maintain its encirclement of the city. Troops remain deployed, but will not be pushing forward during the pause.

In its coverage, The Times of Israel stressed that the IDF warned Palestinians not to re-enter Gaza City, labeling the area a “dangerous combat zone.” Additional drones were dispatched to monitor the situation and protect soldiers.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was said to be caught off guard by Trump’s public demand that Israel stop bombing Gaza, The Times of Israel noted. While Netanyahu’s circle reportedly viewed Hamas’s response as largely negative, the prime minister ultimately agreed to go along with Washington’s push to pursue negotiations.

Ceasefire and hostage talks could begin as early as Sunday in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff expected to arrive in the region, The Times of Israel wrote. Israel is preparing negotiating teams and prisoner release lists in advance of the talks.

Meanwhile, Hamas’s civil defense agency claimed that Israeli airstrikes and shelling destroyed homes and killed civilians, though The Times of Israel underscored that these reports could not be independently confirmed or tied to events after Trump’s announcement.

The temporary halt marks a significant shift in Israel’s Gaza campaign. As The Times of Israel emphasized, troops are holding their ground but will not be withdrawing. The move sets the stage for potential hostage releases in the coming days — with Israel reserving the right to resume its offensive if Hamas backtracks on the deal.