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Trump Urges Israel to Halt Gaza Bombing as Hamas Signals Partial Acceptance of Peace Plan
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday called on Israel to immediately stop bombing the Gaza Strip after Hamas said it had accepted parts of his peace proposal aimed at ending nearly two years of war.
Hamas announced it was willing to release hostages and hand over control of Gaza to other Palestinian factions but noted that several elements of the plan required “further consultations” among Palestinian groups.
Reacting to the statement, Trump posted on social media, “I believe they are ready for a lasting peace,” adding that the situation in Gaza was “far too dangerous” to safely retrieve hostages while airstrikes continued. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly,” he wrote.
In a later video message, Trump thanked key regional and Muslim nations — including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey — for their support of the peace initiative, calling the development “a big day.” He added, “We’ll see how it all turns out. We have to get the final word down in concrete.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded that Israel was prepared to implement the “first stage” of the Trump plan, believed to involve the release of hostages. However, his office later clarified that Israel remained committed to ending the war based on its previously stated principles, without confirming alignment with Hamas’s terms.
The Israeli military said on Saturday that it stood ready to enact the initial phase of the plan but emphasized that “all IDF capabilities will be allocated to the Southern Command to ensure troop protection.”
Trump’s latest push for a ceasefire was met with cautious optimism across the Middle East and Europe. Key mediators Egypt and Qatar said they would continue working on the plan, while the European Union described the progress as “encouraging.” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged all sides to “seize the moment” and reiterated support for a two-state solution.
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed the sentiment, posting that “the release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach,” and called for swift action to secure peace.
The main Israeli hostage families’ organization praised Trump’s call for a halt in fighting, saying it was “essential to prevent serious and irreversible harm” to the captives, and urged Netanyahu to begin “efficient and swift negotiations.”
Still, critical elements of Trump’s proposal remain uncertain. Hamas said decisions regarding Gaza’s governance and Palestinian rights must reflect a “unanimous Palestinian stance” in line with international law, and notably did not mention disarmament — a central Israeli demand.
Under Trump’s plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages — about 20 believed to be alive — within three days, surrender power and disarm. In return, Israel would withdraw forces, release Palestinian prisoners, and allow humanitarian aid and reconstruction under international oversight.
The proposal also envisions Gaza being placed under temporary international administration, reportedly overseen by Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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