Hamas welcomes Trump's Gaza ceasefire call, urges pressure on Israel

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement on Monday that the Palestinian group welcomes President Donald Trump's call for Israel to halt its attacks on the Gaza Strip, describing the remarks as confirmation of Washington's commitment to the ceasefire track. "The remarks confirm President Trump's commitment to the ceasefire track," Qassem said.

He also called on the US leader to "pressure the [Israeli] occupation government to abide by what was agreed upon to begin the second phase of Trump's Gaza peace plan." The statement comes as Israeli ceasefire violations continue to claim Palestinian lives throughout the embattled enclave.

Trump confirms backchannel Hamas talks

Speaking earlier on Monday, Trump said that Israel "should not be striking in Gaza," noting that Hamas had agreed to lay down its arms if Israel carried out its obligations under the peace plan. The US president added that Washington maintains a separate communication channel with Hamas.

Trump went on to assert that "ultimately, they [Hamas] are giving up their guns," as Washington pushes efforts to implement the Gaza peace plan, which includes the disarmament of Hamas and an Israeli military withdrawal from the Palestinian territory.

Death toll mounts amid truce violations

According to estimates, Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured over 174,000, mostly women and children. The attacks have destroyed 90 percent of the territory's infrastructure.

The Hamas statement comes amid ongoing Israeli ceasefire violations — including airstrikes, shelling and gunfire — that have continued to kill Palestinians throughout the enclave on an almost daily basis.