The Israeli military has shifted to defensive operations in Gaza after President Trump called on Israel to halt its strikes in the enclave, the IDF said in a statement on Saturday morning local time.

Why it matters: This is the closest that Israel and Hamas have come to ending the war since the October 7 attacks almost exactly two years ago. • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a halt to the operation to occupy Gaza City and a suspension of airstrikes to "prepare for the immediate implementation of the first phase of the Trump Plan for the immediate release of all hostages," his office said.

Driving the news: Trump said Friday in a Truth Social post that Israel should stop bombing Gaza "so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly." Trump stressed he now believ

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