Israel's response to Trump's Gaza peace plan met with silence from Netanyahu, weekend of deadly strikes

Upon the unveiling of President Trump's Gaza peace plan on September 29, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially expressed support for the proposal. The plan, aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, was announced with Netanyahu alongside Trump at the White House.

However, the period immediately following the announcement saw a significant escalation of violence in the Gaza region. Despite Trump's direct call on October 3, 2025, for Israel to "immediately stop bombing Gaza" after Hamas expressed willingness to negotiate, Israeli forces launched multiple deadly strikes.

On October 4, 2025, at least seven Palestinians, including two children, were killed in Israeli attacks that included drone strikes and artillery shelling across Gaza. Reports indicated that Netanyahu was reportedly surprised by Trump's public appeal to halt the bombings, viewing Hamas's response as a rejection of the peace proposal, suggesting a disconnect between the U.S. call for de-escalation and Israel's ongoing military actions.