BREAKING: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been instructed by the political echelon to shift to defensive operations only in the Gaza Strip and to halt the operation to occupy Gaza City, according to a senior Israeli official. This directive, issued during the night of October 4th, 2025, follows President Donald Trump's public call for Israel to immediately cease bombing Gaza to facilitate the release of hostages. The Chief of Staff convened a special situation assessment with senior military officials to discuss the developments and promote readiness to implement the first phase of the Trump program for hostage release. During a special situation assessment convened by the Chief of Staff, military leadership, including the Deputy Chief of Staff and heads of key divisions, reviewed the current situation. The assessment was conducted in light of developments during the night and in accordance with the direction of the political echelon. The Chief of Staff subsequently instructed the promotion of readiness for the initial phase of the Trump program aimed at releasing hostages. A senior Israeli official confirmed via Telegram that the campaign for the occupation of Gaza City has been staged and arrested for now, with a focus on defensive actions. The IDF Spokesman stated that the security of Israeli forces is a top priority, and all IDF capabilities will be allocated to the Southern Command to support forces on the ground. The Chief of Staff emphasized the need for high vigilance and rapid response from all forces due to operational sensitivity. This development aligns with President Trump's statement on Truth Social on October 3rd, 2025, around 9:45 PM UTC, where he urged Israel to stop bombing Gaza, asserting that Hamas is "ready for lasting peace."
