The army said it was instructed by Israel’s leaders to “advance readiness” for the implementation of the plan. This announcement came hours after Trump ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza once Hamas said it had accepted some elements of his plan. On Saturday, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the second most powerful militant group in Gaza, said it accepted Hamas’ response to the Trump plan. Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages — around 20 of them believed to be alive — within three days. On Saturday Israel’s army warned Palestinians against trying to return to the city calling it a “dangerous combat zone”.