A number of individuals lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza over the weekend, as reported by local health officials. This occurred despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for Israel to cease its bombing in response to Hamas’ announcement of willingness to release hostages as part of Trump’s peace plan to end the ongoing conflict.
Trump, using his Truth Social platform, stated that Israel had agreed to an initial withdrawal line within Gaza and emphasized that a ceasefire would be implemented immediately once Hamas confirmed its agreement.
Since Trump’s demand for Israel to stop its attacks on Friday, at least 36 people have died in bombings and airstrikes in Gaza. Among them, 18 individuals were killed in separate incidents, while another 18, including children, lost their lives in an Israeli strike on a residence in the Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, resulting in damage to nearby structures.
The Israeli military defended its actions, stating that it targeted a Hamas militant who posed a threat to its forces in the area, and is currently assessing reports of casualties.
The military expressed regret for any harm caused to innocent civilians, emphasizing its efforts to minimize harm to non-combatant individuals.
In response, Hamas criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that the continued bombing and violence expose his falsehoods regarding reducing military operations against civilians.
Trump Urges Prompt Action from Hamas
Trump commended Israel for temporarily halting its airstrikes early Saturday and urged Hamas, the controlling faction in Gaza, to swiftly act on his plan to ensure a successful resolution, warning of consequences if there were any delays.
On Friday, Hamas had positively acknowledged certain aspects of Trump’s peace proposal, including ending the conflict, Israeli withdrawal, and the release of hostages and captives. However, questions remain, such as whether Hamas is willing to disarm, a crucial demand from Israel for ending the hostilities.
Later on Saturday, Trump confirmed that Israel had accepted the initial withdrawal line, which was shared with Hamas after negotiations. He outlined that upon Hamas’ agreement, a ceasefire would be enforced, leading to a process of hostage release and setting the stage for further withdrawals.
While there has been no immediate confirmation from Israel on these developments, Trump dispatched his envoys to Egypt to finalize technical details regarding the hostage release and discuss a lasting peace agreement.
Egypt is set to host delegations from Israel and Hamas to address the potential exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners on Monday, as per the country’s Foreign Ministry.
