As Israel and Hamas get ready for indirect negotiations on a US-proposed peace plan to end the war in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he hopes to announce the release of all hostages from Gaza “in the coming days.”
In a brief statement late Saturday, Netanyahu said he has sent a delegation to Egypt “to finalise technical details,” adding that “our goal is to contain these negotiations to a time frame of a few days.”
Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages — around 20 of them believed to be alive — within three days. It would give up power and disarm, while Israel is required to halt its offensive and withdraw from much of Gaza, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and allow an influx of humanitarian aid and eventual reconstruction.
Despite the momentum, Netanyahu has signalled there would not be a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, something Hamas has long demanded.
Speaking after Hamas said it had accepted some elements of the US plan, which President Donald Trump welcomed, Netanyahu said Israel’s military will continue to hold territories it controls in Gaza, and that Hamas will be disarmed in the plan’s second phase, diplomatically, or through a military path by us.”
For his part, Trump on Saturday warned that “Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off.” The US president later said the ceasefire would begin immediately once Hamas confirms the “initial withdrawal line” in Gaza.
A map with his social media post appeared to show much of Gaza still open to Israeli forces.
Dozens killed despite call for Israel to halt bombing
Meanwhile, hospital officials in Gaza on Saturday said at least 22 people were killed, including women and children, despite US President Donald Trump’s call for Israel to stop bombing Gaza.
Israel’s army on Saturday said leaders instructed it to prepare for the US plan’s first phase, and local media reported the army had moved to a defensive-only position in Gaza and will not actively strike.
Still, an Israeli strike on Gaza City’s Tuffah neighbourhood killed at least 17 and injured 25 others, said Al-Ahli hospital director Fadel Naim. “The strikes are still ongoing,” Naim said.
According to Shifa Hospital director Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, Israeli strikes killed five Palestinians across Gaza City in the early hours of Saturday.
Israel’s military said it struck a Hamas member and “regrets any harm caused to uninvolved civilians.” At the same time, some Palestinians in Gaza City reported a notable easing of Israeli strikes Saturday, according to media reports.
