Israel-Gaza live: Israel preparing for ‘immediate implementation’ of first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan | Gaza
Israel preparing for ‘immediate implementation’ of first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said that Israel is preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages after Hamas agreed to release hostages and some other terms in a US plan to end the war.
The Palestinian militant group on Friday issued its response to Trump’s 20-point plan after the US president gave Hamas until Sunday to accept or face grave consequences.
Trump said he believed Hamas had showed it was “ready for a lasting PEACE” and he put the onus on Netanyahu’s government.
“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
Netanyahu’s office said Israel “will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which align with President Trump’s vision”.
However the statement made no mention of Trump’s demand that Israel immediately stop bombing Gaza and witnesses said Israeli military planes intensified bombing in Gaza City after Trump’s statement.
We’ll bring you the latest developments throughout the day.
Key events
Reuters provides more detail on Israel striking Gaza overnight.
Israeli fire killed six people across the Gaza Strip, according to local authorities.
One strike killed four people in a house in Gaza City while another killed two others in Khan Younis in the south, medical workers and local authorities said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said early on Saturday that Israel was preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages following Hamas’ response.
Shortly after, Israeli media reported that the country’s political echelon had instructed the military to reduce offensive activity in Gaza.
The Israeli military chief of staff instructed forces in a statement to advance readiness for the implementation of the first phase of Trump’s plan, without mentioning whether there would be reduction of military activity in Gaza.
Gaza civil defence agency says Israeli airstrikes and shelling continue despite Trump’s appeal
William Christou
Gaza’s civil defence agency said on Saturday that Israel had carried out dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City despite Trump’s appeal, William Christou writes.
“It was a very violent night, during which the [Israeli army] carried out dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City and other areas in the Strip, despite President Trump’s call to halt the bombing,” civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP. He said 20 homes were destroyed in the attacks.
Gaza City’s Baptist hospital said it had received casualties from a strike on a home in the city’s Tuffah neighbourhood, including four dead and several wounded while Nasser hospital in Khan Younis said two children were killed and eight people wounded in a drone strike on a tent in a camp for displaced Gazans.
Donald Trump appears keen to deliver on pledges to end the war and return dozens of hostages ahead of the second anniversary of the attack on Tuesday, AP reports.
Here’s how the potential Gaza deal has been received:
Key mediators Egypt and Qatar welcomed the latest developments, and Majed Al Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s foreign ministry, said they would “continue discussions on the plan.”
A spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he “urges all parties to seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end.” French president Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media that “the release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach!”
EU commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Hamas’ stated readiness to release hostages and engage on the basis of the recent @POTUS proposal is encouraging. This moment must be seized.
An immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages are within reach. Europe will support all efforts aiming to end the suffering of civilians, and to promote the only viable solution for peace, the two-state solution.”
The main organisation representing the families of Israeli hostages said Trump’s demand to halt the fighting “is essential to prevent serious and irreversible harm to the hostages.” It called on Netanyahu “to immediately begin efficient and swift negotiations to bring all our hostages home.”
Israel preparing for ‘immediate implementation’ of first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said that Israel is preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages after Hamas agreed to release hostages and some other terms in a US plan to end the war.
The Palestinian militant group on Friday issued its response to Trump’s 20-point plan after the US president gave Hamas until Sunday to accept or face grave consequences.
Trump said he believed Hamas had showed it was “ready for a lasting PEACE” and he put the onus on Netanyahu’s government.
“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
Netanyahu’s office said Israel “will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which align with President Trump’s vision”.
However the statement made no mention of Trump’s demand that Israel immediately stop bombing Gaza and witnesses said Israeli military planes intensified bombing in Gaza City after Trump’s statement.
We’ll bring you the latest developments throughout the day.
