CAIRO/GAZA, Oct 4 (Reuters) – Dozens have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza on Saturday, native well being officers stated, regardless of a requirement from U.S. President Donald Trump for Israel to cease bombing in response to a declaration by Hamas that it was able to free hostages underneath his plan to finish the two-year-old battle.
With ceasefire talks as a consequence of start in Egypt within the coming week, Trump stated on Saturday on his Fact Social platform that Israel had agreed to an “initial withdrawal line” inside Gaza and that “when Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective.” Not less than 36 folks have been killed in bombardments and airstrikes within the devastated Palestinian enclave since Trump pressed Israel to halt its assaults late on Friday.
Eighteen folks died in sporadic incidents, whereas 18 folks, together with kids, have been killed and a number of other others wounded in an Israeli strike on a home within the Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza Metropolis, medics stated. The assault broken a number of buildings close by.
Israel stated it had focused a Hamas militant who had posed a menace to its troops within the space, and that experiences of casualties have been underneath evaluation.
The navy “regrets any harm caused to uninvolved civilians and works to mitigate harm to uninvolved civilians as much as possible,” it stated in a press release.
Hamas stated in a press release, referring to the Israeli prime minister, that “the continuation of the occupation’s bombing and massacres exposes Netanyahu’s lies about reducing military operations against civilians.”
Trump Urges Hamas To Transfer Quick On His Gaza Plan
Early on Saturday, Trump stated he appreciated that Israel had “temporarily stopped the bombing,” and he urged Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, to maneuver rapidly on his plan “or else all bets will be off.”
“I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Let’s get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly!” Trump stated on Fact Social.
Hamas had drawn a welcoming response from Trump on Friday by saying it accepted sure key elements of his 20-point peace proposal, together with ending the battle, Israel’s withdrawal, and the discharge of Israeli hostages and Palestinian captives. However the group has left some points topic to additional negotiation, in addition to questions unanswered, resembling whether or not it might be prepared to disarm, a key demand from Israel to finish the battle.
Trump posted in a while Saturday: “After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas.”
He stated that after Hamas agrees to it, a ceasefire would take impact, “the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal.” He didn’t elaborate.
There was no speedy affirmation from Israel, which has proven little willingness to considerably pull again its forces. Hamas didn’t instantly reply to a request for additional remark.
Earlier than Trump’s publish, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a televised assertion that the primary stage of the plan requires Hamas to free the hostages and for Israeli forces to “redeploy in a way” that they “continue to hold all of the controlling areas deep inside the Strip.”
A White Home official stated Trump was sending his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to Egypt to finalize the technical particulars of the hostage launch and talk about an enduring peace deal.
Egypt may even host delegations from Israel and Hamas on Monday, the nation’s International Ministry stated.
Netanyahu stated the intention of Israel and the U.S. was to restrict the negotiations to some days.
Netanyahu stated he hoped to announce the return of the captives in the course of the Jewish vacation of Sukkot, which lasts from October 6-13, all whereas the Israeli navy remained deep in Gaza.
Hamas can be disarmed and Gaza demilitarized within the second part of Trump’s plan, Netanyahu stated, warning that it might occur both politically or militarily.
Trump’s plan sees the navy finally withdrawing to Gaza’s perimeter however doesn’t lay out any timeframe.
The prime minister spoke as tens of hundreds took to the streets in Tel Aviv in help of a deal to finish the battle. Hamas’ response to the plan drew optimistic statements from world leaders, who urged an finish to the deadliest battle involving Israel since its creation in 1948 and referred to as for the discharge of Israelis nonetheless held within the enclave.
One other attainable increase to peace hopes got here with a supportive assertion from the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which is smaller than Hamas however seen as extra hardline.
The group, which additionally holds hostages, on Saturday endorsed Hamas’ response. Hamas’ stance could elevate the spirit of Gazans, who had watched one ceasefire effort after one other fail as Israeli strikes hit the strip over the previous two years, making a humanitarian disaster and displacing tens of millions.
Some Palestinians expressed worry that Netanyahu, who heads Israel’s most far-right authorities in its historical past, will in the end withdraw from any plan to finish the battle.
“What is important is that Netanyahu does not sabotage this, because now that Hamas agreed, Netanyahu will disagree, as he usually does,” stated Jerusalem resident Jamal Shihada.
Worldwide Assist For Finish To ‘Horrific War’
Israeli media reported that the nation’s political echelon had instructed the navy to cut back offensive exercise in Gaza.
Trump has invested important political capital in efforts to finish the battle that has left U.S. ally Israel more and more remoted internationally. Trump stated on Friday he believed Hamas had proven it was “ready for a lasting PEACE” and he referred to as on Netanyahu’s authorities to halt airstrikes in Gaza.
Domestically, the prime minister is caught between rising strain to finish the battle — from hostage households and a war-weary public — and calls for from hardline members of his coalition who insist there should be no let-up in Israel’s marketing campaign in Gaza.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated on X that halting assaults on Gaza was a “grave mistake.”
Israel started attacking Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel during which some 1,200 folks have been killed and 251 taken hostage, based on Israeli tallies. Israel says 48 hostages stay, 20 of whom are alive.
Israel’s marketing campaign has killed greater than 67,000 folks in Gaza, most of them civilians, based on Gaza well being authorities.
(Further reporting by Mohammed Torokman, Mussa Qawasma, Pesha Magid, Rami Amichay, Alexander Cornwell and Maher Hatem; Writing by Michael Georgy and Matt Spetalnick; Enhancing by Susan Fenton, William Maclean, Rod Nickel)
