Trump pushes Gaza ceasefire as Israeli strikes kill dozens

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 36 Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday, local health officials said. The attacks came just hours after U.S. President

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 36 Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday, local health officials said. The attacks came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israel to stop bombing following Hamas’ statement that it was ready to release hostages under his proposed Gaza peace plan.

According to medical sources, one of the deadliest strikes hit a house in the Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza City. Eighteen people, including several children, were killed in that single attack. Many nearby buildings were also damaged. The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas fighter who posed a threat to its troops in the area and added that civilian casualties were being reviewed.

“The IDF regrets any harm caused to civilians and continues to take steps to minimise it,” the Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement.

President Trump said he appreciated Israel’s temporary halt in bombing but urged Hamas to move quickly on his peace plan. He warned that delays or half-hearted cooperation could end the opportunity for lasting peace. “Let’s get this done fast. Everyone will be treated fairly,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Hamas had accepted several parts of Trump’s 20-point peace proposal, including a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, and the exchange of hostages. However, it has not yet clarified whether it will disarm, one of Israel’s key conditions to end the war.

A White House official confirmed that Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, would travel to Egypt to finalise details of the proposed deal. Egypt also announced it would host delegations from Israel and Hamas on Monday to discuss the exchange of hostages and the next steps toward a long-term peace agreement.

The development drew cautious optimism from world leaders, who have called for an immediate end to the conflict. The Iran-backed group Islamic Jihad, which also holds hostages, expressed support for Hamas’ response — a move seen as potentially helpful in moving negotiations forward.

In Gaza and the West Bank, the news offered a glimmer of hope. “May this bring relief to the people of Gaza. They have suffered too long,” said Sharif al-Fakhouri, a resident of Hebron. But others expressed doubt that the plan would succeed. “Whenever Hamas agrees, Netanyahu finds a reason to disagree,” said Jamal Shihada from Jerusalem.

Israel’s government said it was preparing to implement the first stage of Trump’s plan — the release of hostages held in Gaza. Soon after, Israeli media reported that the military had been told to scale down offensive operations in the enclave.

Trump has invested significant political energy into ending the war, which has increasingly isolated Israel on the world stage. He has described Hamas’ partial acceptance of his plan as a “positive step” and placed responsibility on Israel’s government to act.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces growing pressure at home. Families of Israeli hostages are demanding an end to the war, while members of his far-right coalition insist that military operations must continue. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the pause in attacks a “grave mistake,” saying it only helps Hamas.

The war, now in its second year, began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken. Israel’s response has devastated Gaza, where more than 67,000 Palestinians — most of them civilians — have been killed, according to local health authorities.