Tel Aviv [Israel]: Israeli air strikes on Saturday killed at least 70 Palestinians, including seven children aged between two months and eight years, Al Jazeera reported. The strikes came despite US President Donald Trump’s call for Israel to “immediately stop bombing” Gaza after Hamas agreed to Trump’s peace plan. Gaza City, at the centre of Israel’s military campaign, witnessed the highest number of casualties.
The strikes left 45 people dead in Gaza City, Al Jazeera reported, citing health officials. More than one million Gazans have been affected by the Israeli attacks, forcing them to leave the area and shift to southern Gaza.
In Gaza’s Tuffah neighbourhood, an airstrike on a residential building killed 18 people and injured several others. Rescue teams reported that nearby structures were also damaged in the blast.
Israeli forces also targeted a displacement camp in al-Mawasi, southern Gaza, where they had instructed residents to evacuate. Two children were killed in the attack, and at least eight others were wounded.
Trump says Israel agreed to withdrawal line
Meanwhile, Trump appreciated that Israel temporarily stopped the bombing to allow hostage release but warned Hamas not to delay or “all else all bets will be off”.
“I appreciate that Israel has temporarily stopped the bombing in order to give the Hostage release and Peace deal a chance to be completed. Hamas must move quickly 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,” he said.
Later, he posted that Israel had already indicated an initial “withdrawal line.”
“When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal,” Trump wrote.
Trump sends Kushner, Witkoff to Egypt to help broker Gaza deal
A White House official confirmed that Trump is sending Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Egypt to work out the details of the hostage release and prisoner exchange. Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said delegations from Hamas and Israel will also join the talks on Monday, Al Jazeera reported.
Hamas has signalled agreement to some parts of Trump’s plan, such as Israel’s pullout from Gaza and the exchange of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners for Israeli captives. However, the group has not clarified whether it will accept disarmament, which remains a central demand in the US proposal.
Benjamin Netanyahu pledges to disarm Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking in Jerusalem, confirmed negotiators will be working on a release timeline for the remaining captives. He stressed that Hamas must be disarmed.
“That will be achieved either through Trump’s proposal or through Israeli military action,” he said, while noting that Israeli forces will continue their operations inside Gaza.
In response, Hamas accused Israel of continuing its “crimes” despite the US push for a truce.
“The Zionist occupation army continues to commit its horrific crimes and massacres against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip,” the group said, urging Arab and Islamic states to “take urgent action to protect and provide relief to our people, ” as per Al Jazeera.
(With inputs from ANI)
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