Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to announce the release of all hostages from Gaza in “the coming days” as Israel and Hamas prepare indirect negotiations on the US presumed peace program to end the war in Gaza.
In a brief statement later on Saturday, Netanyahu said he had sent the delegation to Egypt to “confirm technical details,” adding, “Our goal is to contain these negotiations within a time frame of several days.”
Under the plan, Hamas released the remaining 48 hostages (of which around 20 were believed to be alive) within three days. Israel will halt its attacks, withdraw from much of Gaza, give up power and disarming to free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and allow for an influx of humanitarian aid and ultimate reconstruction.
Despite the momentum, Netanyahu signaled that there would not be a full withdrawal of Israel from Gaza, which Hamas has long demanded.
After Hamas said he had accepted some elements of the US plan, President Donald Trump welcomed him, but Netanyahu said that Israeli forces will continue to hold territory controlled in Gaza, and that Hamas will be disarmed through the second stage of the plan, diplomacy, or through military routes by us.
On his part, Trump warned on Saturday that “Hamas must move quickly, or all bets will be off.” The US president later said that once Hamas confirmed Gaza’s “early withdrawal line” the ceasefire would begin soon.
The maps with his social media posts appeared to indicate that much of Gaza is still open to Israeli forces.
Dozens have been killed despite Israel’s appeal to halt the bombing
Meanwhile, Gaza hospital officials on Saturday said at least 22 people, including women and children, have been killed despite President Donald Trump’s call for Israel to stop the bombing of Gaza.
Israeli forces on Saturday directed leaders to prepare for the first phase of the US plan, with local media reporting that the army would move to a defensive-only position in Gaza and not aggressively attacking.
Still, Israeli strikes in Gaza’s Tafa district have killed at least 17 people and injured 25 people, said Fader Naim, director of Al Ali Hospital. “The strike is still underway,” Naim said.
According to Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, director of Shifa Hospital, the Israeli strike killed five Palestinians in Gaza city early on Saturday.
Israeli forces were attacked by Hamas members and said they “remorrowed the harm caused by civilians who were not involved.” At the same time, media reports say some Palestinians in Gaza City will be easing Israel’s strike on Saturday.