Israel carried out airstrikes in Gaza on Saturday, news agency Reuters reported, hours after US President Donald Trump called for an end to the bombing and announced that Hamas had agreed to release hostages and accept parts of a US plan to stop the war.
Local authorities cited by Reuters said six people were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza. Four died in a house in Gaza City and two were killed in Khan Younis in the south, according to medical workers and officials.
"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," Gaza civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told news agency AFP.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said earlier on Saturday that Israel was preparing for the "immediate implementation" of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which involves the release of Israeli hostages after Hamas responded to the US proposal.
Israeli media later reported that the country’s political leadership had instructed the military to scale down offensive operations in Gaza. The Israeli chief of staff said forces were preparing for the first phase of Trump’s plan but did not mention any reduction of military activity.
Hamas responded to Trump’s 20-point proposal after the US president gave the militant group a deadline of Sunday to agree or face "grave consequences."
Trump has presented himself as central to ending the conflict. He has put forward a plan to stop the two-year-old war that has caused tens of thousands of deaths and left Israel under international pressure.
On Friday, Trump said Hamas had shown it was "ready for a lasting PEACE" and urged Israel to change course.
"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."
Earlier, families of hostages held in Gaza had urged Netanyahu "to immediately order negotiations for the return of all hostages," Reuters reported
Netanyahu is facing pressure from hostage families and the wider public to end the war, while far-right members of his coalition want Israel to continue its campaign in Gaza.
The conflict began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli figures. Israel says 48 hostages remain in Gaza, 20 of whom are alive.
Gaza health authorities say Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 66,000 people in the territory, most of them civilians. Much of Gaza has been destroyed, and aid restrictions have led to famine conditions in some areas.
Local authorities cited by Reuters said six people were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza. Four died in a house in Gaza City and two were killed in Khan Younis in the south, according to medical workers and officials.
"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," Gaza civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told news agency AFP.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said earlier on Saturday that Israel was preparing for the "immediate implementation" of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which involves the release of Israeli hostages after Hamas responded to the US proposal.
Israeli media later reported that the country’s political leadership had instructed the military to scale down offensive operations in Gaza. The Israeli chief of staff said forces were preparing for the first phase of Trump’s plan but did not mention any reduction of military activity.
Hamas responded to Trump’s 20-point proposal after the US president gave the militant group a deadline of Sunday to agree or face "grave consequences."
Trump has presented himself as central to ending the conflict. He has put forward a plan to stop the two-year-old war that has caused tens of thousands of deaths and left Israel under international pressure.
On Friday, Trump said Hamas had shown it was "ready for a lasting PEACE" and urged Israel to change course.
"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."
Earlier, families of hostages held in Gaza had urged Netanyahu "to immediately order negotiations for the return of all hostages," Reuters reported
Netanyahu is facing pressure from hostage families and the wider public to end the war, while far-right members of his coalition want Israel to continue its campaign in Gaza.
The conflict began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli figures. Israel says 48 hostages remain in Gaza, 20 of whom are alive.
Gaza health authorities say Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 66,000 people in the territory, most of them civilians. Much of Gaza has been destroyed, and aid restrictions have led to famine conditions in some areas.
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