In an unexpected development on Saturday, Israel struck Gaza killing six people, hours after US President Donald Trump called for a halt to the bombing. Trump said that Hamas is ready for peace and has agreed to release hostages and accepting some other terms in a US plan to end the war.
The Israeli fire killed six people across Gaza Strip, local authorities said, Reuters reported. Another strike killed four people in a house in Gaza City while one killed two others in Khan Younis in the south, medical workers and local authorities confirmed.
This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said early on Saturday that Israel was preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages following Hamas’ response.
Israel’s ‘Gaza’ warning to residents, Trump’s peace plan
Meanwhile, the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson issued a warning for residents of Gaza city, and said that the place remained a “dangerous” combat zone.
In a post on X, he reportedly asked residents to avoid going north in the enclave or nearing any areas where the military operates.
Earlier on Saturday, Israeli media reported that the country’s political leaders have instructed the military to reduce offensive activity in Gaza. Reuters stated that the Israeli military chief of staff asked forces in a statement to advance readiness for the implementation of the first phase of Trump’s plan, without mentioning what the action would be.
Hamas, meanwhile, responded positively to Trump’s 20-point plan after the US president gave the group until Sunday to accept or face grave consequences. Trump’s warning became intense weeks after he tried negotiating a common ground between the two sides. He has, during his entire second tenure so far, projected himself as the biggest peacemaker who is stopping wars across the world.
On Friday, he said that Hamas had shown it was “ready for a lasting PEACE” and put the onus on Netanyahu’s government. “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,” he added.
Reacting to this, Israel PM’s office said the “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.”
Israel began its offensive in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken as hostages back to Gaza. Multiple rounds of hostage exchanges have taken place between the two sides. Israel says 48 hostages remain, 20 of whom are alive.