Dozens were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza yesterday, local health officials said, despite a demand from US President Donald Trump for Israel to stop bombing in response to a declaration by Hamas that it was ready to free hostages under his plan to end the two-year-old war.
At least 36 people were killed in bombardments and air strikes in the devastated Palestinian enclave since Trump demanded Israel halt its attacks late on Friday.
Eighteen people died in sporadic incidents, while 18 people, including children, were killed and several others wounded in an Israeli strike on a house in the Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza City, medics said.
The attack damaged several buildings nearby.
Israel said it had targeted a Hamas fighter who had posed a threat to its troops in the area, and that reports of casualties were under review.
“The IDF regrets any harm caused to uninvolved civilians and works to mitigate harm to uninvolved civilians as much as possible,” the Israel Defence Forces said in a statement.
Yesterday, Trump said he appreciated that Israel had ‘temporarily stopped the bombing’, and he urged Hamas that controls Gaza, to move quickly on his plan ‘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!” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
Hamas had drawn a welcoming response from Trump on Friday by saying it accepted certain key parts of his 20-point peace proposal, including ending the war, Israel’s withdrawal, and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian captives.
But the group has left some questions unanswered, such as whether it would be willing to disarm, a key demand from Israel to end the war.
In Washington, a White House official said yesterday that Trump was sending his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Egypt to finalise the technical details of the hostage release and discuss a lasting peace deal.
Egypt will also host delegations from Israel and Hamas tomorrow to discuss the anticipated exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, the country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
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