The US President said ‘when Hamas confirms’ a ceasefire will be effective ‘immediately’ and a prisoner exchange will begin
Donald Trump has claimed Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to an “initial withdrawal line” from Gaza.
The US President suggested it would pave the way for an “immediate” ceasefire in the war-torn region, “when Hamas confirms”, setting the stage for the next phase of Israel’s withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: “After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas.
“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, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter and, STAY TUNED!”
It comes as Netanyahu claimed the Israeli hostages held by Hamas will be returned home in the coming days.
He spoke after Hamas said it had accepted some elements of a US peace plan. Trump earlier welcomed the statement but on Saturday warned that “Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off.”
Speaking during a televised address, the Israeli leader insisted “those who are alive and those who have passed away” – would come back to their homeland during the coming Feast of the Tabernacles, or Sukkot.
“At the beginning of the war, one of our officials said, we doubt if we’ll be able to bring even one hostage alive back,” Netanyahu said.
“But I never gave up on the others nor on achieving the other objectives of the war,” he added.
The US President had earlier warned on his Truth Social platform that he would “not tolerate delay” in the implementation of his proposals for the region, writing: “Let’s get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly!”
Dozens were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza on Saturday, local health officials said, despite a demand from 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.
With ceasefire talks due to begin in the coming days in Egypt, at least 36 people were killed in bombardments and airstrikes in the devastated Palestinian enclave since Trump pressed Israel to 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 militant who had posed a threat to its troops in the area, and that reports of casualties were under review.
The military “regrets any harm caused to uninvolved civilians and works to mitigate harm to uninvolved civilians as much as possible,” it said in a statement.
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 issues subject to further negotiation, as well as questions unanswered, such as whether it would be willing to disarm, a key demand from Israel to end the war.
