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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks throughout a joint press convention with U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) within the State Eating Room on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., Sept. 29, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned he hopes to announce the discharge of all hostages from Gaza “within the coming days,” as Israel and Hamas put together for oblique talks in Egypt on Monday on a brand new U.S. plan to finish the conflict.
In a quick assertion late Saturday, Netanyahu mentioned he has despatched a delegation to Egypt “to finalize technical particulars,” including that “our purpose is to comprise these negotiations to a timeframe of some days.”
However Netanyahu signaled there wouldn’t be a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, one thing Hamas has lengthy demanded. He mentioned Israel’s navy will proceed to carry territories it controls in Gaza, and that Hamas shall be disarmed within the plan’s second part, diplomatically “or via a navy path by us.”
The prime minister spoke after Hamas mentioned it had accepted some components of the U.S. plan. President Donald Trump welcomed the militant group’s assertion however on Saturday warned that “Hamas should transfer shortly, or else all bets shall be off.”
Trump later mentioned the ceasefire would start instantly as soon as Hamas confirms the “preliminary withdrawal line” in Gaza. A map along with his social media put up appeared to indicate a lot of Gaza nonetheless open to Israeli forces.
Trump has additionally ordered Israel to cease bombing Gaza. Some in Gaza Metropolis reported a notable easing of Israeli strikes Saturday, although hospital officers mentioned not less than 22 folks have been killed, together with ladies and kids.
Israel’s military mentioned leaders instructed it to arrange for the U.S. plan’s first part. Israel has moved to a defensive-only place in Gaza and won’t actively strike, mentioned an official who was not approved to talk to the media on the file.
Nonetheless, an Israeli strike on Gaza Metropolis’s Tuffah neighborhood killed not less than 17 and injured 25 others, mentioned Al-Ahli hospital director Fadel Naim. “The strikes are nonetheless ongoing,” Naim mentioned. Israel’s navy mentioned it struck a Hamas member and “regrets any hurt brought on to uninvolved civilians.”
Shifa Hospital director Mohamed Abu Selmiyah earlier Saturday mentioned Israeli strikes killed 5 Palestinians throughout Gaza Metropolis.
Momentum forward of conflict’s anniversary
Trump seems decided to ship on pledges to finish the conflict and return all hostages forward of Tuesday’s second anniversary of the Hamas assault that sparked it on Oct. 7, 2023. His proposal has widespread worldwide assist. On Friday, Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned Israel was dedicated to ending the conflict.
Monday’s oblique talks are supposed to put together the way in which for the discharge of hostages from Gaza and Palestinians from Israeli detention, mediator Egypt mentioned.
A senior Egyptian official mentioned U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will journey to Egypt to go the U.S. negotiating crew. The talks additionally will focus on maps displaying the anticipated withdrawal of Israeli forces from sure areas in Gaza, mentioned the official who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he wasn’t approved to temporary the media.
The official additionally mentioned Arab mediators are making ready for a complete dialogue amongst Palestinians aimed toward unifying their place towards Gaza’s future. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Gaza’s second strongest militant group, mentioned it accepted Hamas’ response after rejecting the plan days earlier.
Progress, however uncertainty forward
Underneath the plan, Hamas would launch the remaining 48 hostages — round 20 of them believed to be alive — inside three days. It could surrender energy and disarm.
In return, Israel would halt its offensive and withdraw from a lot of Gaza, launch a whole bunch of Palestinian prisoners and permit an inflow of humanitarian assist and eventual reconstruction.
Hamas mentioned it was prepared to launch the hostages and hand over energy to different Palestinians, however that different elements of the plan require additional consultations amongst Palestinians. It did not handle the problem of Hamas demilitarizing.
Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli normal and chairman of Israel’s Protection and Safety Discussion board, mentioned whereas Israel can afford to cease firing for a couple of days in Gaza so the hostages might be launched, it’ll resume its offensive if Hamas does not lay down its arms.
Others mentioned that Hamas’ place basically stays unchanged. Its rhetoric “merely repackages outdated calls for in softer language,” mentioned Oded Ailam, a researcher on the Jerusalem Middle for Safety and Overseas Affairs.
Nonetheless, two vocal members of the right-wing bloc of Netanyahu’s coalition, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, criticized the plan’s progress however did not threaten to right away depart the federal government.
And a few audio system on the giant weekly rally in Tel Aviv over the conflict expressed a cautious hope not heard for months.
A bunch representing some hostages’ households mentioned the prospect of seeing family members return “has by no means been nearer.” They appealed to Trump to maintain pushing “with full power” and warned that “extremists on each side” will attempt to sabotage the plan.
In the meantime, protests have erupted throughout Europe calling for the conflict’s finish.
Palestinians are ‘actually drained’
Some Palestinians in Gaza nervous that talks will break down once more.
“We wish sensible implementation. We wish a truce on the bottom,” mentioned Sameer Qudeeh in Khan Younis.
“I hope Hamas ends the conflict, as a result of we’re actually drained,” mentioned Mohammad Shaat in Khan Younis, as anxious folks roamed the shattered streets.
On Saturday, Israel’s military warned Palestinians in opposition to making an attempt to return to Gaza Metropolis, calling it a “harmful fight zone.” Two residents mentioned that for the reason that morning, Israeli tanks and troops had not superior however artillery shells and airstrikes have been heard.
“We are able to nonetheless see the quadcopters in all places,” Mohamed al-Nashar mentioned.
In southern Gaza, the Palestine Crimson Crescent Society mentioned its Saraya subject hospital acquired 10 our bodies and over 70 injured after Israeli strikes on Saturday afternoon.
Gaza’s Well being Ministry mentioned the Palestinian loss of life toll within the conflict has topped 67,000. The toll jumped after the ministry mentioned it added greater than 700 names whose knowledge had been verified.
The Well being Ministry doesn’t say what number of have been civilians or combatants. It says ladies and kids make up round half the lifeless. The ministry is a part of the Hamas-run authorities, and the U.N. and plenty of unbiased specialists contemplate its figures to be probably the most dependable estimate of wartime casualties.
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