Israel carried out fresh airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, local authorities said, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump called for an immediate halt to the bombardment and announced that Hamas was ready for peace under a U.S.-brokered plan.
According to Gaza officials, Israeli fire killed six people across the enclave. Four people died when a house was hit in Gaza City, while two others were killed in Khan Younis in the south.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel was preparing for the “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s proposed Gaza plan, which includes the release of Israeli hostages following Hamas’s response to Washington’s terms.
Soon after, Israeli media reported that the country’s political leadership had instructed the military to scale back offensive operations in Gaza. The Israeli military chief of staff said forces were preparing for the first phase of Trump’s plan but did not specify if this included a reduction in attacks.
Hamas, which governs Gaza, submitted its response to Trump’s 20-point peace proposal after being warned by the U.S. president to accept the terms by Sunday or face severe consequences.
Trump, who has positioned himself as the key mediator capable of ending the two-year-long Gaza conflict, said he believed Hamas had shown willingness for “a lasting PEACE.” He called on Israel to stop the bombing to facilitate the safe release of hostages.
“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, adding that discussions on the details were already underway. “This is not about Gaza alone; this is about long-sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
Netanyahu’s office responded that Israel would continue to work closely with Trump and his team to end the war “in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which align with President Trump’s vision.”
Before Israel’s latest strikes, families of hostages still held in Gaza had called on Netanyahu to begin immediate negotiations for their return. Domestically, the prime minister faces mounting pressure from hostage families and a weary public to end the war, while hardline members of his far-right coalition demand that the military campaign continue until Hamas is fully defeated.
Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Israel says 48 hostages remain in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Gaza’s health authorities report that Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 66,000 people—mostly civilians—and devastated much of the enclave. Aid restrictions have deepened a humanitarian crisis, with famine conditions emerging in parts of Gaza.
