Kokcha News Agency: Hamas, the Palestinian group governing Gaza, has denied receiving any ceasefire plan from U.S. President Donald Trump, despite reports from Israeli newspaper Haaretz suggesting that Hamas had agreed in principle to release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a gradual Israeli withdrawal.
According to Haaretz, Trump’s plan also included the end of Hamas rule in Gaza, with Israel agreeing not to annex the territory or displace its Palestinian residents. However, a Hamas official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, said, “Hamas has not been presented with any plan.”
Trump’s Comments:
On Friday, Trump hinted at a potential deal, saying, “It’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza,” but provided no details or timeline. Israel has yet to publicly respond to Trump’s remarks.
Upcoming Meeting:
Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Netanyahu leads a hard-right coalition that has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed.
Intense Talks:
Trump also mentioned that talks with Middle Eastern nations on Gaza were ongoing and would continue as long as necessary. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, revealed that Trump had presented a 21-point Middle East peace plan to leaders of several Muslim-majority countries this week.
Escalating Conflict in Gaza:
Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported striking 120 targets across Gaza in the past 24 hours, as troops advanced further into Gaza City. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 74 people were killed in Gaza during the same period.
The Israeli military’s Arabic spokesman repeated calls on social media for Gaza City residents to evacuate. The UN World Food Programme estimates that 350,000-400,000 Palestinians have fled since Israel’s expanded ground offensive began, but hundreds of thousands remain.
Medical Crisis:
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced on Friday that it had been forced to suspend its medical activities in Gaza City due to Israeli forces encircling its clinics. MSF described the decision as the “last thing” it wanted, emphasizing that vulnerable populations, including infants in neonatal care and critically ill patients, are in grave danger.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that four health facilities in Gaza City have closed this month, and the UN noted that some malnutrition centers have also shut down.
Background:
Israel launched its assault on Gaza nearly two years ago following a Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Since then, Israeli forces have killed over 65,000 Palestinians, displaced the entire population, and devastated Gaza’s health system, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
A global hunger monitor has declared famine in parts of Gaza, and multiple human rights experts have accused Israel of committing genocide. Israel strongly denies these allegations, asserting that the war is in self-defense.
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