By Nidal al-Mughrabi
CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) -Dozens were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza on Saturday, local health officials said, despite a demand from U.S. 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.
With ceasefire talks due to begin in the coming days in Egypt, Trump said on Saturday on his Truth Social platform that Israel had agreed to an "initial withdrawal line" inside Gaza and that "when Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective."
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 said in a statement, referring to the Israeli prime minister, that "the continuation of the occupation’s bombing and massacres exposes Netanyahu’s lies about reducing military operations against civilians."
TRUMP URGES HAMAS TO MOVE FAST ON HIS GAZA PLAN
Early on Saturday, Trump said he appreciated that Israel had "temporarily stopped the bombing," and he urged Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, 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 Truth Social.
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.
Trump posted later on Saturday: "After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas."
He said that once Hamas agrees to it, a ceasefire would take effect, "the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal." He did not elaborate.
There was no immediate confirmation from Israel, which has shown little willingness to pull back its forces in Gaza. Hamas did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
A White House official said Trump was sending his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to Egypt to finalize the technical details of the hostage release and discuss a lasting peace deal.
Egypt will also host delegations from Israel and Hamas on Monday to discuss the proposed exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, the country's Foreign Ministry said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised statement late on Saturday, confirmed that negotiators would be sent to Egypt, and said the intention was to limit the talks to a few days.
Netanyahu said he hoped to announce the return of the captives in the coming days, all while the Israeli military remained deep in Gaza.
Hamas would be disarmed and Gaza demilitarized, Netanyahu said, according to his remarks carried by Israeli media, warning that it would happen either politically or militarily.
Trump's plan sees the military eventually withdrawing to Gaza's perimeter but does not lay out any time frame.
The prime minister spoke as tens of thousands took to the streets in Tel Aviv in support of a deal to end the war.
Hamas' response to the plan drew optimistic statements from world leaders, who urged an end to the deadliest conflict involving Israel since its creation in 1948 and called for the release of Israelis still held in the enclave.
Another possible boost to peace hopes came with a supportive statement from the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which is smaller than Hamas but seen as more hardline.
The group, which also holds hostages, on Saturday endorsed Hamas' response.
Hamas' stance may raise the spirit of Gazans, who had watched one ceasefire effort after another fail as Israeli strikes hit the strip over the past two years, creating a humanitarian crisis and displacing millions.
Some Palestinians expressed fear that Netanyahu, who heads Israel's most far-right government in its history, will ultimately withdraw from any plan to end the war.
"What is important is that Netanyahu does not sabotage this, because now that Hamas agreed, Netanyahu will disagree, as he usually does," said Jerusalem resident Jamal Shihada.
WORLDWIDE SUPPORT FOR END TO 'HORRIFIC WAR'
Israeli media reported that the country's political echelon had instructed the military to reduce offensive activity in Gaza.
Trump has invested significant political capital in efforts to end the war that has left U.S. ally Israel increasingly isolated internationally.
Trump said on Friday he believed Hamas had shown it was "ready for a lasting PEACE" and he called on Netanyahu's government to halt airstrikes in Gaza.
Domestically, the prime minister is caught between growing pressure to end the war — from hostage families and a war-weary public — and demands from hardline members of his coalition who insist there must be no let-up in Israel's campaign in Gaza.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on X that halting attacks on Gaza was a "grave mistake."
Israel began attacking Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Israel says 48 hostages remain, 20 of whom are alive.
Israel's campaign has killed more than 67,000 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.
(Additional reporting by Mohammed Torokman, Mussa Qawasma, Pesha Magid, Rami Amichay, Alexander Cornwell and Maher Hatem; Writing by Michael Georgy and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Susan Fenton, William Maclean, Rod Nickel)
