President Donald Trump said a Gaza ceasefire talks agreement could soon be reached as U.S. envoys travel to Egypt for high-level negotiations. The White House confirmed on Saturday that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will represent the United States in Cairo. They aim to finalize a hostage release and discuss steps toward ending the two-year conflict.
Hamas recently signaled willingness to release hostages under Trump’s peace plan. In an interview, Trump said, “We are very close,” and expressed hope that all sides could reach a final deal within days. Egypt’s foreign ministry stated that delegations from Israel and Hamas would also join Monday’s Cairo meetings. Discussions are expected to focus on exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and on security measures to support a lasting ceasefire.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, violence continues across Gaza. Local officials reported that Israeli strikes killed scores of Palestinians on Saturday. The Palestinian news agency Wafa said at least 17 people, mostly women and children, died when an Israeli airstrike hit a home in Gaza City’s al-Tuffah neighborhood. Another 20 were reported missing under rubble, with dozens more injured.
Earlier in the day, Israeli drones attacked a crowd near a bakery in central Gaza City, killing dozens according to Wafa. Additional strikes hit a house in Gaza City and a tent sheltering displaced families in al-Mawasi, previously considered a safe zone. Six more civilians, including two children, were killed. Hamas condemned the attacks, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of continuing military operations against civilians despite claims of restraint.
Israeli army radio reported that operations were reduced to the minimum, with strikes described as defensive. Trump praised Israel’s temporary halt but warned Hamas against stalling negotiations. He stated on Truth Social that he would “not tolerate delay” and urged Hamas to move quickly, warning, “all bets will be off” if talks stalled.
In a televised address, Netanyahu expressed hope that hostages could return home soon, possibly during the Jewish festival of Sukkot starting Monday. He affirmed that Hamas would be disarmed, either through Trump’s diplomatic plan or Israeli military action. On Friday, Hamas welcomed elements of Trump’s 20-point plan, including a ceasefire, Israel’s withdrawal, and mutual release of captives. Yet, key issues, such as disarmament, remain unresolved.
Trump confirmed that Israel had agreed to an initial withdrawal line shared with Hamas. Once Hamas accepts, a ceasefire would begin, followed by the exchange of hostages and prisoners. Speaking to Axios, Trump said momentum is building, with positive responses from both Israeli and Hamas leaders and international support for his plan. “Every country of the world in favor. Bibi is in favor. Hamas went a long way – they want to do it. Now we will need to close it,” he said.
Trump also praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for helping press Hamas toward compromise. He described Erdoğan as “a tough guy, but a friend,” crediting him with assisting in securing agreement on hostages. Trump emphasized his goal of restoring Israel’s global reputation after widespread criticism over civilian casualties. Health officials estimate at least 67,074 Palestinians have died, with around 170,000 injured and thousands more missing or dead from indirect effects of the war.
International bodies, including a UN commission and a leading genocide research group, have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, claims Israel rejects, stating it acted in self-defense. Trump said his goal is to rebuild international support for Israel while ensuring an end to the conflict. “Bibi took it very far and Israel lost a lot of support in the world. Now I am gonna get all that support back,” he said.
As negotiations in Cairo begin, global attention is focused on whether these talks can deliver both an immediate ceasefire and a framework for lasting peace. For hostages and civilians trapped in Gaza, the outcome may decide the difference between further destruction and a potential path toward stability.
