Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that he hopes Israeli hostages held in Gaza could be released “in the coming days,” as Egypt prepares to hold talks under a peace plan led by US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu also clarified that Israel would not fully withdraw from Gaza, asserting that Israeli forces will continue to hold territories under their control while Hamas is expected to be disarmed “diplomatically or through a military path.”
In a televised statement, he added, “Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarised – either the easy way or the hard way, but it will be achieved.” Netanyahu’s remarks came after Hamas indicated its willingness to accept certain elements of the plan, though key issues such as disarmament remain unresolved. While Hamas has agreed to release the hostages and allow Gaza to be governed by technocrats, it has not addressed the disarmament issue, a central Israeli demand. US President Trump urged Hamas to act quickly, warning that delays could jeopardize the deal.
The 20-point US plan aims for a rapid resolution to the conflict. Under the proposal, Hamas would release all remaining Israeli hostages — including the nearly 20 believed to be alive — within three days. In exchange, Israel would halt its offensive, withdraw from parts of Gaza, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and allow humanitarian aid and reconstruction.
Despite the negotiations, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued on Saturday, resulting in at least 36 deaths, including children, since Trump pressed Israel on Friday to halt its attacks. Medical officials in Gaza City reported casualties among women and children in the ongoing strikes, even as Israel said it had shifted to a defensive-only posture to prepare for the implementation of the U.S. plan.
