Trump claims hostage releases are imminent as Gaza talks begin, even as Israeli airstrikes continue and mediators push for a ceasefire.
President Donald Trump says he believes hostages held in Gaza will begin to be released “very soon” as indirect peace talks between Israel and Hamas open in Egypt on Monday.
The talks follow Hamas’ partial acceptance of a 20-point US peace plan, including releasing hostages and transferring Gaza’s governance to Palestinian technocrats. The group’s response omitted disarmament or its future role in Gaza.
Trump said, “we don’t need flexibility because everybody has pretty much agreed to it, but there will always be some changes,” adding negotiations were “going very well” and calling the proposal “a great deal for Israel” and the wider region.
Despite Trump’s call on Friday to “immediately stop the bombing,” Israeli strikes continued. Government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said, “there’s no ceasefire in place,” though some bombings had stopped. She added forces would fire “for defensive purposes… if there is a threat to their life.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS the bombing must halt to allow hostage releases.