Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The Palestinian group Hamas said on Saturday that it has not received any official ceasefire plan from former U.S. President Donald Trump, even as Israel intensifies its military operations in Gaza City.
The statement comes after the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Hamas had given preliminary approval to a proposal involving the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, alongside a phased Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
The report also claimed that Trump’s plan includes the end of Hamas governance in Gaza, an Israeli pledge not to annex the territory, and a commitment not to forcibly displace its residents.
A senior Hamas official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, denied that any such proposal had been shared with the group, stating: “No plan has been presented to us.”
Trump told reporters on Friday: “It looks like we have a deal for Gaza,” but offered no further details or timeline. Israel has not commented publicly on his remarks.
Upcoming Meeting Between Trump and Netanyahu
Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Netanyahu, who heads a far-right coalition, has opposed halting the war in Gaza before achieving the complete defeat of Hamas.
On Friday, Trump said negotiations with regional countries were ongoing and described them as “intensive.” His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed that Trump had shared a 21-point Middle East peace proposal with leaders of several Muslim-majority nations last week.
Escalating Conflict in Gaza
Despite talk of a potential ceasefire, fighting in Gaza continues to escalate. The Israeli military reported that it struck 120 targets across the Gaza Strip on Friday and pushed further into Gaza City.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 74 deaths in the past 24 hours. The Israeli army once again urged civilians to evacuate Gaza City through posts on social media.
The UN World Food Programme estimates that between 350,000 and 400,000 people have fled Gaza City in the past two weeks. However, many residents remain trapped in the city.
Medical Services Collapsing
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced on Friday that it had suspended operations in Gaza City due to Israeli forces surrounding its clinics. The organization said it had no choice, warning that patients—including infants in neonatal care and critically ill individuals now face extreme risk.
The World Health Organization reported that four hospitals in Gaza City have shut down since the beginning of the month, while the UN says several malnutrition treatment centers have also closed.
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza nearly two years ago following a Hamas-led attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, according to Israeli figures.
Since then, Gaza’s Health Ministry estimates that more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed. The entire population has been displaced, and the region’s healthcare system is in collapse.
Global hunger monitors warn that famine is spreading in parts of Gaza, while UN experts and rights groups have accused Israel of committing acts that may constitute genocide, a claim Israel strongly denies, insisting its actions are acts of self-defense.
