Dozens Killed in Gaza as Trump Pushes for Ceasefire Deal

Dozens of people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza on Saturday, even as former U.S. President Donald Trump pushed for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

According to health officials in Gaza, at least 36 people died in the latest bombings. One airstrike in Gaza City killed 18 people, including children, when a house was hit.

The Israeli military said it was targeting a Hamas fighter and was reviewing reports of civilian casualties. It added that it tries to avoid harming civilians.

Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of lying about reducing attacks on civilians.

Trump, who has been working on a peace plan to end the war that started in 2023, said on his Truth Social platform that Israel had agreed to a first step: withdrawing to a certain line inside Gaza. He urged Hamas to quickly agree to the plan.

He warned that if Hamas delays, “all bets will be off.”

Trump’s 20-point plan includes a ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli troops, the release of hostages held by both sides, and a future where Gaza is demilitarized. Hamas has accepted some parts of the plan but said other issues need more discussion — including whether it would give up its weapons, a key demand from Israel.

Trump said a ceasefire would start as soon as Hamas confirms the agreement.

Trump is sending his envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, to Egypt for talks with Israeli and Hamas officials. Egypt will host the negotiations starting Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that talks are happening and said the first goal is to bring home Israeli hostages. He hopes this can happen during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot (October 6–13).

In the second stage of the plan, Gaza would be demilitarized — with Hamas giving up weapons, either through a deal or military force.

Many world leaders and people in Gaza welcomed the idea of peace after two years of war. Some worry Netanyahu may pull out of the deal under pressure from far-right politicians in his government, who want the fighting to continue.

In Tel Aviv, thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday, demanding a deal to end the war and bring back hostages.

Since the war began after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, more than 67,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to local health authorities. Most were civilians. Israel says 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas attack and 251 taken hostage. It says 48 hostages are still in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.