Trump says Israel agreed to ‘initial withdrawal line,’ hails move as close to ending '3,000-yr catastrophe’
Indirect talks in Egypt aim to facilitate hostage releases from Gaza and Israeli detention. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will lead discussions on withdrawal maps and Palestinian unity. Gaza's death toll exceeds 67,000 amid ongoing conflict, with efforts for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange underway.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) said that Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, pending confirmation from Hamas and a ceasefire will commence immediately.
Also Read: Israeli strikes kill at least 57 people despite Donald Trump's appeal to halt attacks: Report
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas. When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope that the release of all hostages from Gaza could be announced soon, possibly within the next few days. This comes as Israel and Hamas are set to engage in indirect discussions in Egypt on Monday regarding a new US proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.
In a brief statement on Saturday night, Netanyahu mentioned that he had dispatched a delegation to Egypt to work out the logistical details.
Trump later said the ceasefire would begin immediately once Hamas confirms the “initial withdrawal line” in Gaza. A map with his social media post appeared to show much of Gaza still open to Israeli forces.
Trump has also ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza. Some in Gaza City reported a notable easing of Israeli strikes Saturday, though hospital officials said at least 22 people were killed, including women and children.
Israel's army said leaders instructed it to prepare for the U.S. plan's first phase. Israel has moved to a defensive-only position in Gaza and will not actively strike, said an official who was not authorised to speak to the media on the record.
Momentum ahead of war’s anniversary
Trump seems resolute in his commitment to fulfill his promises of ending the war and securing the release of all hostages before the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. His plan has garnered broad international backing. On Friday, Netanyahu's office also reaffirmed Israel's dedication to bringing the conflict to an end.
Monday's indirect talks are meant to prepare the way for the release of hostages from Gaza and Palestinians from Israeli detention, mediator Egypt said.
A senior Egyptian official said U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Egypt to head the U.S. negotiating team. The talks also will discuss maps showing the expected withdrawal of Israeli forces from certain areas in Gaza, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to brief the media, as reported by AP.
The official also said Arab mediators are preparing for a comprehensive dialogue among Palestinians aimed at unifying their position toward Gaza's future. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Gaza's second most powerful militant group, said it accepted Hamas’ response after rejecting the plan days earlier.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll in the war has topped 67,000. The toll jumped after the ministry said it added more than 700 names whose data had been verified.
The Health Ministry does not say how many were civilians or combatants. It says women and children make up around half the dead. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the U.N. and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.
(With inputs from AP)