Trump Gaza ceasefire plan stalls as Hamas denies receiving proposals, amid ongoing war
Hamas says it has not been presented with any ceasefire plan as U.S. president touts a potential deal; Israeli operations continue and humanitarian concerns rise
Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war appears to have stalled after Hamas said it had received no ceasefire proposals from the U.S. president. Trump, departing the White House on Friday, told reporters: 'It's looking like we have a deal on Gaza, and we'll let you know. I think it's a deal that will get the hostages back. It's going to be a deal that will end the war.' But a Hamas official insisted that Hamas had not been presented with any plan.
The conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a raid that killed about 1,200 Israelis and took roughly 251 people hostage. By Friday, Israeli forces had expanded their assault on Gaza City as air and ground operations intensified. Israel said it had struck around 120 targets across the region over the previous 24 hours, as troops pressed deeper into the city. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported 74 people killed in Gaza in the preceding 24 hours. In response, Doctors Without Borders said it was forced to suspend its medical activities in Gaza City because its clinics were encircled by Israeli forces, describing the move as the 'last thing' it wanted.
The war’s toll remains stark: Gaza’s health authorities, which are run by Hamas, have said more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting began, and the entire population has been displaced in many areas of the enclave as battles raged and stragglers moved to safer locations.
Amid the fighting, Trump was scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the following day. Netanyahu’s hard-right governing coalition has been wary of any ceasefire terms that could be seen as curtailing Israel’s goal of destroying Hamas before any broader settlement is reached."