The Israeli Merkava tanks, stationed along the border with the Gaza strip, while Israel triggered a new scope campaign on Gaza, on September 16, 2025: PHOTO: Eddie Gerald / Alamy / Profimedia
Israel attacked Gaza on Saturday, local authorities said, after US President Donald Trump has asked for bombing and said that Hamas is prepared for peace, agreeing to release the hostages and accept other conditions from the American Plan for termination of war, writes Reuters.
Local authorities said Israeli attacks killed six people in the Gaza strip. One attack killed four people in a house in Gaza, and another killed two others in Khan Youis, in the south, said medical staff and local authorities.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday morning that Israel is preparing for the “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump's plan for the release of Israeli hostages, following the Hamas response.
Shortly thereafter, the Israeli media reported that the country's political echelon gave the army to reduce the offensive activity in Gaza.
The chief of the General Staff of the Israeli army gave instructions to the armed forces in a statement to prepare for the implementation of the first phase of Trump's plan, without mentioning whether there will be a reduction in military activity in Gaza.
Hamas replied to Trump's ultimatum
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, responded to Trump's 20 -point plan after the US president gave him a time to accept or face serious consequences.
Trump, who presented as the only person capable of making peace in Gaza, has invested a significant political capital in efforts to end a two -year war that killed tens of thousands and left Israel, the US ally, more and more isolated on the world scene.
Trump said on Friday that he believes that Hamas has shown that he is “ready for a sustainable peace” and has put responsibility on the shoulders of the Netanyahu government.
“Israel must immediately cease the bombardment of the gase, so that we can free the hostages safely and quickly!” Trump wrote on his Social Truth platform.
“We are already in discussions about the details to be established. It is not just Gaza, but the much desired peace in the Middle East,” the White House leader stressed.
Netanyahu, under pressure in Israel
Netanyahu's office said that Israel “will continue to fully collaborate with its president and team to end the war, in accordance with the principles set by Israel, who are in accordance with the vision of President Trump.”
Prior to the last ads of Israel, the families of those held by Hamas in Gaza asked Netanyahu to “immediately order negotiations to release all hostages.”
Internally, the pressure prime minister to put an end to the war – from the families of the hostages and a tired war population – and the requests of the radical members of his far -right coalition, who insists that Israel should not weaken the Gaza campaign.
Israel started the offensive in Gaza after the attack led by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which, according to Israeli data, about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage and taken to Gaza. Israel states that there are still 48 hostages, of which 20 are alive.
The military campaign of Israel killed over 66,000 people in Gaza, most civilians, according to the health authorities in Gaza. His assault destroyed much of the enclave, while restrictions on humanitarian aid have triggered hunger in some parts of the gas, the conditions being terrible throughout the enclave.
