Netanyahu expects Gaza hostage release soon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes to announce the release of all hostages from Gaza “in the coming days” as indirect talks with Hamas continue in Egypt on Monday on a new U.S. plan to end the war.

- By Sam MEDNICK AND Samy Maapy

SMOKE rises after a strike in Gaza despite President Trump's call to end attacks.

(KHAMES ALREFI Anadolu)

In a brief statement late Saturday, Netanyahu said he has sent a delegation to Egypt “to finalize technical details,” adding that “our goal is to contain these negotiations to a time frame of a few days.”

But Netanyahu signaled there would not bea full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, something Hamas has long demanded. He said Israel's military will continue to hold territories it controls in Gaza, and that Hamas will be disarmed in the plan’s second phase, diplomatically “or through a military path by us.”

He spoke after Hamas said it had accepted some elements of the U.S. plan. President Trump welcomed the Hamas statement but said Saturday that “Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off.”

Trump also told Israel to stop bombing Gaza. Some in Gaza City reported a notable easing of Israeli strikes Saturday.

Israel has moved to a defensive-only position in Gaza and will not actively strike, said an official who was not authorized to speak to the media on the record.