Israel strikes Gaza as Palestinians pin hopes on Trump’s Gaza plan

Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas across the Gaza Strip overnight and on Sunday, destroying several residential buildings, witnesses said, as Palestinians desperately awaited implementation of a US. plan to end the war.

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Smoke billows over Gaza Strip following an Israeli bombardment, as seen from southern Israeli on Sunday

(AP/PTI)

US. President Donald ‘Trump, who had called for an end to the bombing, said on Saturday on his Truth Social platform that Israel had agreed to an “initial withdrawal line” inside Gaza and that “when Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective?

‘The Israeli escalation comes as Egypt prepares to host delegates from Hamas, Israel and the United States, and Qatar, to kick off talks over the implementation of the most advanced effort yet to halt the conflict.

Hamas had drawn a welcoming response from Trump on Friday by saying it accepted certain key parts of his 20-point peace proposal, including ending the war.