DaysofPal – The Israeli government has dismissed claims of a ceasefire in Gaza, insisting that what is happening is only a temporary pause in certain bombardments. The announcement came as US President Donald Trump warned Hamas it faced “complete obliteration” if it did not relinquish power and control of the enclave.
An Israeli spokesperson confirmed that the army “could continue operations in Gaza,” aligning with Palestinian accounts that airstrikes and shelling persisted even as speculation grew of a possible deal to end the war.
The toll continues to mount. The Palestinian health ministry reported that at least 65 Palestinians were killed and 153 others wounded in the past 24 hours. Since October 2023, Israel’s war has killed 67,139 people in Gaza and injured 169,583 more, with women and children making up the majority of casualties.
Despite the destruction, political maneuvering continues. Israeli negotiators are scheduled to travel to Egypt on Sunday for indirect talks with Hamas, expected to begin the following day. Asked whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was prepared to support Washington’s plan to end the war, Trump told CNN: “Yes on Bibi.”
For its part, Hamas indicated that it was willing to participate. On Friday, the movement said it was ready to release all Israeli captives under Trump’s proposed 20-point plan for Gaza, though it stopped short of endorsing other elements of the initiative.
Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas political bureau member, appeared in a prerecorded statement broadcast from Qatar, his first televised remarks since surviving an Israeli strike in Doha last month that killed six people, including his son. The attack, condemned internationally and even rebuked by Trump, failed to eliminate Hamas’s senior leadership.
Al-Hayya’s tone was defiant. “We hope that their blood will pave the way to victory, the way to Jerusalem, the way to the disgrace of the occupation, and the way to the dignity and triumph of the nation,” he declared.
While the Trump administration has been unwavering in its support for Israel, signs of frustration are emerging in Washington as the president pushes to secure an end to the conflict. Trump urged Israel on Friday to halt its bombing of Gaza, but strikes have continued with little sign of slowing.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced the message on Sunday, saying Israeli bombardments “have to stop” to allow a deal on captives. “Once you agree on the logistical arrangements, I think the Israelis and everyone else will recognize that it’s impossible to release hostages in the middle of the strikes,” Rubio said on CBS.
He repeated on ABC: “The bottom line is, yes, you cannot do an exchange if there’s fighting going on, it’s simply impossible,” while acknowledging Israel’s insistence it will continue operations against what it calls “imminent threats.”
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