Heavy Bombardment: Israeli Fire Defies Trump in Gaza

Intense Israeli airstrikes pounded the Gaza Strip on Saturday, a day after Donald Trump called for an “immediate halt” to the bombing, shortly after Hamas announced its approval to release all hostages under the U.S. peace plan aimed at ending the war.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defense, told AFP: “It was a very violent night. The occupation carried out dozens of air raids and artillery strikes on Gaza City and other areas of the Strip, despite President Trump’s call to stop the bombing.”

He added that more than 20 houses and buildings were destroyed overnight.

On Friday, the U.S. president urged Israel to stop its bombardment of Gaza “immediately”, following the Hamas announcement of its readiness to release all captives held in the enclave as part of his peace initiative, though the group did not address the issue of disarmament.

Hamas confirmed it was willing to release all hostages and to hand over Gaza’s administration to a body of “independent figures”, both key elements of Trump’s proposal, which enjoys Israeli support.

However, the group emphasized the need to negotiate further points concerning “the future of the Strip” included in the American plan.