CAIRO/JERUSALEM – Israeli forces launched a devastating series of airstrikes and tank bombardments across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday, reducing residential buildings to rubble as a war-weary Palestinian population clung to the possibility that a new U.S. peace initiative could finally end nine months of conflict.
The surge in violence comes at a critical diplomatic juncture, with Egypt preparing to host delegations from Hamas, Israel, the United States, and Qatar in a high-stakes effort to bridge the gaps in the most serious peace proposal to date.
Trump Announces Breakthrough, But Fighting Escalates
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has positioned himself as the chief mediator, declared a potential breakthrough on his Truth Social platform on Saturday. “I have secured an agreement from Israel on an initial withdrawal line inside Gaza,” he stated. “The moment Hamas confirms its commitment, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective.”
However, on the ground, the situation appeared to contradict the optimistic tone. In Gaza City, which the Israeli military has identified as one of Hamas’s last major strongholds, the assault intensified. Witnesses reported that Israeli drones targeted residential rooftops with grenades, while troops systematically demolished dozens of homes in the Sabra and Sheikh Radwan neighborhoods, often after warning residents not to return to what they termed a “dangerous combat zone.”
“Where is Trump in all of this?” asked Rami Mohammad-Ali, 37, displaced from his home in Gaza City. “The explosions don’t stop, the drones drop bombs everywhere, as if nothing has happened. Where is the truce he told us about?”
Cairo Talks to Tackle Core Sticking Points
The upcoming talks in Cairo aim to translate the broad outlines of Trump’s 20-point plan into a workable reality. On Friday, Hamas provided a cautiously positive response, accepting key elements such as a permanent cessation of hostilities, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a phased prisoner exchange involving Israeli hostages and Palestinian security detainees.
Yet, critical issues remain unresolved. A senior Palestinian official close to the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the devil is in the details.
“Progress would depend on whether Hamas would agree to the proposed security map, which likely shows the Israeli army remaining in control of key areas,” the official said. “Hamas may also demand a strict, irreversible timetable for Israel’s complete withdrawal. The first phase of talks will determine everything.”
The most significant hurdle remains Hamas’s future military role. Israel has repeatedly stated that disarming the group is a non-negotiable objective of the war, a demand Hamas has thus far resisted addressing directly in its public statements.
Netanyahu Navigates Domestic Political Minefield
Domestically, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is caught between mounting pressures. Families of the remaining hostages and a war-weary public are demanding a deal to bring their loved ones home, while far-right coalition partners threaten to collapse his government if the offensive is halted prematurely.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich voiced this hardline position on social media, calling any cessation of attacks a “grave mistake.” He and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wield significant influence and have vowed to withdraw from the coalition if they deem the war concluded without the total eradication of Hamas.
In a sign of hope for the Trump plan, opposition leader Yair Lapid of the centrist Yesh Atid party offered a political lifeline, pledging to provide a “safety net” in parliament to ensure the deal’s passage. “We won’t let them torpedo the deal,” Lapid stated, directly addressing the far-right’s threats.
This domestic optimism was reflected in markets, with the Israeli shekel climbing to a three-year high against the dollar and Tel Aviv stock indexes reaching record levels.
Hamas Signals Eagerness, But Sets Conditions
A senior Hamas official, speaking to AFP on Sunday, expressed the group’s desire to reach an agreement. “Hamas is very keen to reach an agreement to end the war and immediately begin the prisoner exchange process,” the official said. “The occupation must not obstruct the implementation of President Trump’s plan. If the occupation has genuine intentions, Hamas is ready.”
A Palestinian source close to the group outlined specific preconditions for the hostage handover. “Hamas insisted that it is essential for Israel to halt military operations across all areas of the Gaza Strip, cease all air, reconnaissance, and drone activity, and withdraw from inside Gaza City,” the source said. “In parallel… Hamas and the resistance factions will also halt their military operations.”
The source added that the Cairo negotiations would be held away from media scrutiny and would focus on the “timeline for preparing field conditions for the transfer of captives.” This hints at significant logistical challenges; while living hostages might be transferred quickly, locating and retrieving the bodies of those killed amid Gaza’s widespread devastation could take weeks.
Regional Support Grows, But Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The Trump plan has garnered significant regional backing. In a powerful show of unity, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Turkiye, Indonesia, and Pakistan issued a joint statement welcoming Hamas’s positive steps and reaffirming their “joint commitment to support efforts toward the implementation of the proposal.”
Despite the diplomatic flurry, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Amjad Al-Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGOs Network, reported that Gaza City is facing acute shortages of food and fuel, exacerbated by Israel’s recent closure of the main access route from the south.
Local health authorities reported at least four Palestinians were killed in the latest strikes, with several others wounded, adding to the toll of a conflict that has left tens of thousands dead and displaced most of the enclave’s 2.3 million people.
As delegates prepare to meet in Cairo, the world watches to see if the latest violence represents the final, brutal convulsions of a war nearing its end, or the collapse of yet another attempt to bring peace to a region long defined by conflict.
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