🔗 Share this article Israel Pursues Gaza Military strikes as Donald Trump Plan Negotiators Land in Cairo Diplomatic teams have gathered in Cairo before pivotal negotiations scheduled for Monday, expected to address the release of captives held by Hamas in Gaza and a wider conclusion to the protracted hostilities, while Israeli defense operations continued across the Palestinian territory, causing 63 casualties within the previous 24 hours. Key Emphasis of Upcoming Negotiations The Cairo-based foreign ministry announced that the upcoming discussions would address the initial step of Donald Trump's proposed peace plan, which involves the release of the last 48 captives held by Hamas in swap with Arab prisoners currently held in Israeli detention facilities. Foreign Representation US envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to participate in the discussions, according to local media reports, together with Israeli representatives and a Gazan delegation headed by Khalil al-Hayya, the vice head of Hamas's political bureau. "Negotiations in Cairo will be limited to a few days maximum," stated an Israeli government representative to media. Hostilities cessation Possibilities The captive liberation and prisoner swap would result in an prompt cessation of fighting in Gaza, according to the former president. Since Hamas's qualified endorsement of his proposal to end the nearly two-year campaign in Gaza on Friday, the United States, Israel and Hamas have all expressed optimism that a truce is within sight. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, characterized the Cairo talks as "the most promising we've approached getting all the hostages liberated" during a Sunday appearance with ABC. He cautioned that discussions could still fail over operational challenges, and that detailed arrangements for the hostage release needed to be established. Future Difficulties Rubio highlighted major future challenges in executing the agreement, specifically the establishment of a technocratic authority to manage Gaza instead of Hamas. He reiterated that the immediate priority remained the hostages' liberation and securing Israeli soldiers retreated to an designated boundary in Gaza. Trump's Plan Details The proposed initiative would involve the organization freeing all hostages within 72 hours, transferring governmental authority to a international administration headed by the American leader, and laying down its military assets. In return, Israel would progressively pull out its military from Gaza and return more than 1,000 Palestinian detainees. The deal would additionally authorize a flow of relief supplies to Gaza, where various areas are undergoing starvation, along with rebuilding financing. Retreat Parameters On Saturday night, Trump published a diagram of Gaza that specified the first withdrawal line for Israeli forces, extending from 1.2 miles (2km) to 4 miles within the territory. He stated that if the group agreed to the pullback position, a hostilities cessation would start promptly. Under the conditions of the plan, Israeli troops are expected to completely withdraw to a demilitarized zone at the perimeter of Gaza, although the Israeli leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, has asserted that irrespective of any agreement, soldiers would stay in most of Gaza. International Responses Optimism about a prospective peace agreement has expanded globally, with western and Arab leaders pressing Hamas and the Israeli government to finalize a settlement. On Sunday, the Germany's leader, Friedrich Merz, called Netanyahu and expressed backing for the Trump proposal, characterizing it as "the most promising possibility for stability," based on an official statement. Israeli officials have also indicated they aim to proclaim an end to the hostilities in the coming days. A senior Hamas official told news outlets the group was "highly motivated to conclude an agreement to end the conflict and immediately start the prisoner exchange operation in alignment with the field conditions." Threats and Persistent Strikes Trump cautioned Hamas with "total obliteration" if it refused to agree to a agreement on Gaza during a television appearance. He also asserted that Netanyahu was onboard for stopping the military campaign of Gaza. Regardless of Trump's demand that the Israeli government stop its offensive and despite directives for the military to only perform "defensive operations," it has maintained bombing the Palestinian enclave. At least eight people were fatally wounded in different attacks on Gaza City, while four other people were fatally shot while attempting to obtain humanitarian assistance in the southern part of the territory. "While specific military actions have in fact stopped inside of the Gaza Strip, there's no truce in place at this moment," stated the government spokesperson. Humanitarian Cost No fewer than 67,139 people have been died and approximately 170,000 harmed by Israel's military campaign in Gaza, per the Palestinian health authorities, which indicated that about half of those were vulnerable populations. Israel initiated the campaign in response after an assault by militant operatives that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and involved 251 people being taken hostage. International Findings The United Nations investigative body, several advocacy groups and the globally recognized organization of academic experts have found that the Israeli government has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. Israel disputes the allegation and maintains it has only acted in self-defence.