Gaza City: Israel continued its military offensive across Gaza on Sunday, pounding several residential districts even as Palestinians clung to hope that a long-awaited U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan could finally halt the devastating war. The latest air and ground attacks came just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Israel had accepted a preliminary withdrawal line within Gaza, raising cautious optimism among the war-weary population.
Trump, in a statement posted on his social media platform, announced that Israel had agreed to a “first stage” pullback inside Gaza, declaring that a full ceasefire would come into effect “immediately” once Hamas confirmed the deal. The announcement added momentum to the ongoing diplomatic drive, as negotiators from Israel, Hamas, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar prepared to convene in Cairo to discuss the details of Trump’s proposed 20-point peace framework.
The plan, sources said, outlines a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops, the release of hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian detainees. It also includes transitional security arrangements, though major disagreements persist over the question of Hamas’s disarmament and the extent of Israeli control during the transition period.
Despite diplomatic efforts, the reality on the ground in Gaza remains dire. Israeli drones and tanks struck targets across Gaza City and Khan Younis, leaving several residential buildings reduced to rubble. Local officials reported at least four deaths in the latest strikes, including one in the heart of Gaza City.
In the city’s northern quarters, entire neighborhoods have been declared combat zones, with residents warned not to return to their homes. Civilians trapped amid the shelling spoke of intense fear and exhaustion, saying that the promise of a ceasefire “feels distant” as explosions echo across the strip.
The prolonged conflict has pushed Gaza to the brink of humanitarian collapse. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and fuel shortages have crippled power generation and transport. Aid agencies warn that children face growing risks of malnutrition, while the elderly and chronically ill struggle to access basic medical care.
With the northern corridor still blocked, food and medical convoys have been unable to reach the worst-hit areas. “People are surviving on bread and water,” a local health official said. “Every day without a truce is a day closer to catastrophe.”
Central to Trump’s ceasefire proposal is the release of all remaining Israeli hostages both living and deceased within 72 hours of Israel’s formal acceptance of the plan. Israeli authorities estimate that 48 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom 20 are believed to be alive.
However, questions persist over the timing of the release process and the logistical challenges of recovering remains from areas still under bombardment. Analysts warn that delays in executing this step could undermine the credibility of the broader peace initiative.
Inside Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces growing domestic pressure to end the war. Families of hostages have mounted public demonstrations demanding urgent action, while right-wing members of his coalition have criticized any talk of a ceasefire as “a dangerous compromise.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have both declared that halting the offensive would “betray the war’s purpose” and embolden Hamas.
This political divide has left Netanyahu balancing between public fatigue and coalition rigidity, complicating his government’s ability to commit fully to Trump’s proposal.
The upcoming Cairo talks represent the most significant diplomatic opening in months, yet skepticism remains high. Even if both sides agree in principle, enforcing demilitarization, managing reconstruction, and restoring civilian governance could take years.
For Gaza’s two million residents, the outcome of these talks may determine whether they see the end of war or the continuation of an endless cycle of destruction. As night falls again over the battered enclave, the sound of jets overhead contrasts sharply with the fragile whispers of hope rising from its shattered streets.