BIG setback for Trump’s peace plan as Israeli strikes kill 70, including children, in Gaza Strip; Netanyahu issues CHILLING warning to Hamas, says…

Trump Gaza Peace Plan: In a major setback for US President Doland Trump’s Gaza peace plan, Israeli air strikes left at least 70 Palestinians dead, including seven children, between the ages of two months and eight years, as Israel flouted Trump’s call to “immediately stop bombing Gaza”.

Israel bombs Gaza, kills 70, including children

According to Al Jazeera, Gaza City, which has borne the brunt of Israel’s brutal military campaign in the embattled Strip, witnessed the highest number of casualties, with local health officials confirming 45 deaths, including an airstrike on a residential home in Tuffah neighbourhood killing 18 Palestinians and leaving several injured.

Additionally, the Israeli forces targeted the al-Mawasi displacement camp in southern Gaza, where Israeli troops asked Palestinians to evacuate before the strikes commenced, Al Jazeera reported, adding that two children were killed in the assault, while at least eight others were wounded.

Trump asks Hamas ‘not to delay’

The Israeli strikes came after Doland Trump urged Israel to “immediately stop bombing” Gaza after Hamas agreed to the Trump Gaza peace plan. The US President appreciated that Israel “temporarily stopped the bombing” to allow hostage release but warned Hamas not to delay or “all else all bets will be off”.

“I appreciate that Israel has temporarily stopped the bombing in order to give the Hostage release and Peace deal a chance to be completed. Hamas must move quickly or else all bets will be off. I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Let’s get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly,” he said.

Why Netanyahu warned Hamas?

Meanwhile, Hamas has accused Israel of continuing its “crimes” despite the US push for a truce, and urged Arab nations to take immediate action.

“The Zionist occupation army continues to commit its horrific crimes and massacres against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip,” the group said, urging Arab and Islamic states to “take urgent action to protect and provide relief to our people, ” Al Jazeera reported.

Hamas’ response came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking in Jerusalem, stressed on the disarmament of the Palestinian group, warning “that will be achieved either through Trump’s proposal or through Israeli military action.”

Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces will continue their military campaign in Gaza, and also confirmed that negotiators will be working on a release timeline for the remaining captives.

Earlier, Hamas signaled agreement to some parts of Trump’s plan, such as Israel’s pullout from Gaza and the exchange of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners for Israeli captives. However, the group has not clarified whether it will accept disarmament, which remains a central demand in the US proposal.

Trump sends Witkoff, Kushner to Egypt

Meanwhile, Doland Trump has reportedly dispatched Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Egypt to work out the details of the hostage release and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas. According to Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegations from Hamas and Israel will join the talks on Monday.

Trump had earlier stated that Israel had already indicated an initial “withdrawal line”, and ceasefire will be effective when Hamas confirms.

“When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

On Monday, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Doland Trump unveiled a 20-point plan to end the Israel-Gaza war, under which Gaza Strip is to be temporarily governed by a Palestinian technocratic government, with no role for Hamas, and Israel will not annex Gaza, Al Jazeera reported.

(With inputs from agencies)