AGENCIES

Israeli assault on Gaza killed at least 91 Palestinians yesterday, a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “finish the job” against Hamas during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The killings came as US President Donald Trump said he is hopeful about a Gaza ceasefire plan after talking with Muslim and Arab leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The developments came after Israeli newspaper Haaretz cited sources saying Hamas had agreed in principle to release all the Israeli hostages it holds in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops under Trump’s plan.

Also included in the proposal were the end of Hamas rule in Gaza, and Israel agreeing not to annex the territory and drive out Palestinians living there, Haaretz reported.

“Hamas has not been presented with any plan,” a Hamas official who asked not to be named told Reuters.

In his comments to reporters on Friday in which he said “it’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza”, Trump offered no details of its contents and gave no timetable. Israel has not yet made any public response to Trump’s comments.

Trump is due tomorrow to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who heads a hard-right governing coalition opposed to ending the Gaza war until Hamas is destroyed.

Trump also said on Friday talks on Gaza with Middle Eastern nations were intense and would continue as long as required.

His special envoy Steve Witkoff said the US president had presented proposals to the leaders of multiple Muslim-majority countries this week that included a 21-point Middle East peace plan.

In Gaza meanwhile, the assault continued.

The Israeli military said its aircraft struck 120 targets across the strip over the past day as troops pressed deeper into Gaza City. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 74 people were killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours.

Later, quoting health officials, Al Jazeera reported that more than 91 Palestinians were killed in relentless Israeli attacks throughout the Gaza Strip, including at least 46 in Gaza City.

In a post on social media platform X, the military’s Arabic spokesman repeated calls for Gaza City residents to evacuate.

The UN World Food Programme estimates that some 350,000-400,000 Palestinians have left since Israel began its expanded ground offensive in Gaza City a couple of weeks ago, but hundreds of thousands remain.