AGENCIES

Efforts to end the conflict in Gaza gained momentum, with rival parties and mediators scheduled to meet in Cairo today, even as Israeli airstrikes continued across the territory, killing 19 more people.

US President Donald Trump said Hamas will face “complete obliteration” if the Palestinian group refuses to give up power and control of Gaza.

In an interview with CNN, Trump added that he expects to know soon whether Hamas is committed to peace. He also said that the deal would be a great one for Israel.

Earlier, Hamas called for a swift start to a hostage-prisoner exchange with Israel, as negotiators from both sides prepared to meet in Egypt for crucial talks aimed at ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza.

Foreign ministers of several countries, including Egypt, said the talks were a “real opportunity” to achieve a sustainable ceasefire.

“Hamas is very keen to reach an agreement to end the war and immediately begin the prisoner exchange process in accordance with the field conditions,” a senior Hamas official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The diplomatic push follows the Palestinian group’s positive response to Trump’s roadmap for an end to the fighting and the release of captives in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

However, the fate of the peace deal remains uncertain. The timeline for implementing Trump’s plan is still unclear, with Gaza’s devastation posing major logistical challenges. Key issues -- including Hamas’s disarmament and Israel’s potential The war

SEE PAGE 2 COL 1