Latest airstrikes on Gaza and confirmed casualties
In a fresh round of aerial assaults, Israeli forces carried out strikes on targets across Gaza, including a residential building in Gaza City. Medical staff and local authorities told Reuters that at least six civilians were killed: four in the Gaza City strike and two in an attack near Khan Younis in the south. The violence comes as international attention lingers over President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan.
Trump plan prompts Israeli readiness to move
Following Trump’s public outline of a 20-point peace plan, Netanyahu’s office indicated that Israel was ready to implement the first phase of the plan immediately, including the release of detainees and steps to de-escalate military activity. Israeli officials emphasised continued cooperation with Washington on the plan’s framework, while stressing that any move would be contingent on security conditions on the ground.
Hamas response and U.S. deadline
Hamas, which controls Gaza, responded to Trump’s plan by saying it would consider the proposal; U.S. officials gave the group until Sunday to accept the terms or face what they described as consequences. The militant group had previously indicated conditional acceptance only if demands for prisoner releases and Gaza’s blockade were addressed, raising questions about the plan’s viability on the ground.
De-escalation unclear as military posture remains high
While Israeli military chiefs were instructed to prepare for the first phase of the plan, officials have not provided a clear statement on whether ground or air operations would be scaled back in Gaza. Observers note that the situation remains volatile, with continued risks of both further civilian casualties and regional escalation.
Broader context and humanitarian toll
The Gaza Strip has faced extensive casualties and widespread damage since the latest escalation began. Local health authorities have reported a mounting death toll and a harrowing humanitarian crisis, underscoring the urgent need for a durable political resolution. International mediators have urged restraint and renewed negotiations toward a sustainable ceasefire and the unhindered delivery of aid.
What to watch next
Observers will be watching for a formal Israeli move to initiate the first phase of the peace plan, any formal statements from Hamas about acceptance or rejection, and the United States’ ongoing role in pressuring both sides toward de-escalation. The coming days are likely to determine whether the region slides into a broader confrontation or inches toward a fragile pause in hostilities.
Geopolitical ramifications and global reactions
As the United States signals support for a negotiated path, regional powers and international organisations are weighing in on humanitarian access and the risk of wider regional spillover. Analysts caution that any misstep could impact energy markets, refugee movements, and diplomacy across the Middle East in the weeks ahead.
