Trump says ceasefire deal is near as Israeli strikes kill 138 Palestinians in Gaza : NPR
Relatives cry on the bodies of family members killed in an Israeli strike on an school that houses the Palestinians displaced near the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Thursday.
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Gaza City and Washington-The Israeli army intensified strikes in Gaza on Friday, even though President Trump reported that the words of a potential cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas were close.
“We will see what is happening-we will know in the coming 24 hours,” he told journalists early Friday morning, saying that it was in Hamas to accept the framework of the agreement because Israel had already. Israeli officials did not say publicly whether they agreed or not.
Israeli officials did not say publicly whether they agreed or not, but said that there were positive signs that they are ready to negotiate.
In a statement published on Friday, Hamas said it has given the mediators an answer that “can be characterized as positive” on the proposal, stressing that it is ready to start negotiations in order to implement an agreement.
A senior Hamas official who was not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that the group wanted the guarantees to end the war permanently – something that Israel refused to do in past negotiations – in addition to a partial Israeli military withdrawal from the enclave and for the United Nations to return as the main aid distributor to Gaza.
Israel has in charge of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private entrepreneur funded by the United States, to distribute food in Gaza after a blockage of aid of almost three months. Distribution sites have been chaotic and often fatal for Palestinians trying to have food.
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should meet in Washington on Monday, where the two will probably discuss the possible ceasefire. It will be Netanyahu’s third trip to the White House since Trump returned to office in January.
The last ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza took place in January and lasted almost two months, until Israel broke it with a series of surprised air strikes.
Earlier in the week, Trump told Hamas to accept the agreement, before the conditions in Gaza worsen.
“I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas concludes this agreement, because it will not improve-it will only make you worse,” he wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
The exact details of the agreement have not been made public, but would focus on the return of Israeli hostages which have been detained in Gaza since the attack led by Hamas in October 2023 against southern Israel. There are still 50 hostages held in Gaza, more than half of which are considered dead, according to Israel.
Relatives cry on the bodies of family members killed in an Israeli strike on an school that houses the Palestinians displaced near the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Thursday.
Anas Baba / NPR
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Israeli strikes in Gaza intensifies
At the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the Palestinians cried on the body of their loved ones, including several children, who were killed in an Israeli strike in an nearby school which shelters displaced people on Thursday. NPR witnessed at least nine bodies to the morgue, while dozens of injured were treated in the hospital.
Othman Abdu, whose niece lost his three children in the attack, said he wanted to send a message on both sides trying to negotiate a cease-fire contract.
“Enough malicious policy,” he said. “Have mercy on us. There are innocent killed.”
Gaza hospitals have been flooded with patients in recent days, as Israeli strikes have intensified, even if the talks of a possible cease-fire contract had cautiously optimistic Palestinians.
At least 138 Palestinians were killed and more than 400 injured Thursday and Friday, according to Gaza health officials. More than 60 of the people killed and hundreds of injured expected help.
Anas Baba of NPR has brought back to Gaza City. Hadeel Al-Shalchi and Alon Avital of NPR contributed to this Tel Aviv report. Abu Bakr Bashir contributed from London and Ahmed Abuhamda contributed from Cairo.
Anas Baba of NPR has brought back to Gaza City. Hadeel Al-Shalchi and Alon Avital of NPR contributed to this Tel Aviv report. Abu Bakr Bashir contributed from London and Ahmed Abuhamda contributed from Cairo.
