The Palestinian militant group Hamas asserts that it has not received any ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip from United States President Donald Trump. This statement emerges as Israeli military forces intensify their operations in Gaza City.
The declaration follows a report from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which quoted sources claiming that Hamas had preliminarily agreed to release all Israeli hostages it currently holds. This would be in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops as part of Trump’s plan.
The proposal allegedly also involved ending Hamas’s governance in the Gaza Strip, while Israel would commit not to annex the land or displace its Palestinian inhabitants, according to Haaretz.
“Hamas has not been presented with any plan,” a Hamas official, who requested anonymity, informed Reuters.
President Trump mentioned to reporters on Friday that “it’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza,” but he provided no further specifics about its contents or timeline.
Israel has yet to publicly address Trump’s comments.
Trump is due on Monday to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who heads a governing coalition opposed to ending the Gaza Strip war until Hamas is destroyed.
Trump also said on Friday that talks on the conflict with Middle Eastern countries were intense and would continue as long as required.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, stated that the US president shared proposals involving a 21-point Middle East peace plan with leaders from various predominantly Muslim nations this week.
In the Gaza Strip meanwhile, the fighting 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 the enclave in the last 24 hours.
In a post on social media platform X, the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesman repeated calls for Gaza City residents to leave.
The United Nations World Food Programme estimates that 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.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said late on Friday it had been forced to suspend its medical activities in Gaza City because its clinics were encircled by Israeli forces.
The group — known in English as Doctors Without Borders — said the move was the “last thing” it wanted, saying that vulnerable people such as infants in neonatal care and people with life-threatening illnesses are unable to move and are in grave danger.
According to the World Health Organization, four health facilities in Gaza City have ceased operations this month. Additionally, the United Nations reports that some malnutrition centers have also closed.
Israel strongly denies this, saying the war is in self-defence.
