At least 20 Palestinians have been killed in fresh Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Israel to “stop bombing” the besieged enclave.
The renewed bombardment came shortly after Hamas submitted its response to Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan, signaling a potential breakthrough in efforts to end the nearly two-year-long war.
In its statement, Hamas said it was prepared to hand over Gaza’s administration to a government of Palestinian technocrats and release all Israeli captives as part of a mediated agreement. However, the group’s response notably did not address the issue of disarmament, one of Israel’s core demands.
Trump, speaking in a video address following Hamas’s announcement, said he believed the group’s response reflected a readiness for “lasting peace.”
“I believe Hamas is ready for peace — a lasting peace,” Trump said. “I call on Israel to immediately stop bombing Gaza and give diplomacy a chance.”
Despite the appeal, Israeli forces have continued their aerial campaign, with strikes since dawn killing at least 20 Palestinians and injuring dozens more, according to health officials in Gaza.
The latest attacks bring the death toll in Gaza to more than 67,000, with over 169,000 others wounded since the conflict erupted in October 2023 following Hamas’s unprecedented assault on southern Israel.
That attack left 1,139 people dead and around 200 taken captive, triggering Israel’s devastating military response that has since displaced millions and destroyed much of Gaza’s infrastructure.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, global attention is now focused on how Israel will respond to Hamas’s latest overture — and whether Trump’s intervention could mark a turning point in one of the world’s deadliest and most protracted conflicts.
Source – My News Ghana
