Netanyahu seeks to announce full hostage release in coming days

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes to announce the release of all hostages from Gaza “in the coming days,” as Israel and Hamas prepare for indirect talks in Egypt on Monday over a new U.S. plan to end the war.

In a brief statement Saturday evening, Netanyahu said he had dispatched a delegation to Egypt “to finalize technical details,” adding that “our goal is to contain these negotiations to a time frame of a few days.”

Netanyahu also signaled that Israel would not fully withdraw from Gaza, an enduring demand of Hamas. He said Israel’s military would retain control of territories currently under its hold, and that disarming Hamas would proceed in the plan’s second phase, either diplomatically or through a military path by us.”

His comments came after Hamas said it accepted some elements of the U.S. proposal. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Hamas’s statement but warned that “Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off.”

Trump later said that the ceasefire would begin immediately once Hamas confirms the “initial withdrawal line.” A map shared in his post appeared to show much of Gaza still open to Israeli forces.

Trump has also ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza. Though there were some reports of reduced airstrikes, hospital officials said at least 22 people were killed Saturday—many of them women and children.

Israel’s military announced that its forces have been instructed to shift to a defensive posture under the first phase of the U.S. plan, suspending active strikes.

However, an Israeli strike in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood killed at least 17 people and wounded another 25, said Al-Ahli hospital director Fadel Naim. “The strikes are still ongoing,” Naim stated.

Earlier Saturday, the director of Shifa Hospital, Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, said Israeli strikes had killed five Palestinians in different areas of Gaza City.

Trump appears determined to deliver on pledges to end the war and secure all hostages ahead of the October 7, 2025, second anniversary of the Hamas attack. His most recent proposal has gathered broad international backing.

Monday’s indirect talks in Egypt are intended to pave the way for the exchange of hostages from Gaza and Palestinian detainees from Israeli custody, officials said.

A senior Egyptian official, speaking anonymously, said U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will lead the American delegation in Egypt. The talks are also expected to focus on maps outlining Israel’s proposed withdrawal from certain areas of Gaza.

Reinforcing the proposal, Hamas has stated its willingness to release the remaining 48 hostages (about 20 believed alive) within three days and to surrender power and disarm.

Israel would, in return, halt its offensive, withdraw from portions of Gaza, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and allow humanitarian aid entry and reconstruction.

Despite the negotiations, questions remain over full disarmament and political control of Gaza. Hamas affirmed its willingness to release hostages and hand over governance to other Palestinian entities but said it would only further negotiate the remaining elements of the plan.

Israel’s political landscape is tense. Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, members of Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, criticized the plan’s progress, though they stopped short of threatening to leave the government immediately.

At a large rally in Tel Aviv, some attendees voiced cautious hope that an end to the conflict may finally be within reach. Families of hostages expressed optimism, saying the prospect of reunion “has never been closer.” They urged Trump to continue pressing forward and warned that “extremists on both sides” will try to derail the plan.

Still, uncertainty looms among Palestinians in Gaza. “We want practical implementation. We want a truce on the ground,” said Sameer Qudeeh in Khan Younis. “I hope Hamas ends the war, because we are truly tired,” added Mohammad Shaat.

Israeli forces cautioned civilians against returning to Gaza City, labeling it a “dangerous combat zone.” Some residents reported no recent troop advances, but continued artillery and airstrikes. “We can still see the quadcopters everywhere,” said Mohamed al-Nashar.

In southern Gaza, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said its Saraya field hospital admitted 10 bodies and over 70 wounded following strikes on Saturday.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that the Palestinian death toll has exceeded 67,000, women and children constituting roughly half of the fatalities.