![\"William](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/William_Christou_v2.png\")
William Christou<\/p>\nGaza civil defence agency says Israeli airstrikes and shelling continue despite Trump’s appealWilliam Christou<\/p>\n
Gaza\u2019s civil defence agency said on Saturday that Israel<\/a> had carried out dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City despite Trump\u2019s appeal, William Christou <\/strong>writes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a very violent night, during which the [Israeli army] carried out dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza<\/a> City and other areas in the Strip, despite President Trump\u2019s call to halt the bombing,\u201d civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP. He said 20 homes were destroyed in the attacks.<\/p>\n Gaza City\u2019s Baptist hospital said it had received casualties from a strike on a home in the city\u2019s Tuffah neighbourhood, including four dead and several wounded while Nasser hospital in Khan Younis said two children were killed and eight people wounded in a drone strike on a tent in a camp for displaced Gazans.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.45 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Here\u2019s some more reaction from leaders to Donald Trump<\/strong> calling for Israel<\/strong> to stop bombing Gaza<\/strong> and Hamas<\/strong> accepting key points of a ceasefire plan:<\/p>\n In a statement late last night, UK prime minister Keir Starmer<\/strong> said: \u201cHamas\u2019 acceptance of the US peace plan is a significant step forwards. We strongly support president Trump\u2019s efforts, which have brought us closer to peace than ever before. There is now an opportunity to end the fighting, for the hostages to return home, and for humanitarian aid to reach those who so desperately need it.\u201d<\/p>\n German chancellor Friedrich Merz <\/strong>said: \u201cThe hostages must be released. Hamas must disarm. The fighting must cease immediately. All of this must happen very fast. After almost two years, this is the best chance for peace. Germany will continue to engage.\u201d<\/p>\n Irish foreign minister Simon Harris<\/strong> said: \u201cThis moment to end the unconscionable human suffering must be grasped by all. Stop the bombing, silence the guns, end the famine and allow a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Jordan<\/strong> also welcomed Hamas\u2019 positive response to Trump\u2019s plan, calling it an important step to end the Gaza war, a ministry statement said, Reuters reports. Amman also praised Egypt<\/strong> and Qatar\u2019s<\/strong> mediation, highlighted US<\/strong> efforts including opposition to West Bank<\/strong> annexation, and called for an immediate halt to Israel\u2019s offensive, the opening of crossings for aid, and a peace process based on a two-state solution.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n An Israeli official has told AP that Israel<\/a> has moved to a defensive-only position in Gaza and will not actively strike. The official, who was not authorised to speak to the media on the record, said no forces have been removed from the strip.<\/p>\n The Israeli army said it was instructed by Israel\u2019s leaders to \u201cadvance readiness\u201d for the implementation of Trump\u2019s Gaza ceasefire plan.<\/p>\n Earlier it was reported Israel struck Gaza<\/a> overnight, killing at least six.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Turkey<\/strong> said 36 of its citizens were expected to return home via a special flight on Saturday afternoon, after Israel<\/a> intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.<\/p>\n \u201cWe expected 36 of our nationals on the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels seized by Israeli forces in international waters will return to our country this afternoon via a special flight,\u201d Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli<\/strong> said on X, adding that the final number has not been finalised.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Hamas\u2019 acceptance of keys parts of the US\u2019 plan may raise the spirit of Gazans<\/strong>, who had watched one ceasefire effort after another fail as Israeli strikes pulverised the strip over the past two years.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s happy news, it saves those who are still alive, it saves the people, and thank God that they (Hamas) agreed. This is enough, good people. We are tired, I swear to God, we are tired, tired,\u201d Palestinian Saoud Qarneyta<\/strong>, 32, told AP.<\/p>\n Other Palestinians were cautious, expressing fear that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu<\/strong> will ultimately withdraw from any plan to end the war.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is important is that Netanyahu does not sabotage this, because now that Hamas agreed, Netanyahu will disagree, as he usually does,\u201d said Jerusalem resident Jamal Shihada<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.06 EDT<\/p>\n Palestinian Islamic Jihad<\/strong>, an ally of Hamas<\/strong>, endorsed the group\u2019s response to US president Donald Trump\u2019s<\/strong> plan to end the war in Gaza<\/strong>, saying it represents the stance of the Palestinian resistance.<\/p>\n Hamas has agreed to release all hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, as well as surrender governing power in the Gaza Strip, in accordance with Trump\u2019s plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n In a statement on Friday evening, the Palestinian militant group asked for further negotiations on other parts of the plan, and did not say whether it would lay down its arms \u2013 a key part of Trump\u2019s proposal unveiled on Monday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A senior Hamas<\/strong> official said that Egypt<\/strong> would organise a conference for Palestinian factions to decide on the post-war future of the Gaza Strip<\/strong>, after the group agreed to release hostages under a US ceasefire plan.<\/p>\n Egypt will host an \u201cintra-Palestinian dialogue on Palestinian unity and the future of Gaza<\/a>, including the administration of the Gaza Strip\u201d, the official told AFP.<\/p>\n Responding to Donald Trump\u2019s<\/strong> Gaza plan on Friday, Hamas said it would release hostages held in the territory, but did not address the issue of its disarmament and its exile from the Palestinian territory after the war\u2019s end.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.34 EDT<\/p>\n Some more reaction from global leaders after Trump called for an end to the bombing in Gaza:<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s PM, Anthony Albanese<\/strong>, wrote on X: \u201cAustralia welcomes progress on President Trump\u2019s plan to bring peace to Gaza. Together with our partners, Australia will continue to support efforts to end the war and work towards a just and sustainable two-state solution.\u201d<\/p>\n India\u2019s PM, Narendra Modi<\/strong>, said: \u201cWe welcome President Trump\u2019s leadership as peace efforts in Gaza make decisive progress. Indications of the release of hostages mark a significant step forward. India will continue to strongly support all efforts towards a durable and just peace.\u201d<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s PM, Mark Carney<\/strong>, said: \u201cCanada welcomes commitments from Hamas<\/a> to relinquish power and release all remaining hostages, living and deceased. We encourage all parties to immediately work to turn commitments into reality, and to advance peace and security in the region.<\/p>\n We stand ready to support the sustained, unimpeded, and large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.23 EDT<\/p>\n In a post on X<\/a>, the IDF\u2019s Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee<\/strong> warned residents in Gaza City that it remains a \u201cdangerous combat zone\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cUrgent Announcement and Warning to All Residents of the Gaza<\/a> Strip<\/p>\n The area located north of Wadi Gaza remains a dangerous combat zone. Staying in this area poses a significant risk, and therefore Rashid Street remains open for you to move south<\/p>\n Defense Army forces are still surrounding Gaza City, where attempting to return to it poses an extreme danger<\/p>\n For your safety, avoid returning north or approaching areas of Defense Army forces\u2019 operations anywhere in the Strip \u2013 even in its south.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Reuters provides more detail on Israel<\/strong> striking Gaza<\/strong> overnight.<\/p>\n Israeli fire killed six people across the Gaza<\/a> Strip, according to local authorities.<\/p>\n One strike killed four people in a house in Gaza City while another killed two others in Khan Younis in the south, medical workers and local authorities said.<\/p>\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s<\/strong> office said early on Saturday that Israel was preparing for an \u201cimmediate implementation\u201d of the first stage of Trump\u2019s Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages following Hamas\u2019 response.<\/p>\n Shortly after, Israeli media reported that the country\u2019s political echelon had instructed the military to reduce offensive activity in Gaza.<\/p>\n The Israeli military chief of staff instructed forces in a statement to advance readiness for the implementation of the first phase of Trump\u2019s plan, without mentioning whether there would be reduction of military activity in Gaza.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.49 EDT<\/p>\n Gaza civil defence agency says Israeli airstrikes and shelling continue despite Trump’s appeal Gaza\u2019s civil defence agency said on Saturday that Israel<\/a> had carried out dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City despite Trump\u2019s appeal, William Christou <\/strong>writes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a very violent night, during which the [Israeli army] carried out dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza<\/a> City and other areas in the Strip, despite President Trump\u2019s call to halt the bombing,\u201d civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP. He said 20 homes were destroyed in the attacks.<\/p>\n Gaza City\u2019s Baptist hospital said it had received casualties from a strike on a home in the city\u2019s Tuffah neighbourhood, including four dead and several wounded while Nasser hospital in Khan Younis said two children were killed and eight people wounded in a drone strike on a tent in a camp for displaced Gazans.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.45 EDT<\/p>\n Donald Trump<\/strong> appears keen to deliver on pledges to end the war and return dozens of hostages ahead of the second anniversary of the attack on Tuesday, AP reports.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how the potential Gaza<\/a> deal has been received: <\/p>\n Key mediators Egypt<\/strong> and Qatar<\/strong> welcomed the latest developments, and Majed Al Ansari<\/strong>, a spokesman for Qatar\u2019s foreign ministry, said they would \u201ccontinue discussions on the plan.\u201d<\/p>\n A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres<\/strong> said he \u201curges all parties to seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end.\u201d French president Emmanuel Macron<\/strong> wrote on social media that \u201cthe release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach!\u201d<\/p>\n EU commission president, Ursula von der Leyen<\/strong>, said: \u201cHamas\u2019 stated readiness to release hostages and engage on the basis of the recent @POTUS proposal is encouraging. This moment must be seized.<\/p>\n An immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages are within reach. Europe will support all efforts aiming to end the suffering of civilians, and to promote the only viable solution for peace, the two-state solution.\u201d <\/p>\n The main organisation representing the families of Israeli hostages<\/strong> said Trump\u2019s demand to halt the fighting \u201cis essential to prevent serious and irreversible harm to the hostages.\u201d It called on Netanyahu \u201cto immediately begin efficient and swift negotiations to bring all our hostages home.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Israel preparing for ‘immediate implementation’ of first stage of Trump\u2019s Gaza plan<\/p>\n Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s office has said that Israel is preparing for an \u201cimmediate implementation\u201d of the first stage of Trump\u2019s Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages after Hamas agreed to release hostages and some other terms in a US plan to end the war.<\/p>\n The Palestinian militant group on Friday issued its response to Trump\u2019s 20-point plan after the US president gave Hamas<\/a> until Sunday to accept or face grave consequences.<\/p>\n Trump said he believed Hamas had showed it was \u201cready for a lasting PEACE\u201d and he put the onus on Netanyahu\u2019s government.<\/p>\n \u201cIsrael must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!\u201d Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza<\/a> alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.\u201d<\/p>\n Netanyahu\u2019s office said Israel \u201cwill continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which align with President Trump\u2019s vision\u201d.<\/p>\n However the statement made no mention of Trump\u2019s demand that Israel immediately stop bombing Gaza and witnesses said Israeli military planes intensified bombing in Gaza City after Trump\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll bring you the latest developments throughout the day.<\/p>\nWilliam Christou<\/p>\n