Israeli and Hamas negotiators in Cairo for indirect talks, says report

Israeli and Hamas negotiators will both arrive in Cairo on Sunday for indirect ceasefire talks, AFP reported.

Two days ago, Hamas said it was ready to release Israeli captives as part of US President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza. It did not state that it agreed with other aspects of Trump's 20 point plan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that he had instructed negotiators to go to Egypt "to finalise the technical details". 

Meanwhile, Cairo confirmed it would also be hosting a delegation from Hamas for talks on "the ground conditions and details of the exchange of all Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners".

Egyptian state-linked media said the warring parties would hold indirect talks on Sunday and Monday.

The White House said Trump had sent two envoys to Egypt: his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East negotiator Steve Witkoff.

The US president said he would "not tolerate delay" from Hamas, and told the group to move quickly towards a deal "or else all bets will be off".

Trump said on Truth Social that Israel had agreed to an initial line of withdrawal in Gaza and that this had been shared with Hamas.

"When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal," he posted, alongside a map of the proposed line.

In his televised statement, Netanyahu said that "in the coming days we will be able to bring back all our hostages... during the Sukkot holidays," referring to the week-long Jewish festival that begins on Monday.

"Hamas will be disarmed... either diplomatically via Trump's plan or militarily by us," he said.

Hamas has not said that it would disarm, and has long maintained that it would only do so if Israeli occupation ended.

On Friday night, Hamas announced "its approval for the release of all captives - living and remains - according to the exchange formula included in President Trump's proposal".

Trump immediately hailed the statement as evidence the group was "ready for a lasting PEACE", and called on Israel to stop its bombings immediately.

However, Israel continued its onslaught on Gaza, killing nearly 60 people in Gaza, including 40 in Gaza City.

The enclave's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed at least five people in Gaza on Sunday morning, adding there were several Israeli attacks through the night.

Mahmud al-Ghazi, 39, a resident of Al-Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City, said "Israel has actually escalated its attacks" since Trump's call for a halt.

"Who will stop Israel now? We need the negotiations to move faster to stop this genocide and the ongoing bloodshed," he said.

Reporting by AFP