Tel Aviv — The death toll in the nearly two-year Israel–Hamas war has climbed to more than 67,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s Health Ministry announced Saturday, after more than 700 newly verified names were added to the official list of casualties. The grim milestone comes as Israel signals readiness to implement the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war and secure the release of all remaining hostages.
According to an Israeli official not authorized to speak publicly, the army has shifted to a defensive-only posture in Gaza and will not carry out active strikes while preparations for the plan advance. No forces have yet been withdrawn from the territory.
The move follows Trump’s directive on Friday ordering Israel to halt its bombardment after Hamas indicated it would accept parts of the U.S. proposal, though some elements remain under negotiation. Trump hailed Hamas’ response as a sign the group is “ready for a lasting PEACE.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has endorsed Trump’s plan amid mounting U.S. and international pressure to bring the conflict to a close before the second anniversary of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack.
A senior Egyptian official said talks are underway to finalize a deal that would involve the release of the remaining 48 hostages — about 20 of whom are believed to be alive — alongside hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Arab mediators are also preparing for broader Palestinian political talks to unify positions on Gaza’s future. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which initially rejected Trump’s proposal, announced Saturday it now supports Hamas’ response to the plan.
Under the U.S. proposal, Hamas would release hostages, relinquish control of Gaza and disarm, while Israel would halt its offensive, withdraw from large parts of the territory, free prisoners and facilitate humanitarian aid and reconstruction. Hamas has agreed in principle to release hostages and hand over power to other Palestinians but has not committed to disarmament — a key component of the deal.
Some Israeli analysts warn that Hamas’ response may be more rhetorical than substantive. Oded Ailam, a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, said the group’s statements “repackage old demands in softer language” rather than signal a real shift. Retired Israeli general Amir Avivi said Israel can pause operations for several days to allow for hostage releases but will resume fighting if Hamas does not lay down arms.
On the ground, Palestinians in Gaza are watching developments with uncertainty. “What we want is practical implementation. … We want a truce on the ground,” said Samir Abdel-Hady from Khan Younis, expressing concern that talks may collapse as they have in the past. Israeli forces continue to lay siege to Gaza City, warning civilians against returning to what the military calls a “dangerous combat zone.” Humanitarian experts have determined that the city entered famine conditions shortly before Israel’s latest offensive.
Families of Israeli hostages are also cautiously hopeful. Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod is held in Gaza, said both Hamas and the Israeli government could derail the agreement, or Trump could lose interest. “We’re putting our trust in Trump, because he’s the only one who’s doing it. … And we want to see him with us until the last step,” he said.
The war, now approaching its second anniversary, continues to exact a devastating human toll while diplomatic efforts accelerate. Whether the Trump plan can bridge the deep gaps between the parties remains uncertain, but both the death toll and humanitarian crisis are growing by the day.