Gaza ceasefire talks live: negotiators due in Cairo

Negotiators are due to converge on Cairo, the Egyptian capital, later today ahead of talks aimed at ending Israel’s nearly two-year war on Gaza.

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said yesterday that he hopes to announce the release of hostages being held in Gaza “in the coming days”, adding that “Hamas will be disarmed … either diplomatically via Trump’s plan or militarily by us”.

Netanyahu said he had ordered negotiators to Egypt “to finalise the technical details” of the US plan, while 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”.

Hamas has agreed to parts of the Trump administration’s 20-point proposal, including ending the war, Israel’s withdrawal, and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners (There are believed to be 48 hostages still being held in Gaza, only 20 of whom are thought to be alive).

But the Palestinian militant group left some issues subject to further negotiation, as well as questions unanswered, such as whether it would be willing to disarm, a key demand from Israel.

Donald Trump, who is fuelling Israel’s war by supplying its military with vast amounts of weapons, said he would “not tolerate delay” from Hamas to complete a deal.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump participate in a joint press conference in the White House last week. Photograph: Will Oliver/Pool/Will Oliver – Pool/CNP/Shutterstock

Egypt’s state-linked media has reported that Hamas and Israeli officials will hold indirect talks on Sunday and Monday.

Trump also dispatched two envoys to Egypt on Saturday, according to the White House, sending his son-in-law Jared Kushner and his main Middle East negotiator Steve Witkoff.

The US president has urged Hamas to move quickly towards a deal “or else all bets will be off”.

Despite Trump’s call on Friday for Israel to stop its bombardments on Gaza, there were more deadly strikes across Gaza on Saturday.

“The death toll from the ongoing Israeli bombardment since dawn today stands at 57, including 40 in Gaza City alone,” said Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for the civil defence agency.

Hamas said the ongoing attacks proved that Israel was continuing its “horrific crimes and massacres” on Palestinian people.