Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group, which is thought to be holding 20 living hostages, has so far refused to discuss.
Israeli media cited an Israeli official as saying that Israel was studying Hamas’ response to the ceasefire proposal.
An Egyptian security official told Reuters that Egypt, which is mediating ceasefire efforts along with Qatar, had seen Hamas’ response and said it included “positive signs that an agreement is near, but there are some demands from Hamas that need to be worked on”.
Trump has said he would be “very firm” with Netanyahu on the need for a speedy Gaza ceasefire, while noting the Israeli leader wants one as well.
“We hope it’s going to happen. And we’re looking forward to it happening sometime next week,” he told reporters earlier this week. “We want to get the hostages out.”
Israeli attacks have killed at least 138 Palestinians in Gaza over the past 24 hours, local health officials said on Saturday, AEST.
Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip on Thursday.Credit: AP
Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an airstrike on a tent encampment west of the city, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war.
On Friday, Palestinians gathered to perform funeral prayers before burying those killed overnight.
“There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother,” said 13-year-old Mayar al Farr as she wept. Her brother, Mahmoud, was shot dead in another incident, she told Reuters.
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The Israeli military said troops operating in the Khan Younis area had eliminated militants, confiscated weapons and dismantled Hamas outposts in the last 24 hours, while striking 100 targets across Gaza, including military structures, weapons storage facilities and launchers.
In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US embassy building on American Independence Day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all of the captives.
Demonstrators set up a symbolic Sabbath dinner table, placing 50 empty chairs to represent those who are still held in Gaza. Banners hung nearby displaying a post by Trump from his Truth Social platform that read, “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!”
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