Smoke billowed over Gaza City on Saturday, yet for the first time in months, residents felt a ceasefire was within reach as they welcomed US President Donald Trump's call for Israel to stop bombing.

"Trump's announcement was very surprising to me, as he has always been biased toward Israel," said 24-year-old Jamila al-Sayyid, from Gaza City's Zeitun neighbourhood.

Despite Trump's appeal, she said "the planes did not stop" bombing, but still felt good about her decision not to flee from the territory's largest urban centre.

"The most important thing is that the ceasefire will take effect and the Israeli prisoners will be released, as they are a pretext for Israel to continue its occupation", she added, referring to the 47 hostages still held in Gaza, including 25 the military says are de

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