Israel reined in its offensive in Gaza and prepared for further talks with Hamas, after US President Donald Trump hailed the militant group’s offer to release all hostages as a major breakthrough in his bid to end the two-year war.

Israel was preparing to “immediately implement the first phase of Trump’s plan for the immediate release of all hostages,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Saturday.

Israel will start mediated negotiations with Hamas on Sunday, an Israeli official familiar with the matter said. That is after the Palestinian militant group said it wanted to discuss parts of Trump’s 20-point plan to end a conflict that has devastated Gaza and destabilized the wider Middle East.

The official did not stipulate where the talks would take place or if the release o

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