Our live coverage of Israel’s war in Gaza has moved here.
Watch: Jake Tapper's text exchange with Trump
US President Donald Trump told CNN’s Jake Tapper in a text message Saturday that Hamas faces “complete obliteration” if it refuses to cede power and control of Gaza.
During the exchange, Tapper pressed the president on Hamas’ response to his 20-point ceasefire proposal, citing Sen. Lindsey Graham’s interpretation that Hamas had effectively rejected the plan by insisting on “no disarmament, keeping Gaza under Palestinian control and tying hostage release to negotiations.”
“Is he wrong?” Tapper asked.
“We will find out. Only time will tell!!!” Trump responded.
The president said he expects clarity “soon” on whether Hamas is genuinely committed to peace.
“Yes on Bibi,” Trump said, when asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is fully on board with ending the bombing campaign in Gaza and supporting the president’s broader vision.
Trump added that he is hopeful his ceasefire proposal will become a reality and emphasized that he’s working hard to achieve it.
Watch Tapper’s take on the exchange below:
Time of the essence, Trump says as he hails "very positive discussions with Hamas"
US President Donald Trump said Sunday that negotiations between Hamas and “countries from all over the world” for the release of hostages and to end the war in Gaza have “been very successful, and proceeding rapidly.”
“There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and countries from all over the world (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the hostages, end the war in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East,” he wrote on Truth Social.
He said technical teams will meet Monday in Egypt to work through and clarify final details.
“I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST. I will continue to monitor this centuries old ‘conflict,’” he wrote.
“TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW — SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!”
CNN analyst says Trump seized a key moment for his diplomatic push on Gaza
CNN analyst Barak Ravid is hearing that there’s “quite a lot of optimism” at the White House that US President Donald Trump will be able to continue pushing Israel and Hamas toward a ceasefire deal.
Ravid said global outcry over the crisis in the Middle East seemed to hit a boiling point following Israel’s strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar last month.
“That point was just too much for too many people,” Ravid said, calling it a “bridge too far” and a sign the war was “escalating to places nobody really wants.”
Trump seized on the leverage he had over Israel’s prime minister from there, forcing the warring sides to the table, according to Ravid.
Watch his analysis below:
Israeli hostage coordinator assures families of "full commitment" to securing release
Israel will negotiate “with full commitment and determination” to secure the release of all of the hostages, the country’s coordinator for hostage affairs told family members Sunday evening.
In a text message sent to the families and obtained by CNN, Gal Hirsch said Israel has held discussions and planning meetings to prepare for the release of the remaining hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Hirsch said in the message that Israel is in touch with “the Red Cross, foreign coordinators, and other relevant parties.” Hirsch is one of the members of the negotiating team set to travel to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.
Trump alludes to Gaza ceasefire efforts in address to service members
US President Donald Trump spoke a short time ago at a gathering of service members and top military brass celebrating the US Navy’s 250th anniversary celebration.
He made a reference to his efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, saying he’s working on solving global conflicts, including “one that’s taken 3,000 years. And we’re pretty close, but I don’t want to talk about it until it’s done.”
“We don’t want to send you into battle unless it’s necessary, right? We’re putting out a lot of fires,” the president added, addressing the assembled sailors.
Watch a clip of Trump’s remarks below:
The Hamas delegation has arrived in Egypt for ceasefire talks
Hamas’ delegation has arrived in Egypt to begin negotiations on the terms of a ceasefire, the group said in a news release Sunday.
The delegation is headed by Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’ chief negotiator, who was just seen in a video for the first time since Israel’s assassination attempt in Doha nearly one month ago.
Sources previously told CNN that indirect talks between the warring sides are expected to begin Monday.
Last 15 Italians from Sumud flotilla will leave Israel tomorrow, Italian foreign minister says
The last 15 Italians remaining in Israel from the intercepted Global Sumud flotilla will depart on a charter flight to Athens tomorrow before transferring to Italy, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.
A spokesperson for the foreign ministry said French activists will also be aboard the flight.
Tajani thanked his staff, as well as diplomats in Israel, for assisting with the repatriation process and reiterated his government’s support for the Trump administration’s peace efforts.
Some context: Israel’s interception of the flotilla, which was attempting to deliver food, water and medicine to civilians in Gaza, sparked protests around the world. That included a one-day general strike in Italy and demonstrations in dozens of cities across the country, where tens of thousands took to the street.
Israel’s foreign ministry said in an X post on Friday that it has already deported four Italian citizens who joined the flotilla and was “keen to end this procedure as quickly as possible.” The Italian foreign ministry said yesterday that 26 more accepted the orders for their expulsion and were transferred to Istanbul.
It's just after 10 p.m. in Gaza. Here are some of today's key headlines
We’ve been closely tracking a flurry of Gaza ceasefire diplomacy, with negotiators now headed to Egypt for talks on President Donald Trump’s 20-point proposal to end the war between Israel and Hamas.
We’re also hearing from Palestinians in Gaza, who have voiced tempered optimism about a truce but say Israeli strikes are still devastating the enclave.
If you’re just joining us, here’s a roundup of the day’s news:
• Who will attend the talks: Negotiators from the US, Israel and Hamas will be part of the discussions, and indirect talks between Israel and the militant group are expected to start tomorrow, sources tell CNN. Israel confirmed its delegation will depart for Egypt Monday, but said it will be led remotely by the country’s minister of strategic affairs.
• Trump’s stark warning for Hamas: Trump told CNN yesterday that Hamas faces “complete obliteration” if the group refuses to cede power in Gaza. But he was upbeat on the prospect of striking a deal when speaking to reporters at the White House today, saying negotiations are already going “very well” and that he expects the Egypt talks to take “a couple of days.”
• On the ground in Gaza: Some Palestinians have noted a decrease in the intensity of Israeli strikes today, after Trump claimed this weekend that Israel had temporarily stopped bombing the enclave. But Gaza hospitals said at least 15 more people were killed today and dozens of others were killed Saturday by Israeli strikes.
• Meanwhile, key official emerges: Hamas’ chief negotiator, Khalil Al-Hayya, was seen in a video for the first time since the Israeli assassination attempt in Doha nearly one month ago. Al-Hayya is set to head the Hamas delegation for discussions about Trump’s ceasefire proposal, according to an Egyptian official.
Watch: Trump says ceasefire talks could take "a couple of days"
US President Donald Trump spoke to reporters earlier today at the White House, saying negotiations on the Gaza ceasefire deal are going “very well.”
Trump described his 20-point ceasefire proposal as a “great deal” for Israel and “the entire Arab world.”
Trump said the deal does not need any further flexibility and that the hostages released by Hamas under the agreement would need to come back “almost immediately.”
Remember: Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are set to start tomorrow in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, according to an Egyptian official and three Israeli sources. Negotiators, including a US delegation, are headed to Cairo now.
CNN’s Tal Shalev contributed reporting to this post.
Israeli delegation will depart Monday for ceasefire talks
The Israeli delegation for this week’s negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, will depart for the talks Monday, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
We reported earlier that Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer will lead the Israeli delegation. According to two Israeli sources, he will do so remotely, not travel to Egypt.
The talks will involve top officials from Hamas and the US.
Remember: The sides are trying to finalize an agreement based on President Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan, which would lead to the release of Israeli hostages.
This post has been updated with additional information about Dermer leading talks remotely.
Photos: Scenes from Gaza as Palestinians await news on ceasefire talks
Our live coverage today has often focused on the flurry of diplomatic efforts surrounding US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire proposal for Gaza, but we also continue to monitor the situation on the ground in the enclave.
CNN spoke with Palestinians today who said Israel’s bombardment seemed to lighten at least somewhat ahead of indirect talks tomorrow with Hamas. But dozens more people have still been wounded or killed in Israeli strikes over the past 48 hours, according to Gaza hospitals.
Here are some scenes from around the enclave today:
Some Palestinians note decreased intensity of Israeli bombardment today
Some residents in Gaza have reported a decrease in Israeli strikes today, as negotiators prepare to meet in Egypt for ceasefire talks.
While the relative calm has offered brief respite for the Palestinians CNN spoke with, they said they can still hear explosions and are cautious in their optimism.
Ismail Zaydeh, who is currently sheltering at Gaza Port, said he heard airstrikes around dawn, including around Gaza City’s Tel al-Hawa and al-Sabra neighborhoods and the beach encampment west of the city.
Hatem Abu Rahma, who had been living in Gaza City’s Al-Shifa neighborhood but traveled an hour away to the Al-Saraya area for his safety, told CNN the situation across the enclave feels “much calmer” this weekend in comparison with Friday.
Asmaa Ziyad from Gaza City’s Al-Sahaba neighborhood also noted a change, saying: “Yesterday and the night before, there were many airstrikes, but the bombardment is lighter than it was two days ago. We still hear the sounds of aircraft and distant explosions, but not like before.”
Abu Rahma, from the Al-Shifa neighborhood, said he returned there over the weekend but found the situation “still dangerous.”
Deadly strikes: On Friday, US President Donald Trump called on Israel to “immediately stop the bombing.” But Israeli airstrikes have continued to batter the enclave, with the number of dead and injured rising by the dozens this weekend.
US defense secretary says Israel can "finish the job" if Hamas doesn't stand by ceasefire terms
We’re hearing from another Trump administration Cabinet official, after we brought you updates on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks earlier.
If Hamas doesn’t follow through with the terms of a ceasefire deal, “Israel can finish the job,” US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on FOX News’ “The Sunday Briefing.”
“Israel can go in there and make sure Hamas is obliterated,” Hegseth said.
Hamas chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya seen in video for first time since Israeli assassination attempt
Hamas’ chief negotiator, Khalil Al-Hayya, was seen in a video for the first time since the Israeli assassination attempt in Doha nearly one month ago.
In the two-and-a-half-minute video, only Al-Hayya’s head and chest can be seen, and it’s unclear if he is suffering from any injuries as a result of the earlier attack. It’s also unclear where the video was shot. According to Hamas, the video was recorded on Saturday.
Al-Hayya mourns his son, who was killed in the Israeli strike on September 9, and says, “We are heartbroken over the loss of thousands in Gaza. God has honored us by counting among the martyrs our sons and grandchildren.”
The strike hit a residential building near the center of Doha, targeting senior Hamas leaders, including Al-Hayya and others. The Israeli strike drew international condemnation, including from US President Donald Trump.
Al-Hayya is set to head the Hamas delegation for discussions about Trump’s 20-point ceasefire proposal, according to an Egyptian official.
Israeli foreign minister commends Trump's "huge mission" to release hostages
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has commended US President Donald Trump’s “huge mission” to secure the release of the remaining captives in Gaza while voicing his optimism that a hostage deal could be close.
Israel is now working to implement the first step of the Trump administration’s ceasefire plan, which focuses on the release of Israeli hostages, he added.
Three Israeli anti-war activists who tried to break through Gaza border freed from jail
Three Israeli anti-war activists have been released from detention and placed under house arrest after attempting to break through the Gaza border, a spokesperson for the their network, Mesarvot, said Sunday.
Itamar Greenberg, Roman Levin and Roy Elani were arrested and detained in Beersheba District Court after crossing briefly into the Gaza border on Friday.
The activists are part of a small but loud group of Israelis who have decried their country’s military actions in Gaza and who have marched toward the Gaza fence for weeks in solidarity with the Sumud Flotilla, aiming “to break the siege on Gaza.”
“We demanded an immediate end to the genocide and ethnic cleansing carried out by Israel,” a video posted to Greenberg’s Instagram on September 19.
Greenberg, 19, is a conscious objector, having refused to enlist for military service, which is compulsory for most Jewish Israelis - and some minorities - over the age of 18.
Greenberg was in and out of prison over the last year for objecting to serving in the military. He served a total of 197 days over five consecutive sentences before being released in March 2025.
He said his refusal to serve came at the “culmination of a long process of learning and moral reckoning.”
“The more I learned, the more I knew I couldn’t wear a uniform that symbolizes killing and oppression,” he told CNN earlier this year, explaining that Israel’s war in Gaza solidified his decision to refuse.
“There is genocide,” he said. “So we don’t need good reasons (to refuse).”
The Israeli government has vehemently denied accusations of genocide.
For context: An independent United Nations inquiry concluded for the first time last month that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and that the country’s top leaders have incited genocide, in what it described as the “most authoritative UN finding to date.”
CNN’s Eugenia Yosef contributed to this report.
Trump's team "convinced" ceasefire plan is possible, Israeli opposition leader says
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said today that US President Donald Trump’s team is “convinced” their ceasefire proposal is not only possible, but “should happen.”
“This deal was shaped thanks to President Trump, and despite (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu. I saw yesterday Netanyahu trying, as usual, to steal the credit for it,” Lapid added.
The opposition leader went on to say that Netanyahu has “no political impediment” to finish what Trump started, before adding: “This deal can be done; this deal must be done.”
Rubio says Hamas' response to US ceasefire proposal "an enormous achievement"
More now from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was also speaking earlier today on ABC’s “This Week.” He said the administration’s hope is to have “90 percent” of negotiations completed by the time White House officials arrive in Cairo.
As we’ve reported, delegations from the US, Israel and Hamas are heading to Egypt to discuss the proposal, and indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are expected to start Monday, according to an Egyptian official and three Israeli sources.
Rubio said that while he does not fully trust Hamas leaders, there is still progress being made during negotiations.
When pressed on if hostages will be released as soon as this week, Rubio said that the administration is hoping it happens “as quickly as possible.”
Rubio says administration hopeful on releasing hostages in Gaza "very quickly"
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been on the Sunday political shows today and we can bring you some of his remarks.
Securing the release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza is “priority number one” for the Trump administration as it works to reach a deal with Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza, Rubio told NBC’s “Meet the Press”
Rubio said it’s a goal the administration believes “we can achieve something very quickly on,” specifying that the release would be “in exchange for Israel moving back to” the initial withdrawal line outlined in President Donald Trump’s proposed ceasefire plan, “which is basically where they stood at the middle part of last month of August.”
“Even as I speak to you now, there are people meeting on that,” Rubio added.
