Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City have “significantly subsided,” though at least five Palestinians were killed Saturday, as Israel’s army confirmed it was preparing for the first phase of a US-backed peace plan to end the war.

An Israeli official said the military has shifted to a defensive posture in Gaza but no troops have been withdrawn. Shifa Hospital director Mohamed Abu Selmiyah told AP that five people were killed as bombing intensity sharply dropped across Gaza City.

The development came after Hamas said it accepted parts of President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the nearly two-year conflict. Trump praised the move, saying he believed “they are ready for a lasting peace.”

Israel’s leadership, under mounting US pressure, has begun preparations for the plan, while a US delegation led by envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Egypt for hostage-release and ceasefire talks involving Israel and Hamas, an Egyptian official said.

Under Trump’s proposal, Hamas would release the remaining hostages and relinquish control of Gaza in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal, prisoner releases, and a major influx of humanitarian aid.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad said it supports Hamas’ response, while Arab mediators prepare a broader dialogue on Gaza’s postwar governance.

In Gaza, residents cautiously welcomed the apparent lull. “We want a truce on the ground,” said Sameer Qudeeh from Khan Younis. “We are truly tired,” added another resident.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October 2023, with women and children comprising about half of the casualties.