TEL AVIV/CAIRO, July 4 (Reuters) - At least 15 Palestinians were killed overnight in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to local health officials, as U.S. President Donald Trump said he expected Hamas to respond to his "final proposal" for a ceasefire in Gaza in the next 24 hours.

Hamas said its response to a proposed Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal "can be characterized as positive" and stressed it is ready to start negotiations on the implementation. Why it matters: President Trump has been pushing both Hamas through Qatari and Egyptian mediators and Israel to agree on a deal that includes a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and the release of 10 live hostages and 18 deceased hostages.