Israel is moving ahead with early steps connected to President Donald Trump’s Gaza blueprint as American pressure intensifies and the number of murdered hostages remaining in the Strip continues to decline, according to a report broadcast by Kan News on Wednesday.

The shift signals that Jerusalem is preparing for the next phase of the U.S.-backed plan even as Hamas refuses to disarm.

Defense officials say the Israel Defense Forces are preparing to bring heavy engineering equipment into Rafah in the coming days, possibly as soon as next week, to clear away large sections of rubble.