
Trump says 'good chance' of hostage deal with Hamas 'during the week'
"I think there's a good chance we have a deal with Hamas... during the coming week," Trump told reporters amid mounting pressure on the Israeli prime minister to agree to a ceasefire and end the war in Gaza after almost two years.
Netanyahu said Sunday he hoped his talks in Washington could "help advance" a Gaza ceasefire deal.
Trump and Netanyahu are scheduled to meet at the White House on Monday -- the Israeli prime minister's third visit since Trump returned to power in January.
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas were underway in Qatar Sunday.
"We've gotten a lot of the hostages out, but pertaining to the remaining hostages, quite a few of them will be coming out," Trump added.
He said the United States was "working on a lot of things" with Israel, including "probably a permanent deal with Iran."
Trump also repeated claims that US strikes "obliterated" Iran's nuclear facilities during the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict.
Since the start of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, mediators have brokered pauses in fighting during which hostages were freed in exchange for Israel-held Palestinian prisoners.
Of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas during the October 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel's military campaign, lack of food and dire humanitarian conditions for more than 2 million people in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 57,418 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
The United Nations considers the figures reliable.
Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. - AFP
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New Straits Times
20 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Anwar slams US-Israel strike on Iran as 'wrong move'
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed his concern over the joint United States-Israel bombing of Iran's main nuclear sites last month following the Gaza conflict, calling it a wrong move that disregards diplomacy and the resilience of the Iranian people. In an interview with France 24 published on the network's digital platforms today, the Prime Minister emphasised that resolving the Gaza issue required multilateral and fair negotiations. "I wasn't terribly pleased because I think the way forward is only through negotiations. They (the US) have tried to destroy Iran too many times and you should never ignore the people's resilience," Anwar said. "It failed to account for the resilience, capacity and tenacity of the Iranian people. What we welcome, of course, is a ceasefire," he added. Commenting on Western nations' demands – including France's – for Iran to abandon its nuclear programme, Anwar stressed that such calls must be fair and consistent. "If they want non-proliferation with the understanding that nuclear technology shouldn't be weaponised, that's fair. But it must be applied consistently. These contradictions and hypocrisy have become too apparent, and people no longer accept them," he said. "This isn't the imperialist or colonial era where you can dictate terms. There must be fairness – why impose restrictions on Iran but not Israel? Why these double standards?" Anwar questioned. When asked about his decision to contact Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh after Oct 7, 2023, the Prime Minister said it was in support of a ceasefire initiative, not violence, and stressed that some Western leaders were completely blinded to the atrocities for decades. Anwar explained he had met Hamas leaders to facilitate dialogue through Qatar, Egypt and the US, adding that there was nothing wrong with pursuing a peace deal through negotiation. "I was not there to provoke violence, but to support dialogue. But I won't be a lackey who condemns Hamas while remaining silent on Israel's actions," he said. On criticism that he has been more vocal on Gaza than the war in Ukraine, Anwar rejected claims of double standards by saying that Malaysia has expressed its position clearly, including having spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin to pursue negotiations. "He told me, he's prepared, but don't dictate. I don't represent anyone. We come from a different region and smaller country, but as a friend, I urge him to then seek some sort of an amicable, peaceful resolution of the conflict," said Anwar. - BERNAMA

Barnama
2 hours ago
- Barnama
US-Israel Bombing Of Iran A Wrong Move -- Anwar
GENERAL Fire of Israeli attack on Sharan Oil depot is seen following the Israeli strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, June 15, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed his concern over the joint United States-Israel bombing of Iran's main nuclear sites last month following the Gaza conflict, calling it a wrong move that disregards diplomacy and the resilience of the Iranian people. In an interview with France 24 published on the network's digital platforms today, the prime minister emphasised that resolving the Gaza issue required multilateral and fair negotiations. "I wasn't terribly pleased because I think the way forward is only through negotiations. They (the US) have tried to destroy Iran too many times and you should never ignore the people's resilience," Anwar said. "It failed to account for the resilience, capacity and tenacity of the Iranian people. What we welcome, of course, is a ceasefire," he added. Commenting on Western nations' demands – including France's – for Iran to abandon its nuclear programme, Anwar stressed that such calls must be fair and consistent. "If they want non-proliferation with the understanding that nuclear technology shouldn't be weaponised, that's fair. But it must be applied consistently. These contradictions and hypocrisy have become too apparent, and people no longer accept them," he said. "This isn't the imperialist or colonial era where you can dictate terms. There must be fairness – why impose restrictions on Iran but not Israel? Why these double standards?" Anwar questioned. When asked about his decision to contact Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh after October 7, 2023, the Prime Minister said it was in support of a ceasefire initiative, not violence, and stressed that some Western leaders were completely blinded to the atrocities for decades. Anwar explained he had met Hamas leaders to facilitate dialogue through Qatar, Egypt and the US, adding that there was nothing wrong with pursuing a peace deal through negotiation.


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Defence system procurement now on G2G basis, says Anwar
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar bin-Ibrahim gestures during the BRICS summit second plenary session in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 6, 2025. BRICS leaders descended on sunny Rio de Janeiro, but issued a dark warning that US President Donald Trump's "indiscriminate" import tariffs risk hurting the global economy, warning they are illegal and arbitrary, according to a final summit statement. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP) KUALA LUMPUR: The procurement of defence systems will now be conducted on a Government-to-Government (G2G) basis without the involvement of agents or commissions, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He stated that the government had recently held discussions with France and Italy to ensure transparency in defence procurement deals. "Go directly government to government, and avoid this manner of taking or squandering money through so-called commissions," he said in an interview on France 24, published on the network's online platform on Monday (July 7). Speaking in the 'Tête-à-tête' programme hosted by Marc Perelman, Anwar was asked about allegations that he was pursuing a political vendetta against former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his family via investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Anwar responded that anti-corruption probes have been conducted transparently involving many leaders, including those aligned with the government coalition and Sabah state assemblymen, among others. "It's not about whether someone is a former finance minister or prime minister, it doesn't matter. I believe it is my duty to ensure that this kind of corruption stops. Secondly, any funds stolen from the people must be returned, we want to improve our schools, we want to help the poor," he said. Anwar, who was attending BRICS Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro, had previously embarked on his working visits to Rome, Italy and Paris, France since July 1, before arriving in the Brazilian city on Saturday. – Bernama