Egypt pushing 60-day Gaza truce tied to hostage release, aid entry
ISTANBUL, June 30 — Egypt's foreign minister said Sunday evening that his country is working on a new Gaza deal that includes a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of some Israeli hostages and the rapid entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
'We're working towards a durable solution and a permanent ceasefire,' Badr Abdelatty said in a televised interview with the local OnTV television.
He said the proposal is a joint effort by Egypt, Qatar and the United States (US) and represents 'a first step' towards a sustainable ceasefire.
'What's on the table now is a 60-day truce in exchange for the release of a number of Israeli hostages and the swift delivery of aid to Gaza, including medical supplies,' he added.
This move, the top diplomat said, 'would create momentum to move towards a lasting ceasefire, eventually leading to the implementation of the Jan 19 agreement.' — Bernama-Anadolu
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Trump slams Mamdani as ‘pure communist' after shock NY primary win
WASHINGTON, June 30 — US President Donald Trump branded the winner of New York City's mayoral Democratic primary a 'pure communist' in remarks that aired Sunday, an epithet the progressive candidate dismissed as political theatrics. Zohran Mamdani's shock win last week against a scandal-scarred political heavyweight resonated as a thunderclap within the party, and drew the ire of Trump and his collaborators, who accused Mamdani of being a radical extremist. The Republican's aggressive criticism of the self-described democratic socialist is sure to ramp up over the coming months as Trump's party seeks to push Democrats away from the political centre and frame them as too radical to win major US elections. 'He's pure communist' and a 'radical leftist... lunatic,' Trump fumed on Fox News talk show 'Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.' 'I think it's very bad for New York,' added Trump, who grew up in the city and built his sprawling real estate business there. 'If he does get in, I'm going to be president and he is going to have to do the right thing (or) they're not getting any money' from the federal government. Trump's White House has repeatedly threatened to curb funding for Democratic-led US cities if they oppose his policies, including cutting off money to so-called sanctuary cities which limit their cooperation with immigration authorities. Mamdani also took to the talk shows Sunday, asserting he would 'absolutely' maintain New York's status as a sanctuary city so that 'New Yorkers can get out of the shadows and into the full life of the city that they belong to.' Asked directly on NBC's 'Meet the Press' whether he is a communist, Mamdani — a 33-year-old immigrant aiming to become New York's first Muslim mayor — responded 'No, I am not. 'And I have already had to start to get used to the fact that the president will talk about how I look, how I sound, where I'm from, who I am, ultimately because he wants to distract from what I'm fighting for,' Mamdani said. 'I'm fighting for the very working people that he ran a campaign to empower, that he has since then betrayed.' The Ugandan-born state assemblyman had trailed former governor Andrew Cuomo in polls but surged on a message of lower rents, free daycare and buses, and other populist ideas in the notoriously expensive metropolis. Although registered Democrats outnumber Republicans three to one in New York, victory for Mamdani in November is not assured. Current Mayor Eric Adams is a Democrat but is campaigning for re-election as an independent, while Cuomo may also run unaffiliated. — AFP
Herald Malaysia
4 hours ago
- Herald Malaysia
More Palestinians killed in new wave of Gaza strikes
At least 81 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza over a 24-hour period, according to Gaza health officials, as Israeli forces targeted areas where displaced civilians were sheltering. Jun 30, 2025 Mourners react near the body of a Palestinian child killed in an Israeli strike, in Gaza City By Nathan MorleyAt least 81 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza over a 24-hour period, according to Gaza health officials, as Israeli forces targeted areas where displaced civilians were sheltering. The strikes hit a tent camp near a stadium in Gaza City and a school in the Tuffah neighbourhood, authorities said. Among the dead were children and entire families. Gaza's Health Ministry said more than 56,400 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October 2023. The surge in casualties has intensified international calls for a ceasefire, with diplomatic efforts reportedly ongoing involving U.S. and Qatari mediators. The Israeli military earlier said it had killed one of the founding members of Hamas. Israel resumed large-scale military operations in Gaza in early March. Since then, at least 6,050 Palestinians have been killed and more than 21,000 wounded, bringing the total number of injuries since the beginning of the war to over 133,000, according to Gaza-based officials. Iran uranium enrichment programme In a separate development, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Iran could resume uranium enrichment within months. International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said last week's airstrikes damaged nuclear infrastructure but did not cause total destruction. Grossi's comments appeared to contradict U.S. claims that Iran's nuclear capabilities had been significantly set back.--Vatican News
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Iran casts doubt on Israel's ceasefire commitment after war halts nuclear talks
TEHRAN, June 30 — Iran warned Sunday that it had little faith in Israel's commitment to a fragile ceasefire that ended the most intense and destructive confrontation between the two foes to date. The 12-day war erupted on June 13, when Israel launched a bombing campaign in Iran that killed top military commanders and scientists linked to its nuclear programme. Tehran responded with ballistic missile attacks on Israeli cities. Israel said its aim was to keep the Islamic republic from developing an atomic weapon — an ambition Tehran has consistently denied. The fighting derailed nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, which later joined its ally Israel's campaign with strikes on Tehran's nuclear facilities. 'We did not start the war, but we have responded to the aggressor with all our power,' Iranian armed forces chief of staff Abdolrahim Mousavi was quoted as saying by state television, referring to Israel. 'We have serious doubts over the enemy's compliance with its commitments including the ceasefire, we are ready to respond with force' if attacked again, he added, six days into the ceasefire. IAEA dispute The conflict rattled the already shaky relationship between Iran and the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran has rejected the IAEA's request to inspect its bombed nuclear sites, accusing its chief Rafael Grossi of 'betraying his duties' by failing to condemn the Israeli and US attacks. Iranian lawmakers voted this week to suspend cooperation with the agency. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Grossi's request to visit the targeted facilities 'meaningless' and 'possibly malign in intent'. Tehran also cited a June 12 IAEA resolution criticising Iran's lack of nuclear transparency as a pretext used by Israel to justify launching its offensive the following day. The backlash drew a sharp rebuke from Germany and Argentina, Grossi's home country. 'I commend Director General Rafael Grossi and his team for their unrelenting professionalism. Threats against them from within Iran are deeply troubling and must stop,' German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul wrote on X. Argentina's foreign ministry said it 'categorically condemns the threats against him coming from Iran'. Neither specified which threats they were referring to, but Iran's ultra-conservative Kayhan newspaper recently claimed documents showed Grossi was an Israeli spy and should be executed. Speaking to US broadcaster CBS on Sunday, Iranian ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani denied there was any threat to nuclear inspectors in Iran, insisting they were 'in safe conditions' but their work was suspended. Damage questioned The United States carried out strikes on three key facilities used for Iran's atomic programme. In the days after, Trump said the United States would bomb Iran again 'without question' if intelligence indicated it was able to enrich uranium to military grade. Speaking to CBS on Saturday, Grossi said Iran could 'in a matter of months' return to enriching uranium. Questions remain as to how much damage the US strikes did to Iran's nuclear programme, with Trump and his officials insisting it had been 'obliterated'. On Sunday, however, The Washington Post reported that the United States had intercepted calls between Iranian officials who said the damage was less than expected. That followed an early 'low confidence' US military intelligence report that said the nuclear programme had been set back months, not years. Israel has said Iran's programme was delayed by years, while Tehran has downplayed the damage. The IAEA said Iran had been enriching uranium to 60 percent, far above the levels needed for civilian nuclear power, although Grossi previously noted there had been no indication before the strikes that Iran was working to build an atomic weapon. Israel has maintained ambiguity about its own nuclear arsenal, neither officially confirming nor denying it exists, but the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute has estimated it has 90 nuclear warheads. 'A new road' Iran's health ministry says at least 627 civilians were killed and 4,900 injured during the war with Israel. Retaliatory missile attacks by Iran on Israel killed 28 people, Israeli authorities say. During the war, Iran arrested dozens of people it accused of spying for Israel. Iran's parliament on Sunday voted to ban the unauthorised use of communications equipment, including tech billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service, said the official news agency IRNA. On Sunday, Washington's envoy to Turkey said the Iran-Israel war could pave the way for a new Middle East. 'What just happened between Israel and Iran is an opportunity for all of us to say: 'Time out. Let's create a new road',' Ambassador Tom Barrack, who is also the US special envoy to Syria, told the Anadolu state news agency. 'The Middle East is ready to have a new dialogue, people are tired of the same old story,' he added. — AFP
