Ten Palestinians killed in Israeli attack on school in Gaza's Khan Younis, Hamas-affiliated media reports
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Times
an hour ago
- Times
Hamas agrees to release hostages under Gaza ceasefire proposal
Hamas said it had agreed to a new proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip with the release of hostages on Monday, as the Israeli military continues to plan for a military takeover of the territory. The latest deal proposed by mediators requires the Palestinian militant group to release ten living hostages — about half of those still held — and 18 dead hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire with Israel. In return, Israel would withdraw its troops from north and central Gaza and allow more humanitarian aid to be delivered via the United Nations and the Red Crescent. 'Hamas and the factions agreed to the new ceasefire proposal without requesting any amendments,' a source for the militant group said, requesting anonymity. Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, addressed the reports in a video statement saying: 'You can get the impression of one thing — that Hamas is under immense pressure.' He appeared undeterred with his plans to expand Israel's operation in Gaza, adding that earlier in the day he had met the military's top brass to discuss the takeover of Gaza City and 'and the completion of our missions'. Egypt has taken a more prominent role in the talks in Cairo than in previous rounds, which were held in Qatar using American-backed proposals. The Egyptian government is said to be more focused on the logistical aspects of the truce, said to include a phased ceasefire with the eventual withdrawal of Israeli troops to a security border. Negotiations to secure even a temporary truce in the 22-month war have gathered pace since Netanyahu declared that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would soon move to occupy Gaza City and most of the remaining territory, in a bid to finally eradicate Hamas. A displaced Palestinian leaves northern Gaza on Monday MAHMOUD ISSA/REUTERS Israel Katz, the Israeli defence minister, was expected to approve plans for a military takeover of the strip's main population centre by Tuesday, despite opposition from campaigners in Israel, including the families of hostages. Katz said that for the first time in weeks Hamas was 'willing to discuss a deal for the release of hostages, only because of its fear that we seriously intend to conquer Gaza City.' Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the head of the IDF, presented the military's 'plan for the next stage of the war' on Sunday after visiting troops in Gaza. According to sources, the plan avoids moving troops inside the central refugee camps, where the hostages are thought to be held, but prepares for a 'long-term' seizure of the city that would further entrench Israel's occupation. Once Katz and the wider security cabinet sign off on the plan, the army is set to issue evacuation orders to residents via leaflets, statements and social media instructing residents to leave block by block and head south. Inside Gaza City, thousands of Palestinians have already fled the southern Zeitoun neighbourhood after relentless and intensified Israeli bombardment. Residents gathered on Monday to protest against the displacement in Zeitoun, with signs promising not to 'relinquish the north [of Gaza]', and 'we will not leave Gaza City.' The Palestinian Red Crescent, part of the Red Cross movement and the main provider of healthcare and emergency medical services in Gaza, has also said it would not leave, despite an order to evacuate the al-Quds hospital in Gaza City. AMIR LEVY/GETTY A large-scale demonstration against the proposed offensive was also held in Tel Aviv on Sunday. Many Israelis believe the army's entry into Gaza City endangers the remaining hostages and will pull Israeli soldiers into a heavily booby-trapped urban area where they will be vulnerable to guerrilla warfare tactics. The UN has condemned the plan and the forced displacement of a million Gazans, while several countries including the UK, France and Canada have moved to recognise a Palestinian state should Israel and Hamas fail to agree to a ceasefire. In response, Israel has threatened to close the French consulate in Jerusalem. Israel has also hardened its position in negotiations, insisting on a deal that will see the release of all the living hostages at once. It is a step away from the proposal put forward by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, which sought a staged exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. • Macron calls for UN peacekeepers to 'stabilise' Gaza Israel says it has full US backing for its war on Gaza. On Monday President Trump said that the remaining hostages will only be released 'when Hamas is confronted and destroyed'. Writing on his Truth Social site, he added: 'The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be.' Mike Huckabee, the US Ambassador to Israel, added that the administration is giving Israel free rein for its settlement expansion in the West Bank as the country is set to approve the construction of housing that will dissect land that Palestinians seek as part of a future state. 'Whether or not there should be massive development in E1 [the settlement plan] is a decision for the government of Israel to make,' Huckabee told Israeli Army Radio, — a position in direct contrast to countries who want to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN next month. 'It's incumbent on all of us to recognise that Israelis have a right to live in Israel.' Nearly 62,000 Palestinians have died according to the Hamas-run health ministry since the group started the war by killing 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023 and taking more than 200 hostages. Following reports that Hamas was ready to move forward with a version of the Witkoff proposal, which Israel had accepted last month, two of Israel's leading far right ministers spoke out against accepting a deal. Itamar Ben Gvir wrote on X that Netanyahu has 'no mandate' to agree to a partial deal and warned him not to surrender to Hamas. Bezalel Smotrich, who advanced plans to 'bury' a viable Palestinian state last week, said Israel must not stop its war under any circumstances. 'We fight only to win!,' he wrote back after Trump's tweet. 'The occupation of Gaza has put Hamas is under immense pressure, because it understands that it will be the end of them. Therefore, it is trying to stop that by returning to a partial deal. This is exactly why we must not give in and grant the enemy a lifeline. Continue to the end, to victory, and to bring back all the hostages in one fell swoop.' The Israeli military has largely relied on reservists to fight the war and its ranks are now fatigued and depleted after almost two years of fighting. Ultra-orthodox jews have refused to enlist, putting a heavy strain on the present reservists amid a shortage of soldiers.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Israel retaliates after Australia blocks entry to politician: 'Shameful and unacceptable'
Israel 's foreign affairs minister says the visas of Australia's representatives to the Palestinian Authority have been revoked over the nation's recognition of a Palestinian state and for refusing entry to Israeli figures. Gideon Sa'ar announced the visa cancellations in a social media post and said he had also instructed the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry into Israel. 'This follows Australia's decisions to recognise a 'Palestinian state' and against the backdrop of Australia's unjustified refusal to grant visas to a number of Israeli figures, including former Minister Ayelet Shaked and the Chairman of the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, MK Simcha Rothman,' Mr Sa'ar posted on social media platform X on Monday. 'While anti-Semitism is raging in Australia, including manifestations of violence against Jews and Jewish institutions, the Australian government is choosing to fuel it by false accusations, as if the visit of Israeli figures will disrupt public order and harm Australia's Muslim population. It is shameful and unacceptable!' Mr Sa'ar's post comes after it was revealed on Monday that Australia denied far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman from entering the country for a speaking tour after provocative comments including branding children in Gaza as enemies. Australia has also denied entry to former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked, based on anti-Palestinian comments, and Israeli advocate Hillel Fuld. On August 11, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Australia's intention to recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. Mr Rothman has denied children have been dying of hunger in Gaza, despite overwhelming international evidence, and branded them 'our enemies'. He has also pushed for Israel to annex the West Bank and denied a Palestinian state should exist. He defended the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, which is illegal under international law, and refused to allow those fleeing the war into Israel, saying 'you don't let them conquer your country'. On Monday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australia 'will be a country where everyone can be safe and feel safe'. 'Our government takes a hard line on people who seek to come to our country and spread division,' he said in a statement. 'If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we don't want you here.' The right-wing Australian Jewish Association said Mr Rothman's visa cancellation on the day he was set to leave 'was spiteful' after it had initially been granted. The purpose of Mr Rothman's visit was to show solidarity with Australia's Jewish community, which is facing a wave of anti-Semitism,' CEO Robert Gregory said in a statement. 'AJA had arranged for him to meet with victims, visit targeted Jewish institutions, and address numerous Jewish schools and synagogues.' Mr Gregory also criticised Mr Burke for denying entry to Ms Shaked and Mr Fuld. Briefing materials provided for Mr Burke on Ms Shaked's visa provided numerous examples of her rhetoric, including her calling Palestinian children 'little snakes' and pushing to turn a Palestinian settlement in Gaza into a soccer field. Mr Fuld had compared Gazans to Nazis, said not all Palestinian children were innocent and dismissed violence from Israeli settlers against Palestinians. Australia has further sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers, including travel bans. But Mr Burke has also denied entry to people who have a history of anti-Semitism, including rapper Kanye West after he released a song praising Hitler. Lifeline 13 11 14
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Hamas accepts new Gaza ceasefire plan
Hamas has told mediators in the Middle East that it accepts a new ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip, as a fresh diplomatic push to end the war gained traction. In a statement on social media, Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, said it had agreed to a new proposal by mediators in Qatar and Egypt. 'The movement has submitted its response, agreeing to the mediators' new proposal. We pray to God to extinguish the fire of this war on our people,' he wrote on Facebook. Earlier on Monday, a Hamas source also told the AFP news agency that the group had accepted the proposal 'without requesting any amendments'. The new proposal has now been sent to Israel, mediators Egypt and Qatar said, adding that the 'ball is now in its court.' As of Monday evening, Israel – which is planning a major new offensive in the Gaza Strip to end the war – had not issued a formal response. The new partial deal proposed is understood to include a 60-day truce, the release of some Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and new arrangements to allow aid into the Gaza Strip. Negotiations over a previous, similar deal collapsed earlier this year. It comes a week after Israel's security cabinet approved plans to expand the war into Gaza City and nearby refugee camps, a move that sparked an outcry at home and abroad. Later on Monday, an unnamed Israeli official suggested that the new offer was not sufficient, as Israel was only interested in a deal that would secure the release of all the hostages. 'Israel's position has not changed [regarding] the release of all the hostages and adherence to the other conditions defined for ending the war,' the official said, according to the Times of Israel. Donald Trump, the US president, has also been dismissive of any new partial proposals that do not commit to getting all the remaining 49 Israeli hostages or their remains returned home. Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social: 'We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!!' A Palestinian source familiar with the talks told AFP that mediators were 'expected to announce that an agreement has been reached and set a date for the resumption of talks', adding that guarantees were offered to help bring about a lasting solution. Earlier on Monday, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said Hamas was under pressure to come back to the negotiating table, following his announcement of plans to conquer Gaza City and fully occupy the Palestinian enclave. 'Like you, I hear the reports in the media, and from them, you can get the impression of one thing, that Hamas is under immense pressure,' he told senior officers at an Israeli military headquarters close to the Gaza border. Israel's war on Gaza was launched in retaliation for the Oct 7 Hamas massacre, in which more than a thousand Israelis were killed. The war has so far killed an estimated 62,000 Palestinians, a majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable. News of the proposed deal came after Aharon Haliva, the Israeli general who headed military intelligence on Oct 7, was revealed to have said 50 Palestinians must die for every person killed in the terror attack on Israeli soil. 'It does not matter now if they are children,' he said, in recordings broadcast by Israel's Channel 12 TV station. The death toll in Gaza will send a 'message to future generations', he added. Channel 12 did not say when the conversation took place or how it had obtained the recordings. In a statement to the network, Mr Haliva said the comments were made in a 'closed forum, and I can only regret that'.
