U.S.-Israel Alliance Cracking? Trump Says ‘Bibi Went Rogue' Middle East Fallout News18
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Starvation grips Gaza after 21 months of war: Will Israel, Hamas call a truce now?
The stakes are higher now with growing numbers of malnutrition deaths in the Palestinian territory casting a spotlight Israel's refusal to allow in more aid read more Israeli troops patrol the border fence with Syria near the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights. AFP Mediators have been shuttling between Israeli and Hamas negotiators since July 6 as they scramble to end nearly two years of war in Gaza where fears of mass starvation are growing. Through 21 months of fighting both sides have clung to long-held positions preventing two short-lived truces being converted into a lasting ceasefire. The stakes are higher now with growing numbers of malnutrition deaths in the Palestinian territory casting a spotlight Israel's refusal to allow in more aid. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With pressure for a breakthrough mounting, Washington said top envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Europe this week for talks on a Gaza ceasefire and aid corridor. US officials said he might head on to the Middle East. As the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates drastically, are the two sides closer to reaching an agreement? What do warring parties want? After more than two weeks of back and forth, efforts by mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States are at a standstill. The proposal on the table involves a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas insists any agreement must include guarantees for a lasting end to the war. Israel rejects any such guarantees, insisting that Hamas must give up its capacity to fight or govern as a prerequisite for peace. 'The cold hard truth is that for domestic political considerations neither (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu nor Hamas leaders in Gaza have an interest in seeing a swift outcome and a comprehensive ceasefire,' said Karim Bitar, a lecturer in Middle Eastern studies at Paris's Sciences Po university. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Both would have to answer serious questions from their own constituencies,' he added. Is the war affecting the talks? While Israeli officials have said they are open to compromise, troops have expanded their operations this week into areas of Gaza that had largely been spared any ground offensives since the war began in October 2023. Israeli media have reported that Hamas negotiators in Doha have been unable to communicate directly with the military leadership in Gaza to approve Israeli pullback maps. Logistical issues compound existing rifts within the militant group. There are 'technical aspects which are quite difficult to overcome because there is a growing disconnect between Hamas leadership in Gaza and the negotiators in Doha,' Bitar said. For Andreas Krieg, a Middle East analyst at King's College London, 'the talks are technically progressing, but in practical terms, they are approaching a stalemate'. 'What is on the table now is effectively just another prisoner swap deal, not a real ceasefire deal,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hamas faces a dilemma: it is under pressure to secure some Israeli concessions but 'on the other hand, it faces an increasingly desperate humanitarian situation'. 'The leadership may be debating how far it can compromise without appearing to surrender politically,' he said. Will starvation spur a deal? More than two million people in Gaza are facing severe food shortages, with more than 100 NGOs warning of 'mass starvation'. On Tuesday, the head of Gaza's largest hospital said 21 children died of malnutrition and starvation in three days. 'Humanitarian pressure is mounting fast,' Krieg said, with Hamas facing 'rising desperation among the population, which could force it to accept an interim deal to alleviate suffering'. But even if Hamas makes concessions, Israel has the upper hand and there can be no lasting ceasefire unless it wants one. 'Unless the United States and Qatar… increase significantly their pressure on Israel, I am afraid that this round of negotiations will fail like the previous rounds,' Bitar said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
News18
40 minutes ago
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‘Going Back Means Death': Fate of Afghans Promised US Resettlement Hangs In The Balance
Last Updated: Afghans who assisted US troops in their 2-decade presence in Afghanistan were promised a resettlement in the United States for a better life, however, their future hangs in limbo. The lives of over 250,000 Afghans who worked with the US forces in Afghanistan and were promised resettlement in the United States hang in limbo as the Trump administration is rolling back programmes that were created to assist them, according to a report. Those Afghans live in fear that if they are sent back to Afghanistan, they could face retribution from the ruling Taliban, The Washington Post reported. Such repatriation efforts have already been set in motion in the United Arab Emirates, according to cables obtained by the US media outlet. The Afghans who are living in fear include a woman whose husband the Taliban regime assassinated after he was found fighting alongside the US military, a man who worked with NATO in Afghanistan and then went on to spend around a year like a 'prisoner" in Qatar, among thousands of others waiting in Afghanistan and 90 other countries. They were promised the possibility of a new life in the US after they worked with the US forces. Since President Donald Trump returned to office, the US has stopped processing refugees and cut government funding for Afghan flights through two executive orders. Officials said that this month, the State Department also laid off staff and shut down the office that helped Afghans move to the US. Moving back to Afghanistan 'would be my own death sentence", one Afghan in the UAE said, The Washington Post reported. 'I am not insisting that I must be taken to the United States. My only wish is, please do not hand me over to my executioners," he said on the condition of anonymity due to fear of retaliation from the Taliban. An official described internal deliberations and said, 'Wherever they end up, they end up. They are now another country's problem." The White House denied that the Trump administration does not care about the fate of such Afghans who helped the US military. Trump said on Truth Social over the weekend that he would 'try to save" Afghans who are facing repatriation in the UAE. A senior administration official, who spoke anonymously about internal decisions, said the changes to how Afghan refugees are handled are meant to make sure the US only takes in people the government considers truly deserving. The official added that the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program is still processing about 900 cases each week. SIVs are designed to help Afghans who faced serious danger because they worked with the US. As of May 20, around 167,000 of the more than 250,000 Afghans eligible for resettlement were SIV applicants, the report said, citing a document. During the 20 years of US military's presence in Afghanistan, American troops depended heavily on Afghan locals who worked as interpreters, soldiers, doctors, and civil society workers, among other roles. In 2006, the US created a legal way for these Afghans to move to America to lead a better and safer life. Since the Taliban retook full control in 2021, nearly 195,000 Afghans have been resettled in the US, according to Jessica Bradley Rushing, who was recently laid off as deputy director for communications and engagement at the State Department's Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE). When Trump retuned to office on January 20, 2025, over 250,000 Afghans across 90 countries were eligible for resettlement in the US, Rushing said. According to a State Department report dated May 20, the exact number stands at 269,124. The State Department did not respond when asked if it had approved deportations from the UAE to Afghanistan, The Washington Post reported. The Taliban has, however, said that it welcomes the return of Afghans who are no longer eligible to stay abroad. view comments Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: July 23, 2025, 17:52 IST News world 'Going Back Means Death': Fate of Afghans Promised US Resettlement Hangs In The Balance Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
an hour ago
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Syria's Defence Ministry To Investigate Claims Of 'Shocking Violations' In Sweida Region
The Syrian Defence Ministry has said it is aware of reports of 'shocking violations' carried out by fighters wearing military fatigues in the Druze heartland of Sweida, and investigations have been launched into a week of deadly clashes intensified last week between the Druze and Bedouin tribes. The violence escalated when government troops were sent to the city. More than 300 people were killed in the fighting that also involved Israeli strikes. News18 Mobile App -
