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Trump pushes for Gaza ceasefire, lifts Syria sanctions and Diddy acquitted

Trump pushes for Gaza ceasefire, lifts Syria sanctions and Diddy acquitted

Al Arabiya2 days ago
In this episode of W News, Leigh-Ann Gerrans covers Hamas's response to Donald Trump's 60-day ceasefire proposal and the former US president's decision to lift sanctions on Syria.
Matthew Bryza analyzes why Netanyahu supports a limited ceasefire and whether Trump can pressure Israel into a deal.
Qutaiba Idlbi discusses the impact of lifting US sanctions on Syria and the potential for normalization with Israel.
Richard Roth reacts to Sean 'Diddy' Combs' verdict in the sex-trafficking trial.
Patrick Fok reports on Singapore's new law to stop bank scams.
Dr. Rock-Antoine Mehanna breaks down the landmark US-China rare earth trade agreement and its impact on global supply chains.
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Israel to send delegation to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire talks: Report
Israel to send delegation to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire talks: Report

Al Arabiya

time22 minutes ago

  • Al Arabiya

Israel to send delegation to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire talks: Report

Israel has decided to send a delegation to Qatar for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, Israel's Channel 12 reported on Saturday, citing a senior Israeli official. It was unclear whether the delegation would fly to Qatar on Saturday or Sunday. Israel was considering its response on Saturday after Hamas said it was ready to start talks ' immediately ' on a US-sponsored proposal for a Gaza ceasefire. The security cabinet was expected to meet after the end of the Jewish sabbath at sundown to discuss Israel's next steps, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to head to Washington for talks on Monday with US President Donald Trump. Trump has been making a renewed push to end nearly 21 months of war in Gaza, where the civil defense agency said 35 people were killed in Israeli military operations on Saturday. 'No decision has been made yet on that issue,' an Israeli government official told AFP when asked about Hamas's positive response to the latest ceasefire proposal. Hamas made its announcement late Friday after holding consultations with other Palestinian factions. 'The movement is ready to engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations on the mechanism to put in place' the US-backed truce proposal, the militant group said in a statement. Two Palestinian sources close to the discussions told AFP that the proposal included a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and several bodies in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel. However, they said, the group was also demanding certain conditions for Israel's withdrawal, guarantees against a resumption of fighting during negotiations and the return of the UN-led aid distribution system. Hamas ally Islamic Jihad said it supported ceasefire talks, but demanded guarantees that Israel 'will not resume its aggression' once hostages held in Gaza are freed. Trump, when asked about Hamas's response aboard Air Force One, said: 'That's good. They haven't briefed me on it. We have to get it over with. We have to do something about Gaza.' The war in Gaza began with Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked a massive Israeli offensive in the territory that aimed to destroy Hamas and bring home all the hostages seized by Palestinian militants. Two previous ceasefires mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States secured temporary halts in fighting and the return of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Of the 251 hostages taken by Palestinian militants during the October 2023 attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. 'Comprehensive deal' The Egyptian foreign ministry said Saturday that top diplomat Badr Abdelatty held a phone call with Washington's main representative in the truce talks, Steve Witkoff, to discuss recent developments 'and preparations for holding indirect meetings between the two parties concerned to reach an agreement.' Meanwhile, ahead of its weekly protest demanding the return of the hostages, the main group representing their families renewed its call for a negotiated agreement to bring them home. 'This is the hour to bring about a comprehensive deal that will guarantee the return of the last hostage,' the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said. But recent efforts to broker a new truce have repeatedly failed, with the primary point of contention being Israel's rejection of Hamas's demand for guarantees of a lasting ceasefire. Nearly 21 months of war have created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has recently expanded its military operations. A US- and Israel-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, took the lead in food distribution in the territory in late May, when Israel partially lifted a more than two-month blockade on aid deliveries. The group said two of its US staff members were wounded 'in a targeted terrorist attack' at one of its aid centers in southern Gaza's Khan Yunis on Saturday, adding that reports indicated a pair of assailants 'threw two grenades at the Americans.' The Israeli military said it had evacuated the injured. UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives. Its operations have been marred by near-daily reports of Israeli fire on people waiting to collect rations. UN human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said Friday that more than 500 people have been killed waiting to access food from GHF distribution points. But GHF chairman Johnnie Moore, a Christian evangelical leader allied to Trump, on Wednesday rejected calls for the lead role in Gaza aid distributions to revert to UN agencies, saying: 'We will not be shut down.' Civil defense says 35 killed Civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal said Israeli military operations killed 35 people across Gaza on Saturday. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defense agency. Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military said it could not comment on specific strikes without precise coordinates. The Hamas attack of October 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 57,338 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.

UK police arrest over 20 supporters of now banned pro-Palestine group
UK police arrest over 20 supporters of now banned pro-Palestine group

Arab News

time39 minutes ago

  • Arab News

UK police arrest over 20 supporters of now banned pro-Palestine group

On Saturday, supporters gathered in Parliament Square in Westminster, some holding placards that said 'I OPPOSE GENOCIDE. I SUPPORT PALESTINE ACTION.'Sky News footage showed some being led away in handcuffsLONDON: British police arrested over 20 people on suspicion of terrorism offenses after they showed support for the newly banned Palestine Action group in London on Saturday, hours after the proscription came into government moved to ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws last month after its activists broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged two planes in protest against what the group said was Britain's support for on Friday, the campaign lost an urgent appeal against the parliamentary vote to proscribe it as a terrorist organization, with the ban coming into force from UK laws, offenses include inviting support, expressing approval, or displaying symbols of a banned group and are punishable by up to 14 years in prison and/or a fine. Britain has proscribed 81 groups under anti-terrorism laws, including Hamas, Al-Qaeda and Saturday, supporters gathered in Parliament Square in Westminster, some holding placards that said 'I OPPOSE GENOCIDE. I SUPPORT PALESTINE ACTION.' Sky News footage showed some being led away in handcuffs from a statue of Indian independence hero Mahatma Gandhi in the square, as they shouted their Nations experts have accused Israel of carrying out 'genocidal acts' against Palestinians in the conflict in Gaza, which began after Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel has repeatedly dismissed such PARADE PROTESTPalestine Action has targeted Israel-linked companies in Britain in its protests, with interior minister Yvette Cooper saying that violence and criminal damage have no place in legitimate protest and that the group's activities justify of the decision, including some United Nations experts and civil liberties groups, have argued that damaging property does not amount to another protest on Saturday, five pro-Palestinian activists from the Youth Demand group were arrested after they threw red paint over US company Cisco's truck, which was participating in London's Pride parade, and glued themselves to the vehicle. The parade, which celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities, has since resumed, a separate police statement said.'Young people will not accept ... crimes against humanity,' Youth Demand's statement — which did not mention Palestine Action — said. It added that its activists targeted Cisco's float as the company supplies 'technology that is helping Israel.'Cisco did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside of business hours.

Macron to press Starmer on recognizing Palestinian state during UK visit
Macron to press Starmer on recognizing Palestinian state during UK visit

Arab News

time2 hours ago

  • Arab News

Macron to press Starmer on recognizing Palestinian state during UK visit

LONDON: Emmanuel Macron is expected to urge Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to formally recognize Palestinian statehood during his upcoming state visit to the UK, it was reported on Saturday. The French president arrives in London on Tuesday for a three-day trip, which will include a summit with Starmer, an address to both Houses of Parliament, and a state banquet hosted by King Charles at Windsor Castle. While the centerpiece of the visit is expected to be a new 'one-in, one-out' migrant returns deal aimed at curbing Channel crossings, sources say Macron will also raise the issue of Palestinian statehood during private talks with the UK leader. 'The French are trying to get us back on board with recognition. We're reticent,' a Whitehall insider told The Telegraph. 'You do it when you think you can achieve something from it, not for the sake of saying 'we've done it.'' Downing Street and the Elysee Palace are said to be at odds over the pace and conditions under which recognition should take place, though both governments publicly support the idea in principle at the 'right time.' Paris views recognition as a possible catalyst for a two-state solution and is pushing to relaunch a proposed UN-led process to discuss the matter to be hosted with Saudi Arabia. However, UK officials fear the move could be largely symbolic without commitments from Hamas, including disarmament and withdrawal from leadership roles. Israel has strongly opposed unilateral recognition, warning it would amount to 'rewarding' Hamas for its Oct. 7 attacks. The bilateral summit will also cover joint civil nuclear projects and coordination on a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Macron's visit will be marked by pageantry, including a carriage procession through Windsor and a tour of the Royal Collection. The French president will also be presented with Fabuleu de Maucour, a horse he gifted the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

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