Trump says Hamas to respond within 24 hours to 'final' Gaza truce proposal - War on Gaza
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Trump said: 'We'll know within the next 24 hours,' when asked whether Hamas had agreed to the deal. His remarks came two days after announcing that Israel had accepted a US-backed 60-day ceasefire proposal, pending Hamas's approval.
Trump on Thursday said Gazans had 'been through hell,' while sidestepping a question about whether he still intended for the US to take control of the Strip — a reference to his earlier proposal to turn Gaza into a 'Mideast Riviera,' a plan that drew international condemnation.
'I want the people of Gaza to be safe,' he said.
Hamas, which has repeatedly said it would only agree to a deal that permanently ends the war, confirmed it was reviewing the proposal.
'The movement is conducting consultations with leaders of Palestinian forces and factions regarding the proposal received... from the mediators,' it said early Friday.
On Wednesday, the group signalled openness to a ceasefire but stopped short of accepting the US-backed plan, reaffirming its demand that any deal bring a permanent end to Israel's 21-month war on Gaza.
Saudi outlet Asharq News reported that Hamas officials have shown 'flexibility' on the issue of disarmament, which Israel has demanded as a condition for a permanent ceasefire.
According to the report, the group may agree — via mediators Qatar and Egypt — to halt weapons smuggling, shut down weapons manufacturing, and transfer existing arms to a location without Hamas presence.
It could also accept the temporary exile of a symbolic number of officials from Gaza, in response to Israeli demands to remove the group's leadership from the territory.
A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations told AFP that the proposal includes a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release half of the living Israeli captives in Gaza in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The source said the terms do not differ significantly from earlier proposals.
Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said this week that any chance to free the captives 'must not be missed.' Trump said a deal could come together as soon as next week.
Israel's war on Gaza has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians since October 2023, with women and children making up the majority of the dead, according to Gaza's health ministry. Independent estimates indicate the actual toll is higher.
Over the past 48 hours, Israeli forces have killed more than 300 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Government Media Office, which said Israel carried out '26 bloody massacres' during that period.
Two previous ceasefires, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, led to brief halts in Israeli attacks and the exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners.
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
3 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Trump Raises National Park Entrance Fees for Foreign Visitors
Taarek Refaat In a move that has drawn attention for its dual impact on both public finance and tourism, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday raising entrance fees for foreign visitors to the nation's national parks. The decision comes at a time when the Trump administration is also proposing significant cuts to the budget of the National Park Service (NPS). The White House issued a statement saying that the additional revenue generated by the fee increases will be used to fund environmental conservation projects and address delayed maintenance work aimed at improving facilities within the country's national parks. The administration anticipates that this policy could generate hundreds of millions of dollars to help cover the costs of these initiatives. "The goal is to reinvest in our national parks by enhancing the visitor experience, improving infrastructure, and preserving these iconic landscapes for future generations," said the White House statement. The executive order directs the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, to raise fees for foreign visitors. However, specific details about the fee hikes or their implementation date were not disclosed. It remains unclear how many of the 433 national park sites managed by the NPS will be affected by this change, though only about 100 parks currently charge entrance fees, with prices varying widely across locations. This development comes on the heels of the Trump administration's proposal to slash more than $1 billion from the National Park Service's budget for the fiscal year 2026, a cut of over one-third compared to the previous year's funding. The proposed reduction in the budget has raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the parks' operations and conservation efforts. Despite the financial pressures, national parks have seen a surge in visitors in recent years. Last year, a record 331 million visitors flocked to U.S. national parks, a 6 million increase from 2023, highlighting the continued popularity of these public lands among both Americans and international tourists. The fee hike for foreign visitors is seen as part of a broader trend of cost-cutting and revenue-generation measures employed by the Trump administration, which has faced criticism for reducing funding for public services, including environmental programs. Some critics have argued that the increased fees could deter international tourists from visiting U.S. parks, potentially impacting the broader tourism industry. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
See - Sada Elbalad
3 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Ireland Pledges €4 Million to Support Education and Public Services in Palestine
Taarek Refaat In a significant move to bolster support for Palestinian communities amidst ongoing challenges, the Irish government has announced a new aid package worth €4 million aimed at supporting children's education and public services in Palestine. The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that €3 million of the total funding will be directed toward educational initiatives, specifically to support the schooling of children in Palestine. In addition, €700,000 will be allocated to human rights organizations, and €300,000 will be used to assist public services and families in need. In a statement released on Friday, Simon Harris, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, emphasized the critical role of education in Ireland's longstanding partnership with Palestine. He highlighted that the funding would also support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which is providing remote education to around 300,000 children in Gaza, where schools have faced severe disruptions due to the ongoing conflict. "The provision of education remains a cornerstone of our commitment to Palestine, and we continue to support UNRWA's vital work in ensuring that Palestinian children receive an education despite the challenging circumstances they face," Harris said. The announcement of this aid comes at a time of heightened international focus on the situation in Palestine, as diplomatic efforts intensify to address the ongoing conflict. Harris also remarked that the coming days represent a "critical opportunity" to achieve a ceasefire and end the ongoing violence. He called on all parties to make every effort to reach a peace agreement that would halt the suffering and bring an end to the war. This move by Ireland underscores the country's commitment to providing humanitarian assistance and supporting key sectors such as education and human rights in regions affected by conflict. Ireland has been a consistent advocate for Palestinian rights on the international stage and continues to contribute to peacebuilding efforts in the region. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
See - Sada Elbalad
4 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
White House to Host UFC Fight to Celebrate 250th Anniversary Celebration
Rana Atef On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced that the White House will host an event for the top-ranked mixed martial arts promotion, UFC. The event will be part of festivities celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Trump said: 'We're gonna have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there,' Trump said at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa. The UFC event will be a 'championship fight, full fight, like, 20, 25,000 people,' Trump continued. Trump added: 'And we're gonna do that as part of 250 also,' referring to America250, the organization set up to commemorate the country's semiquincentennial. A UFC spokesperson confirmed to Variety that the company planning to stage an event at the White House, saying additional details will be announced soon. Dana White, the president of UFC, is known for his close relation with Trump. Trump attended many UFC events during his run as candidate and after his election. read more Japan Stun Spain 2-1 to Qualify for World Cup Last 16 World Cup 2022: Get to Know Confirmed Line-ups of Japan and Spain Group E Decider Saudi Arabia Bid Farewell to World Cup after 2-1 Loss to Mexico Tunisia Achieve Historic Win over France but Fail to Qualify Tunisia to Clash against France in World Cup Sports Get to Know Squad of Group D Teams in World Cup Sports Al Ahly Gift EGP 70,000 to Players After Claiming Egyptian Super Cup Title Sports Bencharki Hits First 2 Goals with Al Jazira Since Leaving Zamalek Sports Arsenal Possible Line-up for Nottingham Forest News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
