&w=3840&q=100)
'No more partial deals with Hamas': Major shift in Israel's Gaza war policy, US backs it
As the crisis in Gaza intensifies, Israel and the United States are planning to shift their policy regarding reaching a ceasefire deal with Hamas. Both nations are now aiming to put a comprehensive framework in place instead of partial ceasefire agreements and hostage-release deals.
The news for this approach was first shared by an Israeli official close to the matter; however, American officials are also hinting at the same shift. 'There will be no more partial deals,' the official was quoted as saying, explaining that Israel and the US now concur on the need to 'shift from a framework for the release of some of the hostages to a framework for the release of all of the hostages, the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip," The Times of Israel reported.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'At the same time, Israel and the US will work to increase the humanitarian aid, while continuing the fighting in Gaza,' the source was quoted as saying. The remarks from both the Israeli and the US officials came following the US's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff's visit to Israel.
However, the ambiguous nature of the comments leaves one wondering how or when the war in Gaza would end. The shift is also coming at a time when ceasefire talks between the two warring sides have stalled, with Israel attacking Gaza aid sites and Hamas committing atrocities against Israeli hostages.
A major shift for Israel and the reasons behind it
If the idea is actualised, it would mark a major shift for Israel, which came up with the phased hostage deal framework during the first year of the war. For months, the Israeli government only focused on negotiating a two-phased deal for a 60-day cease-fire in Gaza and the release of some hostages, leaving talks on the end of the war at bay.
Many believe that the shift in Tel Aviv's rhetoric comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government faces rising domestic pressure to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza. Israel believes that there are around 20 hostages who are still alive in Gaza, and the bodies of 30 others remain in the coastal enclave.
A gut-wrenching video released by Hamas over the weekend showed two living captives looking emaciated and frail, shocking many Israelis and sparking fear among the hostages' families. Apart from this, the Israeli government are also facing major international backlash over the mass hunger that has spread through Gaza's population of about two million people after Israel imposed strict restrictions in recent months on the entry of aid.
Witkoff hinted at the same
While speaking to the families of the Israeli hostages during his visit, US envoy Steve Witkoff said that US President Donald Trump now wants to see all the living hostages released at once, hinting at a push for a comprehensive deal. 'No piecemeal deals, that doesn't work,' he said, according to an audio recording of part of the meeting published by the Ynet Hebrew news site.
'Now we think that we have to shift this negotiation to 'all or nothing' — everybody comes home,' he said. 'We have a plan around it,' he added, without elaborating. Meanwhile, a participant in the meeting also confirmed that Witkoff made such remarks.
In light of this, Netanyahu and Trump are reportedly working on a new proposal that would involve presenting Hamas with an ultimatum. According to The Times of Israel, the ultimatum for Hamas would be that the Palestinian militant group would have to release the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and agree to terms to end the war that include the group's disarmament.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The term maintains that if Hamas fails to abide by it, the Israeli military would continue with its campaign in Gaza. Amid the reports, Mahmoud Mardawi, a Hamas official, said the Palestinian armed group had yet to receive a formal Israeli proposal for a comprehensive deal from Arab mediators. He made it clear that while Hamas would support the agreement in principle, it would not disarm.
'This has been our demand from the beginning: an end to the war, the release of prisoners, and day-after arrangements in the Gaza Strip — a clear and comprehensive deal,' Mardawi said in a phone interview to The New York Times. Hence, the prospects of any rapid advancement of such a deal look bleak.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
24 minutes ago
- India.com
Why Noted American Economist Said U.S. Wants A ‘Weaker' India; How His Prediction On Trump And Trade Deal Is Now Coming True
Washington/New Delhi: Sharing his views on India-U.S. trade relations, American economist Jeffrey Sachs expressed strong doubts about the possibility of a successful deal between the two countries. He said he would be very surprised if India managed to secure any trade deal with the United States because the U.S. government had no real interest in India's progress and aimed to keep the country weak. 'If India manages to strike a deal with the United States, I would be extremely surprised. This government (President Donald Trump's) does not care about India's well-being,' he told journalist Shweta Punj at the 'Rising Bharat Summit' hosted by Moneycontrol in April this year. Four months later, in August, the United States imposed a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods. The relationship between Washington and New Delhi has slid into a phase few predicted, but Sachs saw it coming. Once dismissed by some as exaggerated, his warning now feels eerily close to today's headlines. Trump's administration has made no secret of its stance, sanctions, public remarks criticising India's oil trade with Russia and repeated pressure over the India-Pakistan standoff. These moves, according to experts, chip away at India's autonomy and challenge the framework of sovereign diplomacy. India was among the few countries to engage early with Trump's White House for a trade agreement. The talks dragged on and nothing concrete emerged. The gap widened. Sachs tried to explain why, not with jargon but blunt words. 'America wants to use India against China. But make no mistake, this government has no interest in a stronger India,' he said. He asked people to trust what he had seen up close. 'Donald Trump is not going to open American doors to Indian manufacturers. This is a game and a strategic design to replace China, yes. But not with India,' he said. He called India a successful economy, not once but thrice. 'Very, very, very successful,' he said. He spoke of a future where India grows even stronger. In that future, Sachs said, America will not like what it sees, just as it does not like China now. Even if India opens its agriculture sector to U.S. companies, he said, the result would be the same. 'Trump will never let Indian goods flood the U.S. market. His whole idea is to block low-cost manufacturers. He is not going to let India replace China,' he said. Sachs did not stop at trade. He pointed to the larger structure, which is the global supply chain. 'They want India to help crush China. But they do not want India inside the system either. Not now. Not ever,' he added. He urged India to keep its options open. 'Never close the door to China or Russia because America's game is to prevent the rise of a strong India,' he said. Now, in August, his words feel less like a theory and more like a lived truth.
India.com
24 minutes ago
- India.com
Multi-billion dollar IMEC project in danger due to Gaza war, big setback for India and Saudi Arabia, while China celebrates due to…, importance…
New Delhi: The ongoing fighting in the Gaza Strip has raised concerns around the world. On one hand, the lives of Israeli hostages are at stake, while on the other hand, people are dying of hunger in Gaza. This war is affecting the Arab world as well as many other countries around the world, including India. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project may be affected by this war. What is the importance of IMEC project? In a report by Israeli website Ynet, experts have said that the multi-billion dollar IMEC project is important for Gulf countries like Israel, the US, India, the European Union and Saudi Arabia. It is not only of commercial importance but also of strategic importance. It is being built to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In such a situation, the hitch in IMEC is like a relief for China. When was IMEC project announced? IMEC was announced at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September 2023. The project proposes an inter-modal system of railways, ports, energy pipelines and digital infrastructure from India to Europe via the Gulf and Israel. Israel is the central point in this proposed corridor. In such a situation, the regional instability increased by Israel's war in Gaza and the Iran-Israel confrontation have raised questions on this corridor. What is the impact of Gaza war? The war in Gaza has had a bad impact on the implementation of the IMEC project. It has halted normalization talks and exposed the security risks of the corridor. This is also breaking the confidence of investors. Israel's stubborn stance of not stopping the war in Gaza is also making things worse. This threatens an indefinite suspension of the implementation of this corridor despite its strategic and commercial appeal. What is the significance of IMEC for India? India, the USA, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union agreed on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC) in 2023. IMEC aims to connect a combined GDP of US$47 trillion to an infrastructure network and build on a better international communication network. For IMEC to be successful, the countries involved in this project will have to strengthen their strategy by overcoming geopolitical challenges. Especially the challenges that have increased after the Gaza war will have to be overcome. This corridor can prove to be a game-changer for India and make India emerge as an important player in global trade.
Mint
24 minutes ago
- Mint
Russia urges caution on Donald Trump's nuclear submarine posturing, urges caution
The Kremlin responded on Monday (August 4) to US president Donald Trump's recent nuclear posturing, urging all sides to exercise restraint when discussing nuclear weapons. This follows Trump's statement that he had ordered two US nuclear submarines to reposition in response to remarks made by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev about the risks of nuclear conflict. 'In general, of course, we would not want to get involved in such a controversy and would not want to comment on it in any way,' Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. 'Of course, we believe that everyone should be very, very careful with nuclear rhetoric.' Despite Trump's remarks, Moscow insisted it did not view the situation as an escalation in nuclear tensions. 'We do not believe that we are talking about any escalation now,' Peskov said, adding, 'It is clear that very complex, very sensitive issues are being discussed, which, of course, are perceived very emotionally by many people.' He further downplayed the US repositioning of submarines, noting, 'American submarines are already on combat duty. This is an ongoing process, that's the first thing.' When asked whether the Kremlin had advised Medvedev to tone down his inflammatory online rhetoric, Peskov declined to give a direct answer. 'The main thing, of course, is the position of President Putin,' he said. The exchange of words comes at a tense diplomatic moment. Trump has threatened fresh sanctions on Russia and its oil buyers—including India and China—unless President Vladimir Putin agrees to end the ongoing war in Ukraine by Friday. The war has now entered its fourth year. Despite Trump's ultimatum, Putin last week claimed Russia had momentum on the battlefield and said peace talks had shown 'some positive progress,' signaling no major shift in Moscow's stance. Trump has sent his longtime associate Steve Witkoff to Moscow for another round of unofficial diplomacy. Witkoff, a real estate developer and Trump ally, has met Putin during past visits but is yet to secure any breakthrough. 'We are always happy to see Mr Witkoff in Moscow and we are always happy to have contacts with Mr Witkoff,' Peskov said. 'We consider them important, meaningful and very useful.' However, the Kremlin did not confirm whether the trip was at Moscow's invitation or what it hoped to gain from the discussions. Although Trump has praised Putin in the past, he has recently expressed frustration over Russia's ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia has intensified bombing raids on Ukrainian cities, and three rounds of direct peace talks in Turkey have yielded little progress beyond prisoner and body exchanges.
