Hamas responds to US truce proposal, to free 10 living hostages
GAZA CITY: Hamas announced that it had submitted its response to a ceasefire proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff, saying 10 living hostages would be freed from Gaza under the deal.
The White House had said the latest proposal for a deal was approved in advance by Israel, which on Friday warned Hamas to either accept the deal and free the hostages "or be annihilated".
The Palestinian group did not explicitly say it had accepted the version of the proposal it received on Thursday, which had also reportedly included a provision for the release of 10 living hostages and a truce of at least 60 days.
In a statement on Saturday, Hamas said it had "submitted its response to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's latest proposal to the mediating parties".
"As part of this agreement, 10 living prisoners of the occupation held by the resistance will be released, in addition to the return of 18 bodies, in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners," it added.
A breakthrough in negotiations has been elusive ever since a previous ceasefire fell apart on March 18 with the resumption of Israeli operations.
But US President Donald Trump had said Friday that the parties were "very close to an agreement".
Hamas has maintained that any deal should lay out a pathway to a permanent end to the war, something Israel has resisted.
Two sources close to the negotiations had said Witkoff's proposal involved a 60-day truce, potentially extendable to 70 days.
It would see the release of five living hostages and nine bodies in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners during the first week, followed by a second exchange the following week, the sources said.
Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas's Oct 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
"After 603 days of war, we wish to remind everyone that war is a means, not an end in itself," the main group representing hostages' families said in a statement.
Israeli society was "united around one consensus", bringing home all the remaining hostages "even at the cost of ending the war", the Hostages and Missing Families Forum added.
Israel, however, insists on the need to destroy Hamas, and recently stepped up its campaign in Gaza in a bid to defeat the group.
But it has come under increasing international criticism over the dire humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory, where the United Nations recently warned the entire population was at risk of famine.
This week a spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency called the territory "the hungriest place on Earth".
Aid is only trickling into Gaza after the partial lifting by Israel of a more than two-month blockade, and the UN has recently reported looting of its trucks and warehouses.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Israel arms exports hit all time high in 2024: ministry
JERUSALEM: Israel's defence ministry said Wednesday that its arms exports hit an all-time high of more than $14.7 billion in 2024, with a sharp rise in deals with Arab Gulf states, despite international criticism of Israel's ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. 'Israel again reached an all-time peak in defence exports in 2024, marking the fourth consecutive record-breaking year in the scope of defence agreements,' the ministry, which oversees and approves the exports of Israel's defence industries, said in a statement. A majority -- 56.8 percent -- of the deals signed were 'mega-deals' valued at at least $100 million each, the ministry said, adding that 'operational achievements' in the Gaza war had driven the demand. Since the outbreak of the war, sparked by militant group Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, the ministry said it had been operating on 'emergency mode, mobilising for the war effort with round-the-clock IDF production while maintaining foreign client manufacturing.' 'The war's operational achievements and the proven battlefield performance of Israeli systems have driven strong international demand for Israeli defense technology, concluding 2024 on a remarkably high note with record-breaking export deals,' it said. The ministry said that demand for its missiles, rockets, and air defence systems had 'reached a new significant milestone' and accounted for some 48 percent of the total number of exports, up from 36 percent in 2023. Additionally, 'satellite and space systems exports saw substantial growth, representing 8 percent of deals in 2024 compared to 2 percent in 2023,' the ministry said. A breakdown of the regions to which the arms were exported showed that European countries made up more than half. Sales to countries considered part of the Abraham Accords -- the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco who signed groundbreaking normalisation agreements with Israel in 2020 -- appeared to have sharply risen from 3 percent in 2023 to 12 percent. 'Precisely during a difficult and complex year of war, Israel has broken an all-time record in defence exports,' Defence Minister Israel Katz said in the statement. 'The world sees Israeli strength and seeks to be a partner in it,' he added.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
US private sector hiring sharply slows, drawing Trump ire
WASHINGTON: US private sector hiring hit its slowest pace since early 2023 in May, according to data from payroll firm ADP on Wednesday, significantly missing expectations in a month where all eyes are on the effects of President Donald Trump's trade war. Private sector employment rose by 37,000 jobs last month, slowing from the 60,000 figure in April and swiftly drawing a fiery response from Trump on social media. ''Too Late' Powell must now LOWER THE RATE,' Trump said on his Truth Social platform, blasting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell whom he has repeatedly pressured to cut the benchmark lending rate. While the US central bank has started bringing down interest rates from the high levels of recent years, officials have proceeded cautiously as they monitor progress in cooling stubborn inflation. When inflation is low, central banks may opt to reduce rates, which typically encourages economic activity by reducing borrowing costs. But Trump's frustration comes at a time when 'hiring is losing momentum' after a strong start to this year, according to ADP chief economist Nela Richardson. She added in a statement that pay growth was also 'little changed in May.'
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Asian stocks track Wall Street up after jobs data, Seoul surges on Lee win
The Seoul stock market rallied more than 2% after Lee Jae-myung won South Korea's snap presidential election. (EPA Images pic) HONG KONG : Asian shares extended a global rise today, following data indicating the US economy remained resilient, with South Korean equities and the won standing out as the election of a new president ended months of political paralysis. Speculation that US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will speak this week stoked optimism for a soothing of trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. However, Trump's ramped-up tariffs on aluminium and steel imports – announced Friday – are due to kick in later today, highlighting the uncertainty caused by the White House's off-the-cuff policies. Traders in Asia took the baton from a positive Wall Street, where all three main indexes were lifted by data showing US job openings unexpectedly rose in April, calming worries about the impact of Trump's tariff blitz on the world's number one economy. The reading came ahead of crucial non-farm payrolls figures Friday, which are closely followed by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) as it maps monetary policy in light of weak growth and fears of tariff-fuelled inflation. 'Growth is sputtering, the second half looks increasingly cloudy, and everyone knows the Fed's rate-cut cavalry will ride in eventually. 'It's already priced, already scripted – no one's shocked by the plot twist unless, of course, inflation proves stickier than expected,' said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. 'But what's genuinely keeping equities ticking higher is the soft hum of hope – that US-China tensions could thaw into something warmer than their current frosty detente,' Innes said. He added that the risk of tariffs, 'once a terrifying monster, now looks more like a toothless terrier's wag, comforting investors enough to hold their ground despite the global economy's chills'. Traders are awaiting further developments on the China-US front after White House officials said the two nations' leaders could talk this week, even after Trump accused Beijing of violating last month's detente that slashed tit-for-tat tariffs. News that eurozone inflation had eased in May to its lowest level in eight months – and slipped back below the European Central Bank's 2% target – added to the upbeat mood. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta all rose. Seoul rallied more than 2% – pushing into a bull market after rising more than 20% from its recent low-as Lee Jae-myung won South Korea's snap presidential election. The won gained around 0.3%. The poll was called after the impeachment of predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol over his brief martial law attempt and ended six months of political turmoil in the country. It has also raised hopes that Lee will introduce fresh measures to boost the export-dependent economy, which faces a hefty hit from Trump's tariffs, particularly the huge levies on steel and aluminium. In his inauguration speech today, the new president warned protectionism posed a threat to the country's 'survival'. On the campaign trail, Lee said Seoul needed to start tariff negotiations with Washington 'immediately' but also stressed there was no need to 'rush' a deal.
