There will not be a Hamastan: Netanyahu calls for end to Hamas
US President Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed to the key points required for a 60-day ceasefire after a meeting between his representatives and Israeli officials. He described the proposal as a "final" offer aimed at stopping the fighting in Gaza.Meanwhile, the people of Gaza have mixed feelings about Trump's proposal. Kamal, a Gaza City resident, said, "I hope it would work this time, even if for two months, it would save thousands of innocent lives." Another resident, Adnan Al-Assar from Khan Younis, was more cautious. "We hope he is serious, like he was during the Israeli-Iranian war when he said the war should stop, and it stopped," he said.advertisementThere has been rising pressure on Netanyahu to bring an end to the conflict. However, several members of his right-wing coalition remain firmly against any lasting truce with Hamas.ANNEXATION CALLS AND REGIONAL PRESSURE ADD TO TENSIONSWhile ceasefire efforts continue, several ministers from Israel's Likud party pushed for Israel to annex the West Bank before the Knesset's summer recess. A petition, signed by 15 cabinet ministers and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, was sent to the Prime Minister's Office ahead of his planned visit to Washington next week.Netanyahu's trip to the US will likely include further discussions with Trump on a possible Gaza ceasefire and a deal to release hostages held by Hamas. The Prime Minister's Office has not yet commented on the petition, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer -- considered close to Netanyahu -- did not sign it. Dermer is currently in Washington, holding talks on both Iran and Gaza.The latest push for a ceasefire follows last month's 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran.- EndsWith inputs from ReutersTune InMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
22 minutes ago
- The Print
With 77 days of oil stockpile, India prepared for any disruption in Strait of Hormuz, says Hardeep Puri
The minister added, 'India is now a major exporter and producer of oil. It has a strategic reserve of about 77 days. Oil companies themselves hold reserves of crude oil.' 'Roughly 24 percent of global energy passes through the Strait of Hormuz. We [India] consumes around 5.6 million barrels of crude oil per day…Out of this, around 1.5 million barrels to 2 million barrels of oil to India comes from the Strait of Hormuz,' Puri said, while speaking at the sixteenth foundation day of the think-tank India Foundation, at the Leela. New Delhi: India is well prepared to weather the closure of the Strait of Hormuz or disruption to the flow of oil from West Asia, said Hardeep Singh Puri, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Wednesday. The Union Minister downplayed any fears of price spikes, given that there is enough supply of crude oil globally today. In the 2023-2024 financial year, India exported $83.4 billion worth of petroleum products, which is one of its largest exports to the global markets, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In the 2024-2025 financial year, exports of petroleum products fell by around 25 percent to about $62.5 billion. The 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran raised fears that Tehran would attempt to close the choke point in global energy trade—the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Parliament even voted on a resolution calling for the closure of the Strait, however, the Supreme National Council did not take any decision on the resolution before both countries agreed to a ceasefire. The closure of the Strait is one of the scenarios policy planners have been dealing with for nearly five decades, Puri pointed out. However, despite the consistent what-ifs, the Strait has never been closed. The closest it came was during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. The two countries attacked at least 451 ships by 1987, in an attempt to economically hurt the other. 'Even if Hormuz closes, we are adequately prepared' asserted Puri. The Union Minister added a closure of the Strait would likely not last for an extremely long time, and in the event that it does, there are enough 'alternative suppliers' in the market. Also read: Crude oil prices to freight rates: How Iran's chokehold on Strait of Hormuz impacts India India's refining capacity to grow India is currently the 'fourth largest' refiner of crude oil in the world, with a goal to only grow and double the current capacity as early as possible, Puri noted. 'We have in place 270million metric tonnes per annum to refine. Can take it up to 310 million metric tonnes per annum…The Prime Minister has set a further target of expanding the capacity to 400 million metric tonnes as soon as possible,' said Puri. 'India could become a regional hub for refining,' Puri pointed out, while explaining that in future, there will likely be major consolidation of refineries depending on how the global situation evolves. Furthermore, with India's current growth trajectory, its energy needs are set to largely increase. Puri noted that in the next two decades, roughly 25 percent of the increase in global demand for energy is set to come from India. The economy of the country is set to continue its growth trajectory of roughly 6.5 percent a year, which adds to its overall energy consumption. However, currently there is no fear that there will be a shortage of supply of crude oil to India in particular, despite its growing need. 'Prices will not rise even if the Strait of Hormuz is closed because today there is more oil available in the world than ever before…Even with continuing tensions I don't see prices shooting up,' said Puri. He further added that there is more oil available today from the Western Hemisphere than previously. Roughly $14 billion worth of energy goods was purchased from the US the last financial year by India, plus the availability of oil from Guyana, for example, all offer India a certain energy security. Puri, highlighted that the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in India has the potential to grow considerably. 'My oft repeated, yet to be challenged assertion is that there are many Guyanas to be found,' said Puri. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also Read: Why Fordow, Natanz & Isfahan facilities struck by US are critical to Iran's nuclear ambitions
Fibre2Fashion
26 minutes ago
- Fibre2Fashion
US Senate votes to end de minimis loophole by 2027, NCTO welcomes move
The US Senate has passed a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that includes a critical trade provision aimed at permanently ending de minimis duty-free treatment for commercial shipments from all countries by July 2027. The move is being hailed as a major victory by the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), which has long advocated for reforming what it calls a harmful loophole in US trade law. The bill will now proceed to the House of Representatives, with the goal of delivering a final version to President Trump's desk before the July 4 holiday. US Senate has passed a budget reconciliation bill that includes a provision to permanently end de minimis duty-free treatment for commercial shipments by July 2027. NCTO has praised the move, calling it vital to protect US manufacturers from unsafe, low-value imports. NCTO urged immediate executive action and House approval to close this loophole, which has hurt domestic industry and consumer safety. 'On behalf of the US textile industry, I would like to commend Senate leaders for including an important provision in the broader budget reconciliation bill that would permanently end de minimis for commercial shipments from all countries, effective July 2027. The Senate language mirrors a provision included in the House reconciliation package passed earlier in May,' Kim Glas, president and CEO of NCTO , said in a press release. Glas praised the bipartisan leadership behind the effort: 'We sincerely appreciate Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) for leading efforts on a legislative solution that would codify and permanently end duty-free de minimis treatment for millions of low-value packages from China and all countries, closing a loophole in US trade law that has harmed American manufacturers and workers and endangered American consumers.' She emphasised the devastating impact the loophole has had on the domestic industry: 'This provision would help rebalance the playing field for the domestic textile industry, which has seen the closure of 28 plants over the past 23 months. We are urging congressional leaders to ensure inclusion of this critical provision in the final version of the reconciliation bill this week, which would bring us one step closer to marking a significant milestone for the US textile industry and a broad coalition of organisations dedicated to advocating for ending this destructive loophole.' Glas also warned that the current de minimis system facilitates the entry of dangerous and unethical goods. 'De Minimis acts as a gateway for facilitating four million packages a day valued at $800 or less that often contain unsafe, toxic and unethical products made with forced labour, as well as lethal fentanyl and other illicit narcotics to the US market duty free and virtually unchecked. We applaud the Senate and House for validating that this loophole has caused widespread harm across businesses and communities and ending it once and for all.' Finally, she expressed appreciation for prior executive action and called for further immediate steps: 'We are also grateful that the Trump administration has already used executive authorities to end de minimis access for Chinese goods—which represent approximately two-thirds of all de minimis shipments—while also laying the groundwork to close de minimis to commercial shipments from all countries. We request that the administration utilise its executive authorities to immediately close this damaging loophole for commercial shipments from all countries in the interim until this legislation ultimately takes effect.' The textile industry now awaits final confirmation from the House as stakeholders push for swift enactment of the new trade rule, which could mark a turning point for US manufacturers facing growing pressure from low-cost, unregulated imports. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Rebels in Republican; Trump on edge- When will US president sign his ‘Big Beautiful Bill'?
Donald Trump's signature tax-and-spending package, 'Big Beautiful Bill', was thrown into limbo as Republican leaders in Congress scrambled to rein in party rebels threatening to derail the centerpiece of the president's domestic agenda. Trump is seeking final House approval for the bill after its razor-thin passage in the Senate, but divisions within his own party have left the legislation teetering. Fiscal hawks bristle at ballooning deficits; moderates fear historic cuts to Medicaid and other safety net programs could cost them re-election. Trump vented his frustration on Truth Social saying, "Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy. What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove??? MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT'S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!" House Speaker Mike Johnson, caught between these factions, kept procedural votes open for hours, including one that set a record as the longest in House history, while his team huddled behind closed doors with holdouts. "We're going to get there tonight. We're working on it and very, very positive about our progress," Politico quoted Johnson saying. Meanwhile, Trump turned up the pressure saying, "FOR REPUBLICANS, THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY YES VOTE. RIDICULOUS!!!" Republican leaders had hoped to quickly push Trump's massive tax-and-spending bill through the House on Wednesday, aiming for a smooth approval well ahead of the president's self-imposed July 4 deadline. But their plans hit turbulence as the 887-page legislation, already tweaked in the Senate to appease hardliners, faced resistance from within. One conservative balked at the prospect of adding to the $37 trillion national debt, while two moderates worried about nearly $1 trillion in healthcare cuts that could leave 17 million Americans without insurance and shutter rural hospitals. The sprawling $4.5 trillion package delivers on several of Trump's campaign promises, increased military spending, mass deportation funding, and extended tax cuts from his first term. But it also adds $3.4 trillion to the deficit over a decade and slashes nearly $1 trillion from health care programs, raising alarms about millions losing insurance and rural hospitals shuttering. With House Democrats unified in opposition and eyeing the bill as a potent campaign weapon for 2026, the pressure is squarely on Trump and Republican leaders to unite their fractured caucus and deliver the legislative victory the president demands.
