
All options on the table if Israel does not deliver on Gaza pledges, EU's Kallas says
"The killing of civilians seeking aid in Gaza is indefensible," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote in a post on X, adding that she spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar "to recall our understanding on aid flow and made clear that IDF must stop killing people at distribution points."
Earlier this month, Kallas said Israel had agreed to expand humanitarian access to Gaza, including increasing the number of aid trucks, crossing points and routes to distribution hubs.
"All options remain on the table if Israel doesn't deliver on its pledges," Kallas said.
On Monday, two dozen Western countries called for Israel to immediately end its war in Gaza and criticized what they described as "inhumane killing" of Palestinians, saying it was "horrifying" that more than 800 civilians had been killed while seeking aid.
Israel's foreign ministry called Monday's statement "disconnected from reality" and said it would send the wrong message to Hamas.
Gaza health officials have said more than 59,000 Palestinians have died during the 21-month conflict in Gaza.
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
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Times
24 minutes ago
- Times
Hamas negotiators demand Jerusalem be Palestinian state capital
Hamas says it will not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital. The statement, which reasserts a long-held demand by the group, seemingly came in response to a declaration by the Arab League last week that called for Hamas to lay down its weapons and release all remaining hostages. On Tuesday, the 22 member nations called for Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza and hand it over to the Palestinian Authority, which rules the West Bank. After comments from Steve Witkoff, the US's envoy to the Middle East, claiming that Hamas was willing to disarm, the militant group said: 'Armed resistance … cannot be relinquished except through the full restoration of our national rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.' Qatar and Egypt, which have mediated ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel, endorsed a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia that outlined steps towards a two-state solution. Part of this required Hamas to relinquish its weapons to the western-backed Palestinian Authority. Israel has previously stated that it considers the disarmament of Hamas a core component of any agreement to end the conflict, while Hamas has reiterated that it is not prepared to hand over its weapons. Hamas expelled the Palestinian Authority from Gaza in 2007, when it took control of the strip, imposing its authoritarian brand of Islamist rule. The US and other western nations, as well as the Arab League, argue that the authority is best placed to rule Gaza. However, it is widely despised by Palestinians, who see it as corrupt. They are united in their distaste for President Abbas, 89, and any attempt to install him as the ruler of Gaza is likely to meet resistance. Sir Keir Starmer announced plans on Wednesday to recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire. This follows the lead set by President Macron and has been joined by Canada. • Keir Starmer says he will not back down on Palestinian state pledge In response, Binyamin Netanyahu said that the decision rewarded 'Hamas's monstrous terrorism' and 'punishes its victims'. Emily Damari, a British-Israeli woman who was held captive by Hamas, accused Starmer of 'moral failure' and said the move would 'embolden extremists'. Starmer was also warned by some of Britain's most prominent lawyers that the pledge risked breaking international law.


Reuters
24 minutes ago
- Reuters
US envoy tells Israeli hostage families he is working on plan to end Gaza War
JERUSALEM, Aug 2 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy told families of hostages being held by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday that he was working with the Israeli government on a plan that would effectively end the war in Gaza. Trump has made ending the conflict a major priority of his administration, though negotiations have faltered. Steve Witkoff is visiting Israel as its government faces mounting pressure over the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the enclave. In a recording of the meeting, reviewed by Reuters, Witkoff is heard saying: "We have a very, very good plan that we're working on collectively with the Israeli government, with Prime Minister Netanyahu ... for the reconstruction of Gaza. That effectively means the end of the war." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his remarks. Witkoff also said that Hamas was prepared to disarm in order to end the war, though the group has repeatedly said it will not lay down its weapons. In response to the reported remarks, Hamas, which has dominated Gaza since 2007 but has been militarily battered by Israel in the war, said it would not relinquish "armed resistance" unless an "independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital" is established. Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza war and deal for the release of half the hostages ended last week in deadlock. On Saturday, Hamas released its second video in two days of Israeli hostage Evyatar David. In it, David, skeletally thin, is shown digging a hole, which, he says in the video, is for his own grave. Witkoff met with Netanyahu on Thursday. Afterward, a senior Israeli official said an understanding between Israel and Washington was emerging that there was a need to move from a plan to release some of the hostages to a plan to release all the hostages, disarm Hamas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip, echoing Israel's key demands for ending the war. On Tuesday, Qatar and Egypt, who are mediating ceasefire efforts, endorsed a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia outlining steps toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As part of it, they said Hamas must hand over its arms to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. Witkoff arrived in Israel with Netanyahu's government facing a global outcry over devastation in Gaza and the starvation growing among its 2.2 million people. The crisis has also prompted a string of Western powers to announce they may recognize a Palestinian state. On Friday, Witkoff visited a U.S.-backed aid operation in southern Gaza, which the United Nations has partly blamed for deadly conditions in the enclave, saying he sought to get food and other aid to people there. Dozens have died of malnutrition in recent weeks after Israel cut off all supplies to the enclave for nearly three months from March to May, according to Gaza's health ministry. It said on Saturday that it had recorded seven more fatalities, including a child, since Friday. Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza and says it is taking steps for more aid to reach its population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys. U.N. agencies have said that airdrops of food are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and quickly ease the access to it. The Gaza war began when Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostage in an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's offensive has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. According to Israeli officials, 50 hostages now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive.


Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Hamas vows to never lay guns down unless demand is met as thugs share sick clip of hostage ‘forced to dig his own grave'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HAMAS says it will never lay guns down unless an independent Palestinian state is established and its capital is Jerusalem. It comes as the militant group - declared a terrorist organisation by the UK and the US - released a sick video showing an emaciated Israeli hostage in a tunnel. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Hamas fighters stand in formation ahead of a hostages' release in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip in February Credit: AP 5 The distressing video shows an emaciated Evyatar holding a shovel and saying this is where he thinks he'll be buried 5 Palestinians wait to receive food from a charity kitchen amid a hunger crisis in Gaza on Saturday Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The militant group said it was giving a statement "in response to media reports quoting US envoy Steve Witkoff, claiming [Hamas] has shown willingness to disarm". It said: "We reaffirm that resistance and its arms are a legitimate national and legal right as long as the occupation continues. "This right is recognised by international laws and norms, and it cannot be relinquished except through the full restoration of our national rights - first and foremost, the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital." Hamas also released a video showing an Israeli man - Evyatar David - being held hostage in what looks like a tunnel. Evyatar, 24, was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival on October 7. The distressing video shows him telling the camera that he is digging his own grave. His family have given permission for media outlets to show the video. It comes as at least 51 people - including 27 aid workers - have been killed so far on Saturday in Israeli attacks across Gaza. Over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the devastating war on Gaza amid a deepening hunger crisis - coupled with Israel's cruel blockage of aid delivery. Last week, indirect talks between Hamas and Israel ended in deadlock, stalling efforts to secure a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and a deal for the release of hostages. Starmer vows UK will recognise Palestine in weeks unless Israel ends crisis – but critics blast 'reward' for Hamas Hamas has dominated Gaza since 2007, but has been militarily weakened by Israel in the war. Israel considers the disarmament of Hamas a key condition for a deal to end the war. But Hamas has repeatedly said it will not lay down its guns. Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a future independent Palestinian state would be a platform to destroy Israel. For this reason, Netanyahu added, Israel must have security control over Palestinian territories. He also criticised the UK and Canada, among other countries, for their plans to recognise a Palestinian state. The war began when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza. 5 A Hamas fighter next to displaced Palestinians in January Credit: AP 5 A plane drops humanitarian aid in Gaza on Saturday Credit: Getty More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun