Israeli army chief sees 'potential' for a hostage deal
"Your achievements in the field as part of Operation Gideon's Chariots are advancing Hamas' defeat and creating the potential for a hostage deal," Zamir said on Sunday during a visit to troops in the Gaza Strip, according to military sources.
In indirect negotiations in Qatar, Israel and Hamas have been struggling for months to reach compromises that would enable a 60-day ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Diplomats from Qatar, Egypt and the United States are acting as mediators.
Israeli media recently reported progress but a breakthrough does not yet appear to be in sight.
Zamir said that the army command was prepared for all scenarios.
"We will implement new operational formats that will amplify our strengths, reduce vulnerabilities and deepen operational gains," he explained, without elaborating on those strategic options.
The scenarios would be presented to the political leadership for a decision, he added.
According to Israeli estimates, 50 people abducted from Israel are still being held in the Gaza Strip, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Their release - in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails - is to be staggered according to the plans.
During the temporary ceasefire, the parties to the conflict will then negotiate an end to the war in the Gaza Strip and the release of the last hostages.
with Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
7 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
‘Hamas has become difficult to deal with': Trump discusses Middle East conflict in Scotland
US President Donald Trump greeted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf course in Scotland where the pair spoke about global conflict. Mr Starmer is happy to see the US reach a major deal with the UK's neighbours in the EU. The European Nations will purchase $750 billion in US energy, invest an additional $600 billion in the US, and buy more American military equipment. Trump discussed his plans to talk to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu soon to discuss various plans about the situation in Gaza. 'Hamas has become very difficult to deal with,' President Trump said.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'That's what they're going to pay': US President Donald Trump planning to double minimum tariffs by up to 20 per cent on nearly all trading partners including Australia
US President Donald Trump has threatened the ''rest of the world'' including Australia with a new ultimatum to negotiate separate trade deals soon or face an increase of 15 to 20 per cent on the minimum 10 per cent tariff baseline initially imposed in April. Speaking to reporters in Scotland, Trump said about 200 countries are due to hear from him about their new "world tariff" rate as fears grow for exporters. "I would say it'll be somewhere in the 15 to 20 per cent range," Trump said, sitting alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "Probably one of those two numbers. "We're going to be setting a tariff for, essentially, the rest of the world. "That's what they're going to pay if they want to do business in the United States, because you can't sit down and make 200 deals." Trump's blistering tariffs sent shockwaves across the global economy since its announcement on April 2, when it introduced 'reciprocal' levies to deal with "unfair trade practices" inflicted on the United States by other countries. While Trump initially introduced a minimum 10 per cent levy on all trading partners, that figure has since hiked up to mammoth numbers of up to 50 per cent on some countries - including Brazil - starting on Friday. Australia is currently subject to a 'baseline' 10% tariff, rather than a higher 'reciprocal' tariff. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been working to negotiate an exemption from the tariffs, but his fragile relationship with the US has raised doubts on whether Australia could find a way out of the strict levies. No US trading partner has managed to evade Trump's tariffs with the EU also caving into a trade deal of a baseline 15% levy on EU goods imported into the US. The cascade of tariff orders has begun generating tens of billions of dollars a month in new revenue for the U.S. government. U.S. customs duties revenue topped $100 billion in the federal fiscal year through to June, according to U.S. Treasury data. The tariffs have also strained diplomatic relationships with some of the closest U.S. partners. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said earlier that Japan needed to lessen its dependence on the U.S. The fight over tariffs has also prompted Canada and some European allies to reexamine their security dependence on Washington, with some looking to purchase non-U.S. weapons systems. -With Reuters
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Australian news and politics live: Canavan criticises Labor's net zero target amid soaring electricity bills
Scroll down for the latest news and updates. Liberal senator Dave Sharma has expressed support for NSW Premier Chris Minns' decision to block a march by pro-Palestine activists across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Mr Minns has refused appeals to facilitate the protest on the Harbour Bridge, instead directing police to assist organisers in finding an alternative route for the rally. However, activists have pledged a legal challenge to secure permission to march across the bridge. 'They're planning to disrupt Sydney's major piece of infrastructure causing inconvenience to tens of thousands of people. Right time, right place, this is not appropriate,' Mr Sharma said. 'Taking over the Harbour Bridge to protest about a foreign conflict I think is incredibly disproportionate, and the premier is right to be opposed to it.' US President Donald Trump says many people are starving in the Gaza Strip and has suggested Israel could do more on humanitarian access, as Palestinians struggled to feed their children a day after Israel declared steps to improve supplies. As the death toll from two years of war in the enclave nears 60,000, a growing number of people are dying from starvation and malnutrition, Gazan health authorities say, with images of starving children shocking the world and fuelling international criticism of Israel over sharply worsening conditions. Describing starvation in the Gaza Strip as real, Mr Trump's assessment put him at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said on Sunday 'there is no starvation in Gaza' and vowed to fight on against the Palestinian militant group Hamas - a statement he reposted on X on Monday. Mr Trump, speaking during a visit to Scotland, said Israel has a lot of responsibility for aid flows and that a lot of people could be saved. 'You have a lot of starving people,' he said. 'We're going to set up food centres,' with no fences or boundaries to ease access, Mr Trump said. Read the full story. US President Donald Trump has warned that the minimum tariff the United States imposes on its trading partners, including Australia—could soon double. Speaking at a press conference in Scotland, Mr Trump said he was planning a new universal tariff 'for the world.' Asked just how high it would go, he replied: 'I would say it'll be somewhere in the 15 to 20 per cent range. I just want to be nice. Probably one of those two numbers.' Currently, most US trading partners, Australia included, face America's 10 per cent 'baseline' tariff. Read more. Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has criticised the Labor government over soaring electricity bills, accusing it of failing to deliver on promises to reduce energy costs after committing to the 2050 net zero emissions target. Mr Canavan said the government had focused too much on attacking the Coalition instead of addressing energy policy. 'It seems like the Labor Party has only one thing to talk about the last fortnight, and that's us, the Liberal and Nationals party,' he told Sky News, speaking alongside Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce in support of a bill to scrap the net zero goal. 'If they were actually doing a good job on energy policy, they'd be spruiking that, but the fact that they can't do that speaks volumes. 'They promised when they signed up to net zero that they'd lower your energy bills. It hasn't happened.'
