US envoy to meet Qatar PM on Gaza ceasefire plan: Sources
The discussions could present a new comprehensive diplomatic solution that might delay "Israel's" planned offensive to occupy Gaza City. Witkoff recently emphasized that the Trump administration seeks an 'all or nothing' agreement to end the war rather than a 'piecemeal deal.'
A source involved in the negotiations told Axios that Qatar and the US are working on a comprehensive proposal expected to be presented to the parties within the next two weeks.
"Israel's" minister for strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, said during an "Israeli" Security Cabinet meeting on Thursday that the Trump administration will soon present an 'End Game' proposal for the Gaza war. The White House declined to comment.
However, an "Israeli" official involved in negotiations noted that while an 'end game' plan between "Israel" and the US may be achievable, it would not be acceptable to Hamas, making it ineffective. 'Our war is with Hamas, not with the US,' the official said, highlighting the large gap between "Israel" and Hamas regarding ending the war.
Despite the "Israeli" cabinet's approval instructing the IOF to prepare for occupying Gaza City, the offensive is not expected to start immediately. Military planning, civilian evacuation, and humanitarian aid preparations mean the operation could take several weeks before implementation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left open the possibility of halting the operation if renewed negotiations lead to a deal to end the war and release captives. This uncertainty contributed to ultranationalist ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Betzalel Smotrich opposing the cabinet decision.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of the UK, Australia, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand issued a joint statement rejecting the "Israeli" cabinet's decision, warning it would worsen the humanitarian crisis, endanger hostages' lives, and risk mass civilian displacement.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Roya News
4 hours ago
- Roya News
Appeals court lets Trump freeze foreign aid, threatening recipient countries
A federal appeals court on Wednesday cleared the way for the Trump administration to suspend or cancel billions in congressionally approved foreign aid, overturning a lower court injunction that had required the payments to continue. The ruling is a legal victory for President Donald Trump, giving his administration greater control over foreign aid disbursements. In a 2-1 decision, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that two nonprofit groups, the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and the Journalism Development Network, lacked standing to challenge the freeze. Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, writing for the majority, said the plaintiffs failed to meet the legal requirements for an injunction. Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas joined Henderson in the decision. The case arose after President Trump issued an executive order on January 20, the first day of his second term, pausing spending on foreign aid, including nearly USD 10 billion for global health and HIV/AIDS programs. Trump argued that the funding conflicted with his administration's foreign policy goals. Judge Florence Pan, a Democratic appointee, dissented, warning that the ruling allowed the executive branch to bypass constitutional checks and balances and undermined the separation of powers. US Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the decision, stating that the Justice Department "will continue to successfully protect core Presidential authorities from judicial overreach." Impact on recipient countries: The ruling gives the president broad authority to control US foreign aid, creating uncertainty for countries and programs that rely on this funding. Humanitarian programs, such as health, education, and disaster relief, could face delays or reductions. Governments and NGOs may struggle to plan budgets or long-term projects due to unpredictable funding. The decision also increases the risk that US aid could be used as a political tool, potentially straining diplomatic relations with countries expecting consistent support.
Roya News
4 hours ago
- Roya News
Trump eyes three-way meeting with Putin, Zelensky
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would seek a three-way meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, immediately after his Alaska summit with the Russian leader aimed at ending the three-year war in Ukraine. Trump spoke after what he described as a "very good" call with European leaders, including Zelensky -- even as Russian forces made their biggest advance into his country in more than a year. "If the first one goes okay, we'll have a quick second one," Trump told reporters as he was questioned about the face-to-face in Anchorage with his Russian counterpart, set for Friday. "I would like to do it almost immediately, and we'll have a quick second meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky and myself, if they'd like to have me there." The high-stakes summit comes with Trump struggling to broker an end to the conflict, and Zelensky and his European allies earlier urged the Republican to push for a ceasefire. The stepped-up Russian offensive, and the fact Zelensky has not been invited to Anchorage, have heightened fears that Trump and Putin could strike a deal that forces painful concessions from Ukraine. The US leader promised dozens of times during his 2024 election campaign to end the conflict on his first day in office but has made scant progress towards securing a peace deal. He threatened "secondary sanctions" on Russia's trading partners but his deadline for action came and went last week with no measures announced. According to an AFP analysis of battlefield data from the US-based Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces made their biggest 24-hour advance into Ukraine in more than a year on Tuesday. As the war rages on in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky flew to Berlin and joined Chancellor Friedrich Merz on an online call with other European leaders, and the NATO and EU chiefs, in which they talked to Trump and urged a united stance against Russia. 'Severe consequences' The consensus was for Trump to secure a ceasefire, and Trump said Russia would face "severe consequences" if it didn't halt its offensive. But Zelensky also voiced doubt about Moscow's intentions and said: "I have told my colleagues -- the US president and our European friends -- that Putin definitely does not want peace." Trump on Monday played down the possibility of a breakthrough in Alaska but said he expected "constructive conversations" with Putin. "This is really a feel-out meeting a little bit," Trump said. But he added that eventually "there'll be some swapping, there'll be some changes in land". Merz said Ukraine is ready to negotiate "on territorial issues" but stressed that legal recognition of Russian occupations "would not be up for debate". After the call, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Europe, the United States and NATO had "strengthened the common ground for Ukraine" while NATO head Mark Rutte declared: "The ball is now in Putin's court." The Russian foreign ministry had earlier branded the frantic round of diplomacy "politically and practically insignificant" and an attempt at "sabotaging" US and Russian efforts to end the conflict. 'Wool over our eyes' Despite the upbeat comments by European leaders, Russia's offensive in eastern Ukraine was gaining speed and seizing ground Wednesday. With the world's eyes on the looming Alaska summit, Russia has made rapid advances this week in a narrow but important section of the front line in Ukraine. The AFP data analysis showed that the Russian army took or claimed 110 square kilometers (42.5 square miles) on August 12 compared to the previous day. It was the most since late May 2024. In recent months, Moscow has typically taken five or six days to progress at such a pace, although Russian advances have accelerated in recent weeks. The head of the Donetsk region on Wednesday ordered civilians with children to evacuate from towns and villages under threat. Ukrainian soldiers in Kramatorsk, an eastern city about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the front, said they had low expectations for Trump's meeting with Putin. Artem, a 30-year-old serviceman, said the war would likely continue for "a long time."
Roya News
6 hours ago
- Roya News
'Salah Effect': UEFA announces Gaza aid initiative for children after criticism
Following public pressure and a challenge from football superstar Mohamed Salah, UEFA has launched a new humanitarian initiative to provide aid to children in Gaza. The announcement, made through the UEFA Foundation for Children, comes amidst debate over the organization's political stance and its response to the death of a prominent Palestinian footballer. The catalyst for the initiative was the killing of Suleiman al-Obeid, a 41-year-old former Palestinian national team player known as the "Palestinian Pele". According to a statement from the Palestine Football Association (PFA), al-Obeid, a husband and father of five, was killed by 'Israel' while waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip. An 'Israeli' military spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, later claimed that an "initial review" found no records of any incident involving al-Obeid and requested more information. UEFA initially responded with a brief social media post paying tribute to al-Obeid as "a talent who gave hope to countless children" but did not mention the circumstances of his death. Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, who reposted the tribute on X, said, "can you tell us how he died, where, and why?". In response, the UEFA Foundation for Children announced new partnerships with three humanitarian organizations, Médecins du Monde, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and Handicap International, to deliver "vital humanitarian help for the children of Gaza". UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, who also serves as chairman of the foundation, stated that children are "innocent" and that it is the organization's duty "to stand beside children when they need us". The aid efforts will include medical care, psychosocial support, food distribution, and education on the risks of explosive remnants. UEFA noted that this new initiative is an extension of its previous work in other conflict zones, including Ukraine, Sudan, and Yemen. However, the initiative has not quieted all criticism. Some observers and human rights advocates have pointed to a perceived double standard, contrasting UEFA's actions with the swift and strong sanctions it imposed on Russian clubs following the invasion of Ukraine.
