Foreign Minister Begins Official Visit to Qatar
During his visit, Prince Faisal will lead the Saudi delegation at the Executive Committee meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council.
Upon his arrival, he was welcomed by Ahmad Hassen Al-Hammadi, Secretary-General of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan, the Saudi Ambassador to Qatar.
Related Topics :
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Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award: Strengthening Saudi-Chinese Cultural Ties
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Saudi Gazette
2 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Israel demands release of all Gaza hostages, casting doubt on ceasefire proposal
CAIRO — Israel is demanding the release of all 50 hostages held in Gaza, an Israeli official has said, casting doubt on whether it will accept a new proposal for a 60-day ceasefire that Hamas agreed to on Monday. The proposal, put forward by Qatar and Egypt, would see the release of around half the hostages and is "almost identical" to a US proposal Israel had previously accepted, according to Qatar. Israel has not explicitly rejected it - but Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told the BBC that it is not interested in "partial deals". "Things have changed now. The prime minister has laid out a plan for the future of Gaza," Mencer said. Palestinian sources said the proposal would see 10 living and 18 dead hostages handed over while the sides negotiated a permanent ceasefire and the return of the other hostages. Israel believes that only 20 of the 50 hostages are still alive after 22 months of war. Later this week, the Israeli cabinet is expected to approve the military's plan to occupy Gaza City, where intensifying Israeli strikes have already prompted thousands of people to flee. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel's intention to conquer all of Gaza - including the areas where most of its 2.1 million Palestinian residents have sought refuge - after indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire deal broke down last month. On Monday night, a Hamas statement announced that the armed group and other Palestinian factions had approved a ceasefire proposal presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators to their delegations in Cairo the previous day. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told Al-Araby TV that they had not sought any amendments to the proposal, which he described as "a partial deal leading to a comprehensive deal". He also emphasised that on the first day of its implementation, negotiations would begin with the aim of agreeing a permanent ceasefire. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, told reporters in Doha on Tuesday that the proposal was "98%" similar to the one presented by US envoy Steve Witkoff in June. "It is within the confines of the Witkoff plan... It's a continuation of that process. Obviously, it's in the details where the devil lies," Ansari said. Witkoff proposed a 60-day truce that would see Hamas release 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages on days one and seven, in exchange for 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails, 1,111 detainees from Gaza and the bodies of 180 Gazans. Israel accepted Witkoff's plan, but Hamas rejected it, partly because it did not include a guarantee that the temporary ceasefire would lead to a permanent one. A Palestinian official told the BBC that the Egyptian and Qatari proposal would see Hamas release eight living hostages on day one and two more on day 50. Five dead hostages would be handed over on day seven, five more on day 30, and another eight on day 60. In return, Israel would release 1,500 detainees from Gaza as well as 150 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 50 others serving terms longer than 15 years, the official said. Israeli forces would also withdraw to areas of Gaza located between 800m and 1.2km (0.5-0.75 miles) from the perimeter with Israel during the truce, but would remain stationed in the Morag and Philadelphi military corridors in the south of the territory, the official added. On Tuesday afternoon, an Egyptian source familiar with the negotiations told the BBC that the mediators had not yet received a formal response from Israel to the new proposal. However, the official in Prime Minister Netanyahu's office told Israeli journalists: "Israel's policy remains consistent and unchanged. Israel demands the release of all 50 hostages in accordance with the principles set by the cabinet to end the war." "We are in the final stage of defeating Hamas and will not leave any hostage behind." Although the statement was not an explicit rejection of the proposal, it does suggest that Israel may want to negotiate further. On Saturday night, Prime Minister Netanyahu's office put out a similar statement saying that Israel would only "agree to a deal on condition that all the hostages are released in one go" and that the conditions for ending the war included the disarming of Hamas, the demilitarisation of Gaza, Israeli control of the Gaza perimeter, and the installation of non-Hamas and non-Palestinian Authority governance. Netanyahu said in a video on Monday that he had discussed with senior Israeli military commanders their "plans regarding Gaza City and the completion of our missions". "Like you, I hear the reports in the media, and from them you can get one impression - Hamas is under immense pressure," he added. The prime minister himself faces pressure from his far-right coalition partners who want to keep the war going until Hamas's defeat and then annex Gaza. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel must not accept a partial deal "that abandons half of the hostages and that could lead to the suspension of the war in defeat". "It is forbidden to surrender and give a lifeline to the enemy," he added. Hostages' families and a majority of the Israeli public meanwhile want Netanyahu to agree a deal with Hamas to end the war now and bring all the hostages home. "About a month ago, we were closer than ever to signing a deal. The Witkoff outline would have put Israel into intensive negotiations," Einav Zangauker, whose 25-year-old son Matan is believed to be among those still alive in captivity, told Israeli public broadcaster Kan. "Netanyahu... is deliberately setting unworkable conditions as an obstacle," she warned. The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. At least 62,064 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. Most of Gaza's population has also been displaced multiple times; more than 90% of homes are estimated to be damaged or destroyed; the healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene systems have collapsed; and UN-backed global food security experts have warned that the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out" due to food shortages. — BBC
Arab News
13 hours ago
- Arab News
Riyadh governor receives ambassador of Somalia
RIYADH: Riyadh Deputy Gov. Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz received Ambassador of Somalia to the Kingdom Owais Haji Yusuf Ahmed in Riyadh on Tuesday. The ambassador visited to say farewell on completion of his tenure in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Prince Mohammed praised the ambassador's efforts in strengthening and advancing relations between the two countries and wished him success in his future.
Leaders
13 hours ago
- Leaders
Israel Weighs Hamas Response to Gaza Ceasefire Proposal
Israel is currently reviewing Hamas' response to a Gaza ceasefire proposal, signaling a potential breakthrough in efforts to de-escalate the conflict that could lead to a 60-day truce and the release of half the Israeli hostages held in the embattled enclave. International mediators have intensified their efforts to restart indirect talks, especially after Israel announced plans for a new offensive in Gaza City. Egypt and Qatar are actively pushing for a US-backed ceasefire plan, aiming to bring an end to the prolonged hostilities. The proposal outlines a significant prisoner exchange: 200 Palestinian convicts, including women and minors, jailed in Israel would be released, with Hamas releasing 10 living and 18 deceased Israeli hostages from Gaza. Hamas has also requested the release of hundreds of Gaza detainees, according to Egyptian security sources, in a comprehensive exchange that aims to address humanitarian concerns on both sides. The agreement also includes a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, where they currently control 75% of the territory to facilitate the entry of more humanitarian aid into the enclave. The 2.2 million residents of Gaza face increasing famine, making humanitarian access a critical component of any ceasefire. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, emphasized that the 60-day truce could establish a clear pathway to a comprehensive agreement, ultimately ending the war. Hopes and Skepticism on the Ground Israel had previously agreed to the general framework of this proposal, which US special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff advanced. However, earlier negotiations stalled over specific details, with the last round ending in deadlock in late July. Displaced individuals in a Khan Younis shelter expressed mixed feelings about the current prospects, with many residents, cooking meals and fetching water, earnestly hope Israel approves the proposal. Despite ceasefire discussions, the conflict continues as Israeli gunfire, tank shelling, and airstrikes killed at least 20 Palestinians on Tuesday, according to Gaza health officials. Israeli forces have taken control of Zeitoun, an eastern neighborhood on Gaza City's outskirts, and continue to pound the nearby Sabra area. Medics reported two women and a man killed in Sabra. Local health authorities stated dozens of people were trapped in their homes due to shelling. The Israeli military is currently checking these reports. Nasra Ali, a 54-year-old mother of five from Sabra, described the nights as one of the worst, with explosions heard throughout the city. She considered leaving if a ceasefire materialized but might stay if nothing happens. Political Pressure and Future Prospects In Israel, the threatened offensive prompted large protests, with thousands urging a deal to end fighting and free hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to discuss the ceasefire proposal soon. A Palestinian source close to the talks anticipates a response within two days. Netanyahu faces domestic pressure from far-right partners, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, who demand continued war until Hamas's defeat and Gaza's annexation. Hamas official Izzat El-Reshiq stated the agreed truce is an interim accord, paving the way for negotiations to end the war. Unlike previous rounds, Hamas accepted the proposal without further demands. However, significant gaps remain, particularly Israel's demand for Hamas to disarm and its leaders to leave Gaza, conditions Hamas publicly rejects. The war began with Hamas's attack, killing 1,200 and taking 251 hostages. Israel's offensive has since killed over 62,000 Palestinians, causing a humanitarian crisis and displacing most of Gaza's population. Short link :
