US envoy Witkoff lands in Sardinia ahead of Gaza ceasefire talks
The senior White House official, who landed at Olbia airport on Thursday, is expected to meet Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.
Their meeting comes as Israel and Hamas attempt to reach an agreement about a truce in Gaza and the release of hostages held by the latter since its 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel.
Talks between Witkoff and the Qatari and Israeli officials are expected to take place on the Costa Smeralda, where Qatar, through its sovereign wealth fund, owns several luxury hotels.
What is being discussed in the Gaza negotiations
Hamas confirmed that it has submitted its response to the Israeli proposal for a 60-day ceasefire.
It seeks amendments to the clauses on the entry of humanitarian aid, the areas from which the Israeli army should withdraw and guarantees on a definitive end to the war.
As so often in the past months, the agreement is stuck on Israel's failure to guarantee a military withdrawal from the enclave, which Hamas demands for a long-term end to hostilities and the release of all remaining hostages.
A ceasefire that was negotiated in January ended in March, when the Israeli government refused to proceed with its second and third phases, which included commitments to end the war and begin the reconstruction of Gaza.
Speaking on Wednesday, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a threat to Hamas.
"If the hostages are not released soon, the gates of hell will open," he said.
Israel is under pressure both internally, where the executive is increasingly dependent on the ultra-nationalist right wing, and externally after growing calls from the international community to stop the war.
In a letter submitted on Thursday, 65 MEPs asked the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Kaja Kallas to propose a comprehensive package of sanctions against Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
The request comes after more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since late May while queuing at the US- and Israel-backed GHF's aid distribution sites.
Meanwhile, more than 100 charity and human rights groups said on Wednesday that Israel's blockade and its ongoing military offensive risked mass starvation in Gaza.
The Israeli government's 'restrictions, delays, and fragmentation under its total siege have created chaos, starvation, and death," the letter said.
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