logo
Is it a Gaza ceasefire? Why eyes will be on Washington more than Doha

Is it a Gaza ceasefire? Why eyes will be on Washington more than Doha

First Post5 hours ago
Trump, who has described the latest 60-day truce proposal as 'final", is aiming to unveil the potential ceasefire deal alongside Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, according to reports read more
President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive for a news conference in the East Room of the White House, on Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. AP File
While an Israeli negotiating team is in Qatar to explore the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza, the real action is expected in Washington today as President Donald Trump hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for high-stakes talks.
According to reports, Trump, who has described the latest 60-day truce proposal as 'final", is aiming to unveil the potential ceasefire deal alongside Netanyahu at the White House.
With the latest round of indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas ending without progress and expected to resume in Doha on Monday, the real political pressure and potential breakthrough may now shift to Washington, added reports.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Netanyahu and Trump share a complicated personal relationship — one that saw Trump expressing open frustration with the Israeli leader just last month during tense efforts to broker a truce with Iran.
Despite past tensions, the two have appeared closely aligned since the US launched airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, a major objective for Israeli military planners, reported The Guardian.
Now arriving in Washington, Netanyahu is seen as politically strengthened at home, which may provide him with the diplomatic space to pursue a ceasefire in Gaza without triggering backlash from his right-wing base that could destabilise his coalition government, added the report, citing analysts.
Hamas seeks key revisions
This week, Hamas gave a 'positive' response to Israel's 60-day ceasefire proposal, but its negotiators are demanding key revisions — including a permanent end to hostilities and a shift in aid distribution oversight from the US and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to the United Nations.
The foundation has faced significant criticism, with repeated incidents of Israeli forces firing on civilians at aid distribution points, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
While Israel has rejected these conditions as 'unacceptable', Netanyahu agreed to send negotiators to Qatar for indirect talks with Hamas.
Before departing for Washington on Sunday, he described the moment as a chance 'to expand the circle of peace far beyond what we could have imagined.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Netanyahu said Israeli negotiators in Qatar had clear instructions to pursue a deal based on terms already accepted by Israel, and suggested Trump could play a key role in securing that outcome, according to Reuters.
'We've already transformed the Middle East beyond recognition, and now have a chance to build a brighter future for Israel and the region,' Netanyahu was quoted as saying.
The Qatar talks — the first in six weeks — come as Trump expressed optimism aboard Air Force One on Friday, telling reporters, 'There could be a Gaza deal next week.'
Ahead of the talks, Netanyahu's top adviser, Ron Dermer, met in Washington with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Sources told The Guardian the discussions focused on postwar plans to eliminate Hamas's control in Gaza and hand over reconstruction to the international community.
The latest version of the deal would have Hamas release 28 Israeli hostages – 10 alive and 18 bodies – over the course of the 60-day ceasefire.
The UN and Palestine Red Crescent Society would be given additional licence to expand aid operations in Gaza. The Israeli army would withdraw first from parts of northern Gaza, and one week later would pull out from parts of the south.
The deal would leave approximately 22 hostages, 10 of them alive, still held in Gaza.
No progress in Doha talks
Meanwhile, even as momentum appears to be building in Washington as Netanyahu prepares to meet Trump today, the latest round of indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas ended without a breakthrough, BBC reported, quoting a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
According to the official, the session lasted for nearly three-and-a-half hours and took place in two separate buildings in Doha.
Messages and clarifications were exchanged between the two sides through Qatari and Egyptian mediators, but no progress was achieved.
The official added that talks are expected to resume on Monday, as mediators plan to hold separate meetings with each delegation in an effort to overcome the obstacles and narrow the gaps between the two sides.
According to Reuters, citing two Palestinian officials, the Israeli delegation was not 'sufficiently authorised' to reach an agreement with Hamas because it had 'no real powers'.
Qatari and Egyptian mediators face an uphill task as indirect talks resume on Monday, aiming to resolve the same sticking points that have stalled previous efforts since the last ceasefire collapsed in March.
Since then, Israel has intensified its military campaign and enforced an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza —partially eased in recent weeks — saying the pressure is meant to weaken Hamas and secure the release of hostages.
In the past 24 hours alone, the Israeli military reported striking 130 Hamas targets and killing several militants. Meanwhile, the toll on civilians continues to rise, with Gaza hospital officials reporting over 30 deaths on Sunday.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The key questions now is if mediators can forge a workable deal, and can Trump convince Netanyahu, in their meeting Monday, that it's time to end the war?
With inputs from agencies
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

tsla: Elon Musk's net worth dips by $14 Billion in a single day, Here's what investors are saying
tsla: Elon Musk's net worth dips by $14 Billion in a single day, Here's what investors are saying

Economic Times

time22 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

tsla: Elon Musk's net worth dips by $14 Billion in a single day, Here's what investors are saying

Wall Street Grows Wary of Musk's Political Maneuvers Elon Musk Net Worth Takes a Major Hit ADVERTISEMENT Tesla's Sales and Shareholder Confidence Slipping ADVERTISEMENT Musk-Trump Rift Adds Fuel to the Fire The America Party: Strategic Move or Political Overreach? ADVERTISEMENT Musk Political Party Yet to Find Favor Among Investors FAQs Why did Elon Musk lose $14 billion in a single day? What is the 'America Party'? Tech billionaire Elon Musk, known for his sweeping influence in both the corporate and political arenas, suffered a sharp blow to his personal wealth and business standing on Monday. With Tesla shares tumbling 7 per cent, Musk's net worth fell by approximately $14 billion in a single day—an erosion tied closely to Wall Street's growing unease over his escalating political drop follows Musk's announcement of a new political outfit, the 'America Party,' and his increasingly public rift with U.S. President Donald Trump, a development that analysts say has distracted from Tesla's core business performance, as per a report by announcement of Musk's political venture comes at a time of volatility in the electric vehicle (EV) sector and heightened scrutiny of regulatory frameworks under the Trump administration. In a client note issued Monday, William Blair analyst Jed Dorsheimer downgraded Tesla stock from 'Buy' to 'Hold,' citing what he called a 'less favourable federal regulatory credit environment' resulting from recent legislation.'Investors are growing tired of the distraction,' Dorsheimer wrote, referring to Musk's increasing political theatrics and public feuds. The sentiment was echoed across trading desks, with Tesla's shares plunging by $24 apiece during an otherwise uneventful day for the broader Tesla's market value taking a dip, Musk's personal wealth—which remains the largest in the world—now stands at $391 billion, down from $405 billion the previous day, according to Forbes estimates. Despite the decline, he still maintains a commanding lead of over $100 billion compared to the next richest net worth slide comes amid a 32% drop in Tesla stock since President Trump's second term began—a stark contrast to the 4% gain logged by the S&P 500 benchmark in the same struggle is not confined to the stock market. Analysts at J.P. Morgan reported Monday that the company is headed toward its worst annual vehicle delivery numbers since 2022. Data from the first two quarters of 2025 reveal significant declines in deliveries, attributed in part to waning public sentiment towards Musk polling data compiled by Silver Bulletin indicates that 55% of Americans now hold an unfavourable view of Musk, up from 45% at the end of last year. The souring of opinion spans party lines—Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike have all expressed declining confidence in the Tesla CEO, as per a report by Forbes.'The concern isn't just political,' noted Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, a long-time supporter of Tesla stock. 'Musk diving deeper into politics and now trying to take on the Beltway establishment is exactly the opposite direction that Tesla investors and shareholders want him to take.'Initially viewed as a strategic alliance between two high-profile power players, the Musk-Trump relationship has deteriorated rapidly over the past few weeks. Musk reportedly contributed $288 million toward Trump's re-election campaign last year, positioning himself as a key political their alignment began to unravel following disagreements over Trump's recently signed fiscal package, which the Congressional Budget Office warns could expand the national debt by $3.4 trillion. Their feud reached a public climax last week when Trump labelled Musk a 'TRAIN WRECK' in a scathing post, while Musk retaliated by accusing the Trump administration of misrepresenting the controversial Epstein Files—a post he later launch of the 'America Party' is seen by some observers as an effort to channel public dissatisfaction into political capital. However, financial markets appear unconvinced, interpreting the move as a distraction from Tesla's operational priorities at a time when competition in the EV market is a twist of irony, Musk's losses on Monday—nearly $14 billion—were nearly equivalent to the total market capitalization of Rivian, Tesla's closest American rival in the EV Musk doubles down on political ambition, industry watchers and financial analysts are raising alarms over the implications for Tesla's long-term trajectory. With analysts now sounding cautionary notes and shareholders increasingly vocal in their discontent, questions remain about how Musk plans to balance corporate leadership with his emerging political the 'America Party' may yet shape U.S. political dynamics, its immediate impact on investor sentiment has been unambiguously negative. For now, the market message is clear: stakeholders would prefer the world's richest man to steer clear of Capitol Hill and return focus to the factory personal wealth dropped by approximately $14 billion on Monday, July 7, 2025, after Tesla shares fell by 7%. This sharp decline is tied to investor concerns over Musk's growing political involvement, particularly the launch of his new political outfit, the 'America Party.'The 'America Party' is a new political movement launched by Elon Musk. Although full details remain limited, it appears to be Musk's attempt to influence U.S. politics independently, diverging from traditional party lines and challenging political norms—an effort many investors view as a distraction from his business priorities.

Multilateralism must Trump US-first policy
Multilateralism must Trump US-first policy

Economic Times

time22 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

Multilateralism must Trump US-first policy

Donald Trump's America-first stance reflects his belief that the US has lost global dominance, and he aims to restore the US to its former glory by ensuring that the world 'respects' the US. On Sunday, Trump injected himself into the summit of the BRICS group of nations in Rio de Janeiro, warning countries that aligning with the 'anti-American' policies of the grouping would attract a 10% tariff. At the summit, BRICS leaders expressed 'serious concerns' about the rise in unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures'. Though the US was not mentioned by name, the signals were clear. Whether it is BRICS, of which the US is not a member, or the Quad, of which it is, what is increasingly clear is that the Trump administration is focused on pursuing an 'America for itself' policy. Washington has hosted two Quad foreign ministers' meetings in the last six months, with a focus on security. There is little doubt that this recalibration is driven by China's ambitions and influence in the Indo-Pacific region. But then, Trump's US is not the poster child for steady ties-consider the renewed engagement with Pakistan. The BRICS summit was about what lies ahead-how emerging economies deliver on their promises. Contrary to Trump's apprehension, the US remains the pre-eminent global power. That explains China's response to the 10% additional tariff. The Rio summit and the Quad foreign ministers' meeting point to the same thing: multilateralism remains the only viable response. To ensure that the world does not move from a US-dominated world order to one defined by the Beijing-Kremlin combine, countries like India need to step up and engage more globally to build a multilateral system that is fit for the 21st century.

Relief for India as Trump softens stance on 10% Brics tariffs: Report
Relief for India as Trump softens stance on 10% Brics tariffs: Report

India Today

time29 minutes ago

  • India Today

Relief for India as Trump softens stance on 10% Brics tariffs: Report

The Trump administration does not intend to immediately impose a new 10% tariff against members of the developing nation Brics bloc, but will proceed if individual countries take so-called "anti-American" policy actions, according to a source familiar with the Donald Trump late on Sunday said the US will impose an additional 10% tariff on any countries aligning themselves with so-called "anti-American policies" of the Brics group of developing nations, triggering sharp denials from its members that they were oriented against the United line is being drawn. If policy decisions are made that are anti-American, then the tariff will be charged," said the source, who requested anonymity because they are not authorised to speak on the matter. Trump's announcement, made on Truth Social late on Sunday, came as India, Indonesia and other countries within the Brics group were negotiating last-minute trade deals with the US government ahead of a July 9 deadline when tariff rates were due to go up.- EndsTune InTrending Reel

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store