Hamas hands over bodies of four Gaza hostages to Israel
Palestinian militant groups had announced that the bodies of the two boys and their mother Shiri Bibas, along with that of a fourth hostage, Oded Lifschitz, would be handed over under the Gaza ceasefire agreement reached last month with the backing of the United States and the mediation of Qatar and Egypt.
Armed Hamas militants in black and camouflage uniforms toured the area at the handover point in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
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Al Arabiya
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Australia criticizes Israel for revoking diplomats' visas
Australia's foreign minister on Tuesday criticized Israel for revoking visas held by Canberra's diplomatic representatives to the Palestinian Authority. Israel's tit-for-tat move followed Australia's decision on Monday evening to block a far-right Israeli politician from the country ahead of a speaking tour. Australia and Israel have been increasingly at odds since Canberra declared it would recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said revoking the diplomats' visas was an 'unjustified reaction' by Israel. 'At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu Government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution,' she said in a statement. The Australian government on Monday cancelled the visa of far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, whose party is within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition. Rothman had been scheduled to speak at events organized by the Australian Jewish Association. Hours later, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he had revoked the visas of Australia's representatives to the Palestinian Authority. 'I also instructed the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel,' he said. 'This follows Australia's decisions to recognize a 'Palestinian state' and against the backdrop of Australia's unjustified refusal to grant visas to a number of Israeli figures.'
Arab News
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A look at Gaza ceasefire talks after Hamas accepts a new proposal from Arab mediators
CAIRO: Hamas says it has accepted a proposal from Arab mediators for a ceasefire in the 22-month war sparked by its Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel. Israel has not yet responded and says it is still committed to defeating the militant group. The latest proposal developed by Egypt and Qatar contains only slight modifications to an earlier one advanced by the United States and accepted by Israel, according to Egyptian and Hamas officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks. The deal would include a 60-day truce, the release of some of the hostages held by Hamas in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, a flood of humanitarian aid into Gaza and talks on a lasting ceasefire. Israel has vowed to continue the war until all the hostages are returned and Hamas is disarmed. President Donald Trump gave support to those goals Monday in a social media post, saying Hamas must be 'confronted and destroyed' to ensure the return of the remaining hostages. A ceasefire, a hostage release and an influx of aid The details of the latest proposal have not been made public, but the two Egyptian officials and two Hamas officials described the broad outlines to The Associated Press. There would be a 60-day ceasefire in which Israeli forces would pull back to a buffer zone extending 800 meters (875 yards) into Gaza. The officials said Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, had proposed 1,500 meters (1,640 yards) and Hamas countered with 600 meters (656 yards) before the talks stalled last month. Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in phases, in exchange for the release of around 1,700 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including 200 serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks. Hamas-led militants took 251 people hostage in the Oct. 7 attack and killed around 1,200, mostly civilians. Fifty hostages are still in Gaza, around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefires or other deals. Israel would allow 600 trucks of humanitarian aid to enter each day, a major increase that could help arrest what experts have described as the territory's slide toward famine. Israel allowed a similar amount of aid to enter during a ceasefire earlier this year. During the temporary ceasefire, the sides would negotiate a lasting truce, the release of the remaining hostages and the further withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel is committed to destroying Hamas Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that while he will halt the fighting temporarily to facilitate the release of hostages, he will not end the war until Hamas has been defeated and disarmed. Even then, he says Israel will maintain security control over Gaza and facilitate the relocation of much of its population to other countries through what he describes as voluntary emigration. Palestinians and much of the international community view it as forcible expulsion. Earlier this month, Netanyahu announced plans to occupy Gaza City and other densely populated areas, which would likely result in even more casualties and further waves of mass displacement. Those threats were partly aimed at pressuring Hamas. Israel's offensive has already killed over 62,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry does not say how many were civilians or combatants but says women and children make up around half of those killed. Vast areas of Gaza have been completely destroyed. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and run by medical professionals. The UN and many independent experts view its figures as the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties. Israel disputes them but has not provided its own numbers. Hamas is severely weakened but not defeated Hamas has suffered heavy losses through nearly two years of war. Most of its top leaders have been killed, its rocket supplies have been vastly depleted, and Israel has regularly announced the destruction of tunnel complexes and other military infrastructure. Iran and Hamas' other regional allies are in disarray after Israeli and US strikes. The Israeli military says it now controls at least 75 percent of Gaza, with much of the population — and the remnants of Hamas' government and police force — largely confined to Gaza City, built-up refugee camps from the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation and Muwasi, a sprawling tent camp along the coast. The hostages are Hamas' last bargaining chip and its only hope of emerging from the war with something it can try to portray as a victory. The militant group has said it will only release the remaining captives in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal. Hamas says it is willing to hand over power to other Palestinians but will not lay down its arms as long as Israel occupies lands the Palestinians want for a future state. Israel says any arrangement that leaves Hamas intact and armed would allow it to eventually rebuild its forces and launch another Oct. 7-style attack. The US role is crucial Israel has been tight-lipped about the talks, and it's unclear when it will respond. The Security Cabinet, which would need to approve any such deal, usually meets on Thursdays. In the meantime, all eyes are on Washington. Trump helped to get a previous ceasefire across the finish line in January after former President Joe Biden's administration and Arab mediators had spent months hammering it out. The US then offered its full support when Israel ended that truce and resumed its air and ground war in March. Trump alone might be able to convince Israel to halt the war without trying to eradicate Hamas at the cost of countless more Palestinian lives and possibly the remaining hostages. He says he wants to return the hostages and end the war but has not publicly pressured Israel. In a post Monday on his Truth Social website, Trump appeared once again to express full support for Netanyahu's endgame. 'We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be,' he wrote. 'Play to WIN, or don't play at all!'
Leaders
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- Leaders
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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 :
