Latest news with #Al-Hayya
LeMonde
5 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Hamas says ready to enter into new talks for 'permanent ceasefire' with Israel in Gaza
Hamas's lead negotiator said Thursday, June 5, the militant movement was ready for a new round of negotiations to achieve a permanent ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip. "We reaffirm that we are ready for a new, serious round of negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement," lead Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said in a televised speech marking the start of the Muslim Eid al-Adha festivities. Al-Hayya added that contacts with mediators in the war were underway, as he revisited Hamas's current main objectives point by point. Israel and Hamas appeared close to an agreement late last month, following discussions mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States. US President Donald trump said on May 30 that he believed an agreement for a truce in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas was "very close." Israel and Hamas then accused each other of scuppering a proposal submitted by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, with the envoy himself describing the Palestinian militants' response as "totally unacceptable". Al-Hayya reiterated Hamas's position that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shouldered the blame for the impasse. He added that his movement had not actually rejected Witkoff's latest proposal but that it had submitted demands for a guarantee of a non-resumption of hostilities following any hostage release.
West Australian
12-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Hamas agrees to release last known living American hostage
Hamas agreed to release Edan Alexander, a dual US and Israeli citizen believed to be the last living US citizen who remains captive in Gaza, weeks after saying it had lost contact with the group holding him hostage. His release is part of 'the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid,' Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas' negotiating team, said in a statement Sunday. Al-Hayya did not provide information on Alexander's condition. Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, confirmed the agreement to NBC News and said he is travelling to Israel to secure Alexander's release. 'We are picking him up probably tomorrow,' Witkoff said. 'There was a long negotiation with lots of people to thank.' He went on to describe this as a gesture of goodwill toward President Donald Trump , adding that it is a big moment 'in large part' because of Trump. 'The family is ecstatic,' Witkoff said. In a post to his Truth Social account, the president said he hopes Alexander's release signifies a step toward ending the war between Israel and Hamas. 'I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen,' Trump wrote . 'This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.' The Hostage Family Forum released a statement on behalf of Alexander's family confirming that they were informed of the agreement. They are 'in ongoing contact with the US administration' regarding his potential release in the coming days. Alexander was serving in the Israel Defense Forces when he was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, along with roughly 250 others. Hamas previously agreed to release Alexander in March along with the bodies of four other dual nationals. But weeks later the militant group said it lost contact with group holding him. At the time, Hamas blamed the issue on Israeli strikes that hit the area where Alexander was allegedly being held. Hamas and Israel agreed to a temporary ceasefire in January, which led to the release of hostages in exchange for freeing Palestinians in Israeli custody. It also saw an influx of aid for Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. But the fragile ceasefire fell apart in March after negotiations stalled on how to expand the pause in hostilities into a sustainable end to the war. Al-Hayya added on Sunday that Hamas was ready to negotiate 'and exert serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war'. Gaza's future is unclear after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced last week that the country's security Cabinet approved a plan to capture the entire enclave. Under this plan, more than 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza would be 'moved' out of the strip as Israel's military launched operations to defeat Hamas. This plan was made public after a full-blown blockade on aid into the strip by Israel reached its third month. Representatives for the United Nations and Palestinians accused Israel of using aid as a 'weapon of war' at the International Court of Justice last month. Disagreements on how to approach the situation in Gaza as well as Iran has led to tension between Trump and Netanyahu, according to two US officials, two Middle Eastern diplomats and two other people with knowledge. While Netanyahu wants to continue a military approach, Trump sees an opportunity to make a deal with a now-weakened Iran, the sources told NBC News. Netanyahu denied the reports on Sunday , insisting in a video on X that his relationship with Trump was 'excellent.' He added that the two allies see 'eye-to-eye on almost everything'.
Perth Now
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Hamas agrees to release last known living American hostage
Hamas agreed to release Edan Alexander, a dual US and Israeli citizen believed to be the last living US citizen who remains captive in Gaza, weeks after saying it had lost contact with the group holding him hostage. His release is part of 'the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid,' Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas' negotiating team, said in a statement Sunday. Al-Hayya did not provide information on Alexander's condition. Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, confirmed the agreement to NBC News and said he is travelling to Israel to secure Alexander's release. 'We are picking him up probably tomorrow,' Witkoff said. 'There was a long negotiation with lots of people to thank.' He went on to describe this as a gesture of goodwill toward President Donald Trump, adding that it is a big moment 'in large part' because of Trump. 'The family is ecstatic,' Witkoff said. In a post to his Truth Social account, the president said he hopes Alexander's release signifies a step toward ending the war between Israel and Hamas. 'I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen,' Trump wrote. 'This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.' The Hostage Family Forum released a statement on behalf of Alexander's family confirming that they were informed of the agreement. They are 'in ongoing contact with the US administration' regarding his potential release in the coming days. Alexander was serving in the Israel Defense Forces when he was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, along with roughly 250 others. Hamas previously agreed to release Alexander in March along with the bodies of four other dual nationals. But weeks later the militant group said it lost contact with group holding him. At the time, Hamas blamed the issue on Israeli strikes that hit the area where Alexander was allegedly being held. Hamas and Israel agreed to a temporary ceasefire in January, which led to the release of hostages in exchange for freeing Palestinians in Israeli custody. It also saw an influx of aid for Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. But the fragile ceasefire fell apart in March after negotiations stalled on how to expand the pause in hostilities into a sustainable end to the war. Al-Hayya added on Sunday that Hamas was ready to negotiate 'and exert serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war'. Gaza's future is unclear after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced last week that the country's security Cabinet approved a plan to capture the entire enclave. Under this plan, more than 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza would be 'moved' out of the strip as Israel's military launched operations to defeat Hamas. This plan was made public after a full-blown blockade on aid into the strip by Israel reached its third month. Representatives for the United Nations and Palestinians accused Israel of using aid as a 'weapon of war' at the International Court of Justice last month. Disagreements on how to approach the situation in Gaza as well as Iran has led to tension between Trump and Netanyahu, according to two US officials, two Middle Eastern diplomats and two other people with knowledge. While Netanyahu wants to continue a military approach, Trump sees an opportunity to make a deal with a now-weakened Iran, the sources told NBC News. Netanyahu denied the reports on Sunday, insisting in a video on X that his relationship with Trump was 'excellent.' He added that the two allies see 'eye-to-eye on almost everything'.
7NEWS
12-05-2025
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Hamas agrees to release last known living American hostage
Hamas agreed to release Edan Alexander, a dual US and Israeli citizen believed to be the last living US citizen who remains captive in Gaza, weeks after saying it had lost contact with the group holding him hostage. His release is part of 'the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid,' Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas' negotiating team, said in a statement Sunday. Al-Hayya did not provide information on Alexander's condition. Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, confirmed the agreement to NBC News and said he is travelling to Israel to secure Alexander's release. 'We are picking him up probably tomorrow,' Witkoff said. 'There was a long negotiation with lots of people to thank.' He went on to describe this as a gesture of goodwill toward President Donald Trump, adding that it is a big moment 'in large part' because of Trump. 'The family is ecstatic,' Witkoff said. In a post to his Truth Social account, the president said he hopes Alexander's release signifies a step toward ending the war between Israel and Hamas. 'I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen,' Trump wrote. 'This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.' The Hostage Family Forum released a statement on behalf of Alexander's family confirming that they were informed of the agreement. They are 'in ongoing contact with the US administration' regarding his potential release in the coming days. Alexander was serving in the Israel Defense Forces when he was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, along with roughly 250 others. Hamas previously agreed to release Alexander in March along with the bodies of four other dual nationals. But weeks later the militant group said it lost contact with group holding him. At the time, Hamas blamed the issue on Israeli strikes that hit the area where Alexander was allegedly being held. Hamas and Israel agreed to a temporary ceasefire in January, which led to the release of hostages in exchange for freeing Palestinians in Israeli custody. It also saw an influx of aid for Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. But the fragile ceasefire fell apart in March after negotiations stalled on how to expand the pause in hostilities into a sustainable end to the war. Al-Hayya added on Sunday that Hamas was ready to negotiate 'and exert serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war'. Gaza's future is unclear after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced last week that the country's security Cabinet approved a plan to capture the entire enclave. Under this plan, more than 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza would be 'moved' out of the strip as Israel's military launched operations to defeat Hamas. This plan was made public after a full-blown blockade on aid into the strip by Israel reached its third month. Representatives for the United Nations and Palestinians accused Israel of using aid as a 'weapon of war' at the International Court of Justice last month. Disagreements on how to approach the situation in Gaza as well as Iran has led to tension between Trump and Netanyahu, according to two US officials, two Middle Eastern diplomats and two other people with knowledge. While Netanyahu wants to continue a military approach, Trump sees an opportunity to make a deal with a now-weakened Iran, the sources told NBC News. Netanyahu denied the reports on Sunday, insisting in a video on X that his relationship with Trump was 'excellent.' He added that the two allies see 'eye-to-eye on almost everything'.
Saba Yemen
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Hamas expresses readiness to immediately begin intensive negotiations
Gaza – Saba: Khalil al-Hayya, head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza and head of the negotiating delegation, said on Sunday that "as part of the efforts being made by our mediating brothers to achieve a ceasefire, the movement has been in contact with the US administration over the past few days." Al-Hayya added in a statement that the movement "has shown great positivity, and the release of the Israeli soldier, who holds dual US citizenship, Idan Alexander, will be part of the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow the entry of aid and relief to our people in the Gaza Strip." He emphasized that the movement "is ready to immediately begin intensive negotiations and make serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war, exchange prisoners by mutual consent, and administer the Gaza Strip by an independent, professional body, ensuring continued calm and stability for many years, along with reconstruction and an end to the blockade." Hamas leader explained that the movement "appreciates the tireless efforts made by the mediating brothers in the sisterly State of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt, as well as the brothers in Turkey, throughout the past period." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
