Latest news with #AlAraby
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A 'positive response' with conditions: Inside Hamas's response to ceasefire mediators
While Hamas appears to be moving forward with ceasefire negotiations, the terror organization still has details in the latest draft of ceasefire arrangements that have yet to be ironed out. Hamas gave a 'positive response" to a ceasefire and hostage deal to mediators on Friday, Palestinian officials told Reuters. However, there seem to be several details in the response that have not been clarified yet. Qatari outlet Al-Araby reported that Hamas requested 'minor amendments' to the plan, which mediators in Doha based on the Witkoff proposal. Ynet reported that the three changes to the deal that Hamas is seeking regard aid distribution in the Gaza Strip, the withdrawal of IDF troops, and a commitment to not resume fighting after the 60-day period ends. On Thursday, senior Hamas officials met in Turkey to discuss the proposed framework. In the deal, 10 hostages are supposed to be released over the course of 60 days. Under the terms of the deal, eight hostages would be freed on the first day, with two more released on day 50. The bodies of 18 deceased hostages would be returned in three phases across the two-month ceasefire. The Jerusalem Post originally reported that in exchange for the hostages, 125 Palestinian prisoners plus 1,111 Gazans arrested after October 7 would be released. Hamas is reportedly demanding that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) be removed from the enclave and that the distribution of aid return to the format from previous ceasefires. The Ynet report noted that the agreement, as originally seen by Hamas, only stated that "aid will be distributed through agreed channels, including the UN and the Red Crescent,' and did not mention the GHF. Hamas also allegedly is pushing for a segmented withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza, which was outlined in an earlier version of the agreement. However, the current Qatari-drafted agreement states that the IDF will redeploy its forces to 'maps to be agreed upon,' thus indicating some discrepancies. In the original Witkoff framework, the IDF will redeploy to northern Gaza and the Netzarim corridor at the start of the ceasefire. However, after a week and pending the release of several hostages' remains, the IDF will pivot and redeploy to southern Gaza. A source from the IDF told Ynet that 'during the ceasefire, the IDF will remain in the original perimeter set in the buffer zone, plus 250 meters (820 feet) into the Strip." This implies a new buffer zone extending 1.2 to 1.4 kilometers (0.75 to 0.87 miles) into the Gaza Strip. Additionally, the IDF "will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor.' Hamas is also reportedly demanding a complete end to the war at the end of the 60-day period and wants security guarantees from the US, Qatar, and Egypt. Notably, sources told the Arab-language paper Asharq al-Aswat that the deal on the table does not currently state a clear end date for the war. Within Gaza, there appears to be mutual support for the ceasefire deal. Palestinian Islamic Jihad stated that Hamas had informed it of the deal and that it was 'interested in progressing towards an agreement." Notable members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition have openly expressed their aversion to ending the war in Gaza. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that Hamas must be eliminated and that Israel should encourage emigration to Gaza. "It is time to stop the slogging in the Strip and strive for a quick resolution of Hamas, which is the ultimate goal of the war," he said. Similarly, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that he would oppose any agreements that would end the fighting in Gaza. "I can tell you with all my heart that it won't happen. I'm talking to [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu about it, and I don't get the impression that he's on his way there," Smotrich said. Netanyahu has only said that he was seeking a total end to Hamas and has not mentioned an end date to the Israel-Hamas War. "There will not be a Hamas. There will not be a Hamastan. We're not going back to that. It's over. We will free all our hostages," Netanyahu said last week. "We will eliminate them down to the ground.' However, US President Donald Trump has said that he intends to be 'very firm' with Netanyahu about ending the war in Gaza.
Middle East Eye
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israeli forces encircles school housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza
Israeli forces surrounded a school housing displaced Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Al Araby new outlet. According to reports, the Israeli army has also carried out continuous shelling in Jabalya and Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza.
Washington Post
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Israel and Hamas talks stall as Gaza ceasefire set to expire
JERUSALEM — The likelihood of Israel and Hamas returning to war crept higher on Saturday, as Hamas officials said they had rejected Israel's last-minute proposal to extend the first stage of the ceasefire agreement that was set to expire on March 1. A Hamas spokesman, Hazim Qasem, also said early Saturday that Hamas was demanding that Israel discuss the second phase of the ceasefire as per the agreement signed in January, but that there were no negotiations underway. A lack of talks between the two sides could have serious implications: under the terms of the three-phase framework signed in January, Israel and Hamas agreed to not immediately return to fighting on March 1 — as long as the two sides were still in negotiations about the second phase. But 'currently, there are no negotiations regarding the second phase, and Israel bears responsibility for this,' Qasem told the Qatari television network Al Araby on Saturday. 'Hamas remains committed to the agreement, while Israel is backing out of initiating the second phase.' January's agreement did not specify what time on March 1 the ceasefire agreement would expire. As of midday on Saturday, there were no reports of fighting or hostilities resuming. Hopes of the ceasefire holding have dimmed in recent days after Israeli and U.S. officials began to openly discuss the possibility of extending the first phase, underscoring the reluctance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to enter the second, more politically fraught stage of the deal. The second phase calls for Hamas to release all remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for Israel's complete withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent cessation of hostilities. But Netanyahu has vowed not to end the war before Israel eliminates Hamas as a governing and military force and its fighters lay down their arms — something the militant group has flatly refused. While a majority of the Israeli public supports the second phase and the families of Israeli hostages have urged Netanyahu to do a deal, however unpalatable, to secure the remaining hostages, the Israeli leader has faced intense pressure from his far-right flank to resume fighting immediately and with even greater intensity to achieve what he describes as 'total victory' in Gaza. In recent days, Netanyahu has proposed extending the first phase by another 42 days to get more hostages out — roughly 22 hostages are thought to remain alive in Gaza — while keeping the option to resume his military campaign. Hamas officials argue that it does not make sense to release any more hostages — their biggest bargaining chip — without Netanyahu agreeing to withdraw from Gaza and to formally declare an end to the war.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel indefinitely delays Palestinian prisoner return after hostages ‘humiliated'
Israel has delayed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners indefinitely, in response to 'humiliating' ceremonies choreographed by Hamas as it returns Israeli hostages. Israel was expected to free 620 Palestinians, including 50 serving life sentences, but they remained behind bars. On Saturday, vehicles apparently carrying prisoners left the open gates of Ofer prison, only to turn around and go back in, hours after another cruel handover by the terror group. Benjamin Netanyahu's office said: '[Because of] repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes, it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies.' Ezzat El Rashq, a Hamas official, said the Israeli prime minister's statement was a 'deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement, represents a clear violation of its terms, and shows the occupation's lack of reliability in implementing its obligations'. Abdul Latif al-Qanou, another Hamas spokesman, told Al Araby, the Qatari TV channel, that there were 'positive signs' the prisoners would be released soon, and called on mediators to act 'immediately' to free them. Qanou also said that Hamas will be ready to move to phase two of the ceasefire and release all hostages when 'the attack is completely stopped, Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip in full and the reconstruction process begins'. The Telegraph understands that negotiations over phase two have begun, but that Israel wants to expand the first phase and have more hostages released. Saturday's hostage handover was met with fury in Israel, in part because Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert and Eliya Cohen looked pale and emaciated. Mr Shem Tov was seen waving, smiling and kissing the forehead of an armed Hamas member on a stage, a moment orchestrated and filmed by the terror group for its propaganda. Mr Shem Tov's father later said: 'Omer said they told him what to do. You can see in the footage that someone came up to him and told him what to do.' Abera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, the other two hostages released on Saturday, had spent more than 10 years in captivity and were both suffering from mental illnesses. Mr Sayed, an Israeli Bedouin, was the only hostage returned from Gaza in this round of the ceasefire who was not humiliated and put on a stage in front of a large crowd. Mr Sayed's father, Sha'ban al-Sayed, said on Sunday that his son was not well. He told Walla, the Israeli news site: 'He is broken and may have been held alone. It is strange for him to see people. He does not speak…' Mr Sayed senior told Channel 12 news: 'He is not well. He was not in our world. A kind of Tarzan after living for 10 years with animals. He does not communicate.' Hamas also brought two hostages, Eviatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, to watch their fellow captives being freed in Gaza on Saturday, filming them inside a car where they were heard pleading to be released themselves. Mr Gilboa-Dalal's father, Ilan Dalal, said on Sunday: 'They forced them to watch their friends being released and then returned them to the tunnels. There is no greater cruelty. They can't continue. It's simply inhumane.' Donald Trump also slammed Hamas for the way it treated the Israeli hostages. The US president said: 'We had the hostages given back today, it's disgraceful what's going on there. They're not in great shape, but we've also seen them in worse shape. What a terrible situation it is.' The bodies of hostages Itzik Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, Tsahi Idan, and Shlomo Mantzur are expected to be returned next week in accordance with the ceasefire deal. Meanwhile, Israel Katz, Israel's defence minister, said on Sunday that he has instructed the military to prepare to remain in some of the occupied West Bank's urban refugee camps 'for the coming year'. The Israeli military said it was expanding the raid in the West Bank to other areas and was sending tanks to Jenin, a militant stronghold. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Israel indefinitely delays Palestinian prisoner return after hostages ‘humiliated'
Israel has delayed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners indefinitely, in response to 'humiliating' ceremonies choreographed by Hamas as it returns Israeli hostages. Israel was expected to free 620 Palestinians, including 50 serving life sentences, but they remained behind bars. On Saturday, vehicles apparently carrying prisoners left the open gates of Ofer prison, only to turn around and go back in, hours after another cruel handover by the terror group. Benjamin Netanyahu's office said: '[Because of] repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes, it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies. ' Ezzat El Rashq, a Hamas official, said the Israeli prime minister's statement was a 'deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement, represents a clear violation of its terms, and shows the occupation's lack of reliability in implementing its obligations'. Abdul Latif al-Qanou, another Hamas spokesman, told Al Araby, the Qatari TV channel, that there were 'positive signs' the prisoners would be released soon, and called on mediators to act 'immediately' to free them. Qanou also said that Hamas will be ready to move to phase two of the ceasefire and release all hostages when 'the attack is completely stopped, Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip in full and the reconstruction process begins'. The Telegraph understands that negotiations over phase two have begun, but that Israel wants to expand the first phase and have more hostages released. Saturday's hostage handover was met with fury in Israel, in part because Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert and Eliya Cohen looked pale and emaciated. Mr Shem Tov was seen waving, smiling and kissing the forehead of an armed Hamas member on a stage, a moment orchestrated and filmed by the terror group for its propaganda. Mr Shem Tov's father later said: 'Omer said they told him what to do. You can see in the footage that someone came up to him and told him what to do.' Abera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, the other two hostages released on Saturday, had spent more than 10 years in captivity and were both suffering from mental illnesses. Mr Sayed, an Israeli Bedouin, was the only hostage returned from Gaza in this round of the ceasefire who was not humiliated and put on a stage in front of a large crowd. Mr Sayed's father, Sha'ban al-Sayed, said on Sunday that his son was not well. He told Walla, the Israeli news site: 'He is broken and may have been held alone. It is strange for him to see people. He does not speak…' Mr Sayed senior told Channel 12 news: 'He is not well. He was not in our world. A kind of Tarzan after living for 10 years with animals. He does not communicate.' Hamas also brought two hostages, Eviatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, to watch their fellow captives being freed in Gaza on Saturday, filming them inside a car where they were heard pleading to be released themselves. Mr Gilboa-Dalal's father, Ilan Dalal, said on Sunday: 'They forced them to watch their friends being released and then returned them to the tunnels. There is no greater cruelty. They can't continue. It's simply inhumane.' Donald Trump also slammed Hamas for the way it treated the Israeli hostages. The US president said: 'We had the hostages given back today, it's disgraceful what's going on there. They're not in great shape, but we've also seen them in worse shape. What a terrible situation it is.' The bodies of hostages Itzik Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, Tsahi Idan, and Shlomo Mantzur are expected to be returned next week in accordance with the ceasefire deal. Meanwhile, Israel Katz, Israel's defence minister, said on Sunday that he has instructed the military to prepare to remain in some of the occupied West Bank's urban refugee camps 'for the coming year'. The Israeli military said it was expanding the raid in the West Bank to other areas and was sending tanks to Jenin, a militant stronghold.
