Latest news with #Gazans
New York Post
13 minutes ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Hamas' cease-fire ‘counteroffer' is just a demand for Israel to give up the war
Hamas on Saturday announced it had 'responded to' the latest ceasefire proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff, apparently seeking assurances that Israel won't simply go back to eliminating it when the 60-day pause is up. Reality check: The terrorists are only talking because they're losing, badly — losing whatever support they had from ordinary Gazans as well as militarily. Hamas' main hope is to somehow manipulate Team Trump's peace efforts into a license to survive — to somehow have the war end with it intact in Gaza, still in power and with its sponsors and enablers again resupplying it. Advertisement To that end, it aims to leverage President Donald Trump's hopes to end the bloodshed as well as: Israeli public opinion, include the deep desire to recover the 20 or so still living hostages as well as the remains of the dozens who've died in captivity, plus general war-weariness and partisan opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition Sympathy for its other hostages: Gaza's 2 million civilians. Hamas has never cared a whit for their lives or well-being, except as potential recruits, human shields and reason for an influx of aid that the terrorists can siphon off for their use. It will happily martyr any or all of them for the cause of destroying Israel — even as it pretends to make concessions in their name to serve its true agenda. Advertisement Its de facto fifth column all across the West, including the 'tentifada' fanatics and fools on Columbia and other campuses, and all the politicians and media figures who buy the terrorists' propaganda. The dogged self-deception of the international 'peace process' veterans, still imagining that a 'two-state solution' is the key to resolving all the region's conflicts — an 'answer' that's now a complete fantasy that disregards every development of the last three decades. Arab rulers' inability to simply abandon decades of anti-Israel propaganda even though they (mostly) recognize it no longer serves their most urgent needs. Israel's current offensive has already taken out hundreds more Hamas fighters and yet another round of leadership, including the last Sinwar. The IDF is poised to take full control of Gaza, clear the final bunkers and tunnels and crush the remaining terror brigades. Advertisement And Jerusalem has cut off Hamas' resupply, refusing to allow aid to enter Gaza without firm controls that ensure it goes straight to civilians. Not allowing the terrorists to capture it — and to charge civilians for access to any of it — has helped turn the tide of public opinion: Ordinary Gazans increasingly know the war continues only because Hamas won't surrender or even negotiate a departure of its remaining forces. Witkoff's latest offer would have Hamas turn over 10 living hostages and a dozen or two bodies, in exchange for 125 terrorists serving life sentences plus another 1,000-plus jailbirds and a 60-day ceasefire and ongoing talks toward a full peace settlement. But Hamas knows full well that Netanyahu won't end the war until the terrorists are all dead, surrendered or expelled from Gaza: He refuses to allow for any possibility of another Oct. 7, and Israeli public opinion so far supports him. Advertisement So the terror group's counteroffer is to demand some kind of guarantee that Washington won't let the IDF resume operations when the 60 days are up, as well as the resumption of aid entering under UN or similar auspices, without Israeli controls. As things stand, Hamas is toast within months. To get hostages returned, Israel will allow it a respite — and so risk some development (Netanyahu's ouster, a drastic shift in the region, Washington concluding it needs the war ended; who knows?) that would let the terror group hang on in Gaza. Unless Team Trump decides to overrule Israel's unchanged war goals, Hamas will have to settle for that hope of a lifeline, or no deal is happening.
Channel 4
an hour ago
- Politics
- Channel 4
Hamas agrees to release ten hostages in response to ceasefire plan
With food aid struggling to reach its intended destination and the UN warning of a yet worsening humanitarian situation, the stakes for Gazans could scarcely be higher. Hamas said it had responded 'positively' to the ceasefire proposal presented by President Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. But reports in Israel that suggest the government there is treating Hamas's response as an effective rejection.
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Hamas seeks changes to US ceasefire plan for Gaza amid ongoing talks
Hamas is seeking amendments to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, a senior official with the group told The Associated Press on Saturday, as hungry Palestinians in Gaza stopped and emptied dozens of trucks carrying aid. The Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, said proposed amendments focused on the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an ensured flow of aid. It said 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli officials have approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war. US President Donald Trump has said negotiators were nearing a deal. A ceasefire would pause the fighting for 60 days, release some of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and much-needed food aid and other assistance, according to Hamas and Egyptian officials who earlier spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media. Desperation rises inside Gaza Palestinians in Gaza blocked and offloaded 77 food trucks, the UN World Food Program said, as hunger mounts following Israel's monthslong blockade of the territory. The WFP said the aid, mostly flour, was taken before the trucks could reach their destination. A witness in the southern city of Khan Younis, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, told the AP the UN convoy was stopped at a makeshift roadblock and offloaded by desperate civilians in their thousands. The nearly three-month blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over 2 million to the brink of famine. While pressure slightly eased in recent days as Israel allowed some aid to enter, aid organisations say far from enough food is getting in. Israel's military body in charge of aid coordination in Gaza, COGAT, said 579 trucks of aid had entered over the past week. The UN has said 600 per day were entering under the previous ceasefire that Israel ended with new bombardment. The WFP said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high. We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming, it said in a statement adding that it has over 140,000 metric tonnes of food enough to feed Gazans for two months ready to be brought in. The United Nations said earlier this month that Israeli authorities have forced them to use unsecured routes within areas controlled by Israel's military in the eastern areas of Rafah and Khan Younis, where armed gangs are active and trucks were stopped. Attacks, gangs and lack of protection hamper UN distribution An internal document shared with aid groups about security incidents, seen by the AP, said there were four incidents of facilities being looted in three days at the end of May, not including Saturday's. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. On Friday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said it only picked up five truckloads of cargo from the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, and the other 60 trucks had to return due to intense hostilities. A new US- and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation eventually will replace the aid operation that the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that significant diversion takes place. The GHF works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israeli strikes kill at least 60 Israel continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours. The ministry said three people were killed by Israeli gunfire early Saturday in Rafah. Three others were killed parents and a child when their car was struck in Gaza City. An Israeli strike hit another car in Gaza City, killing four. And an Israeli strike hit a tent sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, killing six, said Weam Fares, a spokesperson for Nasser Hospital. Israel's military said several projectiles from Gaza fell in open areas. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken captive, 58 remain in Gaza. Israel believes 35 are dead and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are doubts about the fate of several others. Israeli strikes have killed more than 54,000 Gaza residents, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. A group of hostages' relatives again pleaded for a comprehensive ceasefire deal that would free everyone at once, saying the remaining hostages will not survive continued military pressure. If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signs a partial hostage deal, they said, he will be sentencing to death those left behind.
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Palestinians block and empty dozens of UN food lorries in Gaza Strip
The WFP said the aid, mostly flour, was taken before the trucks could reach their destination. A witness in the southern city of Khan Younis told the Associated Press the UN convoy was stopped at a makeshift roadblock and offloaded by desperate civilians in their thousands. The nearly three-month blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of more than two million to the brink of famine. While pressure has eased slightly in recent days as Israel allowed some supplies to enter, aid organisations say far from enough food is getting in. A Palestinian girl waits to collect (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) Israel's military body in charge of aid co-ordination in Gaza, Cogat, said 579 trucks of aid had entered over the past week. The UN has said 600 per day were entering under the previous ceasefire that Israel ended with a new bombardment. The WFP said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high. 'We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming,' it said in a statement, adding that it has more than 140,000 metric tons of food — enough to feed Gazans for two months — ready to be brought in. The United Nations said earlier this month that Israeli authorities had forced workers to use unsecured routes in areas controlled by Israel's military in the eastern areas of Rafah and Khan Younis, where armed gangs are active and trucks were stopped. An internal document shared with aid groups about security incidents, seen by the AP, said there were four incidents of facilities being looted in three days at the end of May, not including Saturday's. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. On Friday, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said it only picked up five truckloads of cargo from the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, and the other 60 trucks had to return due to intense hostilities. A new US and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation will eventually replace the aid operation the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli air strike (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that significant diversion takes place. The GHF works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israel has continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 60 people had been killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours. The ministry said three people were killed by Israeli gunfire early on Saturday in Rafah; three others were killed — parents and a child — when their car was struck in Gaza City; an Israeli strike hit another car in Gaza City, killing four; and an Israeli strike hit a tent sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, killing six, said Weam Fares, a spokesperson for Nasser Hospital. Israel's military said several projectiles from Gaza fell in open areas. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 2023, killing around 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken captive, 58 remain in Gaza. Israel believes 35 are dead and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are 'doubts' about the fate of several others. Israeli strikes have killed more than 54,000 Gaza residents, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. A group of hostages' relatives again pleaded for a comprehensive ceasefire deal that would free everyone at once, saying the remaining hostages 'will not survive continued military pressure'. If Mr Netanyahu signs a partial hostage deal, they said, he will be 'sentencing to death' those left behind.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Hamas seeks amendments to US ceasefire proposal
Hamas has responded to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, and a senior official with the group says they are seeking some changes, as desperation rises inside Gaza from the aid blockade. Israeli officials have approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war. US President Donald Trump has said negotiators were nearing a deal. "There are some notes and amendments to some points, especially on the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an ensured flow of aid. It said 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released " in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners". A ceasefire would pause the fighting for 60 days, release some of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and much-needed food aid and other assistance, according to Hamas and Egyptian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media. As hopes for a ceasefire ramp up, desperation rises inside Gaza. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the UN World Food Program says, as desperation mounts following Israel's months-long aid blockade while talks of a ceasefire inch forward. The World Food Program said 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination. The nearly three-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. The World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high despite the aid that's entering now. "We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming," it said in a statement, adding that it has over 140,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed Gazans for two months, ready to be brought in. Most people carried bags of flour. He said at one point a forklift was used to offload pallets. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. A new US and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation eventually will replace the aid operation that the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that a significant diversion takes place. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israel continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken captive, 58 remain in Gaza. Israel believes 35 are dead and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are doubts about the fate of several others. Israeli strikes have killed more than 54,000 Gaza residents, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. Hamas has responded to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, and a senior official with the group says they are seeking some changes, as desperation rises inside Gaza from the aid blockade. Israeli officials have approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war. US President Donald Trump has said negotiators were nearing a deal. "There are some notes and amendments to some points, especially on the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an ensured flow of aid. It said 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released " in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners". A ceasefire would pause the fighting for 60 days, release some of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and much-needed food aid and other assistance, according to Hamas and Egyptian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media. As hopes for a ceasefire ramp up, desperation rises inside Gaza. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the UN World Food Program says, as desperation mounts following Israel's months-long aid blockade while talks of a ceasefire inch forward. The World Food Program said 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination. The nearly three-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. The World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high despite the aid that's entering now. "We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming," it said in a statement, adding that it has over 140,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed Gazans for two months, ready to be brought in. Most people carried bags of flour. He said at one point a forklift was used to offload pallets. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. A new US and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation eventually will replace the aid operation that the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that a significant diversion takes place. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israel continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken captive, 58 remain in Gaza. Israel believes 35 are dead and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are doubts about the fate of several others. Israeli strikes have killed more than 54,000 Gaza residents, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. Hamas has responded to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, and a senior official with the group says they are seeking some changes, as desperation rises inside Gaza from the aid blockade. Israeli officials have approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war. US President Donald Trump has said negotiators were nearing a deal. "There are some notes and amendments to some points, especially on the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an ensured flow of aid. It said 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released " in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners". A ceasefire would pause the fighting for 60 days, release some of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and much-needed food aid and other assistance, according to Hamas and Egyptian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media. As hopes for a ceasefire ramp up, desperation rises inside Gaza. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the UN World Food Program says, as desperation mounts following Israel's months-long aid blockade while talks of a ceasefire inch forward. The World Food Program said 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination. The nearly three-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. The World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high despite the aid that's entering now. "We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming," it said in a statement, adding that it has over 140,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed Gazans for two months, ready to be brought in. Most people carried bags of flour. He said at one point a forklift was used to offload pallets. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. A new US and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation eventually will replace the aid operation that the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that a significant diversion takes place. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israel continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken captive, 58 remain in Gaza. Israel believes 35 are dead and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are doubts about the fate of several others. Israeli strikes have killed more than 54,000 Gaza residents, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. Hamas has responded to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, and a senior official with the group says they are seeking some changes, as desperation rises inside Gaza from the aid blockade. Israeli officials have approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war. US President Donald Trump has said negotiators were nearing a deal. "There are some notes and amendments to some points, especially on the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an ensured flow of aid. It said 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released " in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners". A ceasefire would pause the fighting for 60 days, release some of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and much-needed food aid and other assistance, according to Hamas and Egyptian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media. As hopes for a ceasefire ramp up, desperation rises inside Gaza. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the UN World Food Program says, as desperation mounts following Israel's months-long aid blockade while talks of a ceasefire inch forward. The World Food Program said 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination. The nearly three-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. The World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high despite the aid that's entering now. "We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming," it said in a statement, adding that it has over 140,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed Gazans for two months, ready to be brought in. Most people carried bags of flour. He said at one point a forklift was used to offload pallets. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. A new US and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation eventually will replace the aid operation that the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that a significant diversion takes place. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israel continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken captive, 58 remain in Gaza. Israel believes 35 are dead and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are doubts about the fate of several others. Israeli strikes have killed more than 54,000 Gaza residents, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally.
