Latest news with #IDF
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hamas rejects US ceasefire deal with Israel
Hamas appears to have rejected a US-led ceasefire deal with Israel, insisting that there can only be peace if Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops leave the Gaza strip. The terrorist group received a proposal from Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, which would have seen a 60-day ceasefire and an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. The Witkoff proposal left details of an IDF withdrawal from combat areas ambiguous, with exact future boundaries to be discussed at a later stage. While Hamas offered to release ten living hostages and 18 bodies in return for Israel's release of a number of Palestinian prisoners, the group said it wanted a definitive answer on Israeli troops. Countering with their own offer, Hamas said: 'This proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Gaza Strip.' It said its response came 'after conducting a round of national consultations'. '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,' a Hamas official said. The Israeli prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but an official said off the record that they considered Hamas's response as an 'effective rejection' of the Witkoff deal. Israeli media reported earlier this week that Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, told the families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had accepted the deal presented by Mr Witkoff. The prime minister's office declined to comment at the time. Deep differences between Hamas and Israel have stymied previous attempts to restore a ceasefire that broke down in March. Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm completely, be dismantled as a military and governing force and return all 58 hostages still held in Gaza before it will agree to end the war. Hamas has rejected the demand to give up its weapons and says Israel must pull its troops out of Gaza and commit to ending the fighting. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas attack in its south on Oct 7 2023 that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 Israelis taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, Hamas-run Gaza health officials say, and has left the enclave in ruins. The World Food Programme said on Saturday that 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry Gazans who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination. The nearly three-month Israeli blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two 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. On Saturday, the Israeli military said it had killed Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas' Gaza chief on May 13, confirming what Mr Netanyahu had said earlier this week. Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the Palestinian militant group's deceased leader and the mastermind of the October 2023 attacks on Israel. 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.
Leaders
an hour ago
- Politics
- Leaders
Irish Politician Describes Israel's Military Campaign in Gaza as ‘Barbaric'
A video went viral on social media showing Irish Politician Barry Andrews condemning Israel's war in Gaza and describing Netanyahu's campaign as 'barbaric'. Andrews noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his war in Gaza was a battle against barbarism. However, the civilized world has concluded that Israel is the one who conducted a campaign of barbarism, acceding to Andrews. 'A majority of European countries have finally concluded that it is barbaric to use starvation as a weapon of war,' Andrews added. He also described the statement of Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli Minister of Finance, regarding ethnic cleansing in Gaza as 'barbaric'. @palestinegaza11357 ♬ son original – palestinegaza11357 Meanwhile, Andrews called 'Gideon's Chariots' operation as 'barbaric' and blatant violation of the international humanitarian law. 'But we cannot just focus on access for aid, we also have to make sure that violence has to come to an end,' he added. What hostage has ever been released as a result of a military action? And today we read that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired warning shots at French diplomats and others visiting the West Bank,' he said. 'If this is the way European diplomats are treated, imagine how Palestinians are treated in the West Bank,' the politician said. At the end of his speech, Andrews said that it was unavoidable to conclude that it was the IDF that was conducting a barbaric campaign. Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 53,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 118,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Related Topics: Arab Ministers Condemn Israel's Ban on West Bank Visit Israel Plans to Build Jewish Israeli State in West Bank France May Toughen Stance on Israel Over Gaza Aid Blockage Short link : Post Views: 1
CNN
an hour ago
- General
- CNN
Warning shots and grenades used to disperse Palestinians seeking aid
A video shows security forces throwing stun grenades at crowds of Palestinians as they desperately try to obtain boxes of aid. Another shows people approaching the Netzarim distribution site fleeing as shots are heard. Since publication, the IDF has said it fired warning shots 'to distance' people before the site opened.
Belfast Telegraph
an hour ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Government lodges protest letter over Israeli gunfire near peacekeepers
The incident came during a joint Irish-United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) and Lebanese armed forces patrol close to the Blue Line on Thursday. None of the Irish personnel – who had recently been deployed with Unifil as part of the 126th Infantry Battalion – were injured in the incident. Oglaigh na hEireann said on Thursday that all personnel were reported to be safe and well, and continued to monitor the situation in southern Lebanon. On the direction of the Irish Minister for Defence, Simon Harris, a formal 'demarche' has been served on the Israeli government through the UN. It says Ireland considers the incident in the village of Yaroun as 'completely unacceptable in terms of the safety of peacekeepers and the execution of their mandated duties'. 'These concerns are held at the highest levels' of the Irish Government and the Defence Forces, it adds. Tanaiste Mr Harris was briefed on the incident by the new Chief of Staff Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy. Just before midday on Thursday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) fired shots into an area where a joint Irish-Lebanese unit was conducting peacekeeping duties. Nobody was injured. Mr Harris said: 'It's clear to me that the actions of the IDF were reckless, intimidatory, totally unacceptable and a clear breach of the international rules surrounding peacekeeping. 'I want to pay tribute to our personnel deployed with Unifil, who are operating in an increasingly volatile and tense environment.'
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Ireland lodges formal protest after Israeli gunfire near peacekeepers in Lebanon
Ireland has lodged a formal letter of objection with Israel after shots were fired near Irish peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. The incident occurred during a joint patrol by the Irish Defence Forces, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), and the Lebanese Armed Forces near the Blue Line on Thursday. None of the Irish personnel – recently deployed with Unifil as part of the 126th Infantry Battalion – were injured. Óglaigh na hÉireann confirmed on Thursday that all personnel were safe and continued to monitor the situation in southern Lebanon. At the direction of Minister for Defence Simon Harris, a formal demarche was delivered to the Israeli government through the United Nations. Ireland described the incident, which took place in the village of Yaroun, as "completely unacceptable" in terms of the safety of peacekeepers and the execution of their mandated duties. 'These concerns are held at the highest levels' of the Irish Government and the Defence Forces, it adds. Tánaiste Simon Harris was briefed on the incident by newly appointed Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy. Just before noon on Thursday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) opened fire in the area where the joint unit was conducting peacekeeping operations. No injuries were reported. Mr Harris said: 'It's clear to me that the actions of the IDF were reckless, intimidatory, totally unacceptable and a clear breach of the international rules surrounding peacekeeping. 'I want to pay tribute to our personnel deployed with Unifil, who are operating in an increasingly volatile and tense environment.' Read More Hamas responds to US-led Gaza deal with offer to release 10 hostages
