Latest news with #IsraeliPrimeMinister'sOffice
20-05-2025
- Politics
Gaza ceasefire talks have not led anywhere, Qatari PM says
The recent Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar have not led anywhere yet, the Qatari prime minister said Tuesday, citing a "fundamental gap" between the two parties, Israel and Hamas. "One party is looking for a partial deal that might or have the possibility to lead to a comprehensive deal and the other party is looking just for a one-off deal and to end the war and to get all the hostages out," Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said during a press briefing Tuesday. "And we couldn't bridge this fundamental gap with whatever proposals we have provided." Rounds of negotiations have been ongoing in Doha over the past couple of weeks, he said. Hamas claimed Tuesday that Israel has not been serious about the negotiations, saying in a statement that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is extending his delegation's stay in Doha on a day-to-day basis without engaging in any serious negotiations, and no real talks have taken place since last Saturday." The Israeli Prime Minister's Office claimed Tuesday that Hamas is refusing the American proposal for the return of the hostages. "After approximately one week of intensive contacts in Doha, the senior members of the negotiating team will return to Israel for consultations; the working echelon will -- at present -- remain in Doha," the office said. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Sunday that the Israeli negotiation team is working to "exhaust every chance of a deal," including one that would include "the release of all hostages, the expulsion of Hamas terrorists [from Gaza], and the disarmament of the Strip." Amid the ceasefire talks, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Sunday the start of a new "extensive ground operation" throughout northern and southern Gaza. The escalation has been met with condemnation from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada, who called on Israel in a joint statement on Monday to stop its military operations and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, otherwise they "will take further concrete actions in response." U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy subsequently announced Tuesday that the U.K. has suspended negotiations with Israel on a new free trade agreement and will impose sanctions on West Bank settlers, saying, "Despite our efforts, this Israeli government's egregious actions and rhetoric have continued." Netanyahu had pushed back against the joint statement in a statement on X on Monday, saying that by "asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed," the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are "offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities." "The war can end tomorrow if the remaining hostages are released, Hamas lays down its arms, its murderous leaders are exiled and Gaza is demilitarized. No nation can be expected to accept anything less and Israel certainly won't," Netanyahu said. The Israeli Foreign Ministry also brushed off the U.K.'s announcements on the free trade talks and sanctions on Tuesday, saying, "External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction."
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Israel recovers Mossad spy Eli Cohen's archive from Syria 60 years after he was hanged
Identity documents of Eli Cohen are displayed. (Israeli Prime Minister's Office via AP) Israel announced on Sunday that it had brought back the official Syrian archive on Israeli spy Eli Cohen , which includes around 2,500 documents, photographs, and personal items. Cohen was executed in Damascus in 1965. "In a complex covert operation by the Mossad , in cooperation with a strategic partner service, the official Syrian archive on Eli Cohen was brought to Israel," Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's office said in a statement, referring to Israel's external intelligence agency. "The trove contains thousands of items that had been kept under tight security by Syrian intelligence for decades," the Israeli PM's office added in the statement. The announcement was made during a ceremony marking 60 years since Cohen's public execution on May 18, 1965. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mossad director David Barnea presented the materials to Cohen's widow, Nadia Cohen, The Times of Israel reported. The thousands of recovered items made up the full Syrian intelligence archive on Eli Cohen, the Israeli Prime Minister's office said, describing the operation as a "historic" achievement. The covert mission was carried out with the assistance of a foreign intelligence agency, as noted in the statement. The archive includes Cohen's handwritten letters to his family, documents showing communication between him and Syrian officials, photos from his time in Syria, and forged passports. Also recovered were personal items such as the keys to his apartment in Damascus, which were taken by Syrian intelligence when he was arrested. Cohen's original will, written shortly before he was executed, was among the items retrieved. Also included in the archive were many handwritten notes collected from Cohen's residence by Syrian intelligence, which outlined the assignments he received from Mossad. These included instructions to observe specific individuals and gather intelligence on Syrian military facilities in the region of Quneitra. The original document that sentenced Cohen to death and a letter that allowed Rabbi Nissim Andabo, then head of the Jewish community in Damascus, to be with Cohen in his final hours, were also returned. Cohen had built strong connections with senior political and military figures in Syria during a four-year intelligence mission before being discovered by Syrian authorities. He was publicly executed in Damascus on May 18, 1965. Eli Cohen's life was portrayed in the Netflix miniseries The Spy , with British actor Sacha Baron Cohen playing the lead role.
News18
18-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Netanyahu Says Israel In Talks With Hamas To End Gaza War But On This Condition
Last Updated: Israel-Hamas War: Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks come as Israel intensified its military operations in Gaza to increase pressure on Hamas to accept a temporary ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated a willingness to consider ending the conflict in Gaza is Hamas meets specific preconditions- a departure from previous Israeli stances when Tel Aviv largely focused on the complete dismantling of Hamas. A statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office (PMO) revealed that Israel's negotiating team in Doha is 'exhausting every possibility" to reach an agreement with Hamas. The ongoing talks, facilitated by Egypt and Qatar with US support, center on a proposal put forth by US envoy Steve Witkoff which outlines options ranging from a limited hostage exchange and temporary ceasefire to a comprehensive deal that would include the release of all hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and the exile of its leaders. 'Even at this very moment, the negotiation team in Doha is working to exhaust every possibility for a deal – whether according to the (US special envoy Steve) Witkoff framework or as part of ending the fighting, which would include the release of all the hostages, the exile of Hamas terrorists, and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip," Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated. Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks come as Israel intensified its military operations in Gaza to increase pressure on Hamas to accept a temporary ceasefire that would secure the release of remaining Israeli hostages. However, Israel has maintained that such a truce would not necessarily signify the end of the war. Israel intensified airstrikes overnight, resulting in the deaths of at least 100 Palestinians, as it prepares for a potential ground offensive in parts of Gaza. 'We have at least 100 martyrs since overnight. Complete families were wiped off the civil registration record by Israeli bombardment," Gaza health ministry spokesperson Khalil Al-Deqran told Reuters. Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, insists that any ceasefire agreement must involve a complete Israeli military withdrawal and a clear pathway to ending the conflict. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 18, 2025, 20:31 IST
ILoveQatar.net
04-05-2025
- Politics
- ILoveQatar.net
Qatar strongly rejects inflammatory statements by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office
According to a report by Reuters, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office made statements against Qatar on 3 May 2025, to "stop playing both sides with its double talk and decide if it's on the side of civilization or if it's on the side of Hamas". Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the State of Qatar's firm rejection of the inflammatory remarks issued by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, describing them as lacking the most basic standards of political and moral responsibility. He stated that portraying the continued aggression on Gaza as a defense of "civilization" echoes the rhetoric of regimes throughout history that have used false narratives to justify crimes against innocent civilians. In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Al Ansari explained that since the outbreak of the war on the Gaza Strip, the State of Qatar has worked in close coordination with its partners to support mediation efforts aimed at ending the fighting, protecting civilians, and securing the release of hostages and detainees. He added, "A legitimate question must be raised: were no fewer than 138 hostages released through so-called 'just' military operations, or through the very mediation that is now being unjustly criticized and undermined?" He further noted, "Meanwhile, the Palestinian people in Gaza are enduring one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of modern times—marked by a suffocating blockade, systematic starvation, denial of medicine and shelter, and the use of humanitarian aid as a tool of political coercion. Is this truly the model of 'civilization' being promoted?" Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari's statement on X: The State of Qatar firmly rejects the inflammatory statements issued by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, which fall far short of the most basic standards of political and moral responsibility. Portraying the ongoing aggression against Gaza as a defense of 'civilization'… — د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) May 3, 2025 The statement reads: The State of Qatar firmly rejects the inflammatory statements issued by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, which fall far short of the most basic standards of political and moral responsibility. Portraying the ongoing aggression against Gaza as a defense of 'civilization' echoes the rhetoric of regimes throughout history that have used false narratives to justify crimes against innocent civilians. Since the outbreak of the war, the State of Qatar working in close coordination with its partners has made every effort to support mediation aimed at ending the fighting, protecting civilians, and securing the release of hostages. A legitimate question must be raised: Were the releases of no fewer than 138 hostages achieved through so called 'just' military operations, or through the very mediation that is now being unjustly criticized and undermined? Meanwhile, the Palestinian people in Gaza are enduring one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of modern times marked by a suffocating blockade, systematic starvation, denial of medicine and shelter, and the use of humanitarian aid as a tool of political coercion. Is this truly the model of 'civilization' being promoted? The State of Qatar's principled foreign policy is not at odds with its role as a credible and impartial mediator. Campaigns of distortion and political pressure will not deter Qatar from standing with oppressed peoples, defending the rights of civilians regardless of background, and upholding international law without selectivity or exception. The State of Qatar continues to work closely with both the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America to secure an immediate ceasefire, ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid, and advance a just and lasting peace one grounded in justice and humanity, not violence and double standards. The State of Qatar reaffirms its unwavering belief that genuine peace can only be achieved through a comprehensive and just settlement based on international legitimacy one that ends the occupation and guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the establishment of an independent state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Sources: Reuters, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari Cover image credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
National News
16-03-2025
- Politics
- National News
Israel announces that negotiators in Egypt are discussing the issue of hostages in Gaza
NNA - The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced on Sunday that Israeli negotiators are in Egypt, where they are discussing the issue of the hostages held by Hamas with Egyptian mediators, as part of discussions on maintaining the truce in Gaza. The office said, the day after Israel announced the continuation of talks with Hamas, "Based on instructions from Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu, representatives of the negotiating team are currently meeting with senior Egyptian officials to discuss the hostage issue."
