Latest news with #MohammedbinAbdulrahmanal-Thani
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Mediators present updated Gaza ceasefire proposal to Israel and Hamas, Axios reports, World News
WASHINGTON — Qatar, Egypt and the US presented Israel and Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas with an updated Gaza ceasefire proposal on Wednesday, Axios reported on Thursday (July 18), citing two sources. The two main updates in the latest proposal had to do with the scope of the Israeli military's withdrawal from Gaza during a ceasefire and the ratio of Palestinian prisoners to be released for each Israeli hostage, Axios reported. The Qatari prime minister is expected to meet with Hamas leaders in Doha on Saturday in an effort to get their agreement to the updated proposal, the report added. Israel previously insisted on maintaining a presence in a zone stretching 5km north of the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border and has now reduced that demand to 1.5km, closer to Hamas' demand that Israel withdraw to the same position as under the last ceasefire, Axios reported. US President Donald Trump met with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on Wednesday. Israeli and Hamas negotiators have been taking part in the latest round of ceasefire talks in Doha since July 6, discussing a US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire. A previous two-month ceasefire ended when Israeli strikes killed more than 400 Palestinians on March 18. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, Israeli tallies show. Gaza's health ministry says Israel's subsequent military assault has killed over 58,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza's entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations. [[nid:720297]]
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Qatar and US present updated Gaza ceasefire proposal to Israel, Hamas - War on Gaza
Qatar and the US presented an updated Gaza ceasefire and captive deal to Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, according to two sources familiar with the talks, speaking to US news outlet Axios. The revised proposal calls for a 60-day ceasefire in Israel's ongoing war on Gaza, the release of 10 live captives and the remains of 18 deceased captives, the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, and a substantial increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza. Key changes Negotiators from Israel and Hamas have made progress over the past 10 days of talks in Doha, with the updated proposal incorporating two main changes: Israel's military withdrawal and the ratio of Palestinian prisoners to captives to be released. According to Axios, Israel has made significant concessions regarding its military presence. While initially insisting on a 5km buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border, Israel has now agreed to reduce it to 1.5km. Additionally, the Israeli army will maintain a 1km perimeter along other parts of Gaza's border. Israeli officials noted that while the revised prisoner release ratio has been adjusted slightly, these changes are unlikely to derail the talks. However, the names of the prisoners to be released still need to be finalised. Humanitarian aid A key sticking point in the negotiations has been the delivery of humanitarian aid. Hamas has insisted that aid not be routed through the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Israeli officials say that will be the de facto result of Israel agreeing to withdraw from most parts of southern Gaza where the aid centres are located. Next steps Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani is expected to meet with Hamas leaders in Doha on Saturday to seek their approval of the updated proposal. Qatar's mediators believe that Israel's concessions on military withdrawal could pave the way for a deal. However, Hamas may have additional reservations, but not so significant that they would be a deal-breaker, one source familiar with the negotiations told Axios. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Gaza mediators present updated offer, hope for ceasefire and hostage deal soon
Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. presented Israel and Hamas with an updated Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal proposal on Wednesday, two sources with direct knowledge tell Axios. The mediators believe recent concessions from Israel, which are incorporated into the updated proposal, could enable the parties to reach a deal soon, the sources say. Why it matters: The deal under negotiation involves a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, the release of 10 live hostages and the remains of 18 deceased hostages, the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, and a massive increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza. President Trump wants to use the 60-day ceasefire to negotiate a broader deal to end the war, including a new governance structure that excludes Hamas. Driving the news: Negotiators from Hamas and Israel have been narrowing the remaining gaps in talks held in Doha over the past 10 days, Israeli officials and sources with knowledge of the discussions say. Trump met Wednesday at the White House with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and discussed the Gaza deal among other issues, sources say. While talks repeatedly broke down over the last four months since the previous ceasefire collapsed, the mediators currently feel that the gaps between the sides are bridgeable. Behind the scenes: The Qataris pulled together all of the progress made over the last 10 days into a new proposal, which was presented jointly with the U.S. and Egypt to make clear to the parties that all three back it. The two main updates had to do with the scope of the Israel Defense Forces' withdrawal from Gaza during the ceasefire and the ratio of Palestinian prisoners to be released for each hostage. Zoom in: Israel has made significant concessions about the amount of territory its military will continue holding during the ceasefire, according to Israeli officials and sources familiar with the talks. Israel had previously insisted on maintaining a presence in a zone stretching 5km north of the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza–Egypt border. Israel has reduced that demand to 1.5km, much closer to Hamas' demand that Israel withdraw to the same position as under the last ceasefire. Israel also agreed to keep the IDF in a perimeter about 1km wide along other parts of the border with Gaza, much closer to Hamas' position. The updated proposal incudes minor adjustments on the ratio of Palestinian prisoners to Israeli hostages to be released. Previous proposals involved the release of 125 Palestinians serving life sentences for killing Israelis and 1,111 Palestinians who were arrested by the IDF in Gaza after Oct. 7. An Israeli official said the adjustments in the updated proposal aren't expected to be a problem in the negotiations. However, the parties would still have to negotiate the names of the prisoners. Another sticking point that's now close to being resolved is the delivery of aid into Gaza, the sources say. Hamas demanded that aid not be delivered through the U.S. and Israel-back Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) during the ceasefire. Israeli officials say that will be the de facto result of Israel agreeing to withdraw from most parts of southern Gaza where the aid centers are located. Israeli officials said a separate track of negotiations has been taking place in Egypt in recent days to determine how Egypt can play a role in delivering aid during the ceasefire so it won't be seized by Hamas. What to watch: The Qatari prime minister is expected to meet with Hamas leaders in Doha on Saturday in an effort to get their agreement to the updated proposal.
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Trump to meet Qatar's PM to discuss Gaza ceasefire deal, Axios reports
US President Donald Trump will meet with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on Wednesday to discuss negotiations over a Gaza ceasefire deal, Axios reporter Barak Ravid posted on X. Israeli and Hamas negotiators have been taking part in the latest round of ceasefire talks in Doha since July 6, discussing a US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire that envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the conflict. Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday he was 'hopeful' about the ceasefire negotiations under way in Qatar, a key mediator between the two sides. US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators have been working to secure an agreement. However, Israel and Hamas are divided over the extent of an eventual Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel. Israel said Hamas killed 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages.
Middle East Eye
5 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Egypt and Qatar ramp up efforts for ceasefire agreement in Gaza
Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani have been involved in talks to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported on Monday.
