Latest news with #U.S-brokered
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Hamas Pushes Back on Hopes of Imminent Ceasefire Deal: 'No Progress'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. There is "no progress" toward a deal in Gaza, a Hamas source tells Newsweek, despite President Donald Trump insisting U.S.-mediated ceasefire discussions between Hamas and Israel were "going along very well." Renewed negotiations kicked off over the weekend in Doha, with mediators speaking separately to the Palestinian militant group and Israeli officials. The first stage of a U.S-brokered ceasefire deal — agreed in January — fell apart in March, as negotiators failed to nail down a next phase and the Israeli military resumed its offensive in Gaza. The U.S., Qatar and Egypt have been steering renewed talks. Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said on Tuesday it was "too early" to offer any impressions on the progress of the negotiations. Israeli sources have indicated time would be needed to shuffle toward an accord. Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on June 28, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on June 28, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Photo by BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images Trump has struck a far more optimistic tone, saying as recently as Sunday that there was a "good chance" of reaching a hostage deal in the coming days, after months of fruitless talks and stalled progress. "I think we're close to a deal on Gaza—we could have it this week," Trump told reporters as he headed to Washington on Sunday. In fresh remarks on Monday, the president said Hamas officials "want to have that ceasefire." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, departing Israel for the U.S. on Sunday, said he had "dispatched a team to the negotiations with clear instructions." An unnamed Palestinian official told the BBC the "Israeli delegation simply came to listen and has no real mandate to negotiate." "We are working to achieve the much discussed deal, on the conditions that we have agreed to," Netanyahu told reporters. Trump said on July 1 Israel had agreed to "the necessary conditions" for finalizing a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza after a "long and productive meeting" with U.S. officials. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, hands President Donald Trump a folder during a meeting in the Blue Room of the White House, Monday, July 7, 2025, in Washington. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, hands President Donald Trump a folder during a meeting in the Blue Room of the White House, Monday, July 7, 2025, in Washington. Associated Press Hamas said later in the week it had returned a "positive" response to the latest iteration of a hostage deal and ceasefire proposal. Netanyahu's office then said on Saturday Hamas had requested "unacceptable" changes to the proposal formulated by Qatar. The Hamas source told Newsweek that Israel wished to keep in place the current system for distributing humanitarian aid in the besieged Strip. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a controversial U.S.-backed aid distribution initiative supported by Israel, is currently the primary method for Palestinians in devastated Gaza to access supplies in designated spots after Israel lifted its aid blockade in mid-May. But the GHF program has drawn massive crowds to its aid distribution sites, which Israeli troops have fired on multiple times, according to witnesses, humanitarian groups and visual evidence published by the Washington Post. The United Nations has said at least 613 Palestinians have been killed close to the foundation's sites or around humanitarian convoys. The Associated Press reported on Sunday that the document submitted by mediators to Hamas outlined a 60-day ceasefire proposal, during which Israel would pull back to a buffer zone on the Gaza border with Israel and Egypt. Aid would pour into Gaza as Hamas turned over 10 living and 18 deceased hostages to Israel, according to the report. The Hamas source said Israel wants to retain control of the Morag axis, a strip of land between the southern Gazan cities of Rafah and Khan Younis. Israel has not offered a guarantee that the war would end after 60 days, the source said. That has been a sticking point for Hamas negotiators. Netanyahu has long maintained Israel needs "complete victory" over the Palestinian group before stopping the war.
Newsweek
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Donald Trump Says He is Close to Hostage Deal With Hamas: What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump said on Sunday there was a "good chance" of negotiators reaching a hostage deal in Gaza in the coming days, after months of fruitless talks and stalled progress on the Republican's peacemaker pledge. Why It Matters The first stage of a U.S-brokered ceasefire deal agreed in January fell apart in March, as negotiators failed to nail down a second stage of the agreement and Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza. What To Know "I think we're close to a deal on Gaza—we could have it this week," Trump told reporters as he headed to Washington on Sunday. There is a "good chance" a deal with Palestinian militant group Hamas could be reached in the "coming week," Trump said. "We've gotten a lot of the hostages out, but pertaining to the remaining hostages, quite a few of them will be coming out." President Donald Trump listens as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. President Donald Trump listens as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Evan Vucci A total of 50 hostages remain in the Gaza Strip of the 251 people abducted by Hamas during its unprecedented October 7 attacks in 2023—surprise assaults on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people. Israeli authorities say 20 of the hostages are still alive. Israel, following the October 7 attacks, launched a full-scale war in Gaza that has devastated the slip of territory and its roughly 2 million inhabitants. More than 57,000 people have been killed in Gaza since fall 2023, according to the Hamas-run health authorities. This figure does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Aid organizations, as well as governments that have supported Israel, have long warned of humanitarian disaster stalking Palestinians in Gaza. "The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable," the U.K, Canada and France said in a joint statement shortly after Israel launched what it described as "extensive" new operations in the strip in May. The U.S. President has repeatedly said he believes a deal could be on the horizon, including in remarks in late June, when Trump suggested a deal could materialize "within the next week." A person with knowledge of the discussions, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told Newsweek in late June an "agreement is very possible," adding Trump was trying to convince Netanyahu that "the time is right" to ink a deal. Israeli media reported at the time that officials involved in Israel's negotiations on a hostage deal and a ceasefire for Gaza did not share Trump's optimism on how quickly agreements could be signed. Newsweek has reached out to Hamas for comment. Netanyahu, leaving for Washington on Sunday, called his third trip to the White House during Trump's second term a "very important visit." The most recent round of indirect talks on a ceasefire wrapped up without a breakthrough, the BBC reported on Sunday, citing a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations. Fresh conversations are expected to start up on Monday, according to the report. Newsweek was not able to verify this report. Ceasefire and hostage talks have largely been mediated by the U.S, Qatar and Egypt. Netanyahu said on Sunday he had "dispatched a team to the negotiations with clear instructions." "We are working to achieve the much discussed deal, on the conditions that we have agreed to," Netanyahu said. Trump said on July 1 Israel had agreed to "the necessary conditions" for finalizing a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza after a "long and productive meeting" with U.S. officials. Hamas said later in the week it had returned a "positive" response to the latest iteration of a hostage deal and ceasefire proposal. Netanyahu's office on Saturday said Hamas had requested "unacceptable" changes to the proposal formulated by Qatar. The Associated Press reported on Sunday that the document submitted by mediators to Hamas outlined a 60-day ceasefire proposal, during which Israel would pull back to a buffer zone on the Gaza border. Aid would pour into Gaza as Hamas turns 10 living and 18 deceased hostages to Israel, according to the report. "I believe that the conversation with President Trump can definitely help advance that result which we are all hoping for," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu is set to meet with senior Trump officials, Democrat and Republican members of Congress, and other "key figures," the Israeli leader said. What People Are Saying "We have never had such a friend in the White House," Netanyahu said as he departed for the U.S. from Israel on Sunday. What Happens Next Netanyahu is expected to meet with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio later on Monday.
Associated Press
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Putin suggests putting Ukraine under UN-sponsored external governance
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Friday to temporarily put Ukraine under external governance as part of efforts to reach a peaceful settlement, in remarks that reflected the Kremlin leader's determination to achieve his war goals. In televised remarks broadcast early Friday, Putin reaffirmed his claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal. Under Ukraine's constitution it is illegal for the country to hold national elections while it's under martial law. Putin claimed that any agreement that is signed with the current Ukrainian government could be challenged by its successors and said new elections could be held under external governance. 'Under the auspices of the United Nations, with the United States, even with European countries, and, of course, with our partners and friends, we could discuss the possibility of introduction of temporary governance in Ukraine,' Putin said. He added that it would allow the country to 'hold democratic elections, to bring to power a viable government that enjoys the trust of the people, and then begin negotiations with them on a peace treaty.' He said such external governance is just 'one of the options,' without elaborating. Zelenskyy dismissed Putin's suggestions, describing them as a 'reason not to end the war.' 'He is afraid of negotiations with Ukraine,' said Zelenskyy during a briefing with journalists Friday. 'He is afraid of negotiations with me personally, and by excluding Ukraine's (government), he is suggesting that Ukraine is not an independent actor for him.' 'They're playing for time' Putin's remarks came hours after the conclusion of a summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron that considered plans to deploy troops to Ukraine to cement an eventual peace deal. Macron said 'several' other nations want to be part of the force alongside France and Britain. Russia has warned it wouldn't accept any troops from NATO members as part of a prospective peacekeeping force. Macron and other participants of the Paris summit on Thursday accused Russia of only pretending to want a negotiated settlement. 'They are playing games and they're playing for time,' said U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Zelenskyy hailed the outcome of the meeting, saying in Friday's statement that 'Europe definitely knows how to defend itself, and we are working together to ensure greater security for our country and all European nations.' Drone attacks continue Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a tentative U.S-brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure but both sides have different views on when the deal to halt strikes came into effect. They have accused each other of violations, underscoring the challenges to negotiating a broader peace. Zelenskyy said in the Friday briefing that it's also unclear how the ceasefire should be monitored. 'Who verifies it? Who is monitoring?' he said, adding that the American side said that it would hold consultations with its own team and other countries regarding their readiness to conduct monitoring. 'I don't know the results of these conversations ... we have told them that it will not work without monitoring.' Russia launched 163 drones at Ukraine late Thursday, according to the Ukrainian air force, which said that 89 of them were downed and 51 more jammed. The drones damaged multiple residential buildings and injured a 19-year-old in Zaporizhzhia, regional head Ivan Fedorov said. Damage to buildings and infrastructure facilities was also reported by authorities in another five regions. Ukraine's state-run gas company, Naftogaz, said Friday that its facilities came under Russian fire. The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces struck a gas metering station in Sudzha in the Kursk region with U.S.-made HIMARS rockets, completely destroying the facility. It said another Ukrainian strike on an energy facility in Russia's Bryansk region led to a power cutoff, and added that air defenses downed 19 Ukrainian drones that attempted to strike an oil refinery in Saratov. The ministry said the strikes show that Kyiv's pledge of adherence to a halt on strikes on energy facilities was just 'another ruse by Zelenskyy to prevent the collapse of Ukrainian defenses and to restore military potential with the help of European allies.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a conference call with reporters that Russia will continue sticking to the halt on strikes on energy facilities but reserves the right to opt out of the deal if violations continue. Ukraine's military rejected Russia's claims of Ukrainian strikes on energy facilities as fake, aimed at 'discrediting Ukraine' and its diplomatic efforts. The General Staff said that its army is 'strictly adhering to the agreements,' emphasizing that the military only has struck Russia's military targets. It also accused Russia of striking energy infrastructure in the city of Kherson and Poltava region of Ukraine over the last 24 hours. 'The Russian tactic of dragging out the war remains unchanged,' Ukraine's General Staff said. Russia's battlefield gains Russian troops have made slow but steady gains in several sectors of the more than 1,000-kilometer (over 620-mile) frontline, and Zelenskyy warned Thursday that Russia was trying to drag out talks in preparation for bigger offensives. Putin declared in overnight remarks that the Russian troops have 'gained steam' and 'are holding strategic initiative all along the line of contact.' He noted that Russia is open to a peaceful settlement, but emphasized the need to 'remove root causes that led to the current situation.' Zelenskyy described the situation on the battlefield as 'complicated' but under control. He also confirmed unofficial reports on social media about the presence of Ukrainian troops in Russia's Bryansk region, which borders Kursk in the north. In recent weeks, Ukraine has lost a significant amount of ground in the Kursk region, but it is still present there, according to officials. The president said the Ukrainian army had taken steps near the Kursk region to prevent Russians from launching an offensive in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv and southern Zaporizhzhia regions.
Arab News
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Putin suggests putting Ukraine under UN-sponsored external governance, boasts battlefield gains
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Friday to put Ukraine under external governance under the UN aegis as part of efforts to reach a peaceful settlement, a blustery statement that reflected the Kremlin leader's determination to achieve his war goals. Speaking to the crew of a Russian nuclear submarine in televised remarks broadcast early Friday, Putin reaffirmed his claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal. Under Ukraine's constitution it is illegal for the country to hold national elections while it's under martial law. Putin claimed that any agreement that is signed with the current Ukrainian government could be challenged by its successors and said new elections could be held under external governance. 'Under the auspices of the United Nations, with the United States, even with European countries, and, of course, with our partners and friends, we could discuss the possibility of introduction of temporary governance in Ukraine,' Putin said, adding that it would allow the country to 'hold democratic elections, to bring to power a viable government that enjoys the trust of the people, and then begin negotiations with them on a peace treaty.' He added that such external governance is just 'one of the options,' without elaborating. 'They're playing for time' Putin's remarks came hours after the conclusion of a summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron that considered plans to deploy troops to Ukraine to cement an eventual peace deal. Macron said 'several' other nations want to be part of the force alongside France and Britain. Russia has warned it wouldn't accept any troops from NATO members as part of a prospective peacekeeping force. Macron and other participants of the Paris summit on Thursday accused Russia of only pretending to want a negotiated settlement. 'They are playing games and they're playing for time,' said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 'We can't let them drag this out while they continue prosecuting their illegal invasion.' Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a tentative U.S-brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure, but quickly accused each other of violations, underscoring the challenges to negotiating a broader peace. Drone attacks continue Russia launched 163 strike and decoy drones at Ukraine late Thursday, according to the Ukrainian air force, which said that 89 of them were downed and 51 more jammed. The drones damaged multiple residential buildings and injured a 19-year-old in Zaporizhzhia, regional head Ivan Fedorov said. In Poltava, drones damaged warehouses, administrative building, and a high-voltage transformer, according to regional head Volodymyr Kohut. Damage to buildings and infrastructure facilities was also reported by the authorities in the Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Mykolaiv regions. Ukraine's state-run gas company, Naftogaz, said Friday that its facilities came under Russian fire without specifying its time and location. The Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian forces struck a gas metering station in Sudzha in the Kursk region with US-made HIMARS rockets, completely destroying the facility. It said another Ukrainian strike on an energy facility in Russia's Bryansk region led to a power cutoff, and added that air defenses downed 19 Ukrainian drones that attempted to strike an oil refinery in Saratov. The ministry said the continuing strikes show that Kyiv's pledge of adherence to a US-proposed halt on strikes on energy facilities was just 'another ruse by Zelensky to prevent the collapse of Ukrainian defenses and to restore military potential with the help of European allies.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy assets was a sign that Zelensky can't control his military. 'The Ukrainian armed forces aren't following orders from the country's leadership and are continuing attempts to strike Russia's energy infrastructure,' Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. He said that Russia will continue sticking to the halt on strikes on energy facilities but reserves the right to opt out of the deal if violations continue. 'Strictly adhering to agreements' Ukraine's military rejected Russia's claims of Ukrainian strikes on energy facilities as fake, aimed at 'discrediting Ukraine and the diplomatic efforts of Ukraine and its partners.' 'We emphasize that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are strictly adhering to the agreements reached with partners to stop strikes on energy facilities,' the General Staff said, emphasizing that the military only has struck Russia's military targets. It also accused Russia of violating the 'energy ceasefire,' saying that it has struck energy infrastructure in the city of Kherson and Poltava region of Ukraine over the last 24 hours. 'The Russian tactic of dragging out the war remains unchanged,' Ukraine's General Staff said. While Ukraine has agreed to a full, 30-day ceasefire that US President Donald Trump has proposed, Putin has made a complete ceasefire conditional on a halt of arms supplies to Kyiv and a suspension of Ukraine's military mobilization — demands rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies. Russia's battlefield gains Russian troops have made slow but steady gains in several sectors of the more than 1,000-kilometer (over 620-mile) frontline, and Zelensky warned Thursday that Russia was trying to drag out talks in preparation for bigger offensives. Putin declared in overnight remarks that the Russian troops have 'gained steam' and 'are holding strategic initiative all along the line of contact.' He noted that Russia is open to a peaceful settlement, but emphasized the need to 'remove root causes that led to the current situation.' 'We certainly need to ensure Russia's security for a long historic perspective,' he said. Putin has demanded that Kyiv withdraw its forces from the four regions Moscow has partially seized. He also wants Ukraine to renounce joining NATO, sharply cut its army and legally protect Russian language and culture to keep the country in Moscow's orbit. Russian officials also have said that any prospective peace deal should involve unfreezing Russian assets in the West and lifting other US and European Union sanctions. The Trump administration has said it would consider potential sanctions relief.
Chicago Tribune
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Putin suggests putting Ukraine under UN-sponsored external governance, boasts battlefield gains
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Friday to put Ukraine under external governance under the U.N. aegis as part of efforts to reach a peaceful settlement, a blustery statement that reflected the Kremlin leader's determination to achieve his war goals. Speaking to the crew of a Russian nuclear submarine in televised remarks broadcast early Friday, Putin reaffirmed his claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal. Under Ukraine's constitution it is illegal for the country to hold national elections while it's under martial law. Putin claimed that any agreement that is signed with the current Ukrainian government could be challenged by its successors and said new elections could be held under external governance. 'Under the auspices of the United Nations, with the United States, even with European countries, and, of course, with our partners and friends, we could discuss the possibility of introduction of temporary governance in Ukraine,' Putin said, adding that it would allow the country to 'hold democratic elections, to bring to power a viable government that enjoys the trust of the people, and then begin negotiations with them on a peace treaty.' He added that such external governance is just 'one of the options,' without elaborating. 'They're playing for time' Putin's remarks came hours after the conclusion of a summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron that considered plans to deploy troops to Ukraine to cement an eventual peace deal. Macron said 'several' other nations want to be part of the force alongside France and Britain. Russia has warned it wouldn't accept any troops from NATO members as part of a prospective peacekeeping force. Macron and other participants of the Paris summit on Thursday accused Russia of only pretending to want a negotiated settlement. 'They are playing games and they're playing for time,' said U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 'We can't let them drag this out while they continue prosecuting their illegal invasion.' Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a tentative U.S-brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure, but quickly accused each other of violations, underscoring the challenges to negotiating a broader peace. Drone attacks continue Russia launched 163 strike and decoy drones at Ukraine late Thursday, according to the Ukrainian air force, which said that 89 of them were downed and 51 more jammed. The drones damaged multiple residential buildings and injured a 19-year-old in Zaporizhzhia, regional head Ivan Fedorov said. In Poltava, drones damaged warehouses, administrative building, and a high-voltage transformer, according to regional head Volodymyr Kohut. Damage to buildings and infrastructure facilities was also reported by the authorities in the Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Mykolaiv regions. Ukraine's state-run gas company, Naftogaz, said Friday that its facilities came under Russian fire without specifying its time and location. The Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian forces struck a gas metering station in Sudzha in the Kursk region with U.S.-made HIMARS rockets, completely destroying the facility. It said another Ukrainian strike on an energy facility in Russia's Bryansk region led to a power cutoff, and added that air defenses downed 19 Ukrainian drones that attempted to strike an oil refinery in Saratov. The ministry said the continuing strikes show that Kyiv's pledge of adherence to a U.S.-proposed halt on strikes on energy facilities was just 'another ruse by Zelenskyy to prevent the collapse of Ukrainian defenses and to restore military potential with the help of European allies.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy assets was a sign that Zelenskyy can't control his military. 'The Ukrainian armed forces aren't following orders from the country's leadership and are continuing attempts to strike Russia's energy infrastructure,' Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. He said that Russia will continue sticking to the halt on strikes on energy facilities but reserves the right to opt out of the deal if violations continue. 'Strictly adhering to agreements' Ukraine's military rejected Russia's claims of Ukrainian strikes on energy facilities as fake, aimed at 'discrediting Ukraine and the diplomatic efforts of Ukraine and its partners.' 'We emphasize that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are strictly adhering to the agreements reached with partners to stop strikes on energy facilities,' the General Staff said, emphasizing that the military only has struck Russia's military targets. It also accused Russia of violating the 'energy ceasefire,' saying that it has struck energy infrastructure in the city of Kherson and Poltava region of Ukraine over the last 24 hours. 'The Russian tactic of dragging out the war remains unchanged,' Ukraine's General Staff said. While Ukraine has agreed to a full, 30-day ceasefire that U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed, Putin has made a complete ceasefire conditional on a halt of arms supplies to Kyiv and a suspension of Ukraine's military mobilization — demands rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies. Russia's battlefield gains Russian troops have made slow but steady gains in several sectors of the more than 1,000-kilometer (over 620-mile) frontline, and Zelenskyy warned Thursday that Russia was trying to drag out talks in preparation for bigger offensives. Putin declared in overnight remarks that the Russian troops have 'gained steam' and 'are holding strategic initiative all along the line of contact.' He noted that Russia is open to a peaceful settlement, but emphasized the need to 'remove root causes that led to the current situation.' 'We certainly need to ensure Russia's security for a long historic perspective,' he said. Putin has demanded that Kyiv withdraw its forces from the four regions Moscow has partially seized. He also wants Ukraine to renounce joining NATO, sharply cut its army and legally protect Russian language and culture to keep the country in Moscow's orbit. Russian officials also have said that any prospective peace deal should involve unfreezing Russian assets in the West and lifting other U.S. and European Union sanctions. The Trump administration has said it would consider potential sanctions relief.
