Latest news with #US-sponsored
Egypt Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Hamas eyes hardline position in negotiations after Israel-US withdrawal from Doha talks, source says
Hamas is looking to harden its position in any further ceasefire negotiations after Israel and the US withdrew their teams from the Doha talks last week, according to a source close to the Hamas delegation. 'After the Israeli side withdrew from the negotiations, Hamas is considering reversing the flexibility it had shown regarding the timeline for releasing the 10 living Israelis captives,' the source said. A previous US-sponsored framework, included Hamas releasing 10 Israeli hostages and 18 deceased hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and Palestinians from Gaza detained since the war began. Under the proposed framework, eight of the hostages would be released on the first day of the 60-day ceasefire agreement; the other half would be released on the seventh day. 'Instead of releasing eight captives in the first day, the movement is now considering the option of spreading their release over the entire 60-day period,' the source added. The source said the group is also 'considering making amendments to the issues on the negotiating agendas related to ending the war which are scheduled to begin after the ceasefire takes effect.' An Egyptian official told CNN today that the group is 'now going to take a hardline position because the amount of food is decreasing and that puts pressure on them internally,' but did not provide further details. Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya blamed Israel and the US for stalling the ceasefire talks in a televised speech Sunday, saying that the starvation crisis meant there is 'no point in continuing negotiations' under current conditions. This post was updated to clarify the new proposed framework.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Iran's foreign minister says he survived assassination attempt during 12-day war with Israel
ISTANBUL: The Iranian foreign minister said on Sunday that he had survived an assassination attempt during the recent 12-day war with Israel, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported, citing local media. Asked in an interview on state television about whether he had been subjected to an assassination attempt, Abbas Araghchi said that a bomb had been placed outside his house. "But friends (security forces) took control of it," he said. Regarding the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last year, Araghchi said that a meeting was held in the presence of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei following the incident, where a consensus was reached on the necessity of responding to Israel. The top diplomat said that different opinions occurred among the Iranian officials on when and how to respond to Israel. "The army commanders believed that the attack should be carried out when we have full confidence in our ability to defend the country," Araghchi said. In response to a question on nuclear negotiations with the United States (US) despite opposition from the supreme leader, the foreign minister said that "the US practised a policy of maximum pressure and threatened to deploy military forces in the region." "At this point, the leader (Khamenei) stepped in and said that 'We will have negotiations, but indirectly.'" Talks between Iran and the US were being held through Omani mediators until Israel's surprise attack on Iran on June 13, which triggered a 12-day war, targeting military, nuclear, and civilian sites as well as senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Tehran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes, while the US bombed three Iranian nuclear sites. The conflict came to a halt under a US-sponsored ceasefire that took effect on June 24. — BERNAMA
New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Iranian president lightly injured in Israeli strike on top security meeting: report
ANKARA: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sustained minor leg injuries during an Israeli strike that targeted a meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council last month, Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing Fars News Agency. According to the news report on Saturday, the missile attack occurred on June 17 as top Iranian leaders, including the heads of the three branches of government, were meeting in a secured lower level of a building in western Tehran. The strike involved six projectiles that hit the entrances and exits of the building, an approach similar to an assassination attempt on Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, the news report stated. Officials managed to evacuate using a pre-planned emergency hatch, the agency reported, noting that Pezeshkian was "injured during the evacuation but was able to exit safely." The report also said Iranian authorities suspect a possible internal leak, citing the accuracy of the strike. The new agency criticised Western and Israeli-affiliated media outlets for ignoring a "blatant act of state terrorism" while condemning Iranian leaders' religious rulings against figures like US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A 12-day armed conflict between Israel and Iran erupted on June 13 after Tel Aviv launched airstrikes on Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian sites, killing at least 606 people and injuring 5,332, according to Iran's Health Ministry. The conflict came to a halt under a US-sponsored ceasefire that took effect on June 24. – Bernama-Anadolu
Saudi Gazette
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Netanyahu visits US as Trump puts pressure to agree Gaza ceasefire deal
WASHINGTON — After 21 months of war, there are growing hopes of a new Gaza ceasefire announcement as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets US President Donald Trump in Washington. Trump previously told reporters he had been "very firm" with Netanyahu about ending the conflict and that he thought "we'll have a deal" this week. "We are working to achieve the deal that has been discussed, under the conditions we have agreed," the veteran Israeli PM said before boarding his plane. "I believe that the conversation with President Trump can definitely help advance this outcome, which we all hope for." Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on a US-sponsored proposal for a 60-day ceasefire and hostage release deal resumed in Qatar on Sunday evening. However, it is unclear whether key differences that have consistently held up an agreement can be overcome. Only cautious optimism is being expressed by weary Palestinians living in dire conditions amid continuing daily Israeli bombardment, and the distressed families of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas."I don't wish for a truce but a complete stop to all war. Frankly, I'm afraid that after 60 days the war would restart again," says Nabil Abu Dayah, who fled from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza to Gaza City with his children and grandchildren."We got so tired of displacement, we got tired of thirst and hunger, from living in tents. When it comes to life's necessities, we have zero."On Saturday evening, large rallies took place urging Israel's government to seal a deal to return some 50 hostages from Gaza, up to 20 of whom are believed to be relatives questioned why the framework deal would not free all captives immediately."How does one survive under such conditions? I'm waiting for Evyatar to return and tell me himself," said Ilay David, whose younger brother, a musician, was filmed by Hamas in torment as he watched fellow hostages being released earlier this year during the last, two-month-long ceasefire."This is the time to save lives. This is the time to rescue the bodies from the threat of disappearance," Ilay told a crowd in Jerusalem."In the rapidly changing reality of the Middle East, this is the moment to sign a comprehensive agreement that will lead to the release of all the hostages, every single one, without exception."Netanyahu is visiting the White House for the third time since Trump returned to power nearly six months the leaders will be meeting for the first time since the US joined Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and then brokered a ceasefire between Israel and is a strong sense that the recent 12-day war has created more favourable circumstances to end the Gaza months of low popularity ratings, the Israeli PM has been bolstered by broad public support for the Iran offensive and analysts suggest he now has more leverage to agree to a peace deal over the strong objections of his far-right coalition partners, who want Israel to remain in control of is seen to have been further weakened by the strikes on Iran — a key regional patron — meaning it could also be more amenable to making concessions needed to reach an Trump is keen to move on to other priorities in the Middle include brokering border talks between Israel and Syria, returning to efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and completing unfinished business with Iran, involving possible negotiations on a new nuclear months, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have been deadlocked over one fundamental has been ready to commit to a temporary truce to return hostages but not an end to the war. Hamas has demanded a permanent cessation of hostilities in Gaza and a full pullout of Israeli latest proposal put to Hamas is said to include guarantees of Washington's commitment to the deal and to continued talks to reach a lasting ceasefire and the release of all the has been officially announced, but according to media reports the framework would see Hamas hand over 28 hostages — 10 alive and 18 dead — in five stages over 60 days without the troubling handover ceremonies it staged in the last would be a large surge in humanitarian aid entering the return of the first eight living hostages on the first day of the agreement, Israeli forces would withdraw from parts of the north. After one week, the army would leave parts of the Day 10, Hamas would outline which hostages remain alive and their condition, while Israel would give details about more than 2,000 Gazans arrested during the war who remain in "administrative detention" — a practice which allows the Israeli authorities to hold them without charge or seen before, large numbers of Palestinians would be released from Israeli jails in exchange for Trump has described this as the "final" truce proposal and said last week that Israel had accepted "the necessary conditions" to finalise Friday, Hamas said it had responded in a "positive spirit" but expressed some reservations.A Palestinian official said sticking points remained over humanitarian aid — with Hamas demanding an immediate end to operations by the controversial Israeli and American-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and a return to the UN and its partners overseeing all relief is also said to be questioning the timetable for Israeli troop withdrawals and operations of the Rafah crossing between southern Gaza and office stated on Saturday that the changes wanted by Hamas were "not acceptable" to prime minister has repeatedly said that Hamas must be disarmed, a demand the Islamist group has so far refused to Israel, there is growing opposition to the war in Gaza, with more than 20 soldiers killed in the past month, according to the Israeli military's chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, said last week that it was nearing the completion of its war goals and signalled that the government must decide whether to move ahead with a deal to bring home hostages or prepare for Israeli forces to re-establish military rule in indicate that two-thirds of Israelis support a ceasefire deal to bring home the Gaza, some residents express fears that the current wave of positivity is being manufactured to ease tensions during Netanyahu's US trip — rationalising that this happened in May as Trump prepared to visit Arab Gulf coming days will be critical politically and in humanitarian situation in Gaza has continued to deteriorate, with medical staff reporting acute malnutrition among UN says that with no fuel having entered in over four months, stockpiles are now virtually gone, threatening vital medical care, water supplies and launched its war in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 others being taken attacks have since killed more than 57,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The ministry's figures are quoted by the UN and others as the most reliable source of statistics available on casualties. — BBC
Observer
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Hamas: Ready to start ceasefire talks
GAZA CITY: Israel was considering its response on Saturday after Hamas said it was ready to start talks "immediately" on a US-sponsored proposal for a Gaza ceasefire. The security cabinet was expected to meet after the end of the Jewish sabbath at sundown to discuss Israel's next steps, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to head to Washington for talks on Monday with US President Donald Trump. Trump has been making a renewed push to end nearly 21 months of war in Gaza, where the civil defence agency said 35 people were killed in Israeli military operations on Saturday. "No decision has been made yet on that issue", an Israeli government official said when asked about Hamas's positive response to the latest ceasefire proposal. Hamas made its announcement late on Friday after holding consultations with other Palestinian factions. "The movement is ready to engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations on the mechanism to put in place" the US-backed truce proposal, the group said in a statement. Two Palestinian sources close to the discussions said that the proposal included a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and several bodies in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel. However, they said, the group was also demanding certain conditions for Israel's withdrawal, guarantees against a resumption of fighting during negotiations and the return of the UN-led aid distribution system. Hamas ally said it supported ceasefire talks, but demanded guarantees that Israel "will not resume its aggression" once hostages held in Gaza are freed. Trump, when asked about Hamas's response aboard Air Force One, said: "That's good. They haven't briefed me on it. We have to get it over with. We have to do something about Gaza". The war in Gaza began with Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked a massive Israeli offensive in the territory that aimed to destroy Hamas and bring home all the hostages seized by Palestinian militants. Two previous ceasefires mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States secured temporary halts in fighting and the return of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Of the 251 hostages taken by Palestinian militants during the October 2023 attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Efforts to broker a new truce have repeatedly failed, with the primary point of contention being Israel's rejection of Hamas's demand for guarantees that any new ceasefire will be lasting. Nearly 21 months of war have created dire humanitarian conditions for more than two million people in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has recently expanded its military operations. A US- and Israel-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, took the lead in food distribution in the territory in late May, when Israel partially lifted a more than two-month blockade on aid deliveries. The group said two of its US staff were wounded in an "attack" on one of its aid centres in southern Gaza on Saturday. SEE ALSO P6
