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Leaders
4 days ago
- Politics
- Leaders
Israel Accepts Witkoff's New Gaza Ceasefire Proposal: Netanyahu
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Thursday said that Israel accepted the ceasefire framework proposed by the US Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, according to Israeli media reports. Israel Accepts Witkoff's Proposal Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu said that Israel is ready to move forward with Witkoff's framework for a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release deal. Netanyahu's remarks came as he spoke with the families of hostages who were killed but their bodies still held by Hamas, according to Israeli website Ynet News. The White House expressed optimism that Witkoff's new proposal could bridge the gaps between Hamas and Israel, leading to a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, Axios reported citing three sources involved in the negotiations. New Framework On Wednesday, Hamas said in a statement that it had reached an agreement with the US Special Envoy on a framework that 'ensures a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the flow of humanitarian aid, and a professional committee assuming control of the Strip.' According to Hamas' statement, the framework involved the release of 10 Israeli hostages and a number of bodies, in exchange for releasing an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, in addition to guarantees from the mediators. Witkoff's proposed deal included a 60-day temporary ceasefire before starting negotiations for a comprehensive agreement to end the war. Hamas Concerns Later, Witkoff said he had submitted a 'new term sheet' to the US President, Donald Trump, for approval. The key changes in the new draft addressed the guarantees Hamas requested to ensure that the temporary truce would lead to a permanent ceasefire, an Israeli official told Axios. On its part, Hamas confirmed that it had received the new proposal from mediators and was studying it. However, Axios reporter, Barak Ravid, said that Hamas is not happy with the new proposal as 'it does not include a clear US guarantee that the temporary ceasefire will lead to a permanent ceasefire,' he quoted a source familiar with the matter. Short link : Post Views: 52
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Guest house in Japan under fire for asking Israeli guests about war crimes
A guesthouse in Japan says it is under pressure from local authorities to change a policy asking guests to declare that they have never committed war crimes, following complaints by Israel's ambassador. Israeli Ambassador Gilad Cohen has accused the WIND VILLA guest house in Kyoto of discrimination following an incident in April in which an Israeli tourist was asked to sign a pledge stating he had never 'been involved in any war crimes that violate humanitarian and international law'. In a post on X over the weekend, Cohen described the request as a 'blatant act of discrimination against Israeli citizens and an unacceptable attempt to equate them with war criminals'. 'I call on the Kyoto City authorities to address this case swiftly,' Cohen said. 'We trust that the Japanese authorities will continue to uphold the values of hospitality and respect that Japan is so well known for – and ensure all visitors feel welcome and safe.' WIND VILLA owner Ace Kishi said in an interview that he has no plans to change the policy following an investigation by Kyoto city authorities and a rebuke from the Israeli envoy. Kishi said he began asking guests to sign the pledge about six months ago in response to world events. 'I was really concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israeli attacks on Gaza,' Kishi told Al Jazeera. 'I just wanted to take some measures for our safety, and for guest safety, as well, and to express our disagreement with war crimes and international violations.' Kishi said only four people have signed the pledge so far – three Israelis and one Russian. The Israeli tourist in April was the first to take issue with the request, he said, although some guests were surprised by the document. 'Mostly, they have had no objection, they just looked a little confused,' Kishi said. 'The last one was quite confused and upset. But eventually he signed and said he hadn't committed any war crimes.' In an account of his interaction with the Israeli tourist posted on X last month, Kishi described the man as an otherwise pleasant guest and admitted to feeling a 'little sorry for him'. 'The pledge thing made us pretty awkward, but he still greeted me every time we met,' Kishi wrote. 'He even held the door open for me while I was carrying my luggage. But he believed that what Israel was doing was absolutely right and thought that I was brainwashed for criticising it.' The Israeli tourist, who has not been named, shared a similar version of events with an Israeli news outlet following his trip to Kyoto – although the Israeli report suggested the pledge was a 'condition for check-in'. 'In the end, I decided to sign it because I have nothing to hide,' the guest was quoted as telling Ynet News, which said the tourist had served as a combat medic in the navy reserves. 'The statement is true – I did not commit any war crimes, and Israeli soldiers do not commit war crimes. I signed because I didn't want to create problems, and because this form means nothing,' he was quoted as saying. Following complaints from Cohen and the Israeli embassy, Kyoto tourism authorities visited the guest house several times to carry out an investigation, Kishi said. 'At least the authorities, both from the city and the Japanese government, don't think it's a violation of the Hotel Act,' Kishi said, referring to the Japanese law governing public accommodations. 'They are just expressing their concerns and trying to convince us to change our measures. But it's beyond their authority, so it's very indirect.' Kishi said he has tweaked the wording of the pledge to state that it would not affect guests' eligibility to stay at WIND VILLA, to avoid further incidents. He also clarified in a public letter to Cohen that the pledge requires 'all guests whom our guesthouse identifies as potentially having been involved in war crimes to sign the form,' including those from Burundi, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Mali, Myanmar, Palestine, Russia, Syria, and Sudan. has suspended WIND VILLA's account since the April incident, although the Israeli guest used rival site to book his stay, according to Kishi. WIND VILLA's other accounts on booking sites, including continue to operate as normal, Kishi said. The Kyoto government and Israel's embassy in Tokyo did not reply to Al Jazeera's requests for comment. The Japan Times quoted a city official as saying WIND VILLA had not violated Japanese law, but the pledge was 'inappropriate'. told Al Jazeera that the company's mission 'is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, and we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind'. 'We have temporarily suspended this property so that we can investigate the matter further,' the spokesperson said. The WIND VILLA incident follows a similar occurrence in Kyoto last year, when a local hotel refused an Israeli man accommodation over his potential ties to Israel's actions in Gaza. The Kyoto hotel in question received verbal and written warnings from the city that it had acted illegally, according to Japan's Kyodo News. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told local media at the time that it was 'unacceptable' for any hotel to refuse accommodation because of a guest's nationality. 'We hope all visitors to Japan will be able to engage in various activities in Japan, feeling secure,' she told a news conference.
Leaders
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
Israel Calls Up Tens of Thousands of Reservists for Gaza Offensive Expansion
The Israeli military has begun sending call-up notices to tens of thousands of reservists amid speculations it was planning to expand its offensive in Gaza. The mobilization orders come as talks to achieve a ceasefire and release the remaining hostages in Gaza stall and Israel resumes its bombing campaign in the Strip which faces an imminent humanitarian catastrophe. Call-up Orders According to Israeli media reports, the military has started issuing tens of thousands of call-up orders for reservists for a potential expansion of operations in Gaza. This will mark the fifth or sixth deployment for many reserve brigades since the war began. The Israeli news website Ynet News reported that the reserve units will be deployed to Israel's northern border with Lebanon or the occupied West Bank to replace regular army units who will lead the new offensive in Gaza, expected to start in the coming days. In April, thousands of Israeli Air Force reservists and retirees, as well as ex-Mossad operatives and former and current armored corps soldiers and paratroopers signed letters criticizing the Israeli government for resuming the war in Gaza for 'merely political purposes and putting the lives of soldiers and hostages at risk for personal gains.' New Offensive Plan The Israeli cabinet will convene on Sunday to approve the offensive expansion plan, according to Israel's public broadcaster Kan 11. Israel's military Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, reportedly proposed a plan on Friday to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister, Israel Katz, to increase pressure on Hamas. The proposed plan involved evacuating Palestinians from northern and central Gaza before expanding operations in those areas. These tactics are similar to those Israel used earlier this year during its operation in the southern city of Rafah. Concerns over Hostages News regarding the offensive expansion raised concern among the families of the 59 hostages who remain in Gaza, reported CNN. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters warned on Saturday that 'any escalation in the fighting will put the hostages — both the living and the deceased — in immediate danger.' It added that the vast majority of Israeli people prioritizes the return of hostages. On Thursday, Netanyahu stated that defeating Hamas was more important than releasing the remaining hostages, sparking hostage families' outrage. Previously, he had given the two things the same priority as Israel's key goals in its war in Gaza. The ceasefire agreement, which took effect in January 2025, secured the release of most hostages. However, since the agreement collapsed in March, negotiations to release the remaining hostages stalled as Hamas insists on a permanent ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel demands the return of all hostages and the disarmament of Hamas. Diplomatic Brawl On Saturday, Netanyahu's office accused Qatari mediators of 'playing both sides' in the negotiations and decide which side it will take, remarks that could complicate the ongoing mediation efforts. On its part, Qatar firmly rejected Netanyahu's 'inflammatory' accusation, calling it a distortion of its diplomatic efforts. The Gulf State also accused Israel of using humanitarian aid as a 'tool of political coercion' as the Israeli total blockade on Gaza enters its third month. '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?' Qatar's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, wrote on X. Dire Conditions in Gaza Since the breakout of the Gaza war in October 2023, more than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Israel has killed at least 2,326 people since it resumed its military operations in the enclave on March 18, 2025, reported The Guardian. The war in Gaza has devastated the Strip, displaced its people, and caused dire humanitarian conditions, putting Palestinians in Gaza on the brink of famine. Aid agencies warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. On Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that the humanitarian response in Gaza is 'on the verge of total collapse,' urging immediate action to prevent chaos. Media reports suggest that Israel and the US are discussing a plan to resume aid delivery to Gaza under a new mechanism. The plan involves an international humanitarian foundation, private companies and compounds for distributing aid. However, humanitarian officials in Gaza raised concerns over the plan as 'impractical and unethical.' 'The current scheme just won't work unless there are a lot more distribution hubs and even then we cannot be a party to something that may drive massive and possibly permanent displacement within Gaza,' a senior humanitarian official told The Guardian. Short link : Post Views: 61
