Latest news with #prisoner exchange
LBCI
2 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Israel approves daily humanitarian truce in Gaza amid growing international pressure
Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian Facing unprecedented international pressure to halt the war and warnings from security and military officials about the impact of spreading images of killing and starvation among Gaza's children, the Israeli prime minister approved a daily humanitarian truce in Gaza from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. This decision was seen by some ministers as a concession to Hamas. Meanwhile, the prisoner exchange deal — expected to mark the beginning of the end of the war — still faces many complexities and obstacles. In response to the stalling of the prisoner deal, voices of soldiers refusing to serve in Gaza have grown louder. Calls have also emerged going beyond the demand for an immediate and comprehensive prisoner exchange, reaching toward ending the suffering of Gaza's people and stopping the 'war of starvation.' Three hundred forty-one academics signed a document calling for an immediate end to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and for allowing humanitarian aid to enter. They made a striking demand for what they called setting ethical limits for the army. This sparked widespread criticism after military officials confirmed that artillery fire would not stop in Gaza. After Hamas announced its readiness to show flexibility in the prisoner exchange negotiations, some expected Israel's permission for the United Arab Emirates to prepare to build a water pipeline to Gaza to mark a turning point in the war, which will enter its third year in three months.
Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Ukraine updates: Third round of talks ends in Istanbul
According to media reports, the Ukrainian and Russian delegations concluded their negotiations in Istanbul by agreeing to carry out another prisoner exchange. The Russian state news agency TASS reported that the talks lasted around 40 minutes. The negotiation team leaders from Ukraine and Russia are in one-on-one talks in Istanbul, news agencies have reported. Russia's Vladimir Medinsky and Ukraine's Rustem Umerov reportedly met ahead of a third round of peace talks. Russia says agreed with Ukraine to swap 1,200 POW each Moscow and Kyiv have agreed to exchange 1,200 prisoners of war each during peace talks in Istanbul, a Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said after the talks in Istanbul. In addition to the POW exchange, Russia also offered to hand Ukraine the bodies of 3,000 killed soldiers, the negotiator added. "Continuing the exchange of prisoners of war, we have agreed that at least 1,200 additional prisoners of war will be exchanged on both sides in the near future," Medinsky said at a press conference. Medinsky also said that Russia offered Ukraine a 24-hour to 48-hour ceasefire. When asked about Kyiv's bid for a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Medinsky said such a meeting should only be for signing documents and not for holding discussions. "We discussed at length the positions set out by our sides in the memoranda submitted last time. The positions are quite distant. We agreed to continue contacts," Medinsky told reporters.
Irish Times
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Volodymyr Zelenskiy orders officials to prepare for new peace talks with Russia
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has ordered officials to prepare for a new round of peace talks with Russia that could start on Wednesday, as critics accused him of trying to assert de facto control over his country's top anti-corruption agencies. Mr Zelenskiy on Tuesday appointed Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine's national security and defence council, to lead a delegation that he said would also include officials from the foreign ministry, intelligence services and his own office. Kyiv officials have said their first peace talks with Russia since early June are scheduled to start in Istanbul on Wednesday. The Kremlin has said it hopes talks could resume this week, without confirming a date or location. 'Let's be honest: the issue of a Ukrainian settlement is so complicated that even reaching agreements on prisoner exchanges or the return of bodies is already a success,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. 'So ... we have no reason to expect any magical breakthroughs – such outcomes are hardly likely in the current situation.' READ MORE Talks in Istanbul on May 16th and June 2nd resulted in the exchange of thousands of prisoners and the remains of dead soldiers, but made no headway on US-led calls for a full ceasefire – which Ukraine supports – and top-level talks on a possible peace deal. The US has expressed growing impatience with Moscow and last week agreed to send more arms to Ukraine via Nato and threatened to impose 'severe' tariffs on Russian trade if the Kremlin failed to seek peace within 50 days. Russia responded by saying it rejected ultimatums and by reiterating that peace was possible only if Ukraine accepted the permanent occupation of five of its regions and formally agreed never to join Nato – terms that Kyiv says amount to capitulation. 'Ukraine is ready to work as productively as possible for the release of our people from captivity and the return of abducted children, as well as to stop the killings and prepare for a meeting of leaders to achieve the real end of this war,' Mr Zelenskiy said. 'Our position is as transparent as possible. Ukraine never wanted this war, and it is Russia that must end the war that it started.' As he focused publicly on potential peace talks, critics accused Mr Zelenskiy of aiming to crush the independence of the national anti-corruption bureau (Nabu) and specialised anti-corruption prosecutor's office (Sapo), which are central to western-backed efforts to root out the high-level graft that has plagued Ukraine for decades. Deputies rushed through a Bill on Tuesday that would dramatically restrict the two agencies' freedom of operation and effectively subordinate them to Ukraine's prosecutor general, who is appointed directly by the country's president. Opponents of the move urged Mr Zelenskiy not to sign the Bill into law, amid widespread anger among civil society activists over a spate of raids and arrests that they regard as attempts to intimidate and sideline anti-corruption investigators and campaigners. Nabu director Semen Kryvonos urged Mr Zelenskiy to veto a Bill that he said had been supported by deputies who face anti-corruption investigations, and which 'threatened' Ukraine's bid to join the European Union and Nato. 'The European Union is concerned about Ukraine's recent actions with regard to ... Nabu and Sapo. These institutions are crucial to Ukraine's reform agenda and must operate independently to fight corruption and maintain public trust,' said European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier. 'The EU provides significant financial assistance to Ukraine, conditional on progress in transparency, judicial reform, and democratic governance. Ukraine's EU accession will require a strong capacity to combat corruption and to ensure institutional resilience.'
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Zelensky: Ukraine and Russia to hold peace talks on Wednesday
Russia and Ukraine will hold a new round of peace talks in Istanbul on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said."Today, I discussed with (Ukrainian Security Council chief) Rustem Umerov the preparations for a prisoner exchange and another meeting in Turkey with the Russian side," Zelensky said in his daily address on Monday. "Umerov reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday."Zelensky proposed fresh talks at the weekend, days after US President Donald Trump threatened Russia with "severe" sanctions if there was no ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv within 50 has also pledged new weapons for the Ukrainian military, after Russia intensified attacks. Moscow has not commented on the peace talks yet. A Turkish government spokesperson said Wednesday's talks would take place in Istanbul, the same venue where previous negotiations in May and June failed to work towards a week's talks will be yet another attempt to bring an end to the war that has been going on for more than three years, and will come after Trump expressed frustration with Vladimir Putin. The US president told the BBC he was "disappointed" but "not done" with the Russian leader. I'm 'disappointed but not done' with Putin, Trump tells BBCUkrainians unimpressed by Trump's 50-day ultimatum to Putin The Istanbul talks could focus on further prisoner exchanges and a possible meeting between Zelensky and Putin, a senior Ukrainian official told the Agence France-Presse news however, has downplayed the likelihood of reaching any concrete outcome anytime on the prospects for a breakthrough, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that the two sides were "diametrically opposed" and "a lot of diplomatic work lies ahead".Russia has intensified its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, causing record civilian casualties. It launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in 2022.
Japan Times
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Calm reported in Syria's Sweida, as Damascus says truce holding
Residents reported calm in Syria's Sweida on Sunday after the Islamist-led government announced that Bedouin fighters had withdrawn from the predominantly Druze city and a U.S. envoy signaled that a deal to end days of fighting was being implemented. With hundreds reported killed, the Sweida bloodshed is a major test for interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, prompting Israel to launch airstrikes against government forces last week as it declared support for the Druze. Fighting continued on Saturday despite a ceasefire call. Interior Minister Anas Khattab said Sunday that internal security forces had managed to calm the situation and enforce the ceasefire, "paving the way for a prisoner exchange and the gradual return of stability throughout the governorate." Images showed Interior Ministry forces near the city, blocking the road in front of members of tribes congregated there. The ministry said late Saturday that Bedouin fighters had left the city. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said the sides had "navigated to a pause and cessation of hostilities." "The next foundation stone on a path to inclusion, and lasting de-escalation, is a complete exchange of hostages and detainees, the logistics of which are in process," he wrote on X. Kenan Azzam, a dentist, said there was an uneasy calm but the city's residents were struggling with a lack of water and electricity. "The hospitals are a disaster and out of service, and there are still so many dead and wounded," he said by phone. Another resident, Raed Khazaal, said aid was urgently needed. "Houses are destroyed. ... The smell of corpses is spread throughout the national hospital," he said in a voice message from Sweida. The Syrian state news agency said an aid convoy sent to the city by the government was refused entry while aid organized by the Syrian Red Crescent was let in. A source familiar with the situation said local factions in Sweida had turned back the government convoy. Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Sunday that Israel sent urgent medical aid to the Druze in Sweida and the step was coordinated with Washington and Syria. Spokespeople for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Foreign Ministry and the military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Tribal fighters stand next to a government checkpoint in the town of Busra al-Hariri, east of the city of Sweida, Syria, on Sunday. | AFP-JIJI The Druze are a small but influential minority in Syria, Israel and Lebanon who follow a religion that is an offshoot of a branch of Shiite Islam. Some hard-line Sunnis deem their beliefs heretical. The fighting began a week ago with clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters. Damascus sent troops to quell the fighting, but they were drawn into the violence and accused of widespread violations against the Druze. Residents of the predominantly Druze city said friends and neighbors were shot at close range in their homes or in the streets by Syrian troops, identified by their fatigues and insignia. Al-Sharaa on Thursday promised to protect the rights of Druze and to hold to account those who committed violations against "our Druze people." He has blamed the violence on "outlaw groups." While al-Sharaa has won U.S. backing since meeting President Donald Trump in May, the violence has underscored the challenge he faces stitching back together a country shattered by 14 years of conflict, and added to pressures on its mosaic of sectarian and ethnic groups. After Israel bombed Syrian government forces in Sweida and hit the Defense Ministry in Damascus last week, Netanyahu said Israel had established a policy demanding the demilitarization of territory near the border, stretching from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to the Druze Mountain, east of Sweida. He also said Israel would protect the Druze. The United States however said it did not support the Israeli strikes. On Friday, an Israeli official said Israel agreed to allow Syrian forces limited access to the Sweida area for two days. A Syrian security source said that internal security forces had taken up positions near Sweida, establishing checkpoints in western and eastern parts of the province where retreating tribal fighters had gathered. On Sunday, al-Sharaa received the report of an inquiry into violence in Syria's coastal region in March, where Syrian forces killed 1,500 members of the Alawite minority in June following attacks on security forces. The presidency said it would review the inquiry's conclusions and ensure steps to "bring about justice" and prevent the recurrence of "such violations." It called on the inquiry to hold a news conference on its findings — if appropriate — as soon as possible. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said Friday it had documented the deaths of at least 321 people in Sweida province since July 13. The preliminary toll included civilians, women, children, Bedouin fighters, members of local groups and members of the security forces, it said, and the dead included people killed in field executions by both sides. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, another monitoring group, has reported a death toll of at least 940 people. Reporters could not independently verify the tolls.
