
Qatar and Egypt See Some Progress in Gaza Ceasefire Talks
Suspending the negotiations to hold consultations before resuming talks is normal in the context of these complex negotiations, they said.
The ceasefire mediators affirmed their commitment to continuing their efforts to reach a comprehensive ceasefire agreement in Gaza in partnership with the United States.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump appeared on Friday to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, both saying it had become clear that the Palestinian group did not want a deal.
Netanyahu said Israel was now mulling "alternative" options to achieve its goals of bringing its hostages home from Gaza and ending Hamas rule in the enclave, where starvation is spreading and most of the population is homeless amid widespread ruin.
Trump said he believed Hamas leaders would now be "hunted down", telling reporters at the White House: "Hamas really didn't want to make a deal. I think they want to die. And it's very bad. And it got to be to a point where you're going to have to finish the job."
Israel and the United States withdrew their delegations on Thursday from the ceasefire talks in Qatar, hours after Hamas submitted its response to a truce proposal.
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said on Facebook that the talks had been constructive.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Pope Leo discusses war in Ukraine with Russian Orthodox Church official
Since assuming the papacy in May, Leo has repeatedly appealed for peace in global conflictsRussian officials, however, have said they do not view the Vatican as a serious venue for talksVATICAN CITY: Pope Leo discussed the war in Ukraine on Saturday with Metropolitan Anthony, a senior cleric in the Russian Orthodox Church, in a possible effort to ease ties between the churches strained by Russia's saw Anthony, chairman of the department of external church relations, and five other high-profile clerics during an audience in the morning, the Vatican said.'During the conversation, numerous issues were raised concerning the state of Orthodox-Catholic dialogue, as well as the ongoing conflicts in the world, including in Ukraine and the Middle East,' the Russian Orthodox Church said in a assuming the papacy in May, Leo has repeatedly appealed for peace in global conflicts and this month told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the Vatican was willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace officials, however, have said they do not view the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO member Italy which has supported head of Russia's Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has been an enthusiastic backer of the invasion of Russian church statement said that Kirill's congratulations were conveyed to Leo for his election as pope.'Pope Leo XIV expressed his gratitude to his holiness patriarch Kirill for his good wishes and noted the importance of developing relations with the Russian Orthodox Church,' it added.


Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
US criticizes French release of jailed Lebanese militant
The United States on Saturday criticized the release from a French prison of pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, who spent more than 40 years behind bars for the killings of two diplomats, one of them American. Abdallah was detained in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for his involvement in the murders of US military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris. Earlier this month, a French appeals court ordered Abdallah's release on the condition that he leave French territory and never return. He left a prison in southwest France on Friday and later arrived in his hometown in Lebanon. 'The United States opposes the French government's release and expulsion to Lebanon of convicted terrorist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah,' State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement on social media. 'His release threatens the safety of US diplomats abroad and is a grave injustice to the victims and the families of those killed. The United States will continue to support the pursuit of justice in this matter.' While Abdallah had been eligible for release since 1999, his previous requests were denied as the United States -- a civil party to the case -- had consistently opposing his leaving prison. Abdallah, who is Lebanese of Maronite Christian heritage, has always insisted he is not a 'criminal' but a 'fighter' for the rights of Palestinians, whom he said were targeted, along with Lebanon, by the United States and Israel.

Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Trump says he is seeking a ceasefire between Thailand, Cambodia
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he was calling the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand to press for a ceasefire as fighting along the border continued into a third day. 'The call with Cambodia has ended, but expect to call back regarding War stoppage and Ceasefire based on what Thailand has to say. I am trying to simplify a complex situation!' Trump wrote on his social media platform, adding that the call to Thailand's leader 'is being made momentarily.'