Palestinians chant "I love you Trump" as US-backed aid enters region
The people in the video were seen chanting slogans like "I love you Trump" and "I love you Donald."
She also shared a post by Trump saying, "MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!"
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "many opportunities have opened up" following Israel's military operations in Iran, including the possibility of bringing home the remaining hostages held in Gaza.
Speaking at a Shin Bet security agency facility in southern Israel on Sunday, Netanyahu said, "As you probably know, many opportunities have opened up now following this victory. Firstly, to rescue the hostages. Of course, we will also need to solve the Gaza issue, defeat Hamas, but I believe we will accomplish both missions," as per CNN.
Netanyahu's comments mark one of the first times he has clearly prioritised the return of the hostages over the defeat of Hamas.
For months, Netanyahu has prioritised the defeat of Hamas in Gaza and spokeabout a "total victory." At the beginning of May, he called defeating Hamas the "supreme objective," not freeing the hostages, CNN reported.
His comments Sunday mark a potentially significant change in how he has talked about Israel's goals in the war. He has repeatedly faced criticism from the families of hostages, opposition politicians and large segments of the Israeli public for not clearly placing the return of the hostages as Israel's primary goal.
Reacting to his comments Sunday, the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters called for a single comprehensive deal to bring back all 50 hostages and end the fighting in Gaza, as per CNN.
"What is needed is release, not rescue. This difference of one word could mean the difference between salvation and loss for the hostages," the forum said in a statement.
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Observer
5 hours ago
- Observer
Iran's resilience, Israel's disarray: Who won?
It is far too early to determine a victor in the 12-day confrontation between Iran and Israel. Though both sides declared success, the conflict is likely still in its early stages. Supporters on either side tend to view the events emotionally, seeing victory through the lens of allegiance rather than facts. The real measure of success lies in whether either side achieved its stated goals. Israel entered this confrontation with the intention of toppling the Iranian regime in a single night - eliminating top leaders, including the Supreme Leader and the President, and paving the way for exiled figure Reza Pahlavi to assume power. Backed and publicised by the West, Pahlavi himself admitted that these ambitions failed, blaming US President Donald Trump for abandoning the plan. Israel also aimed to dismantle Iran's nuclear programme and provoke internal uprising. Yet Tehran stood firm, its leadership intact, its nuclear capability preserved, and its people — regardless of their political stance — unified in opposition to what they saw as foreign aggression. However, one cannot ignore the painful blows dealt by Israel. It exposed significant weaknesses in Iran's air defence, destroyed drone launch sites and carried out deep infiltration operations. That Mossad managed to establish a three-storey drone factory in the heart of Tehran is a staggering indicator of internal vulnerability. And yet, despite this, Iran managed to strike back with unexpected resilience, shaking Israel's confidence in its famed defence systems and targeting strategic facilities. Disappointingly, several Arab countries acted as a shield for Israel's defence - serving as a real 'Iron Dome.' This episode reinforced a long-standing truth: the world only respects strength. Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to accept a ceasefire before fulfilling his grand vision of neutralising Iran's nuclear ambitions is an implicit admission of failure. The cost of continuing outweighed the potential gains. Israel, for the first time, found itself forced to retreat from a direct military confrontation without achieving its objectives. The war exposed vulnerabilities in its internal cohesion and confirmed that Israel's deterrence narrative is far from invincible. The idea that it can easily subdue Iran has been severely undermined. While the current round may have ended, the tension is far from over. Israel will remain uneasy as long as Iran holds on to its sovereign decision-making power and nuclear capability. The failure to dismantle the Iranian regime or nuclear facilities, and the rallying of the Iranian people around their leadership, are outcomes that Tel Aviv did not anticipate. Nonetheless, the confrontation revealed alarming security gaps in Iran. The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in what was claimed to be an Iranian safe zone, the mysterious crash of President Raisi's aircraft, the killings of nuclear scientists, and the exposure of internal drone factories all point to a deeply compromised intelligence environment. More worrying still is the wider regional context. The silence - or worse, complicity of many Arab states has become strikingly apparent. Israel has not only penetrated these governments politically, but also garnered their open or covert support. Once forced to conceal their collaboration, some Arab regimes now show it openly, even proudly, though they lack the legitimacy to justify such alignment. It is telling that the ceasefire was reportedly requested by Israel itself, realising that prolonging the battle could lead to collapse from within. With an estimated two million Israelis having emigrated since the beginning of Al Aqsa operation, and rising dissent within the Knesset and public, internal pressures are mounting. The damage in Tel Aviv, despite tight media restrictions, has not been witnessed since 1948. Iran's strikes successfully targeted key Israeli intelligence and military centres, including the Mossad HQ in Herzliya, military intelligence units and Haifa Port — effectively dismantling Israel's 20-year deterrence narrative. Had Israel succeeded in its plan to dismantle Iran's regime and nuclear programme, Netanyahu would have emerged as the architect of a new Middle East, having eliminated the resistance axis and reshaped the region. For now, Iran has managed to halt that trajectory. Above all, the Iranian people deserve recognition. The same nation that once resisted the Shah's tanks has again closed ranks, temporarily setting aside internal disputes to defend national sovereignty. It is a reminder that legitimacy ultimately stems from the people. So, who won? While Iran's performance may inspire admiration, one cannot claim it has achieved total victory. Likewise, Israel has suffered a strategic setback. What is clear, however, is that the war is not over. This is but an uneasy pause. As long as Iran remains strong, scientifically advanced, and nuclear-capable, this fragile truce could collapse at any moment. Translated by Badr al Dhafri The original version of this article was published in Arabic in the print edition of the Oman daily newspaper on June 30.
Times of Oman
6 hours ago
- Times of Oman
The Power of Conviction in Foreign Policy: Oman's Case
In 2009, three U.S. hikers were detained in Iran on charges of espionage after allegedly crossing an unmarked border during a hike near the Iran-Iraq border in northern Iraq. Their release became a pivotal moment in initiating negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. After the first hiker, Sarah Shourd, was released, U.S. officials visited Oman in December 2010 to explore whether the late Sultan Qaboos could help facilitate talks between the two nations. Shortly thereafter, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with the late Sultan, and President Obama conveyed a request for his assistance in engaging Iran. In 2011, the remaining two hikers, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, were also released—on both occasions, the Americans were transported from Iran to Oman. The secret talks that ultimately led to the Iran nuclear deal involved direct engagement at the highest levels of leadership. In a 2015 speech, Ayatollah Khamenei revealed that Sultan Qaboos had acted as an intermediary after the U.S. President reached out to him to help resolve the nuclear issue and lift sanctions. Despite initial Iranian skepticism, Sultan Qaboos asked them to reconsider, and his trusted counsel helped lay the foundation for renewed U.S.-Iranian dialogue. Oman's diplomacy was once again brought into focus. Its consistent efforts had earned it the credibility to act as a trusted intermediary between two adversaries — a status built over decades of sincere and principled engagement in pursuit of regional and global peace. That trust led to the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 — a major diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and the West. But it was short-lived. In 2018, President Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal and re-imposed sanctions. Now, more than a decade after Oman helped initiate those talks, and during President Trump's second term, the Sultanate once again served as an intermediary between the two sides. The first round of renewed talks took place on April 12, 2025, in Muscat. A White House statement described the discussions as 'very positive and constructive,' thanking Oman for its support and noting that Special Envoy Witkoff conveyed President Trump's instructions to resolve differences 'through dialogue and diplomacy, if that is possible.' Since April, five rounds of U.S.–Iran nuclear talks have taken place between Muscat and Rome. The sixth round was scheduled for June 15 in Muscat, but Iran subsequently withdrew after Israeli attacks on Iranian territory began on June 13. President Trump later confirmed that the U.S. was aware of the planned Israeli attacks. He remarked that the day of the attacks marked Day 61 — just one day after the expiration of a 60-day ultimatum given to Iran to accept the U.S.-proposed framework. Describing the attacks as 'very successful,' the President added that Iran should have accepted the deal while there was still time. Iranian officials, however, had made it clear from the start that negotiations could not continue under pressure. These attacks underscore a familiar pattern: unilateral actions that undermine diplomatic efforts. Even as talks were underway, Israel targeted the very subject of those discussions – with the knowledge of the U.S., a direct party in these talks. This not only jeopardized the integrity of the negotiations but also signaled a disregard for the value of diplomacy, as opposed to military attacks that result in the death of innocents. The implicit message — that failure to meet a deadline could lead to deadly consequences — represents a disturbing distortion of what diplomacy is meant to achieve. Israel's connection to the nuclear negotiations is rooted in its close alignment with U.S. foreign policy. This became especially evident in May 2023, when the current U.S. Ambassador to Oman stated during a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: 'I will encourage Oman to build on its announcement permitting Israeli civilian overflights through its airspace by taking additional steps, including consideration of full normalization with Israel.' While ambassadors are expected to strengthen bilateral ties between their countries and the countries to which they are assigned, this position appeared to prioritize the interests of a third party — Israel — overlooking Oman's avowed principles in this case, which are non-negotiable. As with its diplomatic outreach to Iran, the United States – along with other countries – has also turned to the Sultanate's good offices to help secure the release of its citizens in other countries. Shane Bauer, one of the three hikers detained in 2009, later wrote that Oman was 'the country most responsible for our eventual release.' The Sultanate has also played a key role in facilitating the release of American detainees in Yemen on multiple occasions. From these examples, it is evident that Oman has a track record — built over decades — of being an 'honest broker,' facilitating talks and mediating disputes when requested. Despite the various challenges, the Sultanate has consistently demonstrated its resolve to assist its friends whenever possible and to find viable solutions to conflicts through patient and respectful dialogue. Oman is proud of its history of friendship with the United States, first formalized almost two hundred years ago by a Treaty of Amity and Commerce. While the Sultanate seeks to strengthen its strategic relationship with the U.S. and all its friends, the undermining of sovereignty and diplomacy can only sabotage the prospects for real peace. Oman offers a model for diplomacy rooted in integrity — not pressure, not coercion, but conviction. As the Sultanate strives toward making the world a better place, where all can live in peace and security, a nation's steadfast commitment to its moral principles in trying times is absolutely vital for the world's well-being. And today, Oman's commitment to peace, grounded in justice, respect for sovereignty, and self-determination, is more essential to the world than ever.
Observer
7 hours ago
- Observer
More Israeli strikes amid Gaza truce talks
CAIRO/GAZA: Israeli strikes killed at least 58 people across Gaza on Monday as residents in the enclave's north reported one of the heaviest bombardments in weeks, while Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by the Trump administration. A day after US President Donald Trump urged an end to the 20-month-old war, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected at the White House for talks on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran, and possible wider regional diplomatic deals. But on the ground in the Palestinian enclave, there was no sign of fighting letting up. The Israeli military issued evacuation orders on Monday to residents in large districts in the northern Gaza Strip, forcing a new wave of displacement. "Explosions never stopped; they bombed schools and homes. It felt like earthquakes," said Salah, 60, a father of five children, from Gaza City. "In the news we hear a ceasefire is near, on the ground we see death and we hear explosions." Israeli tanks pushed into the eastern areas of Zeitoun suburb in Gaza City and shelled several areas in the north, while aircraft bombed at least four schools after ordering hundreds of families sheltering inside to leave, residents said. At least 58 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday, health authorities said, including 10 people killed in Zeitoun and at least 13 killed southwest of Gaza City. Twenty people, including women, children and a local journalist were killed in an Israeli air strike on a beachfront cafe in Gaza City, medics said. The Palestinian Journalist Syndicate said more than 220 journalists had been killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023. The Israeli military said it struck militant targets in northern Gaza, including command and control centres, after taking steps to mitigate the risk of harming civilians. There was no immediate word from Israel on the reported casualties southwest of the Gaza Strip and the beachfront cafe. The bombardment followed new evacuation orders to vast areas in the north, where Israeli forces had operated before and left behind wide-scale destruction. The military ordered people there to head south, saying that it planned to fight Hamas fighters operating in northern Gaza, including in the heart of Gaza City.
