&w=3840&q=100)
US-Israel strategy aims to end Gaza war, disarm Hamas: Witkoff
Palestinians climb onto trucks as they seek for aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip. Reuters
On Saturday, President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy assured the relatives of hostages held by the Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas that he was working with the Israeli government on a strategy that would successfully end the Gaza war.
Trump has made ending the Gaza war a top priority for his administration, although discussions have been stalled. Steve Witkoff is visiting Israel as the government faces growing pressure over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
In a recording of the meeting, reviewed by Reuters, Witkoff is heard saying: 'We have a very, very good plan that we're working on collectively with the Israeli government, with Prime Minister Netanyahu … for the reconstruction of Gaza. That effectively means the end of the war.'
The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment on his statements.
Witkoff also stated that Hamas was willing to disarm in order to end the conflict, despite the group's continuous refusal to lay down its weapons.
In reaction to the reported words, Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007 but has been brutally battered by Israel during the conflict, stated that it will not give up 'armed resistance' until a 'independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital' is formed.
Indirect talks between Hamas and Israel aimed at negotiating a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza conflict and an agreement for the release of half the captives ended last week in impasse.
On Saturday, Hamas released its second video in two days of Israeli hostage Evyatar David. In it, David, skeletally thin, is shown digging a hole, which, he says in the video, is for his own grave.
Witkoff met with Netanyahu on Thursday.
Afterward, a senior Israeli official said an understanding between Israel and Washington was emerging that there was a need to move from a plan to release some of the hostages to a plan to release all the hostages, disarm Hamas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip, echoing Israel's key demands for ending the war.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Gaza starvation
On Tuesday, Qatar and Egypt, who are mediating ceasefire efforts, endorsed a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia outlining steps toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As part of it, they said Hamas must hand over its arms to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
Witkoff arrived in Israel with Netanyahu's government facing a global outcry over devastation in Gaza and the starvation growing among its 2.2 million people.
The crisis has also prompted a string of Western powers to announce they may recognize a Palestinian state.
On Friday, Witkoff visited a U.S.-backed aid operation in southern Gaza, which the United Nations has partly blamed for deadly conditions in the enclave, saying he sought to get food and other aid to people there.
Dozens have died of malnutrition in recent weeks after Israel cut off all supplies to the enclave for nearly three months from March to May, according to Gaza's health ministry. It said on Saturday that it had recorded seven more fatalities, including a child, since Friday.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza and says it is taking steps for more aid to reach its population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys.
U.N. agencies have said that airdrops of food are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and quickly ease the access to it.
The Gaza war began when Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostage in an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's offensive has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
According to Israeli officials, 50 hostages now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Why will Donald Trump 'substantially increase' tariffs on India? Here's what he said
US President Donald Trump on Monday said that he will "substantially raise" the tariffs on Indian goods because of New Delhi's "massive" purchases of Russian oil. US President Donald Trump had earlier announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods. (Reuters) In a post on Truth Social, Trump also alleged that India was buying massive amounts of oil from Russia and then selling it on the Open Market for big profits. "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!! President DJT," he wrote.
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
US visa crackdown: New move could bring in $15,000 bonds for tourist, B1, B2 visas
As the Donald Trump-led administration continues its crackdown on visa and immigration, a new pilot program from the US State Department could bring in bonds up to $15,000 for certain tourist and business visas. Under this, immigrants applying for tourist or business B1, B2 visas from countries with a high visa overstay rates, may be subject to a pilot program.(File Photo / REUTERS) As per the notice issued by the Department of State, a 12-month long visa bond pilot program is set to begin across the United States. Under this, immigrants applying for tourist or business B1, B2 visas from countries with high visa overstay rates, may be subject to a pilot program. "Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers," reads the official notice in the federal register. Countries which will be subject to these bonds will be announced 'no fewer than 15 days' before the pilot program takes effect, which is, 15 days after the regulations are published in the Federal Register. The program will come into effect from August 20 onwards and will last for at least a year. This move from the State Department comes after the initiative as first revealed during the last months of the first Trump administration. During his first term as POTUS, Trump had floated the idea of using bonds as a "diplomatic tool" to ensure visitors leave the US on time and do not overstay their visa. This pilot program, however, as per the State Department, was not implemented due to the restrictions on travel imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 'In light of the worldwide reduction in global travel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department did not implement the pilot in 2020 and consequently it did not provide any data on the feasibility for full implementation,' reads the official handout. Trump admin visa crackdown continues Earlier this year, the Trump administration announced a travel ban for certain countries due to national security concerns, high via overstay rates and insufficient cooperation with US law enforcement. The ban fully restricted entry from Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, which were identified as 'very high risk' due to inadequate screening, terrorism ties, or lack of cooperation with US immigration enforcement. Partial restrictions were imposed on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, limiting immigrant and nonimmigrant visas (B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, J) due to high overstay rates or insufficient law enforcement collaboration.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
26 minutes ago
- First Post
We still have the hostages. Why Hamas is releasing videos now
Hamas has expressed willingness to work with the Red Cross to deliver aid to Israeli hostages in Gaza—if Israel permanently halts bombings and opens humanitarian corridors. The statement follows the release of a disturbing video showing a visibly emaciated captive, sparking global condemnation and prompting a UN Security Council session. read more Palestinians carry aid supplies which they received from the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in the central Gaza Strip. File image/ Reuters Hamas said on Sunday it was willing to work with the Red Cross to send supplies to captives it keeps in Gaza if Israel meets specific conditions, after a video it shared showing an emaciated detainee that drew severe criticism from Western powers. Hamas stated that any cooperation with the Red Cross is reliant on Israel permanently establishing humanitarian corridors and ceasing bombing during relief distribution. According to Israeli sources, 50 captives remain in Gaza, with just 20 thought to be alive. So far, Hamas has denied humanitarian organisations access to the hostages, and relatives know little or nothing about their plight. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Saturday, Hamas released their second video in two days featuring Israeli hostage Evyatar David. In it, David, skeletally thin, is shown digging a hole for his own grave, as he claims in the video. The arm of the person holding the camera, which can be seen in the photo, is of regular width. The footage of David sparked outrage among Israelis and Western nations alike. France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States have all expressed their displeasure, and Israel's foreign ministry has declared that the UN Security Council will conduct a special session on Tuesday morning to discuss the hostage situation in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had asked the Red Cross to give humanitarian assistance to the hostages during a conversation with the head of the Swiss-based ICRC's local delegation. A statement from The Hostages Families Forum, which represents relatives of those being held in Gaza, said Hamas' comments about the hostages cannot hide that it 'has been holding innocent people in impossible conditions for over 660 days,' and demanded their immediate release. 'Until their release,' said the statement, 'Hamas has the obligation to provide them with everything they need. Hamas kidnapped them and they must care for them. Every hostage who dies will be on Hamas's hands.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Six more people died of starvation or malnutrition in Gaza over the past 24 hours, its health ministry said on Sunday as Israel said it allowed a delivery of fuel to the enclave, in the throes of a humanitarian disaster after almost two years of war. The new deaths raised the toll of those dying from what international humanitarian agencies say may be an unfolding famine to 175, including 93 children, since the war began, the ministry said. Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said two trucks carrying 107 tons of diesel were set to enter Gaza, months after Israel severely restricted aid access to the enclave before easing it somewhat as starvation began to spread. COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said later in the day that four tankers of UN fuel had entered to help in operations of hospitals, bakeries, public kitchens and other essential services. There was no immediate confirmation whether the two diesel fuel trucks had entered Gaza from Egypt. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Gaza's health ministry has said fuel shortages have severely impaired hospital services, forcing doctors to focus on treating only critically ill or injured patients. Fuel shipments have been rare since March, when Israel restricted the flow of aid into the enclave in what it said was pressure on Hamas militants to free the remaining hostages they took in their October 2023 attack on Israel. Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza but, in response to a rising international uproar, it announced steps last week to let more aid reach the population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, approving air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys. UN agencies say airdrops are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and open up access to the territory to prevent starvation among its 2.2 million people, most of whom are displaced amidst vast swathes of rubble. COGAT said that during the past week over 23,000 tons of humanitarian aid in 1,200 trucks had entered Gaza but that hundreds of the trucks had yet to be driven to aid distribution hubs by UN and other international organisations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Belgium's air force dropped the first in a series of its aid packages into Gaza on Sunday in a joint operation with Jordan, the Belgian defence ministry said. France on Friday started to air-drop 40 tons of humanitarian aid. Looted aid trucks The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Sunday that nearly 1,600 aid trucks had arrived since Israel eased restrictions late in July. However, witnesses and Hamas sources said many of those trucks have been looted by desperate displaced people and armed gangs. More than 700 trucks of fuel entered the Gaza Strip in January and February during a ceasefire before Israel broke it in March in a dispute over terms for extending it and resumed its major offensive. Palestinian local health authorities said at least 80 people had been killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes across the coastal enclave on Sunday. Deaths included persons trying to make their way to aid distribution points in southern and central areas of Gaza, Palestinian medics said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Among those killed was a staff member of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which said an Israeli strike at its headquarters in Khan Younis in southern Gaza ignited a fire on the first floor of the building. The Gaza war began when Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostage in a cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's air and ground war in densely populated Gaza has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to enclave health officials.
