Israel-Iran: US envoy Steve Witkoff heads to Middle East; ‘strong hope' for humanitarian corridor
US president Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is travelling to the Middle East as Washington tries again to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The conflict has dragged on for over 21 months, with the situation in Gaza getting worse, especially for people trying to get food and aid.
State department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters on Tuesday that Witkoff was going with a 'strong hope' of helping finalise a ceasefire deal and set up a new humanitarian corridor.
'I would suggest that we might have some good news, but, again, this could be a constantly changing dynamic,' Bruce said.
She did not share details of Witkoff's travel plans or meetings. The announcement came after one of Gaza's deadliest days for people seeking aid — at least 85 Palestinians were killed on Sunday while trying to reach food.
The Israeli army claimed it only fired warning shots and said the death toll was being exaggerated. But the UN's food agency accused Israeli forces of firing directly on the crowd.
Bruce called the incident at Zikim crossing 'absolutely horrible' and said it showed why a humanitarian corridor was urgently needed as part of any ceasefire.
US envoy to discuss finalizing Gaza aid 'corridor': State Dept | AFP
Talks between Israel and Hamas have been going on for weeks in Qatar. The US has proposed a 60-day ceasefire during which Hamas would release some hostages, Israel would free Palestinian prisoners, and more aid would enter Gaza.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You
Villas in Dubai | Search Ads
Get Info
Undo
Talks on a permanent peace would begin during this period.
But both sides remain firm. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to keep fighting until Hamas is defeated and disarmed. Hamas says it won't release all hostages unless the war fully ends — and wants a guarantee that Israel won't resume attacks after the 60 days, like it did in March.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
18 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Columbia University agrees to pay more than $220 million in deal with Trump to restore federal funding
NEW YORK: Columbia University announced Wednesday it has reached a deal with the Trump administration to pay more than $220 million to the federal government to restore federal research money that was canceled in the name of combating antisemitism on campus. Under the agreement, the Ivy League school will pay a $200 million settlement over three years, the university said. It will also pay $21 million to resolve alleged civil rights violations against Jewish employees that occurred following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, the White House said. "This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty," acting University President Claire Shipman said. The school had been threatened with the potential loss of billions of dollars in government support, including more than $400 million in grants canceled earlier this year. The administration pulled the funding because of what it described as the university's failure to squelch antisemitism on campus during the Israel-Hamas war. Columbia has since agreed to a series of demands laid out by the Republican administration, including overhauling the university's student disciplinary process and applying a contentious, federally endorsed definition of antisemitism not only to teaching but to a disciplinary committee that has been investigating students critical of Israel. Wednesday's agreement — which does not include an admission of wrongdoing — codifies those reforms while preserving the university's autonomy, Shipman said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Columbia University to pay $200 mn fine in fight with Trump
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills The prestigious Columbia University said Wednesday it will pay a $200 million fine to the US government after President Donald Trump threatened to pull federal funding over what he said was its unwillingness to protect Jewish a sweeping deal that will restore the New York institution's federal monies, Columbia has pledged to obey rules that bar it from taking race into consideration in admissions or hiring."Columbia University has reached an agreement with the United States government to resolve multiple federal agency investigations into alleged violations of federal anti-discrimination laws," a statement said, adding the $200 million would be paid over three university will also pay $21 million to settle investigations brought by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it said."Under today's agreement, a vast majority of the federal grants which were terminated or paused in March 2025-will be reinstated and Columbia's access to billions of dollars in current and future grants will be restored," the statement promise of the federal funding spigot reopening offers relief to the university, which was under growing financial pressure, despite a comfortable endowment that offered some agreement undoubtedly represents a victory for Trump, who has repeatedly claimed elite universities brainwash students against his nationalist ideas with left-wing centuries-old Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is also in a fight with the administration over Trump's threats to rip away federal funding, and Wednesday's carefully worded agreement -- in which Columbia admitted no wrongdoing -- could offer a framework for future deals."This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty," Columbia's acting president Claire Shipman said."The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track."Importantly, it safeguards our independence, a critical condition for academic excellence and scholarly exploration, work that is vital to the public interest."The New York Post reported, under the settlement, Columbia will maintain a security force to prevent demonstrations in academic spaces, such as those that rocked the campus last year when pro-Palestinian protestors clashed with law enforcement, occupying university paper said there will also be stricter vetting for non-US students, with information gained during this process to be shared with the government, while disciplinary action taken against students on visas would be reported to found itself at the center of a firestorm last year over claims of anti-Semitism triggered by campus protests against Israel's war in Jewish students claimed they were intimidated and that authorities did not act to protect protests that roiled Columbia and other US schools culminated in members of Trump's Republican party grilling higher education leaders before Congress about anti-Semitism former president Minouche Shafik resigned last August just weeks before the start of the new school year, citing scrutiny she faced over her handling of the demonstrations.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Columbia to pay over $220 mn in deal with Trump to restore federal funding
Under the agreement, the Ivy League school will pay the $200 million settlement over three years to the federal government, the university said AP New York Columbia University has reached a deal with the Trump administration to pay more than $220 million to the federal government to restore federal research money that was canceled in the name of combating antisemitism on campus, the university announced Wednesday. Under the agreement, the Ivy League school will pay the $200 million settlement over three years to the federal government, the university said. It will also pay $21 million to settle investigations brought by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty, acting University President Claire Shipman said. The administration pulled the funding, because of what it described as the university's failure to squelch antisemitism on campus during the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023. Columbia then agreed to a series of demands laid out by the Republican administration, including overhauling the university's student disciplinary process and adopting a new definition of antisemitism. Wednesday's agreement codifies those reforms, Shipman said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
