Hamas Studies Trump's Ceasefire Proposal, Israel Signals Seriousness
In a statement, Hamas said it was studying a new ceasefire proposal offered by the Egyptian and Qatari mediators. However, the Palestinian group emphasized that its aim is reaching an agreement that would guarantee an end to the war and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas senior official, Taher Al-Nunu, said that the group was 'ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement,' reported the Associated Press (AP). He added that Hamas was 'ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war.'
Moreover, a delegation from the Palestinian group was expected to meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the ceasefire proposal, the AP reported quoting an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Trump's Announcement
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump said that Israel had agreed to the conditions required to finalize a 60-day ceasefire, following a 'long and productive' meeting between his representatives and Israeli officials on Gaza.
'Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War. The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal,' Trump posted on Truth Social.
He urged Hamas to accept the ceasefire deal. 'I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,' he added. No Hamas in Postwar Gaza
On his part, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, reiterated his call for the destruction of Hamas. After Trump's announcement, Netanyahu said: 'There will not be a Hamas. There will not be a Hamastan. We're not going back to that. It's over.'
The Israeli Prime Minister is expected to arrive in Washington on Monday, where he will meet with Trump in the White House. This follows the Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer's visit to Washington on Monday, during which he was set to meet with US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and Vice President, JD Vance, to discuss the situation in Gaza. Israeli Seriousness about Ceasefire
Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, conveyed Israel's seriousness about reaching a ceasefire deal to end the Gaza war and return the hostages.
Speaking at a press conference in Estonia's capital, Tallinn, Saar said: 'We are serious in our will to reach a hostage deal and a ceasefire. We said yes to special envoy Witkoff's proposals.
'There are some positive signs. I don't want to say more than that right now. But our goal is to begin proximity talks as soon as possible.' Ramping Up Pressure
The Israeli Minister also called for increased international pressure on the Palestinian movement. 'But it must be clear: Hamas is not only responsible for initiating this war on October 7 (2023). It is responsible also for its continuation,' he noted.
'Pressure must be applied on Hamas. The international community must now back the American initiatives. It must shatter any illusions that Hamas may have,' Saar said.
Short link :
Post Views: 7
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Pentagon has undermined Trump's goal of Ukraine peace
The US Department of Defense halted deliveries of Patriot air defense systems and other precision weapons to Ukraine last week following an internal assessment of its own stockpiles. Some of these weapons were already in Poland waiting for final transfer. The news came as a shock. While the Trump administration has taken a more nuanced approach to Ukraine and Russia than its predecessor, it had continued the flow of weapons to Kyiv as leverage in its effort to bring Moscow to the negotiating table. The timing could not be worse. Russia has launched some of the most intense aerial bombardments in the history of its invasion, including night-time barrages of more than 400 drones and ballistic missiles at a time. For Ukraine, already stretched thin on ammunition and air defense capabilities, this freeze in support threatens to make a difficult situation even more dire. The decision also undermines President Donald Trump's stated goal of ending the war. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly emphasized the need to bring Russia and Ukraine to a negotiated settlement and made it a cornerstone of his foreign policy. But six months after he returned to the Oval Office, the war appears no closer to resolution than it was on his first day. There is no doubt the president has been sincere in his desire to bring the two sides to the table. He has called for a ceasefire and for negotiations, and Ukraine has signaled its willingness to work with the White House. The Kremlin, however, has been far more reluctant. Trump has hinted at increasing pressure on Russia to engage more seriously in diplomacy. That's precisely why the Pentagon's decision to halt aid is so surprising — and damaging. Trump appeared to have geopolitical momentum on his side. His bold military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, an action many believed he would never take, restored a sense of American credibility abroad, especially after what many saw as the Biden administration's appeasement of Tehran. Then, at the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump had a major win. He convinced European allies to commit to significantly increased defense spending, including a landmark pledge to reach 5 percent of GDP by 2035 — spending levels not seen even during the Cold War. At that same summit, a Ukrainian journalist asked Trump about the urgent need for air defense systems to protect civilians from Russian missile attacks. The president responded with genuine emotion. He said he would return to Washington and explore the possibility of sending more Patriot missile interceptors to Ukraine. Days later, however, his own Department of Defense contradicted both his words and apparent intent. There is no doubt Trump has been sincere in his desire to bring the two sides to the table. Luke Coffey This is not the first time the Pentagon has acted out of sync with the president. In February, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a temporary halt to military assistance to Ukraine without coordinating with the White House. That pause lasted only a few days, but it rattled allies and partners across Europe and sent shockwaves through Kyiv. At the time, the White House quietly aired its frustration. Now, it appears the Pentagon may be repeating the same mistake. This latest move underscores a deeper problem: an ideological struggle within the Trump administration over US foreign policy. On one side are the isolationists who believe America should retreat from global commitments and focus exclusively on domestic concerns. They see little value in supporting Ukraine or NATO, or even maintaining a robust defense budget, since their vision of America's role in the world is minimal at best. Opposing them are the so-called prioritizers, who believe the US should focus nearly all of its strategic energy and resources on Asia, and particularly on countering the growing threat from China. In this view, America must prepare for a potential conflict over Taiwan, even if doing so means deprioritizing Europe or the Middle East. Every dollar spent and every missile deployed must serve the Indo-Pacific theater first. Both factions, for different reasons, see Ukraine as a distraction, so when aid is withheld, both are satisfied. As long as this internal tug-of-war continues, behind closed doors and in public, the president will struggle to implement a coherent and effective foreign policy. Trump may be most comfortable dealing with issues such as trade, the economy, and border security, but the reality is that global leadership also requires strategic clarity on defense and diplomacy. To succeed, he needs a team aligned with his vision — not one that undermines it. Now is the time for Trump to reassert control and redouble efforts to end Russia's war in a way that promotes lasting European stability and delivers a fair, just outcome for Ukraine. Achieving this will probably be one of the most difficult foreign policy challenges of his presidency. But he cannot meet that challenge with a divided administration. He needs a unified front — particularly from his Department of Defense. The sooner Trump reverses the Pentagon's decision to halt military aid to Ukraine, the better the prospects for peace. Time is of the essence, and any further delay could cost lives — and squander the strategic gains he has worked hard to achieve.
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
French President Macron and Malaysian PM reaffirm calls for Gaza ceasefire
'Our two countries are urging, more than ever, for a ceasefire,' said MacronPARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed on Friday their calls for a ceasefire in the fighting in Gaza, as Macron hosted Ibrahim in Paris.'Our two countries are urging, more than ever, for a ceasefire, the release of the hostages, and for aid to get through,' said Macron, referring to Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Leaders
4 hours ago
- Leaders
Syria Ready to Cooperate with US to Reimplement 1974 Disengagement Deal with Israel
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani said on Friday that Syria was ready to cooperate with the US in order to reimplement the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, according to Al Arabiya. Return to Disengagement Deal Al-Shaibani's statement comes after a phone call with his American Counterpart Marco Rubio. During the call, Al-Shaibani expressed Syria's 'aspiration to cooperate with the United States to return to the 1974 disengagement agreement.' In May, US President Donald Trump met Syria's Interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia and urged him to normalize ties with Israel. Aspiration for Diplomatic Ties On Monday, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that his country is 'interested' in establishing diplomatic ties with its neighbors Lebanon and Syria, according to Reuters. 'Israel is interested in expanding the Abraham Accord circle of peace and normalization,' Saar said at a news conference. Crucially, Al-Sharaa confirmed indirect talks with Israel to reduce tensions. Moreover, Al-Sharaa has repeatedly said Damascus does not seek involvement into any conflict with its neighbors. Therefore, he urged the international community to press on Israel to halt its attacks on Syria. Golan Heights Will Be out of Discussion Meanwhile, Saar stressed that the occupied Golan Heights 'will remain part of Israel' under any possible peace agreement with Syria. 'In any peace agreement, the Golan will remain part of the State of Israel,' Saar stated. In 1981, Israel annexed the Golan Heights after taking over most of the area from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. On Wednesday, Syrian state media described the statements about normalizing relations with Israel as 'premature', after an Israeli official welcomed diplomatic ties with Damascus, according to AFP. 'Statements concerning signing a peace agreement with the Israeli occupation at this time are considered premature,' state TV reported an unidentified official source as saying. The source also said that the possibility of negotiations over a new peace deal was not possible until Israel fully adhered to the 1974 disengagement agreement and withdrew from the areas it has penetrated. Related Topics: Trump Lifts Decades-old US Sanctions on Syria Israel 'Interested' in Ties with Syria, Lebanon with No Discussion on Golan Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack on Syria's Mar Elias Church Short link : Post Views: 24
