Israeli kills 15 in Gaza as Trump waits for Hamas reply
Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an air strike on a tent encampment west of the city early on Friday, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment.
Later on Friday, Palestinians gathered to perform funeral prayers before burying those killed overnight.
"The ceasefire will come, and I have lost my brother? There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother," said 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr as she wept. Her brother, Mahmoud, was among those killed.
Trump earlier said it would probably be known in 24 hours whether Hamas has accepted a ceasefire between the Palestinian militant group and Israel.
On Tuesday, the president announced that Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties would work towards ending the war.
Hamas, which has previously declared it would only agree to a deal for a permanent end to the war, has said it was studying the proposal, but given no public indication whether it would accept or reject it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is yet to comment on Trump's ceasefire announcement.
While some members of his right-wing coalition oppose a deal, others have indicated their support.
Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group has refused to discuss.
In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US embassy building on US Independence Day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all of the captives.
Demonstrators set up a symbolic Shabbat dinner table, placing 50 empty chairs to represent those who are still held in Gaza.
Banners hung nearby displaying a post by Trump from his Truth Social platform that read, "MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!"
The Sabbath, or Shabbat, observed from Friday evening to Saturday nightfall, is often marked by Jewish families with a traditional Friday night dinner.
The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than two million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins.
At least 15 Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza, according to local health officials, as US President Donald Trump says he expects Hamas to respond to his "final proposal" for a ceasefire in Gaza in the next 24 hours.
Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an air strike on a tent encampment west of the city early on Friday, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment.
Later on Friday, Palestinians gathered to perform funeral prayers before burying those killed overnight.
"The ceasefire will come, and I have lost my brother? There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother," said 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr as she wept. Her brother, Mahmoud, was among those killed.
Trump earlier said it would probably be known in 24 hours whether Hamas has accepted a ceasefire between the Palestinian militant group and Israel.
On Tuesday, the president announced that Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties would work towards ending the war.
Hamas, which has previously declared it would only agree to a deal for a permanent end to the war, has said it was studying the proposal, but given no public indication whether it would accept or reject it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is yet to comment on Trump's ceasefire announcement.
While some members of his right-wing coalition oppose a deal, others have indicated their support.
Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group has refused to discuss.
In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US embassy building on US Independence Day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all of the captives.
Demonstrators set up a symbolic Shabbat dinner table, placing 50 empty chairs to represent those who are still held in Gaza.
Banners hung nearby displaying a post by Trump from his Truth Social platform that read, "MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!"
The Sabbath, or Shabbat, observed from Friday evening to Saturday nightfall, is often marked by Jewish families with a traditional Friday night dinner.
The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than two million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins.
At least 15 Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza, according to local health officials, as US President Donald Trump says he expects Hamas to respond to his "final proposal" for a ceasefire in Gaza in the next 24 hours.
Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an air strike on a tent encampment west of the city early on Friday, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment.
Later on Friday, Palestinians gathered to perform funeral prayers before burying those killed overnight.
"The ceasefire will come, and I have lost my brother? There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother," said 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr as she wept. Her brother, Mahmoud, was among those killed.
Trump earlier said it would probably be known in 24 hours whether Hamas has accepted a ceasefire between the Palestinian militant group and Israel.
On Tuesday, the president announced that Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties would work towards ending the war.
Hamas, which has previously declared it would only agree to a deal for a permanent end to the war, has said it was studying the proposal, but given no public indication whether it would accept or reject it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is yet to comment on Trump's ceasefire announcement.
While some members of his right-wing coalition oppose a deal, others have indicated their support.
Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group has refused to discuss.
In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US embassy building on US Independence Day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all of the captives.
Demonstrators set up a symbolic Shabbat dinner table, placing 50 empty chairs to represent those who are still held in Gaza.
Banners hung nearby displaying a post by Trump from his Truth Social platform that read, "MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!"
The Sabbath, or Shabbat, observed from Friday evening to Saturday nightfall, is often marked by Jewish families with a traditional Friday night dinner.
The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than two million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins.
At least 15 Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza, according to local health officials, as US President Donald Trump says he expects Hamas to respond to his "final proposal" for a ceasefire in Gaza in the next 24 hours.
Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an air strike on a tent encampment west of the city early on Friday, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment.
Later on Friday, Palestinians gathered to perform funeral prayers before burying those killed overnight.
"The ceasefire will come, and I have lost my brother? There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother," said 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr as she wept. Her brother, Mahmoud, was among those killed.
Trump earlier said it would probably be known in 24 hours whether Hamas has accepted a ceasefire between the Palestinian militant group and Israel.
On Tuesday, the president announced that Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties would work towards ending the war.
Hamas, which has previously declared it would only agree to a deal for a permanent end to the war, has said it was studying the proposal, but given no public indication whether it would accept or reject it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is yet to comment on Trump's ceasefire announcement.
While some members of his right-wing coalition oppose a deal, others have indicated their support.
Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group has refused to discuss.
In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US embassy building on US Independence Day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all of the captives.
Demonstrators set up a symbolic Shabbat dinner table, placing 50 empty chairs to represent those who are still held in Gaza.
Banners hung nearby displaying a post by Trump from his Truth Social platform that read, "MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!"
The Sabbath, or Shabbat, observed from Friday evening to Saturday nightfall, is often marked by Jewish families with a traditional Friday night dinner.
The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than two million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins.
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Man urged to come forward over synagogue fire attack
Detectives have released images of a man they wish to speak to over a targeted fire attack at a synagogue that forced children and families to flee. It happened the same night as an angry protest outside an Israeli restaurant and car fires outside a business previously targeted by demonstrators, prompting Jewish leaders to express deep safety concerns. The violence started when a man doused the front of East Melbourne Synagogue in flammable liquid and set it alight about 8pm on Friday, police said. The temple's president Danny Segal, his wife Jenny and families including children were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner. "Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there's something going on," he told reporters. Everyone inside evacuated safely and firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. Ms Segal said she was worried about what might have happened if the attacker got inside and children were frightened. "They were pretty scared because they felt our fear and our shock," she said. A short time later, protesters gathered outside Israeli restaurant Miznon on nearby Hardware Lane. Jewish leaders say they chanted "death to the IDF", which stands for Israel Defence Forces. Chairs were thrown, tables overturned and a window smashed as police tried to move them on, with one person arrested for hindering officers. The third incident happened outside a business in Greensborough in the city's northeast, where three cars were set alight and spray painted about 4.30am on Saturday. Few details have been made public but Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan said the business was "subject to pro-Palestinian activity in the past" which is why it was included in the probe. None of the incidents were declared terrorism but local police are working with counterterrorism officers to examine links. Commander Dunstan characterised the events as serious criminal incidents. "We do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent but at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident," she said. "In the course of our investigation, we will examine the intent and the ideology of the persons involved, or person, to determine if this is in fact terrorism." Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said anti-Semitic terror had returned. "The anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing but getting worse," he said. Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the diners were terrorised and Melbourne "stopped being a safe place for Jews" for one night. The synagogue attack happened on Shabbat, a period of rest, which Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said made it even more abhorrent. "This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," she said. Opposition frontbencher David Southwick, who is Jewish, called the events in the city "domestic terrorism" and accused the state government of sitting on its hands "Do we have to wait until actually somebody's killed before the government says, right, now we're going to act? I would hope not." Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece visited the synagogue on Saturday morning and described the city as being one of peace and tolerance despite the terrible events. It comes seven months after a devastating fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south forced people inside to flee. Two of the synagogue's buildings were destroyed in the early morning blaze and no charges have been laid, although counterterrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation. The attacks follow disagreement between Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and NSW MPs over a call to ban pro-Palestine protests from city centres. Jillian Segal gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry on Friday and was pressed on previous statements labelling weekly demonstrations "intimidatory" and "sinister". Labor MP Stephen Lawrence suggested her comments were an "uncivil way to describe them and the people participating". Detectives have released images of a man they wish to speak to over a targeted fire attack at a synagogue that forced children and families to flee. It happened the same night as an angry protest outside an Israeli restaurant and car fires outside a business previously targeted by demonstrators, prompting Jewish leaders to express deep safety concerns. The violence started when a man doused the front of East Melbourne Synagogue in flammable liquid and set it alight about 8pm on Friday, police said. The temple's president Danny Segal, his wife Jenny and families including children were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner. "Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there's something going on," he told reporters. Everyone inside evacuated safely and firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. Ms Segal said she was worried about what might have happened if the attacker got inside and children were frightened. "They were pretty scared because they felt our fear and our shock," she said. A short time later, protesters gathered outside Israeli restaurant Miznon on nearby Hardware Lane. Jewish leaders say they chanted "death to the IDF", which stands for Israel Defence Forces. Chairs were thrown, tables overturned and a window smashed as police tried to move them on, with one person arrested for hindering officers. The third incident happened outside a business in Greensborough in the city's northeast, where three cars were set alight and spray painted about 4.30am on Saturday. Few details have been made public but Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan said the business was "subject to pro-Palestinian activity in the past" which is why it was included in the probe. None of the incidents were declared terrorism but local police are working with counterterrorism officers to examine links. Commander Dunstan characterised the events as serious criminal incidents. "We do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent but at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident," she said. "In the course of our investigation, we will examine the intent and the ideology of the persons involved, or person, to determine if this is in fact terrorism." Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said anti-Semitic terror had returned. "The anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing but getting worse," he said. Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the diners were terrorised and Melbourne "stopped being a safe place for Jews" for one night. The synagogue attack happened on Shabbat, a period of rest, which Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said made it even more abhorrent. "This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," she said. Opposition frontbencher David Southwick, who is Jewish, called the events in the city "domestic terrorism" and accused the state government of sitting on its hands "Do we have to wait until actually somebody's killed before the government says, right, now we're going to act? I would hope not." Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece visited the synagogue on Saturday morning and described the city as being one of peace and tolerance despite the terrible events. It comes seven months after a devastating fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south forced people inside to flee. Two of the synagogue's buildings were destroyed in the early morning blaze and no charges have been laid, although counterterrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation. The attacks follow disagreement between Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and NSW MPs over a call to ban pro-Palestine protests from city centres. Jillian Segal gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry on Friday and was pressed on previous statements labelling weekly demonstrations "intimidatory" and "sinister". Labor MP Stephen Lawrence suggested her comments were an "uncivil way to describe them and the people participating". Detectives have released images of a man they wish to speak to over a targeted fire attack at a synagogue that forced children and families to flee. It happened the same night as an angry protest outside an Israeli restaurant and car fires outside a business previously targeted by demonstrators, prompting Jewish leaders to express deep safety concerns. The violence started when a man doused the front of East Melbourne Synagogue in flammable liquid and set it alight about 8pm on Friday, police said. The temple's president Danny Segal, his wife Jenny and families including children were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner. "Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there's something going on," he told reporters. Everyone inside evacuated safely and firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. Ms Segal said she was worried about what might have happened if the attacker got inside and children were frightened. "They were pretty scared because they felt our fear and our shock," she said. A short time later, protesters gathered outside Israeli restaurant Miznon on nearby Hardware Lane. Jewish leaders say they chanted "death to the IDF", which stands for Israel Defence Forces. Chairs were thrown, tables overturned and a window smashed as police tried to move them on, with one person arrested for hindering officers. The third incident happened outside a business in Greensborough in the city's northeast, where three cars were set alight and spray painted about 4.30am on Saturday. Few details have been made public but Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan said the business was "subject to pro-Palestinian activity in the past" which is why it was included in the probe. None of the incidents were declared terrorism but local police are working with counterterrorism officers to examine links. Commander Dunstan characterised the events as serious criminal incidents. "We do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent but at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident," she said. "In the course of our investigation, we will examine the intent and the ideology of the persons involved, or person, to determine if this is in fact terrorism." Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said anti-Semitic terror had returned. "The anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing but getting worse," he said. Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the diners were terrorised and Melbourne "stopped being a safe place for Jews" for one night. The synagogue attack happened on Shabbat, a period of rest, which Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said made it even more abhorrent. "This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," she said. Opposition frontbencher David Southwick, who is Jewish, called the events in the city "domestic terrorism" and accused the state government of sitting on its hands "Do we have to wait until actually somebody's killed before the government says, right, now we're going to act? I would hope not." Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece visited the synagogue on Saturday morning and described the city as being one of peace and tolerance despite the terrible events. It comes seven months after a devastating fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south forced people inside to flee. Two of the synagogue's buildings were destroyed in the early morning blaze and no charges have been laid, although counterterrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation. The attacks follow disagreement between Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and NSW MPs over a call to ban pro-Palestine protests from city centres. Jillian Segal gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry on Friday and was pressed on previous statements labelling weekly demonstrations "intimidatory" and "sinister". Labor MP Stephen Lawrence suggested her comments were an "uncivil way to describe them and the people participating". Detectives have released images of a man they wish to speak to over a targeted fire attack at a synagogue that forced children and families to flee. It happened the same night as an angry protest outside an Israeli restaurant and car fires outside a business previously targeted by demonstrators, prompting Jewish leaders to express deep safety concerns. The violence started when a man doused the front of East Melbourne Synagogue in flammable liquid and set it alight about 8pm on Friday, police said. The temple's president Danny Segal, his wife Jenny and families including children were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner. "Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there's something going on," he told reporters. Everyone inside evacuated safely and firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. Ms Segal said she was worried about what might have happened if the attacker got inside and children were frightened. "They were pretty scared because they felt our fear and our shock," she said. A short time later, protesters gathered outside Israeli restaurant Miznon on nearby Hardware Lane. Jewish leaders say they chanted "death to the IDF", which stands for Israel Defence Forces. Chairs were thrown, tables overturned and a window smashed as police tried to move them on, with one person arrested for hindering officers. The third incident happened outside a business in Greensborough in the city's northeast, where three cars were set alight and spray painted about 4.30am on Saturday. Few details have been made public but Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan said the business was "subject to pro-Palestinian activity in the past" which is why it was included in the probe. None of the incidents were declared terrorism but local police are working with counterterrorism officers to examine links. Commander Dunstan characterised the events as serious criminal incidents. "We do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent but at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident," she said. "In the course of our investigation, we will examine the intent and the ideology of the persons involved, or person, to determine if this is in fact terrorism." Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said anti-Semitic terror had returned. "The anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing but getting worse," he said. Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the diners were terrorised and Melbourne "stopped being a safe place for Jews" for one night. The synagogue attack happened on Shabbat, a period of rest, which Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said made it even more abhorrent. "This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," she said. Opposition frontbencher David Southwick, who is Jewish, called the events in the city "domestic terrorism" and accused the state government of sitting on its hands "Do we have to wait until actually somebody's killed before the government says, right, now we're going to act? I would hope not." Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece visited the synagogue on Saturday morning and described the city as being one of peace and tolerance despite the terrible events. It comes seven months after a devastating fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south forced people inside to flee. Two of the synagogue's buildings were destroyed in the early morning blaze and no charges have been laid, although counterterrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation. The attacks follow disagreement between Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and NSW MPs over a call to ban pro-Palestine protests from city centres. Jillian Segal gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry on Friday and was pressed on previous statements labelling weekly demonstrations "intimidatory" and "sinister". Labor MP Stephen Lawrence suggested her comments were an "uncivil way to describe them and the people participating".
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39 minutes ago
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Trump says US will start TikTok deal talks with China
US President Donald Trump says he will start talking to China next week about a possible TikTok deal. He said the United States "pretty much" has a deal on the sale of the TikTok short-video app. "I think we're gonna start Monday or Tuesday ... talking to China, perhaps President Xi or one of his representatives, but we would we pretty much have a deal," Trump told reporters on Friday aboard Air Force One. In June, Trump extended to September 17 a deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest the US assets of TikTok. A deal had been in the works to spin off TikTok's US operations into a new US-based firm, majority-owned and operated by US investors, but it was put on hold after China indicated it would not approve it following Trump's announcements of steep tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump said the US would probably have to get a deal approved by China. When asked how confident he was that China would agree to a deal, he said, "I'm not confident, but I think so. President Xi and I have a great relationship, and I think it's good for them. I think the deal is good for China and it's good for us." US President Donald Trump says he will start talking to China next week about a possible TikTok deal. He said the United States "pretty much" has a deal on the sale of the TikTok short-video app. "I think we're gonna start Monday or Tuesday ... talking to China, perhaps President Xi or one of his representatives, but we would we pretty much have a deal," Trump told reporters on Friday aboard Air Force One. In June, Trump extended to September 17 a deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest the US assets of TikTok. A deal had been in the works to spin off TikTok's US operations into a new US-based firm, majority-owned and operated by US investors, but it was put on hold after China indicated it would not approve it following Trump's announcements of steep tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump said the US would probably have to get a deal approved by China. When asked how confident he was that China would agree to a deal, he said, "I'm not confident, but I think so. President Xi and I have a great relationship, and I think it's good for them. I think the deal is good for China and it's good for us." US President Donald Trump says he will start talking to China next week about a possible TikTok deal. He said the United States "pretty much" has a deal on the sale of the TikTok short-video app. "I think we're gonna start Monday or Tuesday ... talking to China, perhaps President Xi or one of his representatives, but we would we pretty much have a deal," Trump told reporters on Friday aboard Air Force One. In June, Trump extended to September 17 a deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest the US assets of TikTok. A deal had been in the works to spin off TikTok's US operations into a new US-based firm, majority-owned and operated by US investors, but it was put on hold after China indicated it would not approve it following Trump's announcements of steep tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump said the US would probably have to get a deal approved by China. When asked how confident he was that China would agree to a deal, he said, "I'm not confident, but I think so. President Xi and I have a great relationship, and I think it's good for them. I think the deal is good for China and it's good for us." US President Donald Trump says he will start talking to China next week about a possible TikTok deal. He said the United States "pretty much" has a deal on the sale of the TikTok short-video app. "I think we're gonna start Monday or Tuesday ... talking to China, perhaps President Xi or one of his representatives, but we would we pretty much have a deal," Trump told reporters on Friday aboard Air Force One. In June, Trump extended to September 17 a deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest the US assets of TikTok. A deal had been in the works to spin off TikTok's US operations into a new US-based firm, majority-owned and operated by US investors, but it was put on hold after China indicated it would not approve it following Trump's announcements of steep tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump said the US would probably have to get a deal approved by China. When asked how confident he was that China would agree to a deal, he said, "I'm not confident, but I think so. President Xi and I have a great relationship, and I think it's good for them. I think the deal is good for China and it's good for us."
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39 minutes ago
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Hamas replies positively to Gaza ceasefire proposal
Hamas has responded in "a positive spirit" to a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire proposal and is prepared to enter into talks on implementing the deal, which envisages a release of hostages and negotiations on ending the conflict. US President Donald Trump had announced a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire in the nearly 21-month-old war between Israel and Hamas, saying he anticipated a reply from the parties in coming hours. Hamas wrote on its official website: "The Hamas movement has completed its internal consultations as well as discussions with Palestinian factions and forces regarding the latest proposal by the mediators to halt the aggression against our people in Gaza. "The movement has delivered its response to the brotherly mediators, which was characterised by a positive spirit. Hamas is fully prepared, with all seriousness, to immediately enter a new round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework," said the statement posted on Friday. In a sign of potential challenges still facing the sides, a Palestinian official of a militant group allied with Hamas said concerns remained over humanitarian aid, passage through the Rafah crossing to Egypt and clarity over a timetable of Israeli troop withdrawals. Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed "to the necessary conditions to finalise" a 60-day ceasefire, during which efforts would be made to end the US ally's war in the Palestinian enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is due to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, has yet to comment on Trump's announcement, and in their public statements the two sides remain far apart. Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group, which is thought to be holding 20 living hostages, has refused to discuss. Israeli media cited an Israeli official as saying that Israel had received and was looking into Hamas' response to the ceasefire proposal. Trump expressed optimism late on Friday to reporters aboard Air Force One, who asked about Hamas's response. "They said they gave me a positive response? Well, that's good," Trump said, adding he had not yet been briefed. "There could be a Gaza deal next week." An Egyptian security official told Reuters that Egypt, which along with Qatar is mediating ceasefire efforts, said Hamas's response "includes positive signs that an agreement is near, but there are some demands from Hamas that need to be worked on". Israeli attacks had killed at least 138 Palestinians in Gaza in the past 24 hours, local health officials said. Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an air strike on a tent encampment west of the city, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war. The Israeli military said troops operating in the Khan Younis area had eliminated militants, confiscated weapons and dismantled Hamas outposts in the previous 24 hours while striking 100 targets across Gaza, including military structures, weapons storage facilities and launchers. In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US embassy building on US Independence Day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all the captives. The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than two million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins. Hamas has responded in "a positive spirit" to a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire proposal and is prepared to enter into talks on implementing the deal, which envisages a release of hostages and negotiations on ending the conflict. US President Donald Trump had announced a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire in the nearly 21-month-old war between Israel and Hamas, saying he anticipated a reply from the parties in coming hours. Hamas wrote on its official website: "The Hamas movement has completed its internal consultations as well as discussions with Palestinian factions and forces regarding the latest proposal by the mediators to halt the aggression against our people in Gaza. "The movement has delivered its response to the brotherly mediators, which was characterised by a positive spirit. Hamas is fully prepared, with all seriousness, to immediately enter a new round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework," said the statement posted on Friday. In a sign of potential challenges still facing the sides, a Palestinian official of a militant group allied with Hamas said concerns remained over humanitarian aid, passage through the Rafah crossing to Egypt and clarity over a timetable of Israeli troop withdrawals. Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed "to the necessary conditions to finalise" a 60-day ceasefire, during which efforts would be made to end the US ally's war in the Palestinian enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is due to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, has yet to comment on Trump's announcement, and in their public statements the two sides remain far apart. Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group, which is thought to be holding 20 living hostages, has refused to discuss. Israeli media cited an Israeli official as saying that Israel had received and was looking into Hamas' response to the ceasefire proposal. Trump expressed optimism late on Friday to reporters aboard Air Force One, who asked about Hamas's response. "They said they gave me a positive response? Well, that's good," Trump said, adding he had not yet been briefed. "There could be a Gaza deal next week." An Egyptian security official told Reuters that Egypt, which along with Qatar is mediating ceasefire efforts, said Hamas's response "includes positive signs that an agreement is near, but there are some demands from Hamas that need to be worked on". Israeli attacks had killed at least 138 Palestinians in Gaza in the past 24 hours, local health officials said. Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an air strike on a tent encampment west of the city, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war. The Israeli military said troops operating in the Khan Younis area had eliminated militants, confiscated weapons and dismantled Hamas outposts in the previous 24 hours while striking 100 targets across Gaza, including military structures, weapons storage facilities and launchers. In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US embassy building on US Independence Day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all the captives. The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than two million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins. Hamas has responded in "a positive spirit" to a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire proposal and is prepared to enter into talks on implementing the deal, which envisages a release of hostages and negotiations on ending the conflict. US President Donald Trump had announced a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire in the nearly 21-month-old war between Israel and Hamas, saying he anticipated a reply from the parties in coming hours. Hamas wrote on its official website: "The Hamas movement has completed its internal consultations as well as discussions with Palestinian factions and forces regarding the latest proposal by the mediators to halt the aggression against our people in Gaza. "The movement has delivered its response to the brotherly mediators, which was characterised by a positive spirit. Hamas is fully prepared, with all seriousness, to immediately enter a new round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework," said the statement posted on Friday. In a sign of potential challenges still facing the sides, a Palestinian official of a militant group allied with Hamas said concerns remained over humanitarian aid, passage through the Rafah crossing to Egypt and clarity over a timetable of Israeli troop withdrawals. Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed "to the necessary conditions to finalise" a 60-day ceasefire, during which efforts would be made to end the US ally's war in the Palestinian enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is due to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, has yet to comment on Trump's announcement, and in their public statements the two sides remain far apart. Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group, which is thought to be holding 20 living hostages, has refused to discuss. Israeli media cited an Israeli official as saying that Israel had received and was looking into Hamas' response to the ceasefire proposal. Trump expressed optimism late on Friday to reporters aboard Air Force One, who asked about Hamas's response. "They said they gave me a positive response? Well, that's good," Trump said, adding he had not yet been briefed. "There could be a Gaza deal next week." An Egyptian security official told Reuters that Egypt, which along with Qatar is mediating ceasefire efforts, said Hamas's response "includes positive signs that an agreement is near, but there are some demands from Hamas that need to be worked on". Israeli attacks had killed at least 138 Palestinians in Gaza in the past 24 hours, local health officials said. Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an air strike on a tent encampment west of the city, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war. The Israeli military said troops operating in the Khan Younis area had eliminated militants, confiscated weapons and dismantled Hamas outposts in the previous 24 hours while striking 100 targets across Gaza, including military structures, weapons storage facilities and launchers. In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US embassy building on US Independence Day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all the captives. The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than two million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins. Hamas has responded in "a positive spirit" to a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire proposal and is prepared to enter into talks on implementing the deal, which envisages a release of hostages and negotiations on ending the conflict. US President Donald Trump had announced a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire in the nearly 21-month-old war between Israel and Hamas, saying he anticipated a reply from the parties in coming hours. Hamas wrote on its official website: "The Hamas movement has completed its internal consultations as well as discussions with Palestinian factions and forces regarding the latest proposal by the mediators to halt the aggression against our people in Gaza. "The movement has delivered its response to the brotherly mediators, which was characterised by a positive spirit. Hamas is fully prepared, with all seriousness, to immediately enter a new round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework," said the statement posted on Friday. In a sign of potential challenges still facing the sides, a Palestinian official of a militant group allied with Hamas said concerns remained over humanitarian aid, passage through the Rafah crossing to Egypt and clarity over a timetable of Israeli troop withdrawals. Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed "to the necessary conditions to finalise" a 60-day ceasefire, during which efforts would be made to end the US ally's war in the Palestinian enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is due to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, has yet to comment on Trump's announcement, and in their public statements the two sides remain far apart. Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group, which is thought to be holding 20 living hostages, has refused to discuss. Israeli media cited an Israeli official as saying that Israel had received and was looking into Hamas' response to the ceasefire proposal. Trump expressed optimism late on Friday to reporters aboard Air Force One, who asked about Hamas's response. "They said they gave me a positive response? Well, that's good," Trump said, adding he had not yet been briefed. "There could be a Gaza deal next week." An Egyptian security official told Reuters that Egypt, which along with Qatar is mediating ceasefire efforts, said Hamas's response "includes positive signs that an agreement is near, but there are some demands from Hamas that need to be worked on". Israeli attacks had killed at least 138 Palestinians in Gaza in the past 24 hours, local health officials said. Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an air strike on a tent encampment west of the city, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war. The Israeli military said troops operating in the Khan Younis area had eliminated militants, confiscated weapons and dismantled Hamas outposts in the previous 24 hours while striking 100 targets across Gaza, including military structures, weapons storage facilities and launchers. In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US embassy building on US Independence Day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all the captives. The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than two million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins.
