Israel Sidelined, Hamas Sends Direct Message To Trump On Gaza Deal; 'Ready For It, But...'
/ Jul 03, 2025, 04:12AM IST
Hamas has given its response to President Donald Trump's 60-day ceasefire proposal for Gaza. While the group says it's "open" to a truce, it reiterates its long-standing demand for a complete and permanent end to the war in Gaza, along with a full Israeli withdrawal, in exchange for the remaining hostages. This directly clashes with Israel's stance that the war will only end when Hamas surrenders and disarms.
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First Post
35 minutes ago
- First Post
Israel-Hamas ceasefire: Trump touts but Gaza truce still has stumbling blocks
The two sides have publicly rejected the other's red lines, making compromise difficult even as humanitarian pressure mounts. Trump and international mediators push for a breakthrough, but mutual distrust and shifting priorities are complicating negotiations read more Women embrace, while mourning loved ones, during the funeral of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire yesterday, as they sought aid in northern Gaza, according to Gaza's health ministry, at Al-Shifa Hospital, in Gaza City. Reuters Hamas has not yet agreed or denied a 60-day ceasefire proposal by the US that President Donald Trump has said Israel has accepted, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly addressed it. It is this lack of overall communication and negotiation that is stalling peace in Gaza. Despite US mediation, Israel and Hamas remain at odds over key conditions for a proposed 60-day cease-fire and hostage release deal. The two sides have publicly rejected the other's red lines, making compromise difficult even as humanitarian pressure mounts. Trump and international mediators push for a breakthrough, but mutual distrust and shifting priorities, like Israel's potential focus on rescuing hostages over military victory, are complicating negotiations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Eager to resume talks' Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has said that the country is eager to resume negotiations with Hamas over a ceasefire agreement 'as soon as possible'. 'There are some positive signs. But our goal is to begin proximity talks as soon as possible,' Saar told reporters, referring to the details of the ceasefire that still need to be agreed upon through diplomacy. At the same time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday vowed to eradicate Hamas. 'We will free all our hostages, and we will eliminate Hamas. It will be no more,' he said. Hamas said in a statement that it was studying the latest proposals and aiming 'to reach an agreement that guarantees ending the aggression, achieving the withdrawal (of Israeli forces from Gaza) and urgently aiding our people in the Gaza Strip'. Possible terms of the deal A Palestinian source familiar with the ongoing mediated negotiations told AFP that the new proposal on the table shows 'no fundamental changes' compared to earlier terms presented by the United States. This suggests that the underlying framework of the talks remains largely the same. The source explained that the revised proposal includes a 60-day truce. During this period, Hamas would release half of the Israeli captives still alive in Gaza, in exchange for Israel freeing a number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. As of now, 49 hostages from the 251 captured by Palestinian militants in October 2023 remain in Gaza. According to the Israeli military, 27 of these hostages have already been confirmed dead. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Indian Express
39 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Florida's ‘Alligator Alcatraz' to receive first group of immigrants following Trump visit
Florida's controversial new immigration detention facility, dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz,' is set to begin holding its first group of detainees, just two days after US President Donald Trump visited the site. The centre, located deep in the Florida Everglades, has drawn national attention for its harsh location, rapid construction, and symbolism. According to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, 'Alligator Alcatraz will be checking in hundreds of criminal illegal aliens tonight. Next stop: back to where they came from,' he wrote on X. The exact timing and origin of the incoming detainees remain unclear, but officials confirmed they are being transported to the site by buses. The detention centre, located on an isolated airstrip used for training, is expected to begin operating with 500 to 1,000 beds within days. It will gradually expand in 500-bed increments to reach an estimated 5,000 by early July, according to a Trump administration official cited by AP. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who toured the site with Trump earlier this week, said the facility was built in just eight days. When fully operational, it will have the capacity to hold about 3,000 detainees, surrounded by 28,000 feet of barbed wire, over 200 security cameras, and 400 security personnel. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, as per AP that Florida completed the project faster and more cheaply than private contractors, calling it 'a real solution that we'll be able to use if we need to.' Immigrants arrested under the federal 287(g) program will be housed at the Everglades facility, a Trump administration official said. The program, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allows local law enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants for possible deportation. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the centre 'sends a strong message to migrants.' She added, 'There's only one road leading in, and the only way out is a one-way flight. It's isolated and surrounded by dangerous wildlife and unforgiving terrain.' During his visit on Tuesday, Trump made headlines for joking about escape scenarios. Touring the swampy, alligator-filled area, he said, 'We're going to teach them how to run away from an alligator if they escape prison. Don't run in a straight line. Run like this. Your chances go up about 1%.' Experts at the University of Florida have since clarified that running in a straight line is, in fact, the correct method if being chased by an alligator. The centre's location—roughly 80 km west of Miami—has sparked backlash from environmental groups and Native American tribes. Critics argue that the site, which sits in protected swampland, threatens the fragile Everglades ecosystem and is culturally insensitive, with tribes considering the land sacred. Trump's administration has faced criticism over proposed immigration detention ideas, including reusing Alcatraz and Guantánamo Bay, which were deemed too costly or impractical. The Everglades project, by contrast, was completed quickly and on a lower budget, according to state officials. Beyond immigration enforcement, 'Alligator Alcatraz' has become a potent political symbol. The Republican Party of Florida is already fundraising off the project, selling T-shirts and beer koozies branded with the facility's name. State and federal officials have also circulated memes online depicting alligators in ICE hats guarding the perimeter. (With inputs from AP)
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
'What are they waiting for?': Donald Trump erupts as US House dithers on 'beautiful bill'; warns of voter losses
File photo: US President Donald Trump (Picture credit: AP) US President Donald Trump has issued a blunt warning to Republicans in Congress, expressing frustration over delays in passing his sweeping tax and spending legislation. Posting on Truth Social early Thursday, Trump wrote: 'Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy. What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove??? MAGA is not happy, and it's costing you votes!!!' Trump's outburst came as Republican leaders in the House of Representatives struggled to rally enough support for a procedural vote needed to move the bill forward. Later, in a separate post, he urged Republicans to support the bill. "For Republicans, this should be an easy yes vote. Ridiculous!!!", he wrote. As per news agency AFP, House Speaker Mike Johnson kept the vote open for hours, desperately negotiating with holdouts behind the scenes. The bill had already passed the Senate by a single vote but must now return to the House for final approval due to changes made in the upper chamber. Nicknamed the 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' Trump's legislative package combines tax cuts with increased defence spending and billions set aside for mass deportation efforts. It also includes the largest reduction in Medicaid since the programme's inception in the 1960s and adds an estimated $3.4 trillion to the national deficit over a decade. Some House Republicans remain deeply divided. Fiscal conservatives object to the rising debt, while moderates fear the cuts could hurt their re-election chances, particularly with an estimated 17 million people at risk of losing health coverage and rural hospitals facing possible closure. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Despite mounting tensions, Speaker Johnson has stayed optimistic, telling reporters, 'We're going to get there tonight. We're working on it and very, very positive about our progress,' according to Politico. Trump, meanwhile, has taken a hands-on approach. According to CNN, he and Vice President JD Vance have held several meetings at the White House with sceptical Republicans. In a session aimed at centrist lawmakers, Trump's tone was described as 'cordial,' and Dr Mehmet Oz, now overseeing Medicaid, was brought in to explain how the bill's provisions would affect healthcare in members' districts. As per CNN, Rep Dusty Johnson of South Dakota said after one such meeting that members were indeed shifting their stance, 'Those meetings are having a big impact, members are moving to yes.' But some conservatives remain unmoved. Texas Republican Chip Roy, a key member of the Freedom Caucus, criticised the Senate's version, saying, 'We need more spending restraint.' His colleague, Rep. Andy Harris, outright refused to attend the White House talks, stating, 'I'm still voting no on the rule. We have to get this thing right.' Trump's allies believe passing the bill by his self-imposed July 4 deadline would solidify his second-term legacy, with promises such as no taxes on tips or overtime pay and work requirements for welfare recipients. However, delays caused by GOP infighting, flight disruptions, and rule vote resistance have made it difficult to stick to the timeline. The House Rules Committee did clear an early hurdle by advancing the bill late Tuesday, but prominent conservatives on the panel, including Reps. Ralph Norman and Chip Roy, voted with Democrats to oppose the measure. The stakes are high. House Republicans can only afford to lose three votes if all members are present.
