Netanyahu to hold late-night meeting on potential Gaza prisoner exchange deal
According to Channel 12, Netanyahu has summoned National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to participate in the meeting, which will address issues related to a captive exchange deal in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier, an 'Israeli' official claimed that Hamas is holding onto positions that prevent mediators from making progress toward an agreement, complicating ongoing negotiations.
The 'Israeli' official added that the current talks, whether with Qatari mediators or others, are facing difficulties finding common ground due to Hamas's hardline stances.
In a related development, Channel 12 reported that Tel Aviv is expected to present new maps defining the scope of withdrawal from Gaza, including control over the Morag axis, seen as an attempt to expand the negotiating space.
Channel 12 quoted a foreign informed source saying that the Israeli Occupation will hand over the new maps in response to a request from Qatari mediators who have been involved in the talks, noting that previous maps were unacceptable to Hamas and could have caused the negotiations to collapse entirely.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Bawaba
an hour ago
- Al Bawaba
Druze leader denies involvement in revenge attacks as Israeli-backed militias seize control in Suwayda
Published July 17th, 2025 - 03:30 GMT In a video statement coinciding with a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Al-Hijri emphasized the Druze community's commitment to coexistence and rejected collective blame. ALBAWABA- Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, the Israel-backed Druze spiritual leader in Suwayda, has publicly denied that his armed followers committed retaliatory acts against Bedouin tribes following the withdrawal of Syrian government forces from the governorate. Also Read Israel strikes near Damascus palace amid Druze protection pledge In a video statement coinciding with a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Al-Hijri emphasized the Druze community's commitment to coexistence and rejected collective blame. ⚡️🇮🇱BREAKING: Israel's PM Netanyahu vows to never allow the militarization of Southern Syria:'I want to update you on what we have done in Syria—and what we will do in Syria. We established a clear policy: the demilitarization of the area south of Damascus—from the Golan to… — Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) July 17, 2025 'Despite the painful attacks our community has suffered, we continue to uphold the values of tolerance,' Al-Hijri stated. 'Anyone committing acts of sabotage or provocation represents no one but himself. We reject sectarianism and any call for fragmentation.' ⚡️🇸🇾JUST IN: Israel-backed Druze militias under Hikmat al-Hijri killed Bedouin civilians, including women and children, looted homes, and forced many to flee after the Syrian army withdrew from Suwaida. — Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) July 17, 2025 His remarks follow widespread reports and video footage circulating on social media that show members of Bedouin tribes fleeing Suwayda amid claims of targeted violence by armed Druze factions. These events come after Syrian forces pulled out of the region as part of a local ceasefire agreement reached in Yestrday between Suwayda community leaders and state officials. The deal granted local forces authority over internal security in the province. Following the withdrawal, Druze fighters aligned with Al-Hijri reportedly took control of key areas in Suwayda. They raised the Druze flag, bearing the Star of David, a symbol increasingly used by pro-Israel Druze militias, over the governorate building, declaring their rejection of any renewed Syrian military presence south of Damascus. According to local sources, initial reports indicate that armed militias affiliated with Hikmat al-Hijri have carried out field executions resulting in the deaths of approximately 100 Bedouin tribespeople, including women and children. As-Suwayda, SyriaThursday, July 17, 2025 On July 17, 2025, disturbing reports emerged from As-Suwayda, Syria, alleging that militias affiliated with Hikmat al-Hijri, a prominent Druze leader, committed severe human rights violations 👇#السويداء #HekmatAlHajriMilitiaMassacre — Roba Alhakiem (@RAlhakiem) July 17, 2025 'What the regime did was send troops to kill our Druze brothers,' Al-Hijri said in his speech. 'So I instructed our forces to retaliate. The ceasefire came through force, not through negotiations.' Israeli support for Al-Hijri's forces appears to have intensified in last few days. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have reportedly provided air cover for Druze militias, targeting Syrian military convoys and blocking reinforcements near and inside Suwayda. Over the last 48 hours, IDF airstrikes have hit Syrian armored vehicles and convoys, while also targeting the gate of the Syrian military headquarters in Damascus in what sources describe as a 'warning shot.' Also Read Israeli forces strike Syrian tanks amid clashes in Suwayda Analysts describe the conflict as a key test for Ahmad Al-Shara's leadership, as Syrian forces face mounting casualties and growing regional pressure. Military analysts suggest Israel may escalate its air campaign further, potentially targeting government institutions, military headquarters, and launching selective assassinations against key regime figures, while continuing to back proxy militias on the ground. Reports of Bedouin families fleeing Suwayda toward Daraa have raised alarms over what some are calling an emerging ethnic cleansing campaign, as retaliatory violence intensifies. Despite the denial from Al-Hijri, the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate, with the fragile ceasefire hanging by a thread, and Suwayda increasingly becoming the epicenter of a regional showdown between Syrian forces and Israeli-backed militias. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Jordan News
2 hours ago
- Jordan News
Five Israeli Soldiers Injured in Gaza - Jordan News
Five Israeli Soldiers Injured in Gaza Israeli media confirmed on Thursday that five Israeli soldiers were injured during morning clashes in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, with two reported to be in critical condition. اضافة اعلان The Israeli army announced that two soldiers from the 202nd Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade sustained serious injuries during battles on Wednesday in the northern Gaza Strip. According to Israel's Channel 12, a reserve soldier from the elite Yahalom unit was moderately wounded by an unexploded ordnance detonation in central Gaza. Since the beginning of Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, the number of Israeli military fatalities has risen to 893, including 449 who were killed in ground battles inside Gaza. Additionally, 6,108 soldiers have been injured, according to the Israeli army's official website.
Roya News
2 hours ago
- Roya News
'Israel' evades responsibility after bombing Gaza Catholic church
The 'Israeli' military issued a brief statement confirming awareness of an attack on a church in Gaza City and announced it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. However, no further details or explanations were provided. 'The IDF makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them,' the statement added. According to 'Israeli' media, an investigation into the recent strike on the church in Gaza suggests that the damage may have been caused by either a tank shell or a drone. This recent strike on the Holy Family Church is not an isolated event. The 'Israeli' military has previously targeted the same church during ongoing hostilities. Additionally, earlier in the aggression, the Church of Saint Porphyrius, the oldest church in Gaza and the third oldest in the world, was also struck, resulting in casualties among families sheltering inside. Two women were killed and several others injured, including Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Latin Monastery Church, after an 'Israeli' artillery strike hit the Holy Family Church complex in Gaza on Thursday. The Holy Family Church is Gaza's sole Catholic church and has become a refuge for hundreds of displaced families amid the ongoing conflict. The attack occurred in the Zeitoun neighborhood, where many Palestinians sought shelter.
