Israeli negotiators due in Qatar for Gaza truce talks
Netanyahu had earlier announced he was sending a team to Qatar, a key mediator in the conflict, though he said that Hamas's response to a draft US-backed ceasefire deal included some "unacceptable" demands.
Faced with mounting calls to end the war that is nearing its 22nd month, Netanyahu is due to meet on Monday with US President Donald Trump, who has been making a renewed push to end the fighting.
On Saturday, protesters gathered in Israel's coastal hub of Tel Aviv for a weekly rally demanding the return of hostages still in the Gaza Strip since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war.
Macabit Mayer, the aunt of captives Gali and Ziv Berman, called for a deal "that saves everyone".
Hamas said Friday it was ready "to engage immediately and seriously" in negotiations.
A statement from Netanyahu's office said that "the changes that Hamas is seeking to make in the Qatari proposal... are unacceptable to Israel", while also sending negotiators to discuss "the Qatari proposal that Israel has agreed to".
On the ground, Gaza's civil defence agency said 14 people were killed by Israeli forces on Sunday.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency.
Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military said it could not comment on specific strikes without precise coordinates.
- 60-day truce -
Hamas has not publicly detailed its responses to the US-sponsored proposal, which was transmitted by mediators from Qatar and Egypt.
Two Palestinian sources close to the discussions told AFP the proposal included a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and several bodies in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel.
However, they said, the group was also demanding certain conditions for Israel's withdrawal, guarantees against a resumption of fighting during negotiations, and the return of the UN-led aid distribution system.
Since the Hamas attack sparked a massive Israeli offensive with the aim of destroying the group, mediators have brokered two temporary halts in fighting, during which hostages were freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.
Of the 251 hostages taken by Palestinian militants during the October 2023 attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.
The Egyptian foreign ministry said Saturday that top diplomat Badr Abdelatty held a phone call with Washington's main representative in the truce talks, Steve Witkoff, to discuss "preparations for holding indirect meetings between the two parties concerned to reach an agreement".
But recent efforts to broker a new truce have repeatedly failed, with the primary point of contention being Israel's rejection of Hamas's demand for a lasting ceasefire.
The war has created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip.
- 'Dying for flour' -
Karima al-Ras, from Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, said "we hope that a truce will be announced" to allow in more aid.
"People are dying for flour," she said.
A US- and Israel-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, took the lead in food distribution in the territory in late May, when Israel partially lifted a more than two-month blockade on aid deliveries.
UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.
UN human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said Friday that more than 500 people have been killed waiting to access food from GHF distribution points.
The Hamas attack of October 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 57,338 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.
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Bangkok Post
26 minutes ago
- Bangkok Post
Trump to host Netanyahu, hopes for Israel-Hamas deal 'this week'
WASHINGTON - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will on Monday meet US President Donald Trump, who expressed hope for a "deal this week" between Israel and Hamas that sees hostages released from the Gaza Strip. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas began on Sunday evening in Doha, aiming to broker a ceasefire and reach an agreement on the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Trump said Sunday there was a "good chance" of reaching an agreement. "We've gotten a lot of the hostages out, but pertaining to the remaining hostages, quite a few of them will be coming out," he told journalists. Netanyahu, speaking before boarding his flight to Washington on Sunday, said his meeting with Trump could "definitely help advance this" deal. The US president is pushing for a truce in the Gaza Strip, plunged into a humanitarian crisis after nearly two years of war. Netanyahu said he dispatched the team to Doha with "clear instructions" to reach an agreement "under the conditions that we have agreed to." He previously said Hamas's response to a draft US-backed ceasefire proposal, conveyed through Qatari and Egyptian mediators, contained "unacceptable" demands. - 'Important mission' - Two Palestinian sources close to the discussions told AFP the proposal included a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and several bodies in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel. However, they said, the group was also demanding certain conditions for Israel's withdrawal, guarantees against a resumption of fighting during negotiations, and the return of the UN-led aid distribution system. Netanyahu has an "important mission" in Washington, "advancing a deal to bring all our hostages home," Israeli President Isaac Herzog said after meeting him Sunday. Trump is not scheduled to meet the Israeli premier until 6.30 pm Monday (5.30am Tuesday in Bangkok), the White House said, without the usual presence of journalists. Of the 251 hostages taken by Palestinian militants during the 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Since Hamas's October 2023 attack sparked the massive Israeli offensive in Gaza, mediators have brokered two temporary halts in the fighting. They have seen hostages freed in exchange for some of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. Recent efforts to broker a new truce have repeatedly failed, with the primary point of contention being Israel's rejection of Hamas's demand for a lasting ceasefire. - Enough blood - In Gaza, the territory's civil defense agency reported 26 people killed by Israeli forces on Sunday, 10 of them in a strike in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. "We are losing young people, families and children every day, and this must stop now," Sheikh Radwan resident Osama al-Hanawi told AFP. "Enough blood has been shed." Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defense agency. Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military said it could not comment on specific strikes without precise coordinates. The war has created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip. A US- and Israel-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), took the lead in food distribution in the territory in late May, when Israel partially lifted a more than two-month blockade on aid deliveries. But its operations have had a chaotic rollout, with repeated reports of aid seekers killed near its facilities while awaiting rations. UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives. The UN human rights office said last week that more than 500 people have been killed waiting to access food from GHF distribution points. The Gaza health ministry on Sunday placed that toll even higher, at 751 killed. Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 57,418 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.
Bangkok Post
10 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Thailand holds its breath
The Thai business sector remains optimistic that tariff negotiations with the US can yield a favourable outcome after Vietnam recently made headlines by securing a 20% tariff rate on shipments to the US along with a waiver on import duties for American products. Thailand is part of a group of key trading partners, including Japan, the European Union (EU) and South Korea, still awaiting final decisions ahead of a July 9 deadline US President Donald Trump imposed back in April for negotiations. Under the terms of the US-Vietnam tariff agreement, Washington is imposing a 40% levy on goods that originate from third countries but are routed through Vietnam, a measure widely seen as curbing Chinese efforts to bypass tariffs. Economists say Thailand may have a competitive edge in its negotiations with the US, as it already enforces mechanisms to prevent such practices. TRUMP'S REAL TARGET Nattapol Kamthakrua, director of securities analysis at Yuanta Securities (Thailand), said Trump's real intention with reciprocal tariffs seems to be blocking China's growth and isolating the mainland. "That's why I believe Thailand holds a competitive advantage when compared with Vietnam because Thailand was among the first countries in the world to introduce measures to prevent China from using our country to obtain a preferred tariff rate for exports to the US," he said. Vietnam did not impose such measures to obstruct Beijing from using the country's low manufacturing capability for exports, said Mr Nattapol. In addition, Thailand's trade surplus with the US is lower than that of Vietnam, he said. Mr Nattapol said S-curve industries may consider investment in Vietnam instead of Thailand given that nation's competitive labour costs. Yet Thailand still holds a competitive advantage in terms of infrastructure development. Victor Ngo, chief executive of UOB Vietnam, said the US tariff has triggered "a sense of urgency, where firms are seizing the opportunity to expand to new geographic markets". Vietnam's government is stable and is pushing to develop the country, aiming to accelerate economic growth, he said. "Vietnam is still relevant as a cost-effective and productive investment destination. The country repositioned itself for the next phase of growth into a high-income country by 2030," said Mr Ngo. Sompop Manarungsan, president of Panyapiwat Institute of Management, said Thailand is probably not a target of US reciprocal measures. He assessed the US goal as trying to get Thailand to offer the most proposals and concessions that are beneficial to the US in negotiations. "The real test is how our products compete with those from other countries after we implement cost management, which each country will handle differently," said Mr Sompop. He said if the US administration is prudent, it is unlikely to impose a discriminatory tariff rate on Thailand that significantly differs from countries, as doing so would not benefit the US in terms of diplomacy or the management of international relations. Thailand is not a major competitor of the US, such as China, the EU, or even Canada and Mexico. Likewise, countries closely aligned with US rivals, such Laos and Cambodia, which have strong ties with China, might face more scrutiny from Washington, said Mr Sompop. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he wants to wrap up all tariff agreements by Sept 1, which is the US Labor Day, announcing them at that time. The US is expected to maintain the 10% baseline tariff rate until the end of August, except for countries deemed uncooperative, which may be singled out as examples to deter others, said Mr Sompop. "I believe countries that are not US adversaries will ultimately receive tariff rates within a similar range," he said. POTENTIAL LOSERS Aat Pisanwanich, an analyst in international economics and advisor on Asean affairs at Intelligence Research Consultant, said the US's new tariff policy will impact both industrial and agricultural products from Thailand. Based on Thailand's trade surplus with the US in 2023, industrial items will face a greater impact because roughly 90% of Thailand's exports are industrial products, he said. Specific industrial goods under threat include telecom equipment, computers and data processing systems, machinery parts, tyres, electronic equipment and semiconductors, transformers and power supply devices, motors and engines, rubber products, and electrical appliances. Agricultural products such as rice and rice-based products, fresh and dried fruit, fruit and plant juices, and fresh and processed vegetables may also experience significant impacts, according to Mr Aat. If the US imposes the same tariff rates on all countries in the region, Thai exports might struggle to compete based on higher production costs and less effective marketing strategies in the US, he said. Conversely, if the US imposes different tariff rates on different countries, Thai exports could face serious challenges if tariffs on Thai products are higher than those from other Southeast Asian nations, said Mr Aat. If Thai tariff rates are lower than those of its peers, the effect on exports to the US should be minimal, he said. Proposals from countries in the region offer options to reduce trade deficits with the US while yielding broader economic benefits, said Mr Aat. Should Thailand be hit with higher tariffs than its competitors, he urged Thai manufacturers to reduce production costs and called for government initiatives to support this goal. "We should establish more distribution centres for Thai products in the US, and exporters should diversify into other markets to reduce reliance on the US," said Mr Aat. "More distribution centres will provide US consumers with better access to Thai products." For instance, in Virginia Vietnamese businesses established retail and wholesale outlets similar to Makro to sell fruit and processed agricultural products. Dhanakorn Kasetrsuwan, chairman of the Thai National Shippers' Council (TNSC), said higher tariffs from the US could significantly impact Thailand's automotive and auto parts industry. Without a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US, Thai auto parts could be damaged by US protectionist measures targeting products from nations that lack such agreements, he said. Primary competitors of Thailand such as Mexico, South Korea and Vietnam all benefit from trade agreements with the US or lower labour costs. Electrical appliances and electronics could also face a severe impact, as major Thai exports to the US such as rice cookers, air conditioners and washing machines would likely lose their competitive edge to Vietnam and Mexico if tariff rates increase, said Mr Dhanakorn. Thai exports of furniture and household items to the US ramped up amid the US-China trade war. These sectors face stiff competition from Vietnam, which benefits from certain tariff exemptions and lower labour costs. Rubber products, including gloves and tyres, are also at risk, especially if the US imposes anti-dumping or countervailing duties, which could impact exports. Malaysia and Indonesia are significant competitors in this field. Processed agricultural goods, such as frozen foods and canned fruit, may come under scrutiny for relying on inexpensive labour, raising fair trade concerns that may affect US tariffs, according to the TNSC. ADDRESSING CHALLENGES In the future, Mr Dhanakorn said digital trade taxes and tariffs linked to environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns could create new challenges, pressuring Thailand in these areas. To address these challenges, he said Thailand must pursue an FTA with the US. An alternative could be developing another version of the Generalized System of Preferences, along with a trade framework that creates a foundation for dialogue and mitigates risks, said Mr Dhanakorn. He said Thailand should gather data on comprehensive production costs and ESG to address claims of labour exploitation and environmental harm. Transparency within agricultural and labour-intensive supply chains is vital, while implementing traceability systems will demonstrate Thailand's dedication to preventing illegal transshipment and promoting responsible supply chain practices, said Mr Dhanakorn. He also suggested Thai exporters explore opportunities in the Middle East, China and South Asia. Some production activities may need to be shifted to countries with existing FTAs with the US, said Mr Dhanakorn. Thai producers should focus on developing innovative and high-quality products to offset rising costs, he said. Supant Mongkolsuthree, chairman of IT product distributor Synnex (Thailand) and former chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, said Thailand cannot shoulder more troubles as it struggles with a domestic political squabble and a tourism slowdown. He said manufacturers should seek new markets to reduce dependence on the US. Mr Supant said Southeast Asia would be a good start, as Thailand can generate economic value via exports to these countries or through border trade with neighbouring countries, though the nation remains at odds with Cambodia. Other potential markets for Thailand include Islamic countries with demand for halal products, as well as target customers in niche markets, said Passakorn Chairat, director-general of the Office of Industrial Economics. "We have to think of new business opportunities in an aged society and among unmarried consumers who like functional food," he said. VIETNAM PERSPECTIVE Tran Phuoc Anh, Vietnamese ambassador to Singapore, said Vietnam received a good tariff deal with the US. "While some observers may have a different perspective, I believe this is a good, balanced trade deal, acceptable to all parties," he said at a Singapore conference entitled "Asean Integration in a Multipolar World", co-hosted by United Overseas Bank (UOB). Vietnam finds itself at a strategic crossroads, geopolitically, economically and diplomatically, said Mr Tran. "The geopolitical position of Vietnam is very important, because we connect with the major economic regions in the world. Coupled with our political stability, this has made Vietnam an attractive partner in the global economy," he said. The country has signed 16 FTAs, including international groupings such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the EU-Vietnam FTA. "The strategic supply chain is well-diversified," said Mr Tran. Vietnam has appealed to global manufacturers seeking stability, cost efficiency and skilled human resources, with Samsung, Apple, Lego and Foxconn all expanding their footprint in the country, he said. "Despite headwinds from global inflation and trade fragmentation, Vietnam recently posted 7.1% GDP growth, and we are determined to record 8% growth this year and double digits the following year," said Mr Tran. According to UOB's Mr Ngo, the US is the top export market for Vietnam, accounting for 30% of its exports in 2024, followed by China at 16%, South Korea 7% and Japan 6%. "Based on our assessment, there are four sectors that face the greatest impact from the US tariff: electronics, textiles and footwear, wood and furniture," he said.
Bangkok Post
11 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
BRICS gather in Rio as Trump tariff wars loom
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL) - BRICS leaders descended on sunny Rio de Janeiro Sunday, ready to issue a dark warning that US President Donald Trump's "indiscriminate" import tariffs risk hurting the global economy. The 11 emerging nations -- including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- represent about half the world's population and 40 percent of global economic output. The bloc is divided about much, but has found common cause when it comes to the mercurial US leader and his stop-start tariff wars. The BRICS are set to voice "serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures," warning they are illegal and arbitrary, according to a draft summit statement obtained by AFP. In April, Trump threatened allies and rivals alike with a slew of punitive duties, but abruptly offered a reprieve in the face of a fierce market sell-off. Trump and his Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, have warned they will again impose unilateral levies on partners unless they reach "deals" by August 1. The BRICS will warn that such moves break world trade rules, "threaten to further reduce global trade" and are "affecting the prospects for global economic development." The draft summit declaration does not mention the United States or its president by name, but it is a clear political volley directed at the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The Peterson Institute for International Economics, a Washington think tank, estimates Trump's tariffs could trim about two points off US GDP and hit economies from Mexico to the oil-rich Arabian Gulf. - No show - Conceived two decades ago as a forum for fast-growing economies, the BRICS have come to be seen as a Chinese-driven counterbalance to Western power. But as the group has expanded to include Iran, Indonesia and others, it has struggled to reach meaningful consensus on issues ranging from the Gaza war to reforming international institutions. The political punch of this year's summit has been depleted by the absence of China's Xi Jinping, who is skipping the meeting for the first time in his 12 years as president. The Chinese leader will not be the only notable absentee. War crime-indicted Russian President Vladimir Putin is also opting to stay away, but participated via video link. He told counterparts that the influence of BRICS "continues to grow" and said the bloc had become a key player in global governance. Still, Xi's no-show is a blow to BRICS and to host President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who wants Brazil to play a bigger role on the world stage. On Sunday he welcomed leaders to Rio's stunning Guanabara Bay, telling them that multilateralism was under attack, while hitting out at NATO and Israel, among others. He accused the trans-Atlantic defense organization of fueling an international arms race through a pledge by members to spend five percent of GDP on defense. "It is always easier to invest in war than in peace," he said, while accusing Israel of carrying out a "genocide" in Gaza. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose nation is still reeling from a 12-day conflict with Israel, is also skipping the meeting, but he was represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. A source familiar with summit negotiations said Iran had sought a tougher condemnation of Israel and the United States over their recent bombing of Iranian military, nuclear and other sites. But one diplomatic source said the text would give the "same message" that BRICS delivered last month.
