Arab states call on Hamas to lay down arms and return hostages
'Things are happening there which have the potential to start to at least take the pressure off the horrible events which we are witnessing on a daily basis in Gaza,' Mr Hawker told Sky News Australia.
'Anthony Albanese will want to be part of the solution to those terrible problems.'
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Sydney Morning Herald
6 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Albanese seeks call with Netanyahu following Sydney, Melbourne protests
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is pursuing a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after 90,000 people marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge calling for an end to the war in Gaza and as pressure builds within Labor ranks for recognition of Palestinian statehood. Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite confirmed on Monday the call was being pursued, as Labor politicians backed the peaceful protest organised by the Palestine Action Group with at least three members of the federal caucus in attendance. Backbenchers Ed Husic, Alison Byrnes and Tony Sheldon marched with protesters on Sunday, putting further pressure on Albanese to recognise Palestine. Thistlethwaite condemned any forms of antisemitism or pro-Iran sentiments at the protest, telling Sky News people holding images of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei was wrong. Loading 'A phone call [with Netanyahu] is being pursued. I don't believe that people should have been displaying photos of the Ayatollah Khamenei. I think that's provocative,' he said. 'Nonetheless, Australians have the right to protest and, as long as you do it peacefully and in accordance with the law, which is what occurred on the weekend, then every Australian has the right to protest.' The government has repeatedly said that recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of timing. Allies in France, Canada and the United Kingdom have all laid the groundwork to recognise the state at the next United Nations General Assembly in September. Husic told ABC Radio National he hoped the government would immediately recognise a Palestinian state, arguing the protest sent a signal to Albanese that people want further action.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
US and Israeli officials float idea of ‘all or nothing' Gaza deal
Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration's special envoy to the Middle East, who is visiting the region, met with families of Israeli hostages on Saturday and told them that President Donald Trump now wants to see all the living hostages released at once. Loading 'No piecemeal deals, that doesn't work,' he said, according to an audio recording of part of the meeting published by the Ynet Hebrew news site. 'Now we think that we have to shift this negotiation to 'all or nothing' – everybody comes home,' he said. 'We have a plan around it,' he added, without elaborating. A participant in the meeting confirmed that Witkoff made such remarks. Israel and Hamas do not negotiate directly. Instead, negotiations for a ceasefire between the two sides have run through intermediaries: the United States, Qatar and Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump are said to be working on a new proposal that would involve presenting Hamas with an ultimatum, according to reports in the Israeli news media that were confirmed Sunday by a person familiar with the matter. The White House was not immediately available for comment. Under the terms of the ultimatum, Hamas would have to release the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and agree to terms to end the war that include the group's disarmament. Otherwise, the Israeli military would continue its campaign. 'This has been our demand from the beginning' Mahmoud Mardawi, a Hamas official, said the Palestinian armed group had yet to receive a formal Israeli proposal for a comprehensive deal from Arab mediators. He said that while Hamas supported such an agreement in principle, it would not disarm, which has long been a core Israeli condition. 'This has been our demand from the beginning: an end to the war, the release of prisoners, and day-after arrangements in the Gaza Strip – a clear and comprehensive deal,' Mardawi said in a phone interview. Loading The prospects of any rapid advancement toward such a deal appear dim. Hamas has consistently rejected Israel's terms for ending the war throughout the negotiations. On Saturday, the group said in a statement that it would not disarm unless a Palestinian state was established, despite a call from Arab states last week for the group to do so. The Israeli government opposes Palestinian statehood. On Sunday, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli national security minister, visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which Jews revere as the Temple Mount, long a tinderbox for Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Arab leaders denounced Ben-Gvir's ascent to the site – during which he openly prayed – as a provocation. 'It's important to convey from this place that we should immediately conquer Gaza, exercise our sovereignty there, and eliminate every last Hamas member,' Ben-Gvir said from the site, in a video shared by his office. Many Israelis say they support a comprehensive deal to return all the hostages and end the war. But many are sceptical that such a deal can be achieved under the conditions set by the hardline Israeli government, which has vowed to continue fighting until Hamas surrenders or is destroyed. On Sunday night, Netanyahu argued that Hamas 'does not want a deal' and vowed to press on in the attempt 'to release our captive sons, eliminate Hamas and ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel'. 'Give us victory' Given the firm positions of both sides, an Israeli and American push for a comprehensive deal may not bring an agreement closer, according to analysts. 'Hamas is essentially saying to Israel: 'If you want the 20 living hostages out, give us a full victory',' said Ehud Yaari, an Israel-based fellow of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, an independent research group. Hamas' terms are far beyond what Netanyahu would accept, Yaari said. But, he added, the prime minister 'has to keep convincing the Israeli public and his own voters that he is doing everything he can, and he has to reassure the families of the hostages'. Mardawi said that Hamas saw little reason to negotiate with Israel, given the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. 'What is the point of talks when people are dying of starvation?' he said.
The Age
6 minutes ago
- The Age
US and Israeli officials float idea of ‘all or nothing' Gaza deal
Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration's special envoy to the Middle East, who is visiting the region, met with families of Israeli hostages on Saturday and told them that President Donald Trump now wants to see all the living hostages released at once. Loading 'No piecemeal deals, that doesn't work,' he said, according to an audio recording of part of the meeting published by the Ynet Hebrew news site. 'Now we think that we have to shift this negotiation to 'all or nothing' – everybody comes home,' he said. 'We have a plan around it,' he added, without elaborating. A participant in the meeting confirmed that Witkoff made such remarks. Israel and Hamas do not negotiate directly. Instead, negotiations for a ceasefire between the two sides have run through intermediaries: the United States, Qatar and Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump are said to be working on a new proposal that would involve presenting Hamas with an ultimatum, according to reports in the Israeli news media that were confirmed Sunday by a person familiar with the matter. The White House was not immediately available for comment. Under the terms of the ultimatum, Hamas would have to release the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and agree to terms to end the war that include the group's disarmament. Otherwise, the Israeli military would continue its campaign. 'This has been our demand from the beginning' Mahmoud Mardawi, a Hamas official, said the Palestinian armed group had yet to receive a formal Israeli proposal for a comprehensive deal from Arab mediators. He said that while Hamas supported such an agreement in principle, it would not disarm, which has long been a core Israeli condition. 'This has been our demand from the beginning: an end to the war, the release of prisoners, and day-after arrangements in the Gaza Strip – a clear and comprehensive deal,' Mardawi said in a phone interview. Loading The prospects of any rapid advancement toward such a deal appear dim. Hamas has consistently rejected Israel's terms for ending the war throughout the negotiations. On Saturday, the group said in a statement that it would not disarm unless a Palestinian state was established, despite a call from Arab states last week for the group to do so. The Israeli government opposes Palestinian statehood. On Sunday, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli national security minister, visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which Jews revere as the Temple Mount, long a tinderbox for Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Arab leaders denounced Ben-Gvir's ascent to the site – during which he openly prayed – as a provocation. 'It's important to convey from this place that we should immediately conquer Gaza, exercise our sovereignty there, and eliminate every last Hamas member,' Ben-Gvir said from the site, in a video shared by his office. Many Israelis say they support a comprehensive deal to return all the hostages and end the war. But many are sceptical that such a deal can be achieved under the conditions set by the hardline Israeli government, which has vowed to continue fighting until Hamas surrenders or is destroyed. On Sunday night, Netanyahu argued that Hamas 'does not want a deal' and vowed to press on in the attempt 'to release our captive sons, eliminate Hamas and ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel'. 'Give us victory' Given the firm positions of both sides, an Israeli and American push for a comprehensive deal may not bring an agreement closer, according to analysts. 'Hamas is essentially saying to Israel: 'If you want the 20 living hostages out, give us a full victory',' said Ehud Yaari, an Israel-based fellow of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, an independent research group. Hamas' terms are far beyond what Netanyahu would accept, Yaari said. But, he added, the prime minister 'has to keep convincing the Israeli public and his own voters that he is doing everything he can, and he has to reassure the families of the hostages'. Mardawi said that Hamas saw little reason to negotiate with Israel, given the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. 'What is the point of talks when people are dying of starvation?' he said.
