US 'satisfied' with Lebanese response to Hezbollah disarmament proposal, and Israel-Houthi crossfire
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The National
23 minutes ago
- The National
Donald Trump wants Gaza ceasefire to automatically extend
US President Donald Trump wants the proposed ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza to lead to a permanent end to the war, with the two-month timeline at the core of the deal automatically extending. That desire was relayed during a meeting between White House Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Monday, a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The National. The proposed deal has a 60-day time frame, but Mr Trump wants that to automatically extend. 'This ceasefire, even though it's for 60 days, it will be automatically guaranteed to continue until such time that negotiations between two parties lead to a permanent resolution,' the official said. Mr Trump, who took office in January, campaigned on a promise to bring peace to the Middle East. He also wants to see Israel sign additional normalisation agreements under the Abraham Accords. But attempts to end the 21-month war in Gaza have dragged on even as Israel has reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble. A two-month truce that took effect on January 19 collapsed in March, and there is ample concern that fighting would resume after a new ceasefire expires. Israeli and US officials are wary of a permanent ceasefire due to concerns that Hamas would rearm, develop weapons or conduct attacks on Israel, the official said. Continuing negotiations are currently focused on two additional issues, the official added: the entry of humanitarian aid and the redeployment of Israeli troops. The issue of aid was 'effectively resolved' on Monday, though officials are still discussing the volume of aid that would enter, and the mechanisms. Israel had wanted to expand the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to the official, referring to the controversial US-Israeli backed group that began disbursing food five weeks ago. About 550 people have been killed near its aid centres while seeking food, many from live fire, according to Gaza health authorities. The GHF and the White House have denied the deaths took place in the immediate vicinity of the aid sites. The official said the UN and other international organisations will be charged with aid distribution during the ceasefire. The third issue is the reposting of Israeli troops. The official said that Israel had shown maps whereby they would have the right to enter Gaza up to 6.5km from its borders. 'This was a non-starter for Hamas,' the official said, noting that the coastal enclave is only about 10km wide. The proposed deal in Gaza, in addition to the two-month truce, would crucially include the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons. The seeming progress comes as Mr Netanyahu is in Washington this week on his third US trip since Mr Trump took office on January 20. Mr Trump said the talks, which are aimed to bring an end to the 21-months old conflict were going along ' very well '. Israel and Hamas were holding indirect talks for a third day in Qatar. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told reporters on Tuesday that mediators 'will need time' to reach a deal. Qatar and Egypt, along with the US, are mediating the talks. Mr Witkoff is expected to head to Doha this week, the White House said. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages. Israel launched a large-scale military offensive in Gaza in response, which has killed more than 57,500 Palestinians and injured more than 135,000 others.
The National
37 minutes ago
- The National
Sheikh Mohamed's talks with Al Shara show commitment to Syria's progress, Dr Anwar Gargash says
, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed, on Tuesday spoke of the importance of Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara's visit to the Emirates as his country rebuilds after more than a decade of civil war. Talks between Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Al Shara in Abu Dhabi on Monday came at a "pivotal stage" in Syria's history, Dr Gargash said on X. Sheikh Mohamed set out the UAE's "steadfast support" for the Syrian people and all efforts to promote development and stability in the country, during discussions at Al Shati Palace. The Syrian leader expressed his thanks to Sheikh Mohamed for the UAE's support and his commitment to bolstering ties between the nations. Dr Gargash said the meeting – the second between the two leaders in the UAE since Mr Al Shara came to power – embodied "the depth of fraternal relations and affirms the UAE's commitment to Syria's success in this pivotal stage". "The economic and developmental axis was at the core of this meeting, while the inspiring success of the large Syrian community in the UAE, numbering approximately 400,000 people, represents one of the keys to co-operation and the UAE's pivotal role," said Dr Gargash, who was among the Emirati delegation at the meeting. "Economic and developmental success is capable of setting Syria on the path to recovery and prosperity." Mr Al Shara, who led the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham rebel group that ousted Syria's former president Bashar Al Assad, is looking to improve relations with Arab neighbours and Gulf states following the civil war. During his first trip to the UAE April, he wads received by Sheikh Mohamed, who pledged support for Syria's reconstruction.
The National
41 minutes ago
- The National
Two killed in Israeli strike on north Lebanon
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to head to Doha for Gaza truce talks Israel plans to put 600,000 Gazans in 'humanitarian city' on Rafah ruins Five Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza as ceasefire talks grind on Magic Seas vessel has sunk in Red Sea, say Houthis US envoy hails Lebanese response to proposal on Hezbollah disarmament At least 57,575 Palestinians killed and 136,879 wounded since Gaza war began
