Gaza truce talk: Hamas agrees partial hostage release in 'difficult' truce talks
The Islamist group's statement came after four days of indirect talks brokered by Qatar and as the United States signalled its belief that agreement for a 60-day truce would be struck before the end of the week.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said part of the deal would be the return of 10 living hostages held by militants since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war.
Of 251 hostages seized during the assault on Israeli border communities near Gaza, 49 are still held in the territory, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.
In its statement, Hamas said key hurdles remained in the talks, notably the free flow of aid into Gaza, Israeli military withdrawal from the territory and "real guarantees" for a lasting peace.
But it added: "The movement displayed the required flexibility and agreed to release 10 prisoners (hostages).
"Despite the difficulty of negotiations over these issues until now due to the intransigence of the occupation, we continue to work seriously and with a positive spirit with the mediators to overcome the hurdles and end the suffering of our people and ensure their aspirations to freedom, safety and a dignified life."
Israel earlier appeared to fall in behind U.S. President Donald Trump and his optimism for an end to the conflict, as the talks in Doha stretched into a fourth day with reported complaints on its stance on aid.
Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir said in a televised address that military action had prepared the ground for a deal that would bring home the Israeli hostages.
Netanyahu, who after talks with Trump in Washington on Tuesday night was still uncompromising in his determination to crush Hamas, said he believed an agreement was on the horizon.
"I think we're getting closer to a deal," he told FOX Business Network's Mornings with Maria programme. "There's a good chance that we'll have it."
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also said he thought a temporary deal was "achievable" and could even herald talks for a more lasting peace, while President Isaac Herzog talked of "a historic opportunity" for change.
"We are in an era of tectonic shifts, where the global balance of power and the regional strategic landscape are being reshaped," Herzog said.
"We must not miss this moment."
'Gaza will not surrender'
Netanyahu is insistent he wants to permanently neutralise the threat to Israel from Hamas.
But he is under increasing pressure at home and abroad to end the war, particularly as the death toll of soldiers killed by homemade bombs and ambushes in Gaza increases.
The military announced on Wednesday (July 9, 2025) another soldier had been killed in combat in Gaza.
Hamas has vowed "Gaza will not surrender".
One Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations in Doha said the Israeli delegation was "mostly listening rather than negotiating, which reflects Netanyahu's ongoing policy of obstruction and sabotaging any potential agreement".
The militant group had previously rebuffed pressure to release all the hostages, demanding an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel wants to ensure militants in Gaza never again threaten its security.
Qatari mediators had warned on Tuesday it would take time to seal a deal.
Explosion continues in Gaza
On the ground, Gaza's civil defence agency said Wednesday (July 9, 2025) 26 people were killed in Israeli strikes, at least six of them children.
"The explosion was massive, like an earthquake," said Zuhair Judeh, 40, who witnessed one of the strikes, which prompted frantic scenes as people scrabbled in the rubble for survivors.
"The bodies and remains of the martyrs were scattered," he added, calling it "a horrific massacre".
In response to an AFP request for comment on a strike on the Al-Shati camp near Gaza City, the Israeli military said it "struck a number of Hamas terrorists".
Due to restrictions imposed on media in the Gaza Strip and difficulties accessing the area, AFP is unable to independently verify the death tolls and details shared by the parties involved.
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 57,680 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Israel says Hamas starving hostages; UNSC says Israel starving Palestinians
Israel called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday to demand the release of its emaciated hostages, including one seen digging his own grave. Their plight drew widespread sympathy -- but the 2 million Palestinians starving in Gaza got even more. Not only the Palestinians but most council members blamed the Israeli government and military for the two-month blockade of Gaza and failure to allow enough food into the conflict-wracked territory, where its health ministry has reported over 100 deaths from starvation, including many children. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who flew to New York to attend the council meeting, accused Russia and other unnamed council members as well as the international media of perpetuating "so many lies". He pointed to Hamas and Islamic Jihad's starvation of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks in southern Israel "while the terrorists enjoy meat, fish and vegetables". Saar insisted that Israel is facilitating "huge amounts of aid into Gaza", accusing Hamas of looting the food and other items and using it as "a financial tool" to sell and make money. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has said there is no evidence of this. Israel's top diplomat also accused the Palestinians of inventing terrorism, and Hamas of wanting to continue the war against Israel instead of reaching a ceasefire. "The world has been turned upside down while Hamas runs its propaganda machine," Saar said. It is "a world in which Israel is put on a bench of the accused while it fights for its survival. There is a name for it. It is called antisemitism." Testimony came from Israeli hostages' relatives Itay David, the older brother of emaciated hostage Evyatar David, who was pictured over the weekend in a Gaza tunnel saying he was digging his own grave, urged the Security Council: "Do not let them die. We do not have time. Do not let them spend another minute in darkness." Calling his brother "a living skeleton", Itay urged the 15 council members in a video briefing to get humanitarian aid to the hostages, saying they are being broken psychologically and physically by Hamas and denied "the most basic necessities of life". British UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward reiterated the country's support for the immediate release of all hostages and condemned parading them for propaganda purposes as a "depraved" act. "Hamas and its terrorist ideologies can have no place in the future governance of Gaza and should never again threaten Israel's security," she said. Woodward recalled the hopeful ceasefire earlier this year when hostages were released and the UN was able to send large amounts of aid into Gaza. "Since the ceasefire ended, the suffering of the hostages and Palestinian civilians has plumbed to new and shocking depths," she said. "Israel's aid restrictions have led to famine now unfolding in Gaza," as reported by international experts who monitor famine globally. Woodward said she spoke to doctors last week who had served in Gaza. "They had seen children so malnourished that their wounds festered for months without healing," she said, and saw baby formula confiscated by the Israeli military. "I call on Israel now to act to alleviate the horrendous suffering," she said. Discussion focussed on both sides Sierra Leone's UN ambassador, Michael Imran Kanu, commended Itay David's advocacy for his brother and the hostages, condemned their "inhumane treatment" and said Hamas' hostage-taking is a war crime that must be prosecuted. But, said Kanu, "One atrocity cannot justify another." "While we express deep concern for the hostages, we cannot ignore the wider humanitarian catastrophe that has engulfed Gaza," he said. "The people of Gaza have been subjected to a blockade and siege that deprived them of food, water, fuel and medical supplies," which could also constitute a war crime. Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea said President Donald Trump has recognised "real starvation" in Gaza and the United States is working to get assistance to civilians. She urged "those who have professed concern about the reported risk of famine" to support the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli-backed American contractor, which she said reported delivering more than 1.5 million (15 lakh) meals on Sunday. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed trying to get to its four food-distribution sites. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN ambassador, acknowledged "the distressing, unacceptable video" of 24-year-old Evyatar David, saying, "We reject all inhumane and degrading treatment against anyone, especially persons held in captivity." But in a strong rebuke, he said, "Israel is demanding the world to take a stance against starvation when it is actually starving an entire civilian population, when it is shooting at them while they seek water and food. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
News18
11 minutes ago
- News18
Donald Trump Plans To 'Take Over' Gaza Aid Effort Amid Hunger Crisis: Report
Last Updated: Donald Trump is reportedly planning to expand his involvement in managing humanitarian aid to Gaza, citing worsening starvation and inadequate Israeli response. Donald Trump is reportedly mulling a significant increase in his role in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Axios quoted two US officials and an Israeli official as saying that the US President discussed such plans with special envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting earlier this week. According to the report, Witkoff flew in from Miami to meet Trump for dinner on Monday. He had been to Israel and Gaza before that. A US official told the publication that during Trump's meeting with Witkoff, it was decided that the Trump administration would 'take over" management of the humanitarian effort in Gaza, because Israel isn't handling it adequately. Trump is 'not thrilled" about the idea of the US taking charge, 'but it kind of has to happen," the official was quoted as saying. 'There doesn't seem to be another way," the official added. 'The starvation problem in Gaza is getting worse. Donald Trump does not like that. He does not want babies to starve. He wants mothers to be able to nurse their children. He's becoming fixated on that," the official continued. The report also quoted another US official as saying that the administration will be careful not to get dragged too deeply into the Gaza crisis. 'The President doesn't want to see the US being the only country throwing money at this problem. It's a global problem. And he's been tasking Witkoff and others to make sure everyone is stepping up, our European friends and our Arab friends," the official said. An Israeli official, commenting on the development, told the publication, 'They are going to spend a lot of money in order to help us significantly improve the humanitarian situation so that it will be less of an issue." Since March, when Israel ended a ceasefire in its war with Hamas and halted all imports, the situation has grown increasingly dire in the territory of some 2 million Palestinians. International experts are now warning of a 'worst-case scenario of famine" in Gaza. Under heavy international pressure, Israel last week announced measures to let more aid into Gaza. Though aid groups say it's still not enough, getting even that amount from the border crossings to the people who need it is difficult and extremely dangerous, the drivers said. On Monday, thousands of people packed the road as two trucks entered southern Gaza. Young men overwhelmed the trucks, standing on the cabs' roofs, dangling from the sides and clambering over each other onto the truck beds to grab boxes even as the trucks slowly kept driving. Meanwhile, the United Nations does not accept protection from Israeli forces, saying it would violate its rules of neutrality, and said that given the urgent need for aid, it would accept that hungry people were going to grab food off the back of the trucks as long as they weren't violent. view comments First Published: News world Donald Trump Plans To 'Take Over' Gaza Aid Effort Amid Hunger Crisis: Report Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
33 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Netanyahu says Israel must complete defeat of Hamas to free hostages
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) that Israel must 'complete' the defeat of Hamas in Gaza to secure the release of the remaining hostages, days ahead of a cabinet meeting to discuss an updated war plan. Recent footage of weak and emaciated captives has sparked outrage in Israel, while United Nations (U.N.) experts also warn of an unfolding famine for Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli media have said the premier is considering ordering the total occupation of Gaza, even as international pressure mounts for him to end the war, with a senior U.N. official warning on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) that expanding the fighting risked 'catastrophic consequences'. 'It is necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, to free all our hostages and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,' Mr. Netanyahu said during a visit to an army training facility. His office later said he had held a three-hour 'security discussion' with army chief Eyal Zamir but did not disclose any new war plans. The premier's office has said the security cabinet will convene later in the week to approve new instructions. Citing cabinet members, public broadcaster Kan said Mr. Netanyahu had 'decided to extend the fight to areas where hostages might be held'. But some major media outlets, such as Channel 12, have suggested that the rumoured expansion of operations might only be a negotiating tactic. While the reported plan has not been approved, it has already drawn angry reactions from the Palestinian Authority and Gaza's Hamas-run government. Hamas insisted such a move would not shift its position in ceasefire talks, demanding the withdrawal of all forces from Gaza. 'The ball is in the hands of... (Israel) and the Americans,' senior Hamas official Hossam Badran told AFP, adding that the militant group wanted to 'end the war and the famine'. U.N. assistant secretary-general Miroslav Jenca told the Security Council on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) that a widening of the war 'would risk catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages'. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar was also in New York, attending a Security Council meeting on the plight of the hostages. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) expressed disgust over the videos released by Hamas, one of which showed an emaciated Israeli hostage purportedly digging his own grave. 'I hope a lot of people do get to see it, as bad as it is, because I think it's a horrible thing,' Mr. Trump told reporters. 'Agreement must be reached' Over the war's 22 months, Israeli forces have devastated large parts of the Gaza Strip, where a humanitarian crisis has taken hold. The war was sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on official figures. Palestinian militants also seized 251 hostages, 49 of whom remain held in Gaza including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. The Israeli offensive has killed at least 61,020 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Mr. Netanyahu has faced growing pressure on several fronts. Domestically, families of hostages are demanding a ceasefire to bring their loved one's home. And around the world, there are increasing calls for a truce to allow food into a starving Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) said it was 'ready to bring in medicine, food and family news for the hostages in Gaza', and to 'scale up the delivery of life-saving aid safely to civilians'. But 'to do this, an agreement must be reached between Israel and Hamas'. Meanwhile, Mr. Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners demand to keep fighting and reoccupy Gaza for the long haul, after Israel withdrew settlers and troops stationed there two decades ago. Aid 'exploited' Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza in early March, which it only began easing more than two months later to allow a U.S.-backed private agency, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), to open food distribution centres. U.N. special rapporteurs called on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) for the GHF to be immediately dismantled, saying aid was being 'exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas'. COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body overseeing civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, said it would partially reopen private sector trade with Gaza to reduce its reliance on aid deliveries. On the ground in Gaza, the civil defence agency said Israeli forces killed at least 56 Palestinians who were waiting near aid distribution sites on Tuesday (August 5, 2025). The Israeli military told AFP troops had 'fired warning shots' in the direction 'a gathering of Gazans advancing' towards them near one of those sites, in the territory's south, but that it was 'not aware of any casualties'. In northern Gaza, where the civil defence said 20 people were killed not far from an aid crossing, an AFP journalist saw bodies brought to Hamad Hospital. The army told AFP it was looking into the report.
