Latest news with #AmmarAwad
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Trump says more hostages to be released from Gaza shortly
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: A person walks on the beach, as a sign asks for the safe return of hostages held in Gaza since October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, near the U.S. Consulate in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad/File Photo WASHINGTON - Another 10 hostages will be released from Gaza shortly, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday, without providing additional details. Trump made the comment during a dinner with lawmakers at the White House, lauding the efforts of his special envoy Steve Witkoff. Israeli and Hamas negotiators have been taking part in the latest round of ceasefire talks in Doha since July 6, discussing a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire. "We got most of the hostages back. We're going to have another 10 coming very shortly, and we hope to have that finished quickly," Trump said. Trump has been predicting for weeks that a ceasefire and hostage-release deal was imminent, but agreement has proven elusive. A spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, on Friday said the group favors reaching an interim truce in the Gaza war, but could revert to insisting on a full package deal if such an agreement is not reached in current negotiations. The truce proposal calls for 10 hostages held in Gaza to be returned along with the bodies of 18 others, spread out over 60 days. In exchange, Israel would release a number of detained Palestinians. Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed more than 58,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore Singapore 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died World DOJ asks judge to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts Asia 'Guardian angels': Taiwan's dementia-friendly village promotes ageing in place Opinion A modern interpretation of Islam in Indonesia fuels a push for 'global Muslims' Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore What is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Almost 1,650 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed as a result of the conflict, including 1,200 killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel, according to Israeli tallies. REUTERS
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Explainer-Who are the Druze and why does Israel say it is hitting Syria for their sake?
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Syrian people are escorted by the Israeli military as they walk from Majdal Shams back to Syria, along the ceasefire line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, amid the ongoing conflict in the Druze areas in Syria, in Majdal Shams, July 17, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad Violence in Syria pitting the Islamist-led government against members of the Druze community has put a spotlight on the small but influential minority. Straddling Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the Druze occupy a special niche in the region's complex politics. Israel has cited protecting the Druze as a reason for attacking forces from the Islamist-led government this week. WHO ARE THE DRUZE? The Druze are Arabs who follow a religion derived from a branch of Islam. They maintain a degree of secrecy about the practice of their faith that emerged in the 11th century and incorporates elements from Islam and other philosophies, emphasizing monotheism, reincarnation and the pursuit of truth. Some hardline Sunni Muslims deem them heretics. Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, an Islamist who once belonged to al Qaeda, called them part of the Syrian fabric and vowed to protect their rights in a speech on Thursday. WHERE DO THEY LIVE? Syria's Druze are concentrated in the southwest in the Sweida region bordering Jordan and in areas of Quneitra province, near the occupied Golan. They also reside in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana. In Israel, Druze reside primarily in the north and the occupied Golan. In Lebanon, they are concentrated in mountain regions, including Chouf and Aley, and others such as Hasbaya in south Lebanon. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho Singapore Premium China carmaker Hongqi, known for Xi Jinping's limos, to launch in Singapore in 2026 Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment Opinion Grab tried to disrupt taxis. It now wants to save them HOW DO THEY FIT INTO REGIONAL POLITICS? Though a small minority, the Druze have often played an outsized role in the politics of countries where they live. In Israel, the Druze number 150,000. Unlike Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel, many Druze Arabs serve in the Israeli military and police, including during the war in Gaza, and some have reached a high rank, meaning their voices cannot be easily ignored by Israel's political leadership. While most Druze in Israel identify as Israeli citizens, more than 20,000 living in the occupied Golan still identify as Syrians and have close ties to family on the other side of the border. Facing calls from Israeli Druze to help Syrian Druze, Israeli leaders have cited protecting them as a reason for attacking Syria repeatedly this year. Syria's Druze population is estimated to number around 1 million people. They held some protests against Bashar al-Assad after the eruption of the war in 2011 but there was little conflict between them and Damascus as it focused on trying to crush the uprising in Sunni-majority areas. Since Assad was toppled in December, friction with the Islamist-led authorities has ignited fighting several times. While some Druze leaders have urged accommodation with Damascus, others have come out strongly against Sharaa, notably Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari, who urged resistance to government forces and appealed to world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during this week's violence. Some Druze figures have criticised this approach. Lebanon's Walid Jumblatt, one of region's most prominent Druze politicians, has rejected the notion that Israel is protecting Syria's Druze. He has warned against calls for international protection and called for Syrian national unity. WHAT IS DRIVING ISRAEL'S INTERVENTION? Israel bombed Syria frequently when Assad was in power, seeking to roll back the influence established by Iran and Iran-backed groups that deployed there to help him fight rebels. Israel has painted the new Syrian government as a jihadist threat, saying it won't allow it to deploy forces into southern Syria. Israel has said it wants to avoid any hostile build-up at its border, whilst also vowing to protect the Druze minority. Israeli troops have also seized Syrian territory adjoining the occupied Golan Heights since December. Sharaa on Thursday said Israel was promoting division among Syrians, accusing it of seeking to "dismantle the unity of our people", saying it had "consistently targeted our stability and created discord among us since the fall of the former regime". REUTERS
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Turkey has conveyed its views on Syria strikes to Israel via intelligence agency
An Israeli soldier stands on a vehicle as Israeli Druze cross the border to check on their family members in Syria, amid the ongoing conflict in the Druze areas in Syria, in Majdal Shams, near the ceasefire line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad ANKARA - Turkey has conveyed its views regarding Israel's air strikes on Syria to Israeli authorities via its intelligence agency, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday, adding Ankara was also in close contact with regional powers and the U.S. Turkey has condemned Israel's strikes against other regional countries, including Lebanon, Iran and Syria, while calling its military assault on Gaza a genocide. It has halted all trade and recalled its ambassador in Tel Aviv for consultations too. Speaking to state media in New York, Fidan said he was in close contact with Tom Barrack, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, adding he had discussed the issue in phone calls with his Syrian, Jordanian, and Saudi Arabian counterparts. "At the same time, we have conveyed our own views on the matter to the Israelis via our intelligence agency, that we do not want an instability here," Fidan said, and added Syria's new government could not solve the conflict without measures to ensure security in the region. REUTERS
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Syria's Druze reach new ceasefire deal with government in Sweida, religious leader says
Israeli Druze cross the border to check on their family members in Syria, amid the ongoing conflict in the Druze areas in Syria, in Majdal Shams, near the ceasefire line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Facing settler threats, Palestinian Bedouins forced out of rural West Bank community
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Palestinian Bedouins flee their homes, as settler violence surges, near Jericho in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad JORDAN VALLEY, West Bank - Thirty Palestinian families left their home in a remote area of the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday, saying they were forced out after years of persistent harassment and violence by Israeli settlers. The families, members of the Bedouin Mleihat tribe from a shepherding community in the Jordan Valley, began dismantling homes built with iron sheets and wooden boards on Friday, overwhelmed by fears of further attacks. "The settlers are armed and attack us, and the (Israeli) military protects them. We can't do anything to stop them. We can't take it anymore, so we decided to leave," said Mahmoud Mleihat, a 50-year-old father of seven from the community. As the Palestinians took down their encampment, an Israeli settler armed with a rifle and several Israeli soldiers looked on. Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley, a sparsely populated region near the Jordan River, have faced escalating harassment from settlers in recent years, including violence. Israeli human rights group B'Tselem has documented repeated acts of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in Mu'arrajat, near Jericho, where the Mleihat tribe lives. In 2024, settlers armed with clubs stormed a Palestinian school, while in 2023, armed settlers blocked the path of vehicles carrying Palestinians, with some firing into the air and others hurling stones at the vehicles. "We want to protect our children, and we've decided to leave," Mahmoud said, describing it as a great injustice. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PAP has begun search for new candidates; PM Wong hopes to deploy them earlier ahead of next GE Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Banks tighten vigilance and processes following $3b money laundering case Singapore Seller's stamp duty hike surprises some amid moderating property market, but is ultimately prudent Singapore Trilateral work group formed to address allegations of foreigners illegally taking on platform work Singapore Power distribution system may be linked to Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: SMRT Singapore Rise in number of scam e-mails claiming to be from Cardinal William Goh: Catholic Church Singapore Tourism bump from Lady Gaga concerts raked in up to estimated $150m for Singapore economy He had lived in the community since he was 10, Mahmoud said. Israel's military did not immediately respond to Reuters questions about the settler harassment faced by the Bedouin families or about the families leaving their community. Asked about settler violence in the West Bank, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters on Monday that any acts of violence by civilians were unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands. Activists say Israeli settlement expansion has accelerated in recent years, displacing Palestinians, who have remained on their land under military occupation since Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 war. B'Tselem representative Sarit Michaeli said the Mleihat tribe had faced "intense settler violence" that included, theft, vandalism, and assault. This week, she said, the settlers had established an informal outpost near the Palestinians' home. The military was failing to protect Palestinians from attacks by settlers, who she said acted with impunity. Aaliyah Mleihat, 28, said the Bedouin community, which had lived there for 40 years, would now be scattered across different parts of the Jordan Valley, including nearby Jericho. "People are demolishing their own homes with their own hands, leaving this village they've lived in for decades, the place where their dreams were built," she said, describing the forced displacement of 30 families as a "new Nakba". The Nakba, meaning 'catastrophe' in Arabic, refers to the mass displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes during 1948 at the birth of the state of Israel. Most countries consider Israeli settlements a violation of the Geneva Conventions which ban settling civilians on occupied land; Israel says the settlements are lawful and justified by historic and biblical Jewish ties to the land. REUTERS
