Latest news with #EzzedineAlQassamBrigades
LBCI
a day ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Hamas armed wing says Israel blocking ceasefire and hostage release talks
The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Friday accused Israel of blocking a deal in talks for a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza. Abu Obaida, spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a video statement that Hamas "always proposed a comprehensive deal that will return all the hostages at once." But he said Israel "rejected what we proposed," urging it to reconsider. "If the enemy remains obstinate in this round of negotiations we cannot guarantee a return to the partial-deal proposals -- including the 10-prisoner (hostage) exchange offer," he added. AFP
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Hamas says Israel blocking ceasefire and captive release talks
The armed wing of the Palestinian group Hamas on Friday accused Israel of blocking a deal in talks for a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza. Negotiators from both sides have been in indirect talks in Qatar since July 6 to try to agree on a 60-day truce in the conflict, which would see 10 captives freed. But after nearly two weeks, there has been no breakthrough and each side has blamed the other for refusing to budge on their key demands. For Israel, those demands include dismantling Hamas as a fighting force and security threat while Hamas wants firmer guarantees on a lasting peace, the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the freer flow of aid. In a video statement broadcast on Friday, the spokesman for the Ezzedine Al Qassam Brigades, Abu Obaida, said Hamas had "always proposed a comprehensive deal that will return all the hostages at once." But he said Israel "rejected what we proposed," urging it to reconsider. "If the enemy remains obstinate in this round of negotiations we cannot guarantee a return to the partial-deal proposals — including the 10-prisoner (hostage) exchange offer," he added. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said on Tuesday that the talks remained in their "first phase" and that mediators were stepping up efforts to reach an agreement. The Qatari spokesman refused to accept there was a stalemate and said there was no set timeframe for the talks. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would be prepared to enter talks for a longer-term ceasefire once a temporary halt in fighting is agreed. The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Agence France-Presse
Arab News
a day ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Hamas armed wing says Israel blocking ceasefire and hostage release talks
GAZA CITY: The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Friday accused Israel of blocking a deal in talks for a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza. Abu Obaida, spokesman for the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a video statement that Hamas 'always proposed a comprehensive deal that will return all the hostages at once.' But he said Israel 'rejected what we proposed,' urging it to reconsider. 'If the enemy remains obstinate in this round of negotiations we cannot guarantee a return to the partial-deal proposals — including the 10-prisoner (hostage) exchange offer,' he added.
France 24
08-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Five Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza combat
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lamented a "difficult morning" as he visited Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, who is pressing for a ceasefire in the more than 21-month war. "All of Israel bows its head and mourns the fall of our heroic soldiers, who risked their lives in the battle to defeat Hamas and free all our hostages," Netanyahu posted on X. The Israeli military said the five soldiers, aged between 20 and 28, "fell during combat in the northern Gaza Strip". Two others were severely wounded and "evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment", it said, adding their families had been notified. "The investigation indicates that the force was hit by three (improvised explosive devices) that were activated within a matter of minutes," military spokesman Effie Defrin said. A force that was deployed to rescue the troops, "encountered fire that opened towards it, wounding some of the fighters", Defrin added. He said Israeli troops were now "surrounding the Beit Hanoun area from all directions, above and below ground," and that dozens of militants were located there. Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, said "the complex Beit Hanun operation is yet another blow delivered by our valiant fighters". "The war of attrition our fighters are waging against the enemy -- from the north of the Strip to its south -- will inflict additional losses on it every day," the spokesman of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement. - Tributes - One of the soldiers who was killed, Noam Musgadian, 20, was buried in Jerusalem's Mount Herzl cemetery on Tuesday, his coffin carried by soldiers while family members mourned. "A huge thank you for almost 20 perfect years," his brother, Roi, said. "I don't know how they manage to fit such a big heart into such a small coffin." In a post on X, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said "the unbearable news of the fall of five heroic sons in Gaza -- most of them fighters of the ultra-Orthodox 'Netzach Yehuda' battalion -- pierces the heart". Opposition leader Yair Lapid called for an end to the war "for the sake of the fighters, for the sake of their families, for the sake of the hostages, for the sake of the State of Israel". According to the Israeli military, 450 soldiers have been killed in the Gaza campaign since the start of the ground offensive on October 27, 2023. Hamas's October 7, 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 57,575 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.
ABC News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Five Israeli soldiers killed amid ongoing ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas
Five Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, the military said on Tuesday, in one of the deadliest days for Israeli forces in the Palestinian territory this year. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lamented a "difficult morning" as he visited Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, who is pressing for a ceasefire in the more than 21-month-long war. "All of Israel bows its head and mourns the fall of our heroic soldiers, who risked their lives in the battle to defeat Hamas and free all our hostages," Mr Netanyahu posted on X. The Israeli military said the five soldiers, aged between 20 and 28, "fell during combat in the northern Gaza Strip". Two others were severely wounded and "evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment", it said, adding their families had been notified. Israeli military correspondents reported the deaths occurred when improvised explosive devices detonated in the area of Beit Hanun in the north of the territory. During attempts to evacuate the wounded, soldiers reportedly came under fire. Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, said "the complex Beit Hanun operation is yet another blow delivered by our valiant fighters". "The war of attrition our fighters are waging against the enemy — from the north of the Strip to its south — will inflict additional losses on it every day," the spokesman of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement. In a post on X, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said "the unbearable news of the fall of five heroic sons in Gaza — most of them fighters of the ultra-Orthodox 'Netzach Yehuda' battalion — pierces the heart". Opposition leader Yair Lapid meanwhile wrote: "For the sake of the fighters, for the sake of their families, for the sake of the hostages, for the sake of the State of Israel: this war must be ended." Qatar said on Tuesday more time was needed for negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, after the US president voiced optimism about a possible breakthrough. Mr Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff was set to join the talks in Doha this week. Israel and Hamas began the latest round of negotiations on Sunday, with representatives seated in separate rooms within the same building. Qatar, a mediator along with the United States and Egypt, said the meetings in Doha were focused on a framework for the talks, while a Palestinian official close to the negotiations said no breakthrough had been achieved so far. "We have to have a ceasefire in Gaza in coming weeks, if intolerable situation continues then the UK government will go further in taking measures against Israel," UK Foreign Minister David Lammy said. The war has created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip. AFP/ Reuters
