Latest news with #Hayya
Middle East Eye
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israel has a Hamas 'hit-list.' Could it assassinate officials in Qatar?
Israel is stepping up its threats to target Hamas leaders abroad just as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House next week. The threats - and Netanyahu's visit - are sparking speculation that Israel could look to target senior Hamas officials in Gaza, Algeria, Lebanon, and potentially Qatar as the US presses for a new truce in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened last month to assassinate senior Hamas political bureau member Khalil al-Hayya, who is based in Doha, Qatar. He also said Israel would target the Gaza-based Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the commander of Hamas's military wing. The Israeli news site Maariv reported in June that Israel had a Hamas "hit list", which included Hayya, Osama Hamdan, a former Hamas spokesman in Lebanon, and Sami Abu Zahri, the group's representative in Algeria. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Hamas's military and political wings are structured as distinct entities. The group's political leadership has primarily been based in Doha as per a 2011 request from former US President Barack Obama. Hamas also had an office in Cairo, Egypt, although it is unclear whether that office is still functioning following the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel. Its political officials are also known to spend time in Turkey, but it is also unclear whether they have an official office there. On Thursday, the Times newspaper reported that Qatari officials had instructed Hamas officials, including Hayya, to hand over their personal weapons. Other senior officials ordered to turn over their weapons were Muhammad Ismail Darwish, the head of Hamas's Shura Council, and Hamas political bureau member Zaher Jabareen. Middle East Eye could not independently verify the reports. Qatar: A key US ally If Israel were to follow through with Katz's plan to kill Hayya in Qatar, it could present a major escalation in Israel's campaign against Hamas members. Until recently, Israel mainly targeted Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank, Iran, and Lebanon. Following the start of the war on Gaza, one of Israel's first strikes abroad was the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri, a senior leader of Hamas and a founding commander of the al-Qassam Brigades' military wing in Beirut. However, attacking Hamas members in Qatar, a key US ally in the region, which is also home to al-Udeid, the regional headquarters for US Central Command, could also present major challenges. Al-Udeid was targeted by Iran late last month in response to the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites in support of Israel's sneak attack on the Islamic Republic. US and Iranian officials indirectly coordinated before the strike, with Qatar acting as an intermediary, MEE revealed. The US moved aircraft and heavy equipment from Qatar's al-Udeid base to stations in Saudi Arabia. Over the course of the war, Qatar, along with Egypt, have emerged as key mediators for the US. Despite this, the Trump administration broke with decades of precedent earlier this year and negotiated directly with Hamas, proscribed as a terror group by Washington, to release a dual US-Israeli national. Hamas was based in Damascus, Syria, until 2012, when it fell out with the Syrian government over the country's civil war. Qatar agreed to host the exiled leadership at the request of the US to maintain an indirect line of communication with the group, Qatari officials say. The long arm of Israeli assassinations Netanyahu has a history of ordering strikes when he is in the United States, appearing to relish the powerful symbolism of Israel's long military arm. Israel assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024, just after Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly. Netanyahu's office was quick to release a picture of him huddled with aides ordering the strike from a drab office in New York City. Former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran a week after Netanyahu addressed a joint session of the US Congress in July 2024. And since the war erupted, Israel has killed dozens of senior Hamas officials inside the Gaza Strip. Hamas's military commanders are high-value targets. Israel said it killed Muhammad Sinwar, Haddad's predecessor, in May. Yahya Sinwar, Muhammad's brother, was one of the most high-value Israeli targets following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. Israel assassinated dozens of Yayha Sinwar's subordinates and searched for more than one year to locate Yahya. The US provided intelligence in a bid to track Yahya. In the end, he was killed in in October 2024 in a firefight in the southern Gaza City of Rafah when Israeli soldiers accidentally stumbled upon him and colleagues. 'Major hurdles' still remain If Israel does move to assassinate Hamas officials, it will come amid a new push for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Trump said this week that Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas is weighing whether to accept the proposal. However, Israel's Channel 14 reported on Wednesday that the proposal includes a "secret side letter" from the US giving Israel permission to restart the war. It's unclear whether Israel would need written approval, as a ceasefire was reached in January 2025 but imploded in March when Israel unilaterally resumed attacking Gaza. Meanwhile, speaking to The Times of Israel, two Arab diplomats said that "major hurdles" remain unresolved regarding the ceasefire, particularly around the recently established US-Israeli aid distribution system operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Hamas has demanded a return to the previous United Nations-run aid delivery mechanism. The controversial GHF, which began operations in late May after a three-month complete blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces, has been sharply criticised. More than 580 Palestinians have been killed and over 4,200 wounded by Israeli troops while attempting to access food and aid supplies. Hamas's concerns have been echoed by international organisations. On Tuesday, over 170 NGOs jointly called for an end to what they described as the 'deadly' US- and Israeli-backed GHF system, urging a return to United Nations-led aid coordination. Over 56,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war.
Eyewitness News
06-06-2025
- Health
- Eyewitness News
Hamas says ready for 'serious' Gaza truce talks, as rescuers say 37 killed
GAZA CITY - Hamas's lead negotiator said the group was ready to enter a new round of talks aimed at sealing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, where rescuers said Israeli strikes killed at least 37 people on Thursday. Negotiator Khalil al-Hayya made the declaration in a speech marking the start of Eid al-Adha festivities, typically a joyous date on the Muslim calendar, but one many Gazans say they will not be able to celebrate this year amid crushing shortages. "We reaffirm that we are ready for a new, serious round of negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement," Hayya said, adding the group was in contact with mediators. Talks aimed at brokering a new ceasefire have failed to yield a breakthrough since the last brief truce fell apart in March with the resumption of Israeli operations in Gaza. Israel and Hamas appeared close to an agreement late last month, but a deal proved elusive, with each side accusing the other of scuppering a US-backed proposal. STEPPED-UP GAZA CAMPAIGN The Israeli military has recently stepped up its campaign in what it says is a renewed push to defeat Hamas, whose October 2023 attack sparked the war. Gaza civil defence official Mohammed al-Mughayyir said that "37 people have been martyred in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip" as of Thursday afternoon, reporting attacks up and down the length of the territory. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. International calls for a negotiated ceasefire have grown in recent weeks, particularly as the humanitarian situation in the devastated Palestinian territory has worsened. The World Health Organization warned Thursday that Gaza's "health system is collapsing", pointing to the risks faced by the Nasser and Al-Amal medical facilities - the "last two functioning public hospitals in Khan Yunis", where many displaced Gazans are sheltering. "What is happening in Gaza is not a war. It's a genocide being carried out by a highly prepared army against women and children," said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has previously used the legal term to describe the conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron, who has declined to use the term himself, vowed at a joint appearance with Lula to "ramp up pressure in coordination with the Americans to obtain a ceasefire". France is due later this month to co-host with Saudi Arabia a United Nations conference in New York on a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday warned Israel of "further concrete actions" over its Gaza offensive and restrictions on aid. 'REJOICE OVER FLOUR' Israel has faced mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza, after it imposed a more than two-month blockade that led to widespread shortages of food and other essentials. On a normal Eid al-Adha, Gazans would be preparing for large family gatherings, traditionally centred around the sacrifice and eating of a sheep. But this year, "one kilo of meat has become a dream", said Mohammed Othman, 36. "We just hope to find bread to feed our children on the day of Eid, and they will rejoice over flour as if it were meat." Israel recently eased its aid blockade and has worked with the newly formed, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to implement a new distribution mechanism via a handful of centres in south and central Gaza. But since its inception, GHF has been a magnet for criticism from the UN and other members of the aid world - which only intensified following a recent string of deadly incidents near its facilities. The United Nations and other aid groups have declined to work with GHF, citing concerns it serves Israeli military goals. GHF shut down its distribution centres on Wednesday for what it called "reorganisation" to improve its work but said it had reopened two of them on Thursday. The group said it had distributed more than 8.4 million meals' worth of food since opening a little over a week ago. Gaza rescuers and eyewitnesses implicated Israeli troops in instances of deadly gunfire near a GHF centre in Rafah. Israel's military has maintained it does not prevent Gazans from collecting aid, but army spokesperson Effie Defrin said after one such incident on Tuesday that soldiers had fired towards suspects who "were approaching in a way that endangered" the troops. He added that the incident was under investigation. HOSTAGE BODIES RECOVERED During their October 2023 attack, militants abducted 251 hostages, 55 of whom remain in Gaza, including 32 the Israeli military says are dead. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the remains of two Israeli-Americans killed on 7 October - Judy Weinstein Haggai and Gad Haggai - had been recovered in "a special operation" in Gaza and returned to Israel. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said their return was "a stark reminder of the enduring cruelty" faced by the families of hostages still in Gaza. Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, at least 4,402 people have been killed since Israel resumed its offensive on 18 March, taking the war's overall toll to 54,677, mostly civilians.
Nahar Net
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Hamas says ready to enter into new talks for Gaza ceasefire
by Naharnet Newsdesk 6 hours Hamas' lead negotiator said Thursday the militant movement was ready for a new round of negotiations with a view to achieving a permanent ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip. "We reaffirm that we are ready for a new, serious round of negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement," lead Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said in a televised speech marking the start of the Muslim Eid al-Adha festivities. Hayya added that contacts with mediators in the war were under way, as he revisited point by point Hamas's main current objectives. Israel and Hamas appeared close to an agreement late last month, following discussions mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States. U.S. President Donald trump said on May 30 that he believed an agreement for a truce in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas was "very close". Israel and Hamas then accused each other of scuppering a proposal submitted by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, with the envoy himself describing the Palestinian militants' response as "totally unacceptable". Hayya reiterated Hamas's position that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shouldered the blame for the impasse. He added that his movement had not actually rejected Witkoff's latest proposal but that it had submitted demands for a guarantee of a non-resumption of hostilities following any hostage release.
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Hamas says ready for ‘serious' Gaza truce talks, as rescuers say 37 killed
GAZA CITY, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: Hamas's lead negotiator said the group was ready to enter a new round of talks aimed at sealing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, where rescuers said Israeli strikes killed at least 37 people on Thursday. Negotiator Khalil al-Hayya made the declaration in a speech marking the start of Eid al-Adha festivities, typically a joyous date on the Muslim calendar, but one many Gazans say they will not be able to celebrate this year amid crushing shortages. 'We reaffirm that we are ready for a new, serious round of negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement,' Hayya said, adding the group was in contact with mediators. Talks aimed at brokering a new ceasefire have failed to yield a breakthrough since the last brief truce fell apart in March with the resumption of Israeli operations in Gaza. Israel and Hamas appeared close to an agreement late last month, but a deal proved elusive, with each side accusing the other of scuppering a US-backed proposal. - Stepped-up Gaza campaign - The Israeli military has recently stepped up its campaign in what it says is a renewed push to defeat Hamas, whose October 2023 attack sparked the war. Gaza civil defence official Mohammed al-Mughayyir said that '37 people have been martyred in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip' as of Thursday afternoon, reporting attacks up and down the length of the territory. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. International calls for a negotiated ceasefire have grown in recent weeks, particularly as the humanitarian situation in the devastated Palestinian territory has worsened. The World Health Organization warned Thursday that Gaza's 'health system is collapsing', pointing to the risks faced by the Nasser and Al-Amal medical facilities -- the 'last two functioning public hospitals in Khan Yunis', where many displaced Gazans are sheltering. 'What is happening in Gaza is not a war. It's a genocide being carried out by a highly prepared army against women and children,' said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has previously used the legal term to describe the conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron, who has declined to use the term himself, vowed at a joint appearance with Lula to 'ramp up pressure in coordination with the Americans to obtain a ceasefire'. France is due later this month to co-host with Saudi Arabia a United Nations conference in New York on a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday warned Israel of 'further concrete actions' over its Gaza offensive and restrictions on aid. - 'Rejoice over flour' - Israel has faced mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza, after it imposed a more than two-month blockade that led to widespread shortages of food and other essentials. On a normal Eid al-Adha, Gazans would be preparing for large family gatherings, traditionally centred around the sacrifice and eating of a sheep. But this year, 'one kilo of meat has become a dream', said Mohammed Othman, 36. 'We just hope to find bread to feed our children on the day of Eid, and they will rejoice over flour as if it were meat.' Israel recently eased its aid blockade and has worked with the newly formed, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to implement a new distribution mechanism via a handful of centres in south and central Gaza. But since its inception, GHF has been a magnet for criticism from the UN and other members of the aid world -- which only intensified following a recent string of deadly incidents near its facilities. The United Nations and other aid groups have declined to work with GHF, citing concerns it serves Israeli military goals. GHF shut down its distribution centres on Wednesday for what it called 'reorganisation' to improve its work, but said it had reopened two of them on Thursday. The group said it had distributed more than 8.4 million meals' worth of food since opening a little over a week ago. Gaza rescuers and eyewitnesses implicated Israeli troops in instances of deadly gunfire near a GHF centre in Rafah. Israel's military has maintained it does not prevent Gazans from collecting aid, but army spokesperson Effie Defrin said after one such incident on Tuesday that soldiers had fired towards suspects who 'were approaching in a way that endangered' the troops. He added that the incident was under investigation. - Hostage bodies recovered - During their October 2023 attack, militants abducted 251 hostages, 55 of whom remain in Gaza, including 32 the Israeli military says are dead. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the remains of two Israeli-Americans killed on October 7 -- Judy Weinstein Haggai and Gad Haggai -- had been recovered in 'a special operation' in Gaza and returned to Israel. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said their return was 'a stark reminder of the enduring cruelty' faced by the families of hostages still in Gaza. Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, at least 4,402 people have been killed since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 54,677, mostly civilians.
RTÉ News
06-06-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Hamas says ready for 'serious' Gaza truce talks
Hamas's lead negotiator said the group was ready to enter a new round of talks aimed at sealing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, where rescuers said Israeli strikes killed at least 37 people. Negotiator Khalil al-Hayya made the declaration in a speech marking the start of Eid al-Adha festivities, typically a joyous date on the Muslim calendar, but one many Gazans say they will not be able to celebrate this year amid crushing shortages. "We reaffirm that we are ready for a new, serious round of negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement," Mr Hayya said, adding the group was in contact with mediators. Talks aimed at brokering a new ceasefire have failed to yield a breakthrough since the last brief truce fell apart in March with the resumption of Israeli operations in Gaza. Israel and Hamas appeared close to an agreement late last month, but a deal proved elusive, with each side accusing the other of scuppering a US-backed proposal. Stepped-up Gaza campaign The Israeli military has recently stepped up its campaign in what it says is a renewed push to defeat Hamas, whose October 2023 attack sparked the war. Gaza civil defence official Mohammed al-Mughayyir said that "37 people have been martyred in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip" as of yesterday afternoon, reporting attacks up and down the length of the territory. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. International calls for a negotiated ceasefire have grown in recent weeks, particularly as the humanitarian situation in the devastated Palestinian territory has worsened. The World Health Organisation warned that Gaza's "health system is collapsing", pointing to the risks faced by the Nasser and Al-Amal medical facilities - the "last two functioning public hospitals in Khan Yunis", where many displaced Gazans are sheltering. "What is happening in Gaza is not a war. It's a genocide being carried out by a highly prepared army against women and children," said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has previously used the legal term to describe the conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron, who has declined to use the term himself, vowed at a joint appearance with Mr Lula to "ramp up pressure in coordination with the Americans to obtain a ceasefire". France is due later this month to co-host with Saudi Arabia a United Nations conference in New York on a two-state solution to the conflict. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned Israel of "further concrete actions" over its Gaza offensive and restrictions on aid. 'Rejoice over flour' Israel has faced mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza, after it imposed a more than two-month blockade that led to widespread shortages of food and other essentials. On a normal Eid al-Adha, Gazans would be preparing for large family gatherings, traditionally centred around the sacrifice and eating of a sheep. But this year, "one kilo of meat has become a dream", said Mohammed Othman, 36. "We just hope to find bread to feed our children on the day of Eid, and they will rejoice over flour as if it were meat," he added. Israel recently eased its aid blockade and has worked with the newly formed, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to implement a new distribution mechanism via a handful of centres in south and central Gaza. But since its inception, GHF has been a magnet for criticism from the UN and other members of the aid world - which only intensified following a recent string of deadly incidents near its facilities. The United Nations and other aid groups have declined to work with GHF, citing concerns it serves Israeli military goals. GHF shut down its distribution centres on Wednesday for what it called "reorganisation" to improve its work, but said it had reopened two of them yesterday. The group said it had distributed more than 8.4 million meals' worth of food since opening a little over a week ago. Gaza rescuers and eyewitnesses implicated Israeli troops in instances of deadly gunfire near a GHF centre in Rafah. Israel's military has maintained it does not prevent Gazans from collecting aid, but army spokesperson Effie Defrin said after one such incident on Tuesday that soldiers had fired towards suspects who "were approaching in a way that endangered" the troops. He added that the incident was under investigation. Hostage bodies recovered During their October 2023 attack, militants abducted 251 hostages, 55 of whom remain in Gaza, including 32 the Israeli military says are dead. Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the remains of two Israeli-Americans killed on 7 October - Judy Weinstein Haggai and Gad Haggai -- had been recovered in "a special operation" in Gaza and returned to Israel. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said their return was "a stark reminder of the enduring cruelty" faced by the families of hostages still in Gaza. Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, at least 4,402 people have been killed since Israel resumed its offensive on 18 March, taking the war's overall toll to 54,677, mostly civilians.
