Latest news with #MayarAlFarr
The Herald
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Hamas says it responds to Gaza ceasefire proposal in 'a positive spirit'
An Egyptian security official told Reuters that Egypt, which along with Qatar is mediating ceasefire efforts, had seen Hamas' response and said: 'It includes positive signs that an agreement is near, but there are some demands from Hamas that need to be worked on.' Trump has said he would be 'very firm' with Netanyahu on the need for a speedy Gaza ceasefire, adding that the Israeli leader wants one as well. Israeli attacks have killed at least 138 Palestinians in Gaza over the past 24 hours, local health officials said. Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an air strike on a tent encampment west of the city at about 2am, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war. The Israeli military said troops operating in the Khan Younis area had eliminated militants, confiscated weapons and dismantled Hamas outposts in the previous 24 hours while striking 100 targets across Gaza, including military structures, weapons storage facilities and launchers. Later on Friday, Palestinians gathered to perform funeral prayers before burying those killed overnight. 'There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother,' said 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr as she wept. Her brother, Mahmoud, was shot dead in another incident, she said. 'He went to get aid, so he can get a bag of flour for us to eat. He got a bullet in his neck,' she said. In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US embassy building on US Independence Day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all of the captives. Demonstrators set up a symbolic Sabbath dinner table, placing 50 empty chairs to represent those who are still held in Gaza. Banners hung nearby displaying a post by Trump from his Truth Social platform that read, 'MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!' 'Only you can make the deal. We want one beautiful deal. One beautiful hostage deal,' said Gideon Rosenberg, 48, from Tel Aviv. Rosenberg was wearing a shirt with the image of hostage Avinatan Or, one of his employees who was abducted by Palestinian militants from the Nova musical festival on October 7, 2023. He is among the 20 hostages who are believed to be alive after more than 600 days of captivity. An official familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday that the proposal envisages the return of 10 of the hostages during the 60 days, along with the bodies of 18 others who had died since being taken hostage. Ruby Chen, 55, the father of 19-year-old American-Israeli Itay, who is believed to have been killed after being taken captive, urged Netanyahu to return from meeting Trump with a deal that brings back all hostages. Itay Chen, also a German national, was serving as an Israeli soldier when Hamas carried out its surprise attack, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostage. Reuters
Irish Independent
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
The Irish Independent's View: Donald Trump's real power play would be ending brutal war in Gaza
So far it has claimed the lives of more than 57,000 Palestinians. By now it's all a bit immaterial to one teenager. Through her tears, Mayar Al Farr, was quoted in reports saying: 'The ceasefire will come, and I have lost my brother? There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother.' Mahmoud was one of 20 killed in an over night airstrike on a tent encampment. There should indeed have been a ceasefire. Everyone knows Hamas started the war, but Tel Aviv's indiscriminate backlash has been disproportionate. Military goals have long been achieved. Now Mr Trump, who has declared: 'I run the country and the world', has an unrivalled opportunity to prove he's as good as his word, by demanding that the killing stops. The American president has ended the week on a high by seeing his 'Big Beautiful Bill' passed. Were he to end this inhuman war, it would represent a significant historical achievement. At the start of the year he was understandably derided for mooting his plan for the United States to 'take over' and rebuild Gaza as the 'Riviera of the Middle East'. He called the territory a 'demolition site' and suggesting that Palestinians would have 'no alternative' but to leave. Rights groups said the plan to move Palestinians en masse in the midst of war amounted to a forcible transfer, and could constitute a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. Stopping the carnage would also demonstrate that the US need not rely on military might alone. The world's remaining superpower can show the international community it can also deploy its unique soft power. By aligning 'diplomacy first' with 'America First', and working towards a regional balance, of power that relies primarily on local forces to maintain stability, a sustainable agreement could be achieved. The US would not then be on the hook to oversee stability. There is an overwhelming moral case for pursuing long-term goals. This includes ending forced occupation and recognising the Palestinian state. Mr Trump has put down several world leaders, by telling them they have no cards to play. The implication being he holds all the aces. This is surely time to play his hand. Israeli Defence Forces' chief Eyal Zamir has said the army was approaching the completion of its war aims. In Gaza, medical workers report rising acute malnutrition among children. Lack of fuel means water desalination plants are not working so there is a threat, of infants dying of thirst. Hospital incubators for struggling newborns are also turned off. According to Unicef's James Elder, ambulances can not collect the wounded, because they have no diesel. This is apocalyptic. It is incomprehensible that anyone with the ability to bring an end to this hell on earth might choose not do so.
TimesLIVE
04-07-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Israeli military kills 15 in Gaza as US marks Independence Day
At least 15 Palestinians were killed overnight in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to local health officials, as US President Donald Trump said he expected Hamas to respond to his "final proposal" for a ceasefire in Gaza in the next 24 hours. Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an airstrike on a tent encampment west of the city around 2am, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Later on Friday, Palestinians gathered to perform funeral prayers before burying those killed overnight. "The ceasefire will come, and I have lost my brother? There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother," said 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr as she wept. Her brother, Mahmoud, was among those killed.
RNZ News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Israeli military kills 20 in Gaza as Trump awaits Hamas reply to truce proposal
By Alexander Cornwell and Nidal al-Mughrabi , Reuters A Palestinian mother and her daughter rush for cover during an Israeli strike in the Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip. Photo: EYAD BABA / AFP At least 20 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to local health officials, as US President Donald Trump said he expected Hamas to respond to his "final proposal" for a ceasefire in Gaza in the next 24 hours . Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an airstrike on a tent encampment west of the city around 2am on Friday (local time), killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war. Five were killed in northern Jabalia, medics said. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Later on Friday, Palestinians gathered to perform funeral prayers before burying those killed overnight. "The ceasefire will come, and I have lost my brother? There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother," said 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr as she wept. Her brother, Mahmoud, was among those killed. Adlar Mouamar said her nephew, Ashraf, was also killed. "Our hearts are broken. We ask the world, we don't want food ... We want them to end the bloodshed. We want them to stop this war." Trump earlier said it would probably be known in 24 hours whether Hamas has accepted a ceasefire between the Palestinian militant group and Israel. On Tuesday, the president announced that Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties would work towards ending the war. Hamas, which has previously declared it would only agree to a deal for a permanent end to the war, has said it was studying the proposal, but given no public indication whether it would accept or reject it. A source familiar with Hamas' position said the militant group was demanding clear guarantees that negotiations to end the war would take place during the 60-day ceasefire, and that if no deal was reached by the end of that period, the pause in fighting would be extended until both sides could come to terms. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is yet to comment on Trump's ceasefire announcement. While some members of his right-wing coalition oppose a deal, others have indicated their support. Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group has so far refused to discuss. In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US Embassy building on US Independence Day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all of the captives. Demonstrators set up a symbolic Shabbat dinner table, placing 50 empty chairs to represent those who are still held in Gaza. Banners hung nearby displaying a post by Trump from his Truth Social platform that read, "MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!". The Sabbath, or Shabbat, observed from Friday evening to Saturday nightfall, is often marked by Jewish families with a traditional Friday night dinner. "Only you can make the deal. We want one beautiful deal. One beautiful hostage deal," said Gideon Rosenberg, 48, from Tel Aviv. Rosenberg was wearing a shirt with the image of hostage Avinatan Or, one of his employees who was abducted by Palestinian militants from the Nova musical festival on 7 October, 2023. He is among the 20 hostages who are believed to be alive after more than 600 days of captivity. Ruby Chen, 55, the father of 19-year-old American-Israeli Itay, who is believed to have been killed after being taken captive, urged Netanyahu to return from his meeting with Trump in Washington on Monday with a deal that brings back all hostages. "Let this United States Independence Day mark the beginning of a lasting peace ... one that secures the sacred value of human life and one that bestows dignity to the deceased hostages by ensuring their return to proper burial," he said, also appealing to Trump. Itay Chen, also a German national, was serving as an Israeli soldier when Hamas carried out its surprise attack on 7 October, 2023, killing around 1200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 251 hostage. Israel's retaliatory war against Hamas has devastated Gaza, which the militant group has ruled for almost two decades but now only controls in parts, displacing most of the population of more than 2 million and triggering widespread hunger. More than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in nearly two years of fighting, most of them civilians, according to local health officials. - Reuters
Free Malaysia Today
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
15 killed in Gaza as Trump waits for Hamas's response to truce proposal
Israel's retaliatory war against Hamas has devastated Gaza. (AP pic) CAIRO : At least 15 Palestinians were killed overnight in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to local health officials, as US President Donald Trump said he expected Hamas to respond to his 'final proposal' for a ceasefire in Gaza in the next 24 hours. Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an airstrike on a tent encampment west of the city around 2am, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Today, Palestinians gathered to perform funeral prayers before burying those killed overnight. 'The ceasefire will come, and I have lost my brother? There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother,' said 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr as she wept. Her brother, Mahmoud, was among those killed. Trump earlier said it would probably be known in 24 hours whether Hamas has accepted a ceasefire between the Palestinian resistance group and Israel. On Tuesday, the president announced that Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties would work towards ending the war. Hamas, which has previously declared it would only agree to a deal for a permanent end to the war, has said it was studying the proposal, but given no public indication whether it would accept or reject it. 'Make the deal' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is yet to comment on Trump's ceasefire announcement. While some members of his right-wing coalition oppose a deal, others have indicated their support. Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the resistance group has so far refused to discuss. In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US embassy building on US independence day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all of the captives. Demonstrators set up a symbolic Shabbat dinner table, placing 50 empty chairs to represent those who are still held in Gaza. Banners hung nearby displaying a post by Trump from his Truth Social platform that read, 'MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!' The Sabbath, or Shabbat, observed from this evening to tomorrow nightfall, is often marked by Jewish families with a traditional Friday night dinner. 'Only you can make the deal. We want one beautiful deal. One beautiful hostage deal,' said Gideon Rosenberg, 48, from Tel Aviv. Rosenberg was wearing a shirt with the image of hostage Avinatan Or, one of his employees who was abducted by Palestinian rebels from the Nova musical festival on Oct 7, 2023. He is among the 20 hostages who are believed to be alive after more than 600 days of captivity. Ruby Chen, 55, the father of 19-year-old American-Israeli Itay, who is believed to have been killed after being taken captive, urged Netanyahu to return from his meeting with Trump in Washington on Monday with a deal that brings back all hostages. 'Let this US independence day mark the beginning of a lasting peace…, one that secures the sacred value of human life and one that bestows dignity to the deceased hostages by ensuring their return to proper burial,' he said, also appealing to Trump. Itay Chen, also a German national, was serving as an Israeli soldier when Hamas carried out its surprise attack on Oct 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 251 hostage. Israel's retaliatory war against Hamas has devastated Gaza, which the resistance group has ruled for almost two decades but now only controls in parts, displacing most of the population of more than 2 million and triggering widespread hunger. More than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in nearly two years of fighting, most of them civilians, according to local health officials.
