Latest news with #TaherAlNunu
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hamas agrees to release 10 captives as Israeli attacks kill 74 in Gaza
Hamas says it has agreed to release 10 Israeli captives as part of continuing efforts to reach a ceasefire in the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip, but warned that ongoing talks for a truce were 'tough' due to Israel's 'intransigence'. The comments on Wednesday came as Israeli forces killed at least 74 people in Gaza, and United States President Donald Trump again expressed hope that a truce could be reached soon. Hamas said the talks, spearheaded by key mediators Qatar and the US, have several sticking points, including the flow of desperately needed aid, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and 'genuine guarantees for a permanent ceasefire'. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the group agreed to the latest truce proposal and 'offered the necessary flexibility to protect our people, stop the crime of genocide, and allow the free and dignified entry and flow of aid to our people until we reach a complete end to the war'. He added that the areas Israeli troops should withdraw to as part of the first phase of a ceasefire had to be drawn up in a way that does not affect Palestinian lives and 'paves the way for the second phase of negotiations'.In Washington, DC, Trump, who has met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House twice this week, said there is a 'very good chance' of a ceasefire in Gaza, although his latest comments appear to reduce his expectations. 'I think we have a chance this week or next week. Not definitely. There's nothing definite about war and Gaza and all the other places that we deal with so much,' he told reporters. 'But there's a very good chance that we will have settlement, an agreement of some kind, this week and maybe next week if not.' Al Jazeera's Patty Culhane, reporting from Washington, DC, said Trump, while optimistic, was 'not nearly as adamant as when he was demanding a ceasefire' before Netanyahu's ongoing visit to the US capital. 'We're hearing from Trump's aides that they are down to one issue. But Hamas says that's misinformation, that they still need guarantees that the ceasefire will continue past the 60 days, that they still need to agree on where Israeli troops withdraw from, and who would handle humanitarian aid distribution. So, from Hamas's perspective, a lot is still on the table.' In Israel, meanwhile, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said in a televised speech that 'conditions have been created' for the advancement of a deal that is set to see the release of 10 captives who are alive, and the bodies of nine others. Despite the prospects of a ceasefire, Israeli forces continued to attack various parts of the enclave, killing at least 74 people on Wednesday, eight of whom died while waiting for food at a distribution point of the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).'Unfortunately, this has become the norm, characterised by the ongoing bombardment and forced starvation and dehydration. People are getting killed trying to get food,' Al Jazeera's Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, said. The number of Palestinians killed at GHF sites has surpassed 770, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. 'From day one of GHF operations, there's been an orgy of killing, either by the Israeli military or the documented incident of GHF officers opening fire.' The killings also come as health officials once again plead for the entry of much-needed fuel for hospitals on the verge of collapse, and patients' lives are at risk. Nasser Hospital, the main health facility in southern Gaza, issued a desperate warning as its fuel supplies were fast running dry, saying it has entered 'the crucial and final hours'. 'With the fuel counter nearing zero, doctors have entered the battle to save lives in a race against time, death, and darkness,' the hospital said in a statement. 'They work in operating rooms without air conditioning, the boiling heat, their faces are sweating, their bodies are weary of hunger and fatigue. But their eyes are still burning with hope and determination.' Gaza's already battered healthcare system has repeatedly come under Israeli attack throughout the assault. Hospitals and clinics have been bombed or damaged, medical staff have been killed or forced to flee, and vital supplies have been cut off. The World Health Organization (WHO) says there have been more than 600 attacks on health facilities in Gaza since the conflict began in 2023. The besieged health sector is 'on its knees', it said, with severe shortages of fuel and medical supplies, and the constant influx of mass casualties. Just 18 of Gaza's 36 general hospitals are partially functioning, according to the UN agency. In Gaza City, Israel launched a barrage of missiles targeting densely populated residential areas. Al Jazeera's Mahmoud said an estimated 20 bombs were dropped on buildings in the Tuffah neighbourhood. 'These were 'quake bombs', they shook the buildings,' he forces also launched another major assault in battered northern Gaza, specifically Beit Hanoon, after five Israeli soldiers were killed in a surprise Hamas attack on Tuesday. The Israeli army has in recent days issued numerous evacuation threats for residents of northern Gaza, an area that has come under repeated ground and aerial assault throughout this deadly war. This includes the Shati refugee camp, an area in the north of Gaza that was struck overnight in an attack that killed at least 30 people. A local, Mohamed Jouda, recounted the attack. 'We were sitting at home, around midnight. Suddenly, the house collapsed on everyone inside – children, adults, and elderly people in their 70s and 80s,' Jouda told Al Jazeera as he sat on the rubble of his destroyed home. Another survivor, Ismail al-Bardawil, said the attack 'felt like an earthquake'. 'A whole neighbourhood collapsed,' he said from the densely populated camp west of Gaza City, where structures are built right next to each other. 'Seven little kids died here. Over there, 10 more children. The only adult was an old man, around 70 years old. What was their fault?' al-Bardawil said.
Al Jazeera
09-07-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
Hamas agrees to release 10 captives as Israeli attacks kill 74 in Gaza
Hamas says it has agreed to release 10 Israeli captives as part of continuing efforts to reach a ceasefire in the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip, but warned that ongoing talks for a truce were 'tough' due to Israel's 'intransigence'. The Palestinian group said on Wednesday that the ceasefire talks, spearheaded by key mediators Qatar and the United States and held in the Qatari capital Doha, have several sticking points, including the flow of desperately needed aid, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and 'genuine guarantees for a permanent ceasefire'. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the group agreed to the latest truce proposal and 'offered the necessary flexibility to protect our people, stop the crime of genocide, and allow the free and dignified entry and flow of aid to our people until we reach a complete end to the war'. He added that the areas Israeli troops should withdraw to as part of the first phase of a ceasefire had to be drawn up in a way that does not affect Palestinian lives and 'paves the way for the second phase of negotiations'. The comments come as Israeli forces continued to pound various parts of the enclave, killing at least 74 people on Wednesday, eight of whom died while waiting for GHF aid. 'Unfortunately, this has become the norm: characterised by the ongoing bombardment and forced starvation and dehydration. People are getting killed trying to get food,' Al Jazeera's Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, said. The number of Palestinians killed at the US- and Israeli-backed GHF sites has surpassed 770, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. 'From day one of GHF operations there's been an orgy of killing either by the Israeli military or the documented incident of GHF officers opening fire.' The killings also come as health officials once again plead for the entry of much-needed fuel as hospitals are on the verge of collapse and patients' lives are at risk. Nasser Hospital, the main health facility in southern Gaza, issued a desperate warning as its fuel supplies run dry, saying it has entered 'the crucial and final hours'. 'With the fuel counter nearing zero, doctors have entered the battle to save lives in a race against time, death, and darkness,' the hospital said in a statement. 'They work in operating rooms without air conditioning, the boiling heat, their faces are sweating, their bodies are weary of hunger and fatigue. But their eyes are still burning with hope and determination.' Gaza's already battered healthcare system has repeatedly come under Israeli attack throughout the assault. Hospitals and clinics have been bombed or damaged, medical staff killed or forced to flee, and vital supplies cut off. 'Quake bombs' The World Health Organization (WHO) says there have been more than 600 attacks on health facilities in Gaza since the conflict began in 2023. The besieged health sector is 'on its knees' with severe shortages of fuel and medical supplies, and the constant influx of mass casualties. Just 18 of Gaza's 36 general hospitals are partially functioning, according to the UN agency. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who has met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House, said there is a 'very good chance' of a ceasefire in Gaza this week or next. Earlier, Israel's military chief Eyal Zamir said in a televised speech that 'conditions have been created' for the advancement of a deal that is set to see the release of 10 captives – and the bodies of nine others. Despite the prospects of a possible ceasefire, Israel has launched a barrage of missiles targeting densely populated residential areas in Gaza City. Al Jazeera's Mahmoud said an estimated 20 bombs were dropped on buildings in the Tuffah neighbourhood. 'These were 'quake bombs', they shook the buildings,' he said. Israeli forces also launched another major assault in battered northern Gaza, specifically Beit Hanoon, after five Israeli soldiers were killed in a surprise Hamas attack on Tuesday. The army has in recent days issued numerous forced evacuation orders for residents of northern Gaza, an area that has come under repeated ground and aerial assault throughout this deadly war. This includes Shati refugee camp, an area in the north of Gaza that was struck overnight in an attack that killed at least 30 people. A local, Mohamed Jouda, recounted the attack. 'We were sitting at home, around midnight. Suddenly, the house collapsed on everyone inside – children, adults, and elderly people in their 70s and 80s,' Jouda told Al Jazeera as he sat on the rubble of his destroyed home. Another survivor, Ismail al-Bardawil, said the attack 'felt like an earthquake'. 'A whole neighbourhood collapsed,' he said from the densely populated camp west of Gaza City, where structures are built right next to each other. 'Seven little kids died here. Over there, 10 more children. The only adult was an old man, around 70 years old. What was their fault?' al-Bardawil said.
Russia Today
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Hamas says ready for ‘complete end to the war'
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has expressed readiness for a deal with Israel to end the war in Gaza, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Wednesday. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu was quoted as saying the group was 'ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war.' However, it reportedly stopped short of endorsing a 60-day ceasefire plan proposed by Washington. The statement came after US President Donald Trump warned Hamas that rejecting the American-backed proposal would worsen its position. Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday that Israel 'has agreed' to the terms needed to finalize the 60-day truce, during which all sides would work to bring the war to an end. An Israeli official told AP the plan includes a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a surge in humanitarian aid, and mediated talks aimed at ending the conflict. However, Israel is not formally committing to a full cessation of hostilities as part of the current proposal, the official said. Hamas, in a brief statement on Wednesday, reportedly confirmed it had received the proposal from mediators and was working to 'bridge gaps' in order to return to the negotiating table. A Hamas delegation is expected to meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo, a source told the outlet. The militant group has said it is willing to release the remaining 50 hostages – fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive – in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and a permanent end to the war. Israel has rejected those terms. 'There will be no Hamas,' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech on Wednesday. He has insisted the group must surrender, disarm, and leave Gaza, conditions Hamas refuses to accept. The war, now in its 22nd month, has devastated Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the death toll in the enclave surpassed 57,000 by Wednesday, as Israeli strikes intensified amid ceasefire talks. The conflict began with a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people and took 250 hostage.
Globe and Mail
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Hamas says it is ready for a ceasefire but stops short of accepting Trump's plan
Hamas and Israel staked out their positions Wednesday ahead of expected talks on a Washington-backed ceasefire proposal, with the militant group suggesting it was open to an agreement while the Israeli prime minister vowed 'there will be no Hamas' in postwar Gaza. Both stopped short of accepting the proposal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Hamas insisted on its longstanding position that any deal bring an end to the war in Gaza. Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The U.S. leader has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire, and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war. Trump said the 60-day period would be used to work toward ending the war – something Israel says it won't accept until Hamas is defeated. He said that a deal might come together as soon as next week. But Hamas' response, which emphasized its demand that the war end, raised questions about whether the latest offer could materialize into an actual pause in fighting. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said that the militant group was 'ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement.' He said Hamas was 'ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war.' A Hamas delegation is expected to meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposal, according to an Egyptian official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, because he wasn't authorized to discuss the talks with the media. Throughout the nearly 21-month-long war, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over whether the war should end as part of any deal. Hamas said in a brief statement Wednesday that it had received a proposal from the mediators and is holding talks with them to 'bridge gaps' to return to the negotiating table to try to reach a ceasefire agreement. 'Lucrative' business deals help sustain Israel's campaign in Gaza, UN report says Hamas has said that it's willing to free the remaining 50 hostages, less than half of whom are said to be alive, in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. Israel says it will only agree to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and exiles itself, something the group refuses to do. 'I am announcing to you – there will be no Hamas,' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a speech Wednesday. An Israeli official said that the latest proposal calls for a 60-day deal that would include a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid to the territory. The mediators and the U.S. would provide assurances about talks to end the war, but Israel isn't committing to that as part of the latest proposal, the official said. The official wasn't authorized to discuss the details of the proposed deal with the media and spoke on condition of anonymity. It wasn't clear how many hostages would be freed as part of the agreement, but previous proposals have called for the release of about 10. Some 50 hostages remain, many of them thought to be dead. Israeli army acknowledges 'harm to civilians' at aid sites in Gaza 'I'm holding my hands and praying that this will come about,' said Idit Ohel, mother of Israeli hostage Alon Ohel. 'I hope the world will help this happen, will put pressure on whoever they need to, so the war will stop and the hostages will return.' On Monday, Trump is set to host Netanyahu at the White House, days after Ron Dermer, a senior Netanyahu adviser, held discussions with top U.S. officials about Gaza, Iran and other matters. On Tuesday, Trump wrote on social media that Israel had 'agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War.' 'I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better – IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,' he said. Trump's warning may find a skeptical audience with Hamas. Even before the expiration of the war's longest ceasefire in March, Trump has repeatedly issued dramatic ultimatums to pressure Hamas to agree to longer pauses in the fighting that would see the release of more hostages and a return of more aid for Gaza's civilians. Still, Trump views the current moment as a potential turning point in the brutal conflict that has left more than 57,000 dead in the Palestinian territory. Gaza's Health Ministry said the death toll passed the 57,000 mark Tuesday into Wednesday, after hospitals received 142 bodies overnight. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its death count, but says that more than half of the dead are women and children. Since dawn Wednesday, Israeli strikes killed a total of 40 people across the Gaza Strip, the ministry said. Hospital officials said four children and seven women were among the dead. The Israeli military, which blames Hamas for the civilian casualties because it operates from populated areas, was looking into the reports. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. The war has left the coastal Palestinian territory in ruins, with much of the urban landscape flattened in the fighting. More than 90 per cent of Gaza's 2.3 million population has been displaced, often multiple times. And the war has sparked a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, pushing hundreds of thousands of people toward hunger.
Asharq Al-Awsat
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Hamas Says it's Open to Gaza Truce but Stops Short of Accepting a Trump-backed Proposal
Hamas suggested Wednesday that it was open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel, but stopped short of accepting a US-backed proposal announced by President Donald Trump hours earlier, insisting on its longstanding position that any deal bring an end to the war in Gaza. Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The US leader has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire, and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war. Trump said the 60-day period would be used to work toward ending the war — something Israel says it won't accept until Hamas is defeated. He said that a deal might come together as soon as next week. But Hamas' response, which emphasized its demand that the war end, raised questions about whether the latest offer could materialize into an actual pause in fighting, according to The AP news. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said that the militant group was 'ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement.' He said Hamas was 'ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war.' A Hamas delegation is expected to meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposal, according to an Egyptian official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, because he wasn't authorized to discuss the talks with the media. Disagreement on how the war should end Throughout the nearly 21-month-long war, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over whether the war should end as part of any deal. Hamas said in a brief statement Wednesday that it had received a proposal from the mediators and is holding talks with them to 'bridge gaps' to return to the negotiating table to try to reach a ceasefire agreement. Hamas has said that it's willing to free the remaining 50 hostages, less than half of whom are said to be alive, in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. Israel says it will only agree to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and exiles itself, something the group refuses to do. An Israeli official said that the latest proposal calls for a 60-day deal that would include a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid to the territory. The mediators and the US would provide assurances about talks to end the war, but Israel isn't committing to that as part of the latest proposal, the official said. The official wasn't authorized to discuss the details of the proposed deal with the media and spoke on condition of anonymity. It wasn't clear how many hostages would be freed as part of the agreement, but previous proposals have called for the release of about 10. Israel has yet to publicly comment on Trump's announcement. On Monday, Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, days after Ron Dermer, a senior Netanyahu adviser, held discussions with top US officials about Gaza, Iran and other matters. Trump issues another warning On Tuesday, Trump wrote on social media that Israel had "agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War.' 'I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,' he said. Trump's warning may find a skeptical audience with Hamas. Even before the expiration of the war's longest ceasefire in March, Trump has repeatedly issued dramatic ultimatums to pressure Hamas to agree to longer pauses in the fighting that would see the release of more hostages and a return of more aid for Gaza's civilians. Still, Trump views the current moment as a potential turning point in the brutal conflict that has left more than 57,000 dead in the Palestinian territory. Gaza's Health Ministry said the death toll passed the 57,000 mark Tuesday into Wednesday, after hospitals received 142 bodies overnight.
