Israel mentioned that it might send a delegation to Qatar on Monday (March 10, 2025) “in an effort to advance the negotiations” round the ceasefire in Gaza, whereas Hamas reported “positive signals” in talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators on beginning negotiations on the truce’s delayed second part.
The assertion from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace gave no particulars besides to say it had “accepted the invitation of U.S.-backed mediators.” Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua additionally gave no particulars. Talks on the second part ought to have began a month in the past.
Also learn | Muslim nations undertake Arab various to Trump’s Gaza plan
There was no fast remark from the White House, which on Wednesday made the shock affirmation of direct U.S. talks with Hamas.
Over the previous week, Israel has pressed Hamas to launch half of the remaining hostages in return for an extension of the primary part, which ended final weekend, and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Hamas is believed to have 24 dwelling hostages and the our bodies of 35 others.
Israel final weekend minimize off all provides to Gaza and its greater than 2 million individuals because it pressed Hamas to agree. The militant group has mentioned that the transfer would have an effect on the remaining hostages as properly.
The ceasefire has paused the deadliest and most damaging preventing ever between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The first part allowed the return of 25 dwelling hostages and the stays of eight others in alternate for the discharge of almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli forces have withdrawn to buffer zones inside Gaza, lots of of hundreds of displaced Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza for the primary time since early within the warfare and lots of of vehicles of assist entered per day till Israel suspended provides.
Before their weekly rally in Tel Aviv, kin of hostages appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump, who met with eight former hostages on Wednesday.
“Mr. President, a return to war means a death sentence for the living hostages left behind. Please, sir, do not allow Netanyahu to sacrifice them.”
Also on Saturday, Foreign Ministers from Muslim nations rejected Trump’s calls to empty the Gaza Strip of its Palestinian inhabitants and backed a plan for an administrative committee to govern the territory to permit reconstruction to proceed.
The Foreign Ministers gathered in Saudi Arabia for a particular session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to deal with the scenario in Gaza. The OIC has 57 nations with largely Muslim populations.
They supported a plan to rebuild Gaza put ahead by Egypt and backed by Arab states, together with Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Without mentioning Mr. Trump, the Ministers’ assertion mentioned that they rejected “plans aimed at displacing the Palestinian people individually or collectively … as ethnic cleansing, a grave violation of international law and a crime against humanity.”
They additionally condemned “policies of starvation” they mentioned purpose to push Palestinians to go away, a reference to Israel’s chopping off all provides to Gaza.
Mr. Trump has known as for Gaza’s inhabitants to be resettled elsewhere completely, in order that the United States can take over the territory and develop it for others. Palestinians have rejected calls to go away.
The Ministers on the OIC gathering supported a proposal that an administrative committee change Hamas in governing Gaza. The committee would work “under the umbrella” of the Palestinian Authority, primarily based within the occupied West Bank. Israel has rejected the PA having any function in Gaza, however hasn’t put ahead another for postwar rule.
The Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom mentioned in a joint assertion that they welcome the Arab initiative for a Gaza reconstruction plan, calling it “a realistic path.” They added that “Hamas must neither govern Gaza nor be a threat to Israel anymore,” and they support the central role for the PA.
Early Saturday, an Israeli strike killed two Palestinians in the southernmost city of Rafah, the Health Ministry there said. The Israeli military said that it struck several men who appeared to be flying a drone that entered Israel.
Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t say how many of the dead were militants.
Hamas’ attack in October 2023 killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, inside Israel and took 251 people hostage. Most have been released in ceasefire agreements or other arrangements. The militants also hold the remains of a soldier killed in the 2014 war.
Published – March 09, 2025 12:29 pm IST
