Hamas, Israel entrench Gaza truce positions as latest Cairo talks end

Update Hamas, Israel entrench Gaza truce positions as latest Cairo talks end
Israel’s devastating bombardment of the coastal enclave has killed more than 34,600 Palestinians, and injured thousands more. (Reuters)
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Updated 05 May 2024
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Hamas, Israel entrench Gaza truce positions as latest Cairo talks end

Hamas, Israel entrench Gaza truce positions as latest Cairo talks end
  • Israeli leader hardens his rejection of Hamas demands for an end to the Gaza war in exchange for the freeing of hostages

GAZA: A Hamas official said Sunday the group’s delegation for Gaza truce talks in Cairo was leaving for Qatar, after public disagreement with Israel intensified over demands to end their seven-month war.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “surrendering” to a demand to end the war would amount to defeat.
The Qatar-based political chief of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, countered by accusing Netanyahu of sabotaging the talks.
The Hamas official, who requested anonymity to discuss the negotiations, told AFP that “the meeting with the Egyptian intelligence minister has ended and the Hamas delegation is leaving for Doha for further consultations.”
The Hamas negotiators are due back in Cairo on Tuesday, said Al-Qahera News, a site linked to Egyptian intelligence services.
CIA director Bill Burns meanwhile was headed to Doha for “emergency” talks on mediation efforts with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, a source with knowledge of the discussions told AFP.
Netanyahu on Sunday also announced a government decision to close operations in Israel of Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera, which has broadcast round-the-clock coverage of the conflict.
It went off-air a short time later.
The network condemned Israel’s decision as a “criminal act,” and said it would take legal action.
Gaza’s bloodiest-ever war began following Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,683 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
An AFP correspondent and witnesses reported shelling and gunfire in Gaza City Sunday, helicopter fire in central and southern Gaza, and a missile strike on a house in the Rafah area.
Israel’s military said air strikes over the past day killed several militants including three in central Gaza who took part in the October attack.
“We want a ceasefire and for Gaza to return to how it was, or even better,” said displaced woman Umm Jamil Al-Ghussein in the southern city of Rafah, where about 1.2 million Gazans have sought shelter.
Arwa Saqr, displaced from Khan Yunis, said she has “lost hope that the negotiations will succeed.”
The Palestinian civilian toll has strained ties between Israel and its main military supplier and ally the United States.
Nonetheless, Washington’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that “the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas.”
Negotiators met in Cairo Sunday without an Israeli delegation present.
Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators had proposed a 40-day pause in the fighting and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, according to details released by Britain.
Any truce reached would be the first since a week-long November ceasefire saw a hostage-prisoner swap.
Netanyahu, whose coalition includes ultra-nationalist parties, faces regular protests at home, including thousands in Tel Aviv on Saturday night demanding a deal to bring home hostages still held in Gaza.
According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, he told his cabinet Israel would not let Hamas “take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure and return to threaten the citizens of Israel.”
“Israel will not agree to Hamas’s demands, which mean surrender, and will continue the fighting until all its goals are achieved,” he added.
Haniyeh said Netanyahu wanted to “invent constant justifications for the continuation of aggression, expanding the circle of conflict, and sabotaging efforts made through various mediators and parties.”
Previous negotiation efforts had stalled in part because of Hamas’s demand for a lasting ceasefire and Netanyahu’s vows to crush its remaining fighters in Rafah.
Hamas in a statement insisted it maintained a “positive and responsible approach” and said it was determined to reach an agreement.
The statement mentioned that Hamas’s key demands include “a complete end” to the fighting, Israeli withdrawal “from the entire Gaza Strip, the facilitation of the return of displaced people, the intensification of relief efforts,” reconstruction efforts and a prisoner-hostage exchange deal.
Netanyahu has vowed to invade Rafah regardless of any truce, and despite concerns from the United States, other countries and aid groups.
At the start of the war, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said his country would impose a “complete siege” blocking food, water and other supplies.
Continuous appeals for greater access have, according to the UN, led to some improvements recently.
Israel in December reopened the southern Kerem Shalom border crossing for aid, but on Sunday the army said it was targeted with projectiles and “closed to the passage of humanitarian aid trucks.”
Hamas’s armed wing later claimed the rocket fire, saying militants had targeted troops.
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which has been central to humanitarian operations in Gaza during the war, said Sunday that Israeli authorities had barred him from entering Gaza for a second time since the war began.
“Just this week, they have denied — for the second time — my entry to Gaza where I planned to be with our UNRWA colleagues,” UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini posted on X.
In their October attack on Israel the militants seized hostages, of whom 128 remain in Gaza including 35 who the military says are dead.
On Sunday the Hostages and Missing Families Forum appealed to Netanyahu, telling him in a statement to “disregard all political pressure.”
Some far-right members of the Israeli government have opposed the latest truce proposal and called for fighting to continue.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron urged Netanyahu in a phone call Sunday to reach a deal in negotiations with Hamas, the French presidency said.
A resolution adopted at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Gambia called on “member states to exercise diplomatic, political and legal pressure” to stop Israel’s “crimes” and war in besieged Gaza.


Hamas’ armed wing announces killing of its military leader

Updated 4 sec ago
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Hamas’ armed wing announces killing of its military leader

Hamas’ armed wing announces killing of its military leader
Hamas confirmed his death 6 months after Israel announced he was killed

CAIRO: Hamas’ armed wing or Al-Qassam Brigades announced on Thursday the killing of its elusive military leader Mohammed Deif and deputy military commander Marwan Issa in combat.
Hamas confirmed Deif’s death 6 months after Israel announced he was killed.

Tears of joy for Thai hostages freed in Gaza

Tears of joy for Thai hostages freed in Gaza
Updated 15 min 4 sec ago
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Tears of joy for Thai hostages freed in Gaza

Tears of joy for Thai hostages freed in Gaza
  • Five Thais were released along with three Israelis held by Hamas
  • “It is confirmed, my son did not die. Thank you God,” Wiwwaeo Sriaoun said as she heard the confirmation that her son Watchara Sriaoun was among those freed

KUMPHAWAPI, Thailand: The families of Thai farm workers held for over a year in Gaza cheered and wept with relief Thursday as they were freed in a hostage-prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas.
Five Thais were released along with three Israelis held by Hamas as part of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the Gaza war.
When Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, 31 Thais were abducted, with 23 released by the end of that year and two confirmed dead in May.
“It is confirmed, my son did not die. Thank you God,” Wiwwaeo Sriaoun said as she heard the confirmation that her son Watchara Sriaoun was among those freed.
“I will hug him when I see him. I want to see if his health is OK, I am worried about his health,” she added between sobs.
“Thank you, thank you God he did not die. We trust in God.”
Around 10 family members had gathered to support Wiwwaeo as she waited for news at the modest house on the family rubber farm in northeast Udon Thani region.
Before her son’s release was confirmed, Wiwwaeo spent the day watching news on a tablet computer, hoping for a good outcome.
“Come, come home back to your father, mother and daughter,” she said as she watched.
When Watchara appeared on screen, the family erupted into cheers and shouts of elation.
“It’s him, it’s really him! He does not look thin at all, he looks the same weight but his hair is shorter than before. They probably cut his hair,” his mother said.
After a video call with her son, Wiwwaeo said he appeared well but traumatized by his experience.
“I think he was in fear. He thought he could not return home. I see his fear. He is glad seeing me and his father but I know he is still in fear,” she said.
Watchara was freed along with Pongsak Tanna, Sathian Suwannakham, Surasak Lamnau and Bannawat Saethao, according to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
One Thai citizen remains in captivity.
Hailing from the poor, rural region of Udon Thani, Watchara moved to Israel three years ago to work as a farmer for better wages.
“My friend called around 10:00 p.m. and said the ambassador told her five Thais will be released, and my friend said my son could be one,” Wiwwaeo told AFP as she waited for news of the release.
“I could not sleep from then until now. I was up until 3:00 am and my husband and I went out for rubber tapping and since then I have been monitoring the news.”
In Buriram, another part of northeast Thailand, the family of freed hostage Pongsak were similarly elated, sobbing with relief as his release was confirmed.
“I’m so happy,” his father Wilas Tanna said through tears, in footage posted on social media platform X by a Channel News Asia correspondent.
Watchara’s younger brother, who was also working in Israel, returned to Thailand after Watchara was kidnapped.
“We told him to come back because we were worried,” his mother told AFP.
Watchara’s aunt Ratana Sriaoun said that after earlier disappointments, the family refused to believe he was coming home until they had official confirmation.
“I am so happy, finally I get to see my nephew,” she told AFP.
“I can’t put these feelings into words. My heart is full, and my tears are of pure joy.”
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she was “elated,” thanking Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkiye and the United States for their work to secure the releases.
The foreign ministry said the five would be taken for medical screening and treatment, and were expected to return to Thailand within 10 days.
The Southeast Asian nation has about 30,000 citizens in Israel, most of them working in the agricultural sector, where they earn significantly higher salaries as farm laborers than they would at home.
A total of 46 Thai workers have been killed since the October 2023 attacks, according to the foreign ministry in Bangkok.
Thailand’s labor ministry said last week that the country will expand its workforce in Israel by 13,000 positions.


Israel shoots down Hezbollah drone

Israel shoots down Hezbollah drone
Updated 28 min 31 sec ago
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Israel shoots down Hezbollah drone

Israel shoots down Hezbollah drone
  • Air defense system destroys surveillance UAV launched towards Israel
  • Israeli troops have continued demolition and bulldozing operations in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon

BEIRUT: The Israeli Air Force on Thursday said that it shot down a Hezbollah surveillance drone launched toward Israel.

A ground-based air defense system was used to intercept the drone, and no warning sirens were sounded at the time.

The incident is the first of its kind since the ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel came into effect on Oct. 27.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said that Israeli forces “will not allow any Hezbollah activity from Lebanon to take place, and will take action to remove any threat against Israel and its citizens.”

Israeli troops have continued demolition and bulldozing operations in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon. The deadline for the total Israeli withdrawal from the border area has been extended until Feb. 18 with US approval.

Troops used machine-gun fire and grenades to prevent residents of several border villages in the central sector from returning to their homes.

Israeli artillery targeted the outskirts of Shebaa, while troops set a poultry farm on fire in Tallat Nahas-Deir Mimas. 

Israel seeks to remain in several strategic positions in the eastern sector, including the Owaida hill.

The Israeli army is still stationed in the Mfailha area, west of Mays Al-Jabal, and is bulldozing and destroying houses, according to residents trying to enter their town.

Israeli bulldozers removed mounds of earth, and expanded the bulldozing operations to include electricity poles, walls, and trees.

An Israeli drone on Wednesday night struck a house at the northern entrance of Yohmor Chkeif with a guided missile. Israel had previously targeted the property before the land war in southern Lebanon.

Adraee said that the Israeli air force aircraft destroyed an engineering vehicle that was used to rebuild Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure, “which violates the agreements between Israel and Hezbollah.”

An Israeli drone dropped explosives on a bulldozer that was helping ambulance teams pull the bodies of Hezbollah victims from the rubble in Yaroun.

Two people were injured after an Israeli drone dropped a bomb near their motorcycle on the outskirts of the town of Talusa.

The Israeli army still occupies nine villages — Aitaroun, Blida, Mays Al-Jabal, Odaisseh, Kfarkela, Hula, Markaba, Maroun Al-Ras, and Rab Al-Thalathine — in the central sector.

Activists on social media circulated calls on behalf of residents of border villages to gather next Sunday at specific points to return to the villages, accompanied by the Lebanese army.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the Israeli army has carried out demolitions in the border towns of Dhayra and Al-Bustan in the Tyre district.

A large crane, overlooking Birkat Risha, Al-Bustan, Yarine, and Marwahin, installed concrete walls along the border line, amid intensive movements of soldiers, and mounds were erected overlooking the towns of Yarine, Zalloutiyeh, Umm Al-Tout, and Dhaira.

Media reports on Thursday said that Hezbollah has provided Lebanese authorities with the names of seven Lebanese people captured by the Israeli army in the border region: Kamel Younes, who was seized in the town of Blida; and Hassan Jawad, Youssef Abdallah, Ibrahim Al-Khalil, Mohammed Jawad, and Hussein Sharif, all detained in the town of Aita Al-Shaab; in addition to maritime captain Imad Amhaz, who was abducted by naval commandos in the coastal town of Batroun, northern Lebanon.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday night said that three Turkish nationals had been killed by an Israeli airstrike in the Lebanese-Israeli border area while attempting to cross illegally into Israel.

“We condemn in the strongest terms this unlawful attack that resulted in the death of our citizens,” the ministry said.

“Israel must immediately end its aggressive policies that disregard human life and escalate tensions in our region,” it added.

A Lebanese security source told Arab News that the Israeli airstrike occurred on Dec. 12 on Al-Sadana, Shebaa.

“At the time, the identities of the victims were not immediately known, as neighboring villages did not report any missing persons.

“However, when the Turkish Embassy began following up on the three missing citizens, Lebanese authorities discovered that the victims were Turkish nationals who had attempted to infiltrate Israel for work.

“Their civilian clothes and traces of blood were found at the scene, but their bodies were not recovered at the time. The three had previously tried to cross through another entry point, but failed.”


UAE inaugurates first French-made Rafale fighter jet in Paris

UAE inaugurates first French-made Rafale fighter jet in Paris
Updated 30 January 2025
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UAE inaugurates first French-made Rafale fighter jet in Paris

UAE inaugurates first French-made Rafale fighter jet in Paris
  • French-Emirati deal represents key defense agreement between the two allies
  • The UAE aims to enhance its defense capabilities by upgrading air force fleet

LONDON: The UAE Ministry of Defense has inaugurated its first French-made Rafale fighter jet, marking a significant enhancement to the capabilities of the Emirati Armed Forces.

The ministry said on Thursday that the move is part of a deal signed with French aerospace company Dassault Aviation, highlighting the strong strategic partnership between Paris and Abu Dhabi.

The French-made Rafale is regarded as one of the world’s most advanced multi-role combat aircraft.

The UAE aims to enhance its defense capabilities by upgrading the air force fleet with the acquisition of Rafale fighter jets to address regional and global security challenges, the Emirates News Agency reported.

The launch ceremony took place in Paris and was attended by Mohamed bin Mubarak Fadhel Al-Mazrouei, UAE minister of state for defense affairs, as well as Sebastien Lecornu, the French defense minister.

Al-Mazrouei said that the UAE’s “strategy focuses on acquiring the most advanced weaponry and systems that align with the evolving nature of modern warfare and technological advancements, enhancing the overall combat efficiency of our national defense system.”

The agreement with Rafale will feature a training program to qualify Emirati pilots and technicians, ensuring readiness levels among national personnel, WAM added.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Salem Ali Al-Hameli of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense said that the Rafale aircraft features advanced technologies for reconnaissance and precise attacks on land and sea targets, making it a valuable addition to the UAE’s air force.

The €16.6 billion ($17.3 billion) deal between the UAE and Dassault Aviation is a key defense agreement in French-Emirati relations, involving the production of 80 advanced fighter jets with cutting-edge technologies.


Scholz ‘relieved’ at release of German-Israeli hostages

Scholz ‘relieved’ at release of German-Israeli hostages
Updated 30 January 2025
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Scholz ‘relieved’ at release of German-Israeli hostages

Scholz ‘relieved’ at release of German-Israeli hostages
  • “We are relieved and rejoice with all the hostages who have been released,” Scholz said on X
  • “All of the hostages must be released and all mortal remains of the deceased returned to the families“

BERLIN: Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday welcomed the release of two German-Israeli hostages captured by Palestinian militants in the October 7, 2023 attack and urged the release of all remaining captives.
Earlier, militants in Gaza freed five Thai and three Israeli hostages, among them two German-Israeli dual nationals, 80-year-old Gadi Moses and 29-year-old Arbel Yehud.
“We are relieved and rejoice with all the hostages who have been released,” Scholz said in a post on the social media platform X.

“All of the hostages must be released and all mortal remains of the deceased returned to the families.”
Thursday’s exchange is the third to take place under the current Gaza ceasefire.
Israel is to release 110 prisoners, including 30 minors, in exchange for the three Israelis, said the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, an advocacy group.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also hailed the “blessing” of the release of Moses and Yehud, who she said had been “tormented by Hamas until the end.”
“Their strength moves me deeply,” she wrote in an X post in German and Hebrew, but added that “both have lost close relatives through cruel Hamas terror” and that their “worlds... are no longer the same.”
She said a second phase for the ceasefire was essential.
During the current first phase of the deal, the terms of the second phase are to be negotiated, with the aim of freeing the last hostages in Gaza and bringing the war to a definitive end.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he had written to Moses’s and Yehud’s families to share his “deep joy” at the news of their release.
“We can scarcely imagine what Arbel Yehud and Gabi Moses have been through,” Steinmeier said.