By VICTORIA EASTWOOD, SAMY MAGDY and MELANIE LIDMAN, Related Press
RAFAH, Egypt (AP) — Hamas stated Monday it has accepted a brand new proposal from Arab mediators for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that may nonetheless want Israel’s approval, as Gaza’s Well being Ministry stated the Palestinian demise toll from 22 months of conflict has handed 62,000.
U.S. President Donald Trump in the meantime appeared to solid doubt on the long-running negotiations. “We’ll solely see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The earlier this takes place, the higher the possibilities of success will probably be,” he posted on his Fact Social web site.
Hamas has been designated as a terrorist group by the USA, Canada and the European Union.
Israel introduced plans to reoccupy Gaza City and different heavy populated areas after the ceasefire talks appeared to have broken down final month, elevating the potential of a worsening of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, which specialists say is sliding into famine.
Plans to increase the offensive, that are partially aimed toward pressuring Hamas, have sparked worldwide outrage and infuriated many Israelis who worry for the remaining hostages taken within the Oct. 7 assault that began the conflict. A whole bunch of hundreds took half in mass protests on Sunday calling for his or her return.
‘Intensive efforts’ to revive talks
Egyptian International Minister Badr Abdelatty stated mediators are “exerting in depth efforts” to revive a U.S. proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, throughout which some hostages could be launched and the edges would negotiate an enduring ceasefire and the return of the remaining.
He spoke throughout a go to to Egypt’s Rafah crossing with Gaza, which has not functioned since Israel seized the Palestinian facet in Might 2024. He was accompanied by Mohammad Mustafa, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, which has been largely sidelined because the conflict started.
Abdelatty stated Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had joined the talks, which embrace senior Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya, who arrived in Cairo final week. He stated they’re open to different concepts, together with for a comprehensive deal that may launch all of the hostages directly.
Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, later instructed The Related Press that the group had accepted the proposal launched by the mediators, with out elaborating.
An Egyptian official, chatting with the AP on situation of anonymity to debate the delicate talks, stated the proposal contains adjustments to Israel’s pullback of its forces and ensures for negotiations on an enduring ceasefire throughout the preliminary truce. The official stated it’s nearly an identical to an earlier proposal accepted by Israel, which has not but joined the newest talks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to proceed the conflict till all of the hostages are returned and Hamas has been disarmed, and to maintain lasting security control over Gaza. Hamas has stated it should solely launch the remaining hostages in trade for an enduring ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal.
Palestinian demise toll surpasses 62,000
Hamas-led terrorists kidnapped 251 folks and killed round 1,200, principally civilians, within the assault that ignited the conflict. Fifty hostages are nonetheless inside Gaza, round 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive, after a lot of the relaxation have been launched in ceasefires or different offers.
The Gaza Health Ministry stated the Palestinian demise toll from the conflict had climbed to 62,004, with one other 156,230 folks wounded. It doesn’t say what number of have been civilians or combatants, however says ladies and kids make up round half the lifeless.
The ministry is a part of the Hamas-run authorities and staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and plenty of impartial specialists think about its figures to be essentially the most dependable estimate of wartime casualties. Israel disputes its toll however has not offered its personal.
The ministry stated 1,965 folks have been killed whereas searching for humanitarian help since Might, both within the chaos round U.N. convoys or whereas heading to websites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Basis, an Israeli-backed American contractor.
Witnesses, well being officers and the U.N. human rights workplace say Israeli forces have repeatedly fired towards crowds of individuals searching for help. Israel says it has solely fired warning pictures at individuals who approached its forces. GHF says its armed contractors have solely used pepper spray or fired into the air on uncommon events to stop lethal crowding.
Extra deaths linked to malnutrition
Consultants have warned that Israel’s ongoing offensive is pushing Gaza toward famine, even after it eased an entire 2 1/2-month blockade on the territory in Might. The Gaza Well being Ministry stated Monday that 5 extra folks, together with two kids, died of malnutrition-related causes.
It says at the least 112 kids have died of malnutrition-related causes because the conflict started, and 151 adults have died because the ministry began monitoring grownup malnutrition deaths in June.
Amnesty Worldwide on Monday accused Israel of “finishing up a deliberate marketing campaign of hunger.”
Israel has rejected such allegations, saying it permits in sufficient meals and accusing the U.N. of failing to promptly ship it. U.N. companies say they’re hindered by Israeli restrictions and the breakdown of regulation and order within the territory, round three-quarters of which is now managed by Israel.
Israeli lawmaker denied visa to Australia
In a separate improvement, far-right Israeli lawmaker Simcha Rothman accused Australia of antisemitism after it denied him a visa for a talking tour. Rothman is a member of the Spiritual Zionism occasion, which helps the continuation of the conflict, the mass relocation of Palestinians via what it describes as voluntary migration and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza.
“The Australian authorities’s determination to disclaim me the chance to return and converse to my folks, because of expressing easy and clear positions, is obvious and blatant antisemitism that provides a lift to terrorism,” Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Rothman saying on Monday.
Australian Dwelling Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended the transfer, saying: “If you’re coming to Australia to unfold a message of hate and division, we don’t need you right here.”
In response, Israel revoked the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority and instructed the Israeli Embassy in Australia to “fastidiously look at” any official visa functions from Australia to Israel, International Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X.
Australia joined 27 other Western-allied nations in a joint assertion final month calling for an finish to the conflict and joined a smaller circle of nations in sanctioning two far-right Israeli government ministers accused of inciting violence towards Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Magdy reported from Cairo and Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Related Press author Rod McGuirk contributed from Canberra, Australia.
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