All articles tagged with #ceasefire proposal
Plans for a Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest have been canceled due to disagreements over Ukraine peace terms, with the US and Russia holding conflicting views on ceasefire and territorial issues, and recent diplomatic efforts focusing on military aid and negotiations.
President Joe Biden has proposed a three-phase plan for an Israeli ceasefire in Gaza, asserting that Hamas has been sufficiently weakened. The plan includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the release of hostages, and a major reconstruction effort for Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, insists the war will continue until Hamas is fully defeated. Hamas has responded positively to the proposal, while Biden calls for international and domestic support to end the conflict.
Hamas has stated that the Israeli ceasefire proposal, received through Qatari and Egyptian mediators, does not meet Palestinian demands but will be reviewed. The group rejected the proposal, describing it as "intransigent," and emphasized the need for an end to the Israeli military offensive, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated a planned invasion of Rafah, Gaza's last refuge for displaced Palestinians, to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The negotiations, which included CIA Director William Burns, have yet to yield progress, with concerns raised about the potential humanitarian impact of an Israeli invasion of Rafah.
Hamas claims that Israel's response to its ceasefire proposal was negative, blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for the failure to negotiate a hostage release in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and stop the fighting in Gaza. Talks on a ceasefire have resumed in Qatar, but have so far failed to produce an agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas has presented a ceasefire proposal to mediators and the U.S., outlining the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners, including women, children, elderly, and ill hostages in the first stage. Israel has rejected the proposal, citing "unrealistic demands," and the conflict has led to a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with a quarter of the population facing famine. The proposal also includes a deadline for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the release of all detainees from both sides in a second stage.
Israel shifts focus of Gaza attack to Rafah after claiming success in Khan Younis, while diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire intensify with a proposal for a 40-day pause in fighting and hostage releases. Hamas is yet to respond to the proposal, which also includes the handover of Israeli soldiers and bodies of dead hostages. The confirmed Palestinian death toll rises above 27,000, with thousands more dead still under the rubble, as the U.S. steps up indirect pressure and seeks to respond to recent escalations in violence across the Middle East.
Oil prices initially dropped on rumors of a ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hamas, causing Brent crude to fall below $79 per barrel and WTI crude to drop to $74.37. However, prices recovered after Al Jazeera deleted the tweet, leaving the rumor unconfirmed. The drop in prices suggests the presence of a geopolitical risk premium, which quickly vanished as the situation remained uncertain.
Qatar's foreign ministry reports that Hamas has given initial positive confirmation to a proposed ceasefire deal involving the release of Israeli hostages, but a Qatari official states that there is no deal yet and they are waiting for Hamas' response. Meanwhile, the US has ordered reprisal strikes against an Iranian-backed militia, and the UK could recognize a Palestinian state after a ceasefire in Gaza. Additionally, Palestinians rounded up in Gaza have reported abuse and torture while in Israeli detention, and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees warns of shutting down operations if funding does not resume.