All articles tagged with #us mediation
Senior Syrian and Israeli officials are set to meet in Paris for the first time in nearly two months to negotiate a security pact, with U.S. mediation led by Tom Barrack, aiming to stabilize the border and potentially normalize diplomatic relations, under pressure from the Trump administration.
The U.S. is exploring a model for disarming Hamas by encouraging militants in Rafah tunnels to surrender and hand over their weapons in exchange for amnesty, aiming to prevent further conflict and potentially expand this approach in Gaza, amid ongoing negotiations involving Israel, Hamas, and mediators like Turkey.
Syria's President Ahmed al-Shara announced that negotiations with Israel over a border security agreement are progressing and could be finalized within days, marking a potential shift towards easing decades of hostility with Israel, facilitated by U.S. mediation.
Israel and Lebanon are close to finalizing a ceasefire agreement to end the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, which has resulted in significant casualties, primarily on the Lebanese side. The draft agreement includes a 60-day transition period for military withdrawals and redeployments, with a U.S.-led oversight committee to monitor compliance. The negotiations faced a setback due to the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, but efforts are underway to resolve these issues and finalize the deal, which would require approval from Israel's Security Cabinet.
Hamas has informed international mediators that it cannot identify 40 living hostages meeting the criteria for a U.S.-backed ceasefire deal, raising concerns that most of the captives may already be deceased. Both American and Israeli officials fear that the number of deceased hostages is higher than previously believed, with estimates suggesting that many may have died due to health reasons or Israeli strikes on Gaza. The Israeli military and the prime minister's office have not publicly stated their estimates on how many hostages remain alive, but it is believed that 130 hostages are still in Gaza. Last weekend, Israeli authorities confirmed the death of Elad Katzir, a farmer abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attack, further intensifying the situation.
Israeli officials express optimism over ongoing cease-fire negotiations with Hamas, signaling progress in talks that could lead to the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The potential deal has drawn criticism from far-right ministers within the Israeli government, who threaten to bring down the coalition if a permanent cease-fire is reached or if an offensive on the Gazan city of Rafah is not pursued. International pressure has intensified on Israel following a missile strike that killed aid workers, with the US pressing for a truce, increased humanitarian aid for Gaza, and the freeing of hostages. Meanwhile, Hamas has stated that there has been no progress in the negotiations.
Sudan's army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have committed to protecting civilians and allowing humanitarian aid, but a ceasefire remains elusive. The two sides signed a declaration in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after a week of talks, but a senior US State Department official said they were still far apart. The fighting has killed hundreds of people and triggered a humanitarian crisis, with more than 600 people killed and over 5,000 injured. The World Health Organization said 700,000 people have been internally displaced and 150,000 refugees have entered neighbouring states.