The Cradle
Hamas officials on Thursday said there is ‘no breakthrough’ in ceasefire talks, as Israeli forces continue to kill starving Palestinians seeking aid
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reached a preliminary agreement on a new strategic vision for West Asia, according to a report by Israel Hayom published on 27 June. The proposal includes a roadmap to end the war in Gaza within two weeks, broaden the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia and Syria, and lay the groundwork for a conditional two-state solution.
The agreement reportedly emerged from a high-level call involving Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Netanyahu, and Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. Sources familiar with the conversation described a mood of “euphoria” among the leaders, driven by what they say was a successful US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities and enthusiasm for what they say is a transformative peace initiative.
The plan calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, followed by the international administration of the territory.
Four Arab states – reportedly including Egypt and the UAE – would oversee governance of the strip, replacing Hamas. The remaining Hamas leaders would be exiled, and hostages currently held in Gaza would be released.
The reconstruction burden is expected to fall heavily on international donors, while emigration options would be provided for displaced Palestinians.
Trump and Netanyahu also agreed in principle to expand the Abraham Accords.
The next phase would seek normalization between Israel and countries that have so far resisted such moves, including Saudi Arabia and Syria.
Diplomatic recognition from additional Muslim-majority nations is expected as part of the broader push.
On the Palestinian front, the proposal includes a statement of Israeli readiness to engage in a future “two-state solution,” though heavily conditioned.
Any such move would require significant reforms to the Palestinian Authority (PA). In return, the US would recognize Israeli annexation, or “sovereignty,” over parts of the occupied West Bank.
Despite this forward momentum, diplomatic sources indicated that President Trump had applied heavy pressure on Netanyahu to wrap up military operations in Gaza – a pressure that began even before Israel’s attack on Iran and resumed immediately after.
Tensions reportedly flared when Israeli strikes on Iran continued following Trump’s public ceasefire announcement on 24 June. Trump appeared to be furious that Netanyahu authorized a new wave of airstrikes, risking the ceasefire, after a “minor Iranian missile” was allegedly launched at Israel.
Hamas sources cited in Arab media on Wednesday said efforts to resume negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza are progressing “more effectively” than during the 12-day Israel–Iran war.
However, the sources, who spoke with Asharq al-Awsat, said “there is no real breakthrough to speak of at the present time,” while stressing that Hamas continues to insist on a full withdrawal and permanent ceasefire, as well as reject disarmament.
The sources also said Hamas is willing to show “flexibility.”
“A new round of indirect negotiations will be held within a few days, either in Cairo or Doha,” the sources went on to say. They added that mediators have resumed efforts to kickstart talks and that “some parties communicating with the US have also contacted the Hamas leadership again to make mutually agreed-upon arrangements.”
On Tuesday, sources close to Hamas allegedly told Reuters the resistance movement was open to discussing any offers that would “end the war and secure Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.”
Meanwhile, Israel continues to kill Palestinians, including starving civilians seeking aid distributed by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF).
Medical sources in Gaza told Al Jazeera on Friday that at least 72 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across the strip over the past 24 hours.
Gaza’s Government Media Office reported that in the past month, at least 549 Palestinians were killed and 4,066 injured by Israeli forces while trying to access humanitarian supplies distributed by GHF, Al Jazeera added.
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