U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has blamed the Palestinian militant group Hamas for the recent escalation in Gaza, reiterating Washington's unwavering support for Israel.
Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Witkoff stated that Hamas had been given multiple opportunities to prevent the violence. “Hamas had every opportunity to demilitarize, to accept the bridging proposal that would have given us a 40- or 50-day ceasefire where we could have discussed demilitarization and a final truce. There were all kinds of opportunities to do that, and they elected not to,” he said.
Despite the violence, Witkoff noted that the U.S. remains open to diplomatic discussions with Hamas, echoing a similar stance taken in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “Would we be amenable to a reach-out from Hamas? Of course, we would be – no different than in the Russian conflict. We want to end the killing, but we need to be clear who the aggressor is here, and that is Hamas,” he added.
The Israeli military resumed heavy strikes on Gaza on March 18 following the collapse of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which had been in effect since January 19. Since the resumption of attacks, over 670 Palestinians have been killed, with more than 1,200 others injured. The toll on Gaza’s population has been devastating, with at least 50,021 Palestinians killed and 113,274 others wounded since October 7, 2023.
In the wake of the failed ceasefire, Israel announced it would escalate military action against Hamas, rejecting new ceasefire proposals. Hamas, for its part, accused Israel of violating its commitments and resuming a campaign of genocide against Palestinians.
This renewed conflict comes amid internal political unrest in Israel, including the controversial dismissal of Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The European Union views the Palestinian Authority as "best placed to govern Gaza," according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, following her meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah.
The Israeli military announced that its 36th Division, which previously carried out operations in Lebanon, is now preparing for potential activity in Gaza.
An Israeli airstrike hit Gaza's Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, killing at least five and wounding several others, according to medics.
An Israeli strike in southern Gaza killed Hamas official Salah al-Bardaweel and his wife, as violence escalates following the collapse of a ceasefire.
Israel has warned it will hold parts of Gaza until Hamas releases the remaining hostages.
Israeli citizens have protested outside the Knesset and Prime Minister’s residence against a controversial law that would alter the judicial appointment committee, a move critics warn could shift power within the judiciary and spark a constitutional crisis.
Britain's proposed assisted dying law for terminally ill individuals may be delayed until 2029, following amendments to the legislation that extend the timeline for implementation and add new safeguards, with the bill still needing approval from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The European Union’s enlargement process continues to move forward, but without mention of Georgia. In a speech at the European Policy Center in Brussels on March 25, European Council President Antonio Costa highlighted the EU’s commitment to integrating Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.
Denmark on Wednesday welcomed a U.S. decision to confine a planned visit to Greenland to a military base after the plans triggered a spat between Copenhagen and the White House amid President Donald Trump's interest in taking over the island.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday night in Paris for a working dinner at the Élysée Palace, ahead of a "coalition of the willing" summit.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on Thursday that purchasing U.S. weapons does not pose a security risk for his country, but emphasized the need for Europe to reduce its reliance on American defense systems. His comments come amid growing discussions within Europe.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
Mexican forces have dismantled a massive meth lab in Zacatecas, dealing a blow to a Sinaloa Cartel faction.
Serbia’s parliament has officially accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, setting a 30-day deadline for the formation of a new government or the calling of snap elections.
A devastating overnight drone attack on Kyiv, attributed to Russian forces, resulted in the deaths of three people, including a five-year-old child, and left ten others injured.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
The Department of Energy (DOE) has instructed its employees to label documents related to the agency’s review of grants and contracts under the controversial DOGE initiative with "legal privilege," in a bid to prevent them from being disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia hosted the presentation of the Armenian translation of the book by Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi, titled "The Power of Negotiations: Principles and Rules of Political and Diplomatic Negotiations."
Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan stated on Tuesday that there are no expected changes in Armenia’s relations with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), despite ongoing discussions regarding the country’s stance on the military alliance.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a delegation led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who is in Yerevan on an official visit.
Israeli citizens have protested outside the Knesset and Prime Minister’s residence against a controversial law that would alter the judicial appointment committee, a move critics warn could shift power within the judiciary and spark a constitutional crisis.
Britain's proposed assisted dying law for terminally ill individuals may be delayed until 2029, following amendments to the legislation that extend the timeline for implementation and add new safeguards, with the bill still needing approval from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The European Union’s enlargement process continues to move forward, but without mention of Georgia. In a speech at the European Policy Center in Brussels on March 25, European Council President Antonio Costa highlighted the EU’s commitment to integrating Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.
Denmark on Wednesday welcomed a U.S. decision to confine a planned visit to Greenland to a military base after the plans triggered a spat between Copenhagen and the White House amid President Donald Trump's interest in taking over the island.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday night in Paris for a working dinner at the Élysée Palace, ahead of a "coalition of the willing" summit.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment