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.
Less than 24 hours after formally accepting a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza, Hamas now says it is still “reviewing” the plan, raising uncertainty over the implementation of a truce aimed at halting months of devastating conflict.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate telephone discussions on Thursday with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and senior members of Hamas’ political bureau, focusing on escalating humanitarian and security crises in Gaza and Syria.
French President Emmanuel Macron issued a strong warning Friday that France could toughen its stance on Israel, including the possible imposition of sanctions against Israeli settlers, if humanitarian aid to Gaza continues to be obstructed.
A breakthrough US plan for a Gaza ceasefire, involving a phased hostage-prisoner exchange and humanitarian aid, has gained traction as Hamas agrees to the proposal following Israel’s acceptance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed families of hostages in Gaza that Israel has accepted a new ceasefire proposal put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff, according to Israeli media reports.
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In a landmark moment for artists’ rights, Taylor Swift has officially bought back the master recordings of her first six albums, ending a long-running dispute over who controls her music.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed Friday that COVID-19 vaccines are still recommended for healthy children aged 6 months and older—if their doctors agree.
A 61-year-old man in Alaska rescued after being trapped facedown under a massive 700-pound boulder in a freezing glacier-fed creek for three hours.
AnewZ takes to the streets of Yerevan and Baku to ask a simple yet deeply complex question: How do you see peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? In the first part of our special report, we hear the hopes, doubts, and scars still shaping people’s perspectives on both sides.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
Leaders of Central Asian countries and Italy convened in Astana for the first Central Asia–Italy summit, culminating in the adoption of a Joint Declaration aimed at deepening political, economic, and cultural cooperation.
At the Astana International Forum, senior officials from Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan held talks to strengthen bilateral cooperation, with a focus on trade, economic collaboration, and regional stability.
Kazakhstan plans to double container traffic on the Trans-Caspian route in three years, aiming to boost regional and transcontinental connectivity.
Tajikistan has proposed a joint investment fund with Italy to boost regional development across Central Asia.
The 2nd Istanbul World Islamic Economy Summit was held at the Istanbul Financial Center, bringing together leaders and experts from across the Islamic world.
Leaders of Central Asian countries and Italy convened in Astana for the first Central Asia–Italy summit, culminating in the adoption of a Joint Declaration aimed at deepening political, economic, and cultural cooperation.
At the Astana International Forum, senior officials from Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan held talks to strengthen bilateral cooperation, with a focus on trade, economic collaboration, and regional stability.
In a landmark moment for artists’ rights, Taylor Swift has officially bought back the master recordings of her first six albums, ending a long-running dispute over who controls her music.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed Friday that COVID-19 vaccines are still recommended for healthy children aged 6 months and older—if their doctors agree.
A 61-year-old man in Alaska rescued after being trapped facedown under a massive 700-pound boulder in a freezing glacier-fed creek for three hours.
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