On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy informed families of hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas that he is working on a joint plan with the Israeli government aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza.
While ending the conflict remains a key priority for the Trump administration, progress in negotiations has stalled. Steve Witkoff is visiting Israel amid increasing pressure over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Witkoff stated, “We are working on a very good plan together with the Israeli government under the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu. This plan envisions the reconstruction of Gaza and the effective end of the war.”
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on his remarks.
Witkoff also said that Hamas is prepared to disarm to end the war, although Hamas has repeatedly stated it will not relinquish its weapons.
The group declared that it would only cease “armed resistance” once “an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital” is established.
Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire and the release of half the hostages, ended in deadlock last week.
On Saturday, Hamas released a second video of Israeli hostage Evyatar David. In the footage, David, visibly weakened, is shown digging a grave for himself.
David’s brother told a rally in Tel Aviv supporting the hostages that they are “on the brink of death” and may have only days left to live.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said, “The world cannot remain silent in the face of the deliberate torture of the hostages, including the starvation they are enduring.”
Witkoff visited Israel on Thursday amid global outcry over the destruction and growing hunger in Gaza under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government.
Senior Israeli officials say an understanding is emerging between Israel and the US that the plan to end the war must move beyond releasing some hostages to include freeing all hostages, disarming Hamas, and demilitarising the Gaza Strip.
The situation in Gaza remains dire. Qatar and Egypt are mediating ceasefire efforts and have endorsed a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia outlining steps toward a two-state solution. This includes Hamas handing over its weapons to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
In recent weeks, many have died from food shortages in Gaza. UN agencies say that Israel’s air-dropped aid is insufficient and are pressing Israel to increase land-based assistance.
The Gaza conflict began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. Israel’s counter-offensive has since killed over 60,000 Palestinians.
Currently, around 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with only 20 believed to be alive.
Russia has violated an energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelen...
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 12 October 2026 with the top five natural disasters happening around the world. ...
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a new attack Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi ...
The explosion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday afternoon killed at least 12 people and injured a further 309, according to Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority. The airport remains closed until further notice.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a new attack Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
Russia has violated an energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday, urging Washington to step in to ensure that Moscow abided by the terms of the putative agreement.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 12 October 2026 with the top five natural disasters happening around the world.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukraine is ready to respect the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, but only if Russia does the same, saying Moscow has already violated the agreement.
China has announced sanctions against Belize’s foreign minister and Paraguay’s communications minister over their countries’ diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The move comes as Beijing continues to pressure the few remaining nations that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment