U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for pivotal talks on Monday, urging him to support a peace proposal aimed at ending the nearly two-year-old war in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington on Monday for the fourth time since Donald Trump returned to office in January, aiming to strengthen Israel’s key alliance with the United States amid recent Western recognition of Palestinian statehood—moves both leaders have criticised as concessions to Hamas.
The White House unveiled a new 20-point peace plan for Gaza, calling for an immediate end to the fighting and the return of all hostages, living and deceased, within 72 hours of Israel’s public acceptance. Israeli forces would pull back to agreed lines, and in exchange, Israel would release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained since 7 October 2023.
Standing alongside Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel and its partners were “beyond very close” to an agreement that could not only end the war in Gaza but also pave the way for wider regional peace involving Arab states. Trump said it is now up to Hamas to accept the plan.
“We’re not done yet,” he told reporters. “We need Hamas to agree, and I believe they can. Now it’s time for them to accept the terms of the plan we’ve put forward today.” He called the proposal “extremely fair” and acknowledged that building peace will not be easy. Trump added that Arab and Muslim partners are ready to support the people of Gaza, a trilateral security mechanism has been agreed, and the plan envisions a phased Israeli withdrawal. If Hamas accepts, all hostages will be freed. The plan also establishes an international oversight body, the Board of Peace, to monitor implementation.
On the topic of regional peace, Trump brought up the Abraham Accords, suggesting that Iran could eventually join the historic agreement that normalized relations between Israel and four Muslim-majority nations during his first term. Standing beside Netanyahu, he said, “Who knows, maybe even Iran can get in there. I think they're going to be open to it. I really believe that. But they could be a member.”
Both leaders stressed the broader regional goals.
Netanyahu voiced full support for the Gaza plan, saying the plan achieves Israel’s war aims, dismantles Hamas’ military capabilities, and ensures Gaza never again poses a threat. He said Gaza would be demilitarised and governed by a peaceful civilian administration, while the Palestinian Authority cannot play a role without major reforms. Netanyahu also warned that if Hamas rejects the plan, Israel will act to complete the mission independently.
Qatar says it has delivered a U.S. ceasefire proposal to Hamas, which is reportedly reviewing it positively, Egyptian media say, citing security sources.
Trump thanked Netanyahu for agreeing to the 20-point Gaza peace plan, saying it marked a critical step toward ending the conflict, restoring stability, and paving the way for broader regional cooperation.
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Baku is set to host its first international conference examining India’s policies towards ethnic and religious minorities, with a particular focus on the Sikh community.
Hamas is set to cede power in Gaza, as a U.S.-backed Palestinian committee prepares to take over the administration of the territory, Palestinian sources reported.
Four men convicted in Azerbaijan have been transferred to Armenia under a humanitarian framework, a step that officials describe as a concrete outcome of the emerging peace between the two countries.
Kazakhstan has confirmed that two oil tankers linked to the transport of its crude were attacked in the Black Sea, underscoring the growing security risks surrounding the country’s primary export corridor.
Real Madrid have parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso, appointing former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence and widespread communication shutdowns across the country.
The United Nations’ top court at The Hague has begun hearings on whether Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority. Gambia told judges on Monday that Myanmar targeted minority Muslim Rohingya for destruction and made their lives a nightmare in a landmark case.
Apple will use Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) models for its revamped Siri voice assistant later this year, in a multi-year deal that strengthens the tech giants’ partnership and boosts Alphabet’s position in the race against OpenAI.
President Donald Trump said on Monday any country that does business with Iran will face a tariff rate of 25% on trade with the U.S., as Washington weighs a response to the situation in Iran which is seeing its biggest anti-government protests in years.
Romania has reiterated its openness to discussions on a potential unification with neighbouring Republic of Moldova, following recent remarks by Moldova’s president.
Over the past 24 hours, Türkiye has engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity, as regional tensions continue to mount amid fears of an imminent U.S. attack on Iran.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Wednesday (14 January) that any attempt to affect the sovereignty of Greenland, a European ally, would have serious consequences, amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to take control of the Arctic territory.
China is stepping up efforts to promote technology-enabled elderly care, aiming to improve the health, safety and overall wellbeing of its rapidly growing senior population.
The Trump administration has released a previously classified legal opinion on Tuesday, setting out its justification for the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and U.S. military operations carried out inside Venezuela.
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