Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, criticized Hamas’s response to Washington’s latest ceasefire proposal, calling it “completely unacceptable” and a step backward.
Hamas responded to the US ceasefire proposal by offering to release 10 live Israeli hostages and 18 deceased hostages in exchange for several Palestinian prisoners, while asking for some changes to the plan.
The group also reiterated its demands for a permanent truce, full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and guaranteed ongoing humanitarian aid—none of which are included in the current deal. Their response was neither a clear acceptance nor an outright rejection of the US terms, which Washington says Israel has accepted.
Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, urged Hamas to accept the plan, which includes a 60-day ceasefire and the return of half the hostages—both living and deceased. He said indirect talks could begin as early as next week.
“This is the only way forward,” he wrote on social media.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel had accepted the updated outline, but Hamas “continues to adhere to its refusal.”
Trump earlier said a deal could be announced “within a day or less,” but differing responses from the parties involved continue to complicate the process.
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As Türkiye seeks to play a more active diplomatic role in the South Caucasus following the second Karabakh war, questions are growing over what President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan means when he refers to taking “symbolic steps” towards regional normalisation.
A sweeping $901 billion defence policy bill has been approved by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to sign it into law and set out the direction for American military spending and strategy for the coming year.
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels for a European Council summit that is set to focus on some of the bloc’s most pressing political, economic and security challenges.
Cambodia must be the first to declare a ceasefire in the ongoing border conflict, Thailand said on Tuesday (16 December), as fighting continued despite earlier claims that hostilities would stop and at least 52 people have been killed on both sides.
The latest clashes between Thailand and Cambodia mark a dangerous escalation in one of Southeast Asia’s oldest and most sensitive disputes.
In the complex world of international diplomacy, the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have raised significant questions about the role of third-party mediation.
The fourth European Conference on Azerbaijani Studies was held in Vienna, Austria, on 5 December, by the European Network for Azerbaijani Studies and the Strategic Consultancy Group.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is visiting the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday, 17 December, as the two countries seek to further strengthen their partnership.
European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels for a European Council summit that is set to focus on some of the bloc’s most pressing political, economic and security challenges.
A sweeping $901 billion defence policy bill has been approved by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to sign it into law and set out the direction for American military spending and strategy for the coming year.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 18th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Australia has been plunged into mourning following the deadly shooting at a Jewish holiday gathering on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda marking a deeply emotional moment for the nation.
The United States military has carried out another lethal strike against an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, marking the second such attack in the space of a week and underscoring a sharp escalation in Washington’s anti-narcotics campaign.
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