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Hamas delegation arrives in Cairo for talks on comprehensive Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal
Hamas negotiators in Cairo discuss a new Egyptian plan for a full cease-fire, release of all hostages, symbolic exile and Gaza demilitarization; Disputes remain after failed Doha talks, but mediators see room for compromise
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for talks on a possible agreement with Israel, as Egypt presented the terror group with a new proposal for a comprehensive deal.
The plan calls for the release of all hostages in one phase, an end to the war, explicit provisions for Gaza’s demilitarization, and the symbolic exile of some Hamas members. “Egypt is working with Qatar and the United States to revive the 60-day plan,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty said.
An Arab official familiar with the talks said Cairo intends to invite an Israeli negotiating team to the Egyptian capital in the coming days, once there is progress with Hamas. He predicted an exchange of draft agreements soon, adding that “what brought Hamas to Cairo was Israel’s threat to capture Gaza City.”
At a Cairo press conference, Abdel Aaty stressed: “We are working in full cooperation with the Qataris and Americans, and the main goal is to return to the original proposal — a 60-day cease-fire that would include the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, alongside the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza without conditions or restrictions.”
The Arab official said responsibility for the failure of the recent Doha talks was equally shared by Israel and Hamas. “You can’t blame just one side,” he said. “We were optimistic it would succeed, and we were surprised when it collapsed. Israel insisted Hamas commit to disarming during the partial deal stage, while Hamas was only willing to discuss disarmament during the 60-day negotiations.”
According to the official, Egypt has now reached an understanding with Hamas for eventual disarmament and symbolic exile. “But Hamas wasn’t willing to include that in the first agreement, because they don’t trust Israel. They fear Israel will trick them and resume fighting, so they won’t give up their weapons or their last hostages at the outset,” he said.
IDF forces in Gaza (Photo: IDF)
He added that there is now “clear agreement” that the focus should be on a full deal, not another partial one. “Contrary to what some claim, a comprehensive deal is easier — in a partial deal, we just postpone the obstacles. Hamas genuinely wants to end the war but doesn’t believe Israel will stop trying to eliminate it. They are ready to disarm, but they need guarantees.”
The official described “cautious optimism” in Cairo. “In Doha, they covered perhaps 70% of the issues,” he said. “Disputes remained, such as a few hundred meters’ difference on the size of the perimeter in Gaza. They had already discussed formulas and were close to solutions. There was also a dispute over the number of life-sentence prisoners to be released — 120 as Israel agreed, versus 200 demanded by Hamas — but that was solvable. Then both sides blew it up. A shame.”
Palestinian Authority role in ‘the day after’
The Arab official said Hamas had agreed to Egypt’s proposal for “the day after,” which includes Palestinian Authority involvement in governing Gaza. “Israel says it won’t allow the PA to return to Gaza, but it continues to cooperate with PA security forces in the West Bank, and that works well. It would work in Gaza, too,” he argued.
He said the international consensus is that no deal can be reached without a PA presence in Gaza. “There will be Arab actors in the interim administration, but the PA will also be represented. Hamas understands it cannot stay in Gaza. Some of its members want to leave and build new lives elsewhere, hence their interest in exile.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: Reuters/Cagla Gurdogan)
The official claimed Hamas no longer controls all of Gaza. “There’s no organized military structure, no command hierarchy. We saw in Doha that Hamas agreed to things local commanders wouldn’t accept, and responses from the ground took a long time. This is a rare opportunity to rebuild Gaza. We must not waste it.”
He said Israel has quietly preferred Qatar to lead the negotiations, despite knowing Egypt is the main mediator drafting agreements and understanding the realities on the ground. “Yes, Qatar influences Hamas, but there are also unclear interests. We don’t understand why Israel keeps trusting them.”
The official also suggested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may not truly want to end the war, accusing him of dragging out the process for domestic political reasons. “We have an excellent security dialogue with Israel. Egypt has fully sealed its border with Gaza — no weapons can be smuggled in. Israel knows this. We have a clear interest in stability on our border.”
He warned against Israel’s plan to capture Gaza City: “It won’t be simple and will likely cause heavy casualties on both sides. Hamas is deeply entrenched in tunnels. We don’t know if they are trying to lure you in, or if they would prefer a deal to prevent the city’s capture. Maybe they want to expose that you aren’t really planning to take all of Gaza.”
The Gaza Strip (Photo: Bashar Taleb/ AFP)
Since the war began, Egypt and Qatar have been vying for the lead in mediating between Israel and Hamas, as part of their efforts to boost their standing in the international community and the Arab world. This has resulted in conflicting media reports and sometimes contradictory statements from officials in both countries.
Divisions in Israel, new hints from Netanyahu
According to Sky News Arabia, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo to meet with Egyptian officials. The network reported that the mediators plan to present a new initiative aimed at “removing Netanyahu’s excuses” for recapturing Gaza City.
Later, the network said the proposal includes a comprehensive deal to release all Israeli hostages — living and dead — in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Under the plan, Hamas would agree to a new IDF withdrawal map in Gaza under Arab-American supervision until a permanent agreement on disarmament and governance is reached.
In line with Israel’s demand, which Hamas has so far rejected, the proposal calls for Hamas to freeze its military activities and disarm, with the mediators — and Turkey — serving as guarantors, while negotiations proceed toward a permanent cease-fire.
A senior Israeli security official was skeptical: “The chances Hamas will accept the Egyptian initiative are slim. In the end, Hamas is a terror group unlikely to disarm — but perhaps Turkish influence and guarantees could work.”
Within Israel’s negotiating team, there is disagreement over the plan’s chances. Some believe the gaps can be bridged, and the main question is whether Hamas will agree to a comprehensive deal. In any case, they say the significance of the proposal is that the sides are now discussing an overall end to the war.
At a press conference two days ago, Netanyahu signaled there may be no more partial hostage deals, declaring that the decision would come through “sophisticated methods that will surprise Hamas.” He revealed he had ordered the IDF to accelerate plans to capture Gaza City and act “faster and earlier” to end the war.
On the negotiations, some in the Israeli team said the differences with Hamas were small and could be resolved, but Netanyahu argued Hamas had presented “surrender terms” — releasing Nukhba commandos, international guarantees that fighting would not resume, and a withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor — demands he said no government could accept. While Netanyahu claimed there was no chance for a deal, some mediators and negotiators maintain an agreement was possible, and that Israel walked away too soon. Link The Arab official quoted in the article talks of the possibility that Netanyahu does not want to end the war. He and everyone else have good reasons to suspect this. The only reason that the war is still going on is because Netanyahu refused to end the war. Now that there is a new proposal coming up from Egypt/Qatar that may be acceptable to Hamas, I have no doubt the Netanyahu will not find it acceptable, no matter how many changes were made. For him, the process cannot be so short, which is should be in order to save the hostages. He has his own time table that he believes will assure him his coveted political survival and cutting it short will not serve his end game. That is most likely the reason that he has changed his stripes from demanding his creation of an interim agreement to free some hostages and doesn't include any statements about ending the war. Now, he probably sees the possibility of an interim agreement happening too soon and with it potential pressure from Trump to include the timeframe for ending the war. Doing so would certainly bring down his government with the extremist messianics bolting the government as soon as the words ending the war become part of any agreement. Therefore, he changed to a single comprehensive deal that he is sure will take months to complete the negotiations and agreements, which is exactly what he wants. Anything short of this will not be acceptable to him for his war for his political survival.
Israel may dispatch negotiators to Doha for talks on freeing all hostages, ending war Netanyahu says partial hostage release deals are ‘behind us’ as Arab diplomat tells ToI that mediators are expected to push 60-day truce that will turn into a comprehensive ceasefire
Israel may send negotiators to Doha this week for meetings on a comprehensive agreement for the release of hostages held by Hamas and a ceasefire in Gaza, according to an Israeli television report on Tuesday, as Arab states and the US also push for a final deal to end the 22-month war.
Enav Zangauker (R), mother of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker, sits with a friend by a fake coffin during an anti-government protest calling for action to secure the release of Israeli hostages held captive since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack in front of the defense ministry in Tel Aviv on August 12, 2025. (Jack GUEZ / AFP)
The efforts by Israel, the United States and a few Middle Eastern countries signaled that officials have not given up on the prospect of an agreement despite a recent breakdown in negotiations over a temporary ceasefire last month. After the talks collapsed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government approved a plan to conquer Gaza City beginning in October, with the operation expected to continue for months.
But that plan also appears to have created renewed urgency — as well as a two-month window — for renewed talks. Those involved have reportedly acknowledged that the gaps between Israel and Hamas remain vast, but efforts in recent days demonstrate that negotiations could restart.
The comprehensive deal Israeli negotiators are eyeing would include the release of all hostages, an end to the war, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and arrangements for the enclave’s post-war governance, Channel 12 news reported, citing two sources aware of the matter.
Meanwhile, Egyptian mediators held an opening round of talks with Hamas in Cairo on Tuesday aimed at reviving hostage negotiations, an Arab diplomat confirmed to The Times of Israel, adding that talks will continue on Wednesday.
The discussions were largely preliminary and did not delve into specific details of the framework that the sides will try to advance.
Hamas’s Khalil al-Hayya during an interview in Istanbul, April 24, 2024. (AP/ Khalil Hamra, File)
Hamas said senior leader Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo for the talks. Hamas official Taher Nunu said in a statement that the terror group’s meetings with Egyptian officials would focus on ways to stop the war, deliver aid, and “end the suffering of our people in Gaza.”
The trip by al-Hayya, who is Hamas’s chief negotiator, comes after comments he made earlier this month implicating Cairo in the ongoing Gaza humanitarian crisis, which infuriated the Egyptians.
Despite assertions from Netanyahu that Israel is no longer interested in a partial deal, the Arab diplomat said that a similar framework to the one previously discussed will likely be what the mediators try to advance — a temporary truce that subsequently turns into a permanent ceasefire once the sides agree on the exact terms.
The diplomat said that the mediators would like to broker a comprehensive deal that immediately ends the war and secures the release of all 50 of the remaining hostages at once, but that will be more difficult to do in a short time period, as Israel is demanding that Hamas completely surrender by giving up its control of Gaza along with its weapons.
Families of the hostages march through Tel Aviv at a Shift 101 protest on August 5, 2025. (Shani Tamim/Shift 101)
The ultimately unsuccessful negotiations that ended in July focused on a 60-day ceasefire that would have seen the release of about half of the 50 hostages Hamas is holding — at least 20 of whom are thought to be alive.
“We are working very hard now in full cooperation with the Qataris and Americans,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told reporters during a press conference in Cairo. “The main objective is to go back to the original proposal — to have a ceasefire for 60 days, with the release of some hostages and some Palestinian detainees, and the flow of humanitarian and medical assistance to Gaza without restrictions, without conditions.”
“We are talking with Hamas, with the Israelis and pushing for a deal” based on a recent US plan, Abdelatty said.
But in an interview on Tuesday with the i24 television channel, Netanyahu said the idea of a partial hostage release deal is “behind us.”
“We’ve made all kinds of attempts,” he said, without elaborating. “We went a long way. It became clear to us that they’re just leading us astray.”
“In any case, a lot of hostages, both living and dead, will remain in their hands,” he said, appearing to refer to the proposal under discussion last month. “I want everyone — both the living and the fallen.”
“That’s what we are therefore going for. I’m not saying that I’m not willing to discuss it. I want to return everyone within a framework that ends the war, but an end to the war on our terms,” Netanyahu added.
Israel and the US blamed Hamas for the breakdown in talks last month. In an interview this week with British pundit Piers Morgan, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee echoed Netanyahu in saying that Israel put repeated offers on the table and that Hamas was “not interested in that,” leading the US and Israel to pull out of negotiations.
And on Monday, Axios reported that in a brief phone interview, “the president seemed to agree with [Netanyahu’s] argument that more military pressure on Hamas is required.”
Arab diplomats from mediating countries have told The Times of Israel that while Hamas did raise new demands in the proposal that led the US and Israel to recall their negotiating teams, Jerusalem did the same thing at earlier stages in the negotiation process and that the gaps between the sides were still bridgeable.
Huckabee said that since Israel began moving to expanding its military operations, Hamas has expressed interest in restarting negotiations. “One has to wonder, [is Hamas] really serious about ending this?”
Protestors block a road during an anti-government rally calling for action to secure the release of Israeli hostages held captive since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack in Tel Aviv on August 12, 2025. (Jack GUEZ / AFP)
Hamas took 251 hostages in its October 7, 2023, onslaught that started the war. Of the 50 it is holding now, 49 are from that attack. It is also holding the body of a soldier killed in 2014.
Hamas and Israel have been indirectly negotiating on and off since shortly after October 7. A weeklong ceasefire in November 2023 led to the release of 105 hostages, while 38, mostly living, were released in a ceasefire that lasted from January to March of this year. In exchange, Israel has freed some 2,000 jailed Palestinian terrorists, security prisoners, and Gazan terror suspects detained during the war.
Polls show that most Israelis support a deal to end the war in exchange for the release of all the hostages. On Tuesday, some 200 retired and reserve Israeli Air Force pilots rallied outside the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv this evening to protest the cabinet’s recent decision to capture Gaza City, urging an immediate hostage deal.
A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations earlier told AFP that a final deal may be in the offing.
The source said “mediators are working to formulate a new comprehensive ceasefire agreement proposal” that would include the release of all remaining hostages “in one batch.” link
Israel may dispatch negotiators to Doha for talks on freeing all hostages, ending war Netanyahu says partial hostage release deals are ‘behind us’ as Arab diplomat tells ToI that mediators are expected to push 60-day truce that will turn into a comprehensive ceasefire
Israel may send negotiators to Doha this week for meetings on a comprehensive agreement for the release of hostages held by Hamas and a ceasefire in Gaza, according to an Israeli television report on Tuesday, as Arab states and the US also push for a final deal to end the 22-month war.
The efforts by Israel, the United States and a few Middle Eastern countries signaled that officials have not given up on the prospect of an agreement despite a recent breakdown in negotiations over a temporary ceasefire last month. After the talks collapsed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government approved a plan to conquer Gaza City beginning in October, with the operation expected to continue for months.
But that plan also appears to have created renewed urgency — as well as a two-month window — for renewed talks. Those involved have reportedly acknowledged that the gaps between Israel and Hamas remain vast, but efforts in recent days demonstrate that negotiations could restart.
The comprehensive deal Israeli negotiators are eyeing would include the release of all hostages, an end to the war, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and arrangements for the enclave’s post-war governance, Channel 12 news reported, citing two sources aware of the matter.
Meanwhile, Egyptian mediators held an opening round of talks with Hamas in Cairo on Tuesday aimed at reviving hostage negotiations, an Arab diplomat confirmed to The Times of Israel, adding that talks will continue on Wednesday. full article
Illustrative: Palestinians leave a food distribution point run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation with bags and boxes, near the Netzarim corridor in the central Gaza Strip, on August 3, 2025. (Eyad BABA / AFP)
After the White House announced last month that it would establish a new plan to distribute aid to Gazans due to the mounting hunger crisis in the Strip, the State Department indicates that the administration has ultimately decided to suffice with expanding the existing Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s delivery system.
“President Trump wants to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza at the hands of Hamas. He has committed to remaining involved and helping facilitate the aid situation — to build upon GHF’s work, and to help Gazans attain the critical access to food aid that they need,” US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce says during a briefing.
While US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that his administration has given $60 million to GHF, Bruce confirms that the real number pledged by Washington is $30 million and that half of it has been distributed.
Israel is in discussions with South Sudan about the possibility of resettling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the war-torn East African country, sources familiar with the matter say.
Six people familiar with the matter confirm the talks to The Associated Press.
It’s unclear how far the talks have advanced, but if implemented, the plans would amount to transferring people from one war-ravaged land at risk of famine to another, and raise human rights concerns.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have spoken repeatedly about wanting to relocate much of Gaza’s population — which Netanyahu refers to as “voluntary migration.”
Palestinians, rights groups, and much of the international community have rejected the proposals as a blueprint for forcible expulsion in violation of international law.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry declines to comment and South Sudan’s foreign minister does not respond to questions about the talks. A US State Department spokesperson says it doesn’t comment on private diplomatic conversations.
Joe Szlavik, the founder of a US lobbying firm working with South Sudan, says he was briefed by South Sudanese officials on the talks and that an Israeli delegation plans to visit the country to look into the possibility of setting up makeshift camps for Palestinians, which Israel would likely pay for.
Edmund Yakani, who heads a South Sudanese civil society group, says he has also spoken to South Sudanese officials about the talks.
Four additional officials with knowledge of the discussions confirm talks were taking place on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss them publicly.
Two of the officials, both from Egypt, told AP they’ve known for months about Israel’s efforts to find a country to accept Palestinians, including its contact with South Sudan. They say they’ve been lobbying South Sudan against taking the Palestinians.
While many Palestinians have rejected permanent resettlement outside of Gaza, even those who want to leave are unlikely to take their chances in South Sudan, among the world’s most unstable and conflict-ridden countries.
South Sudan has struggled to recover from a civil war that broke out after independence, and which killed nearly 400,000 people and plunged pockets of the country into famine. The oil-rich country is plagued by corruption and relies on international aid to help feed its 11 million people – a challenge that has only grown since the Trump administration made sweeping cuts to foreign assistance.
A peace deal reached seven years ago has been fragile and incomplete, and the threat of war returned when the main opposition leader was placed under house arrest this year.
“South Sudan should not become a dumping ground for people,” says Yakani. “And it should not accept to take people as negotiating chips to improve relations.”
IDF kills 5 Hamas terrorists posing as World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza
The military verified with the aid group that they were not employees, and carried out an airstrike, accusing Hamas of exploiting humanitarian work
The terrorists were spotted near a vehicle bearing the WCK logo, despite having no connection to the organization, and were deemed a threat to Israeli troops.
According to the IDF, the terrorists were eliminated in a targeted airstrike last week after deliberately affixing the aid group’s logo to their vehicle and wearing yellow vests in an attempt to disguise their activities and avoid being targeted. The Coordination and Liaison Administration in COGAT confirmed with WCK that the vehicle seen in Gaza with the group’s emblem had no link to its operations.
The strike was carried out after the vehicle was identified in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah, with several terrorists nearby posing a danger to Israeli forces. An Israeli Air Force aircraft then targeted and killed the men.
“Hamas and other terrorist organizations exploit humanitarian efforts to advance terror aims at the expense of Gaza’s civilians,” the IDF spokesperson said. “Through COGAT, the IDF will continue to work with international aid organizations to prevent their exploitation for terrorism.”
Israel discusses with South Sudan the transfer of Gazans to its territory
In the American news agency AP it was reported that Israel is conducting contacts with the African country regarding the transfer of Gazans to its territory • In the report, the degree of maturity of the contacts between the countries was not detailed, but it was written that an Israeli delegation is planning to visit the country in order to examine the establishment of camps for Palestinians • In Egypt they are working to thwart the move
Israel is conducting contacts with South Sudan to examine the possibility of transferring Gazan residents to its territory, as was reported last night (Tuesday) in the AP news agency. The report is based on six sources familiar with the contacts, but does not specify the degree of maturity of the contacts between the countries. According to the American news agency, Israel has already raised similar proposals before other African countries.
In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem and in South Sudan they refused to respond to the publication, and a spokesman in the American State Department said that the administration does not address private diplomatic talks. Joe Slevik, founder of an American lobbying company that works with South Sudan, said that he was briefed by official sources about the talks. According to him, an Israeli delegation is planning to visit the country to examine the possibility of establishing camps for Palestinians in its territory, but no date has yet been set for this. He added that Israel is apparently the one that will finance the camps in which they will be settled.
Edmund Yakani, who heads a civil society organization in South Sudan, also shared that he spoke with official sources in the country about the talks. Four other official sources familiar with the discussions confirmed that talks on the matter had taken place. The four spoke under condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the details publicly.
According to Slevik, who was hired by South Sudan to improve its relations with the United States, the American administration is aware of the talks that Israel is conducting, but is not directly involved in them. He also noted that South Sudan is interested in Trump removing sanctions that were imposed on several entities in the country.
Residents in the tent city near Gaza City | Photo: AP
Two Egyptian sources told AP that they have been aware for months of Israel’s attempts to find a country that would agree to absorb Palestinians, including the contacts with South Sudan, and are even working to persuade the African country not to accept them.
The Israeli attempts and Trump’s plan
Last month, Barak Ravid revealed on “Friday Studio” that the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, visited Washington to discuss Israel’s plans for the transfer of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and to request American assistance in encouraging countries to absorb hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Strip.
In the meeting at the White House, the head of the Mossad told President Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, that Israel is conducting talks with Libya, Indonesia, and Ethiopia regarding the absorption of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza. Barnea claimed that these three countries had expressed willingness to consider absorbing large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza. He requested that the American administration help persuade these countries and give them incentives so that they would agree to the move.
Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Libya | Photo: Google Maps
As remembered, last February, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, proposed transferring all two million Palestinians from Gaza to other countries in order to rehabilitate the Strip. However, since then, the plan has not progressed. American officials said that enthusiasm in the White House for the idea “cooled” following sharp opposition that arose in Arab countries after the presentation of the plan.
Israeli officials said that the American administration made it clear to Israel that if Netanyahu wants to promote the idea, Israel must find countries willing to absorb Palestinians from Gaza. The Prime Minister assigned the Mossad to locate countries that would agree to absorb large numbers of Palestinians who would be expelled from the Gaza Strip. linkAll of these so called investigations and plans to transfer 2 million Palestinians out of Gaza amount to nothing less than international war crime of Ethnic Cleansing which fits into the laws against genocide. Netanyahu gave instructions to set up a department for the 'voluntary emigration' of Gazans and it was set up by the extremist messianic minister Smotrich in the Defense Ministry. The entire purpose is to 'help' Palestinians leave Gaza for good, so that Smotrich as Ben Gvir can then fulfil their dreams of removing all Palestinians and setting up strictly Jewish settlements throughout the occupied Gaza which they plan to move forward with Annexation. At no place and at no time do either of them care about any implications of this idea, plan and execution as long as it serves their messianic agenda. Not only are they war criminals but also criminals to the State of Israel for fomenting the hatred that they have created and for literally destroying Israel. The most incredible and unbelievable part of this plan is that no one is asking the Palestinian refugees if they have any desire to go to places like South Sudan. South Sudan conducted a multi-sided Civil War for over 7 years resulting in hardships that are still felt today. And today, there is an ongoing internal political conflict, fueled by ethnic tensions and competition for resources, has resulted in a humanitarian crisis with potential for genocide and famine. Why the hell would any Gazan want to leave their land to go to another land that they know nothing about and undergo what could be an equally horrendous situation where they are the immigrants, the outsiders who will bear the brunt of another conflict.
No group in Lebanon is permitted to bear arms or rely on foreign backing, President Joseph Aoun told top Iranian security official Ali Larijani, his office says, days after the Lebanese cabinet approved the objectives of a US-backed roadmap to disarm the Iran-aligned Hezbollah group.
During a meeting in Beirut with Larijani, secretary of Iran’s top security body, Aoun warned against foreign interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs, saying the country was open to cooperation with Iran but only within the bounds of national sovereignty and mutual respect, according to a statement from his office.
“The friendship we seek with Iran must be with all Lebanese, not through one sect or component alone,” Aoun said.
He added that recent language used by some Iranian officials had not been helpful, and reaffirmed that the Lebanese state and its armed forces were solely responsible for safeguarding all citizens.
West Bank, Jerusalem, Israel and Terror Attacks
Palestinian reported shot to death during West Bank altercation with settlers
A Palestinian man was shot to death in a clash with settlers near the West Bank town of Duma, Palestinian news outlets report.
Hebrew-language outlets had reported earlier on fighting in the area south of Nablus, with two Israelis injured by stones.
Palestinian media names the slain man as Thameen Dawabshe, 35, citing the Palestinian Authority’s West Bank Health Ministry.
Official PA news outlet WAFA quotes Duma’s mayor saying that the clash erupted in response to earthworks on village land carried out by Israelis in recent days.
A video purportedly from the incident appears to show a man with a rifle open fire as a group of Palestinians near him. At least two gunshots can be heard in the short clip.
There is no immediate comment from Israeli authorities. videoThese so-called altercations are no less than terror attacks by the settler terrorists and should be acknowledge by all as such. No euphemisms, no nice words, no justifications - this is terrorism that is encouraged by senior members of this corrupt government where none of the other government ministers, deputy ministers or Knesset members or Prime Minister ever condemn these attacks, which is therefore acceptance and complicity in this terrorism. That means that this is a government that supports terrorism. It's as simple and horrifying as that. At the very most, a statement may be made that it is being investigated and then, nothing - crickets. The police won't get involved based on clear instructions from the criminally convicted minister, Ben Gvir for the police not to get involved in any of the settler terrorist incidents/attacks, certainly not to arrest any settlers, but only Palestinians, so there is little likelihood that any settler will ever be brought in front of a judge in a courtroom. This is the standard operating procedure for this terrorists supporting government.
The man accused of killing a Palestinian man near the West Bank village of Duma earlier today is an off-duty IDF soldier, the military says.
The IDF said the victim, identified by the Palestinian Authority health ministry as Thameen Dawabshe, 35, threw stones at the off-duty soldier and an Israeli civilian.
According to the IDF, the incident took place during “civilian engineering work” near Duma. “Dozens of Palestinian terrorists hurled stones at an off-duty IDF soldier and an Israeli civilian who were at the location,” the military says.
Official PA news outlet WAFA quotes Duma’s mayor as saying that the clash erupted in response to earthworks on village land carried out by Israelis in recent days.
The IDF says that the soldier initially fired into the air in response to the stone-throwing. “The terrorists continued to hurl stones, and in response, the soldier responded with live fire to remove the threat. A hit was identified,” the military says.
“Following this, the terrorists attempted to snatch the soldier’s weapon,” according to the military.
The military says that upon receiving a report of the incident, additional troops were dispatched to the scene.
The soldier and the civilian were lightly injured by the stones and were treated at the scene, according to the IDF and medics.
Politics and the War and General News
'He’s obsessed': Netanyahu clings to Gaza push as diplomatic isolation deepens
Opinion: With international recognition of Palestine growing and allies turning critical, Netanyahu presses ahead to take over Gaza City, defying warnings from Israel’s top brass and risking further isolation — relying on Donald Trump as his sole supportive world leader
Israel’s government has only one true ally left in the world — one leader who understands its moves in Gaza. While he has not openly endorsed an occupation of the Strip, he has expressed sympathy: Donald Trump. In an interview with Channel 12’s Barak Ravid, Trump said he doubted Hamas would release hostages now and reminded listeners of October 7.
The coordination between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump is undeniable and proved effective during the conflict with Iran. But even that relationship has limits — limits only Trump will decide, in his own time and way. One morning the decision will simply come, sudden and decisive. If the Gaza operation turns into a disaster, it’s doubtful the White House will back it, a reality Netanyahu seems unwilling to acknowledge.
“He’s obsessed,” one cabinet minister said of Netanyahu. “There’s no talking to him. Everything else in the world passes him by. He sees this as just another wave.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s diplomatic collapse deepens. Palestinians are enjoying perhaps their most successful summer yet on the international stage. In Lebanon, efforts are underway to disarm Hezbollah — a potential, though far from certain, historic shift. The Lebanese government wants to strip the group of its weapons. At such a moment, even a brief pause in fiery declarations about occupying Gaza City would seem wise, avoiding more rhetorical ammunition for the “axis of resistance.” But as one source put it, “Bibi is in overdrive, focused on this as if it were Iran.”
The political freefall continues. On Tuesday, Australia pledged to recognize a Palestinian state. Italy’s defense minister — from a country resisting the recognition trend — accused Israel’s government of losing “logic and humanity” in its plans. Norway’s sovereign wealth fund announced it would divest from Israel. And for what? The cabinet has not even formally approved an occupation plan, a fact that has infuriated Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, while Netanyahu scrambles to fix it.
Gaza City and its environs are home to roughly a million people, concentrated in dense multi-story urban areas. It is doubtful they could all be evacuated with warning. It is even more doubtful hostages could be kept alive during a major military operation there. Evacuating civilians for reasons unrelated to their safety in combat would be considered a war crime — something the military advocate general has already warned the IDF about, in light of Smotrich’s ambitions.
Orders may soon be given that sharply endanger hostages — many of whom are already dying in tunnels — while causing severe civilian casualties in the heart of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Israel has long been swept along by events, and apart from Trump, no one in the international community is listening anymore. The isolation is deepening, and its costs will be generational.
Domestically, the picture is no better. Netanyahu has failed — and judging by his recent press conference, is not even trying — to rally a weary, sometimes despairing public behind what may be his final push. Knowing there’s little chance of success, he focuses solely on his right-wing base.
Now his camp tries to frame Gaza City as the final Rafah, the real Philadelphi Corridor, the ultimate historic victory. The defense establishment hopes that before any assault on Gaza City, something akin to the 1982 Beirut deal — which saw the PLO exiled from Lebanon — might be reached. But that precedent had no hostages, no Hamas.
Netanyahu’s hope may still be for a smaller breakthrough deal. As he hinted in response to Ron Dermer’s remarks in the cabinet, he would not truly refuse it. For now, Hamas benefits from the predicament into which Israel has boxed itself — a trap dug by its own government, in which it now digs deeper. And the dirt is covering everyone. Link
Asked why he previously claimed Rafah was ‘last Hamas stronghold,’ PM insists he only referred to battalions
In the i24 interview, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was pressed on why he’s framing Gaza City as Hamas’s “last true fortress” when he used the same rhetoric to describe Rafah before Israel launched a major offensive in the southern Gaza town last spring.
The premier claims that he was referring to the last organized Hamas battalions that were then located in Rafah.
In fact, he told CBS in February 2024, “We’ve already destroyed 18 of the 24 Hamas terrorist battalions. Four of [the remaining ones] are concentrated in the Rafah. We can’t leave the last Hamas stronghold without taking care of it.”
Netanyahu tells i24that Hamas transitioned to “guerrilla warfare,” after which Gaza City became the terror group’s final stronghold. He says the IDF will evacuate the civilian population before going in and clearing Gaza City. The IDF will then proceed into the refugee camps in central Gaza and the Mawasi area, which he characterized as a smaller Hamas stronghold that will be easier to dismantle once the Gaza City stronghold is defeated.
Critics have warned that Netanyahu is repeating the same strategy in Gaza City that the IDF used in Rafah, which allows many of Hamas’s operatives to evacuate with the civilian population and to simply move the “stronghold” to other locations. linkLies, lies, lies. I don't think that Netanyahu can even control himself at this point. Lying has become his natural state and the first thing that comes out of his mouth. Never did Netanyahu refer to 'battalions'. It was clear then and it is clear now that he said the same thing about Rafah as he is now saying about Gaza City, and the same thing he said about Khan Younis, and the Philidephi Corridor and the Netzarim Corridor. Each time, he claimed that the war would be concluded with Hamas' defeat every step of the way. And each time, it was a lie in order for him to further his political war of survival. Just as he has said at the beginning of each negotiation that something new was a demand because the security of Israel depended on it, and none of those demands came from any of the security heads and none of them knew of the demands until they were announced by the press as Netanyahu's new demands. Everyone understood the new demands as his way to blow up the talks. That is how Netanyahu operates, by himself, making up new 'security' demands that no one else agrees with, and the most important thing, stretch everything out as long as possible.
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Noam Tibon sits on the rooftop of the Aish headquarters in Jerusalem, August 7, 2024. (Ethan Freedman/Times of Israel)
Following the Toronto International Film Festival’s decision to cancel the screening of a documentary about the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre, the subject of the film calls the decision “absurd and delusional.”
“The Toronto Film Festival has succumbed to pressure and threats, and has chosen to silence and erase October 7,” says retired IDF Major General Noam Tibon. “My message to the festival management: The truth cannot be erased. The atrocities committed by Hamas cannot be erased or denied.”
On Tuesday, the prestigious festival canceled the screening of the documentary, “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” reportedly due to legal issues connected with the use of footage from Hamas terrorists in the film.
“The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue” is a documentary about how Tibon went to Kibbutz Nahal Oz on the morning of October 7, 2023, and saved family members and others from terrorists. Tibon’s story has been featured on the US news program “60 Minutes,” and his son, journalist Amir Tibon, whose family Noam saved, has written a book about the story.
“The festival management’s claim that the film cannot be screened because ‘permissions to use’ the footage of the Nukhba terrorists were not obtained is absurd and delusional, and constitutes further harm to the victims,” Tibon says. linkNir Tibon, a retired Major General is truly one of the many heroes of October 7. Immediately upon hearing of the Hamas invasion in the south, he took his personal weapon and traveled south to save his son and his family from the attack. As he got closer, he encountered the Hamas terrorists and engaged multiple times, killing many until he was finally able to reach his son and family to rescue them. And since the beginning of the war, he has been a tireless advocate for making a deal to bring home all of the hostages. He speaks against the corrupt self-interested government and the head, Netanyahu and condemns his actions of killing every hostage deal and ending negotiations. A film about him and his actions is very warranted and the cancellation by the film festival is a cowardly act giving in to voices of hate and terrorism.
Acronyms and Glossary
COGAT - Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
IPS - Israel Prison System
MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp
PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen
PMO- Prime Minister's Office
UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission
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π️Day 331 that 101 of our hostages in Hamas captivity **There is nothing more important than getting them home! NOTHING!** “I’ve never met them, But I miss them. I’ve never met them, but I think of them every second. I’ve never met them, but they are my family. BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!” Last month, Yhali (18), Noam (17), and Alma (13) were told that the light of their father, Dror Or, had been brutally turned off. In a similarly painful fate to their mom’s, Yonat Or, who had been murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7th, Dror was pronounced dead. His body is still held captive in Gaza. “Dror was a free spirit spreading his big light into the world” said his friend Yaki Sagi. “Dror was a culinary expert with an alchemist’s hands and the soul of a goatherd.” Dror grew up in Kibbutz Re’im and worked for various known restaurants in Tel Aviv. He married Yonat, a gifted artist, whom he met in Kibbutz Be’eri. They left the big city when the kids were born and...
IDF forces in Gaza (Photo: IDF)
We’re waiting for you, all of you.
(Photo: IDF)WCK, founded by Spanish-American chef JosΓ© AndrΓ©s, added in a post on X: “We will continue to support community kitchens throughout the region and operate our kitchens on the ground where possible, based on daily assessments. We hope for peace for all sides and for a lasting cease-fire.”AndrΓ©s reposted the statement on his personal X account and sharply criticized Israel. “The people in Gaza deserve a future free from Israeli attacks on civilians, aid workers, and children, just as the people of Israel deserve to live without fear of terror and Hamas attacks. Enough. Let’s build peace, free the hostages, renew the cease-fire, allow humanitarian aid to flow again, and begin to hope for a better tomorrow,” he wrote. Link
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