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Friday, December 05, 2025 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Tag Results for "Gaza ceasefire" (60 articles)

Displaced Palestinians swim in the Mediterranean sea on the shores of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday. AFP
Region

Gaza peace plan: key reactions to Hamas's response

International reactions have been pouring in following Hamas's positive response on Friday to US President Donald Trump's plan to free Israeli hostages in Gaza and end the nearly two-year conflict.Here are some of the main reactions from around the world:United States"Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!" Trump posted on Truth Social.The US leader also said in a brief video message that "everybody will be treated fairly" in talks on the future of Gaza.Israel"In light of Hamas's response, Israel is preparing for the immediate implementation of the first stage of the Trump plan for the release of all the hostages," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said."We will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which align with President Trump's vision," the statement added.Mediating countriesQatar "welcomes the announcement by Hamas of its agreement to President Trump's plan", said foreign ministry spokesman HE Dr. Majed al-Ansari, also expressing support for Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire.Egypt said it hoped "this positive development will lead all parties to rise to the level of responsibility by committing to implementing President Trump's plan on the ground and end the war".United NationsUN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "welcomes" Hamas's response and "urges all parties to seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end", spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.UN rights chief Volker Turk said he hoped the plan would "pave the way for a permanent cessation of hostilities... in line with international human rights and humanitarian laws".It was, he said, a "vital opportunity for all parties and influential states to pursue in good faith and stop -- once and for all -- the carnage and the suffering in Gaza, to flood the strip with humanitarian aid, and to ensure the release of the hostages and numerous detained Palestinians".Europe"The release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach!" French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, joining a chorus of hopeful European reactions to Hamas's response.German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the plan represented "the best chance for peace" in the conflict and that Germany "fully supports" Trump's "call upon both sides".Britain's Keir Starmer called Hamas's acceptance "a significant step forwards" and urged all sides "to implement the agreement without delay".TurkeyTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he believed Hamas was showing "as it has done many times before, that it is ready for peace".The foreign ministry said the Palestinian group's response "provides an opportunity for the immediate establishment of a ceasefire in Gaza".JordanJordan's foreign ministry welcomed Hamas's response.It "stressed the need to immediately halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza, open the border crossings to allow the immediate, adequate and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to all parts of the strip, and launch a genuine effort to achieve a just peace".

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty
Region

Egyptian FM, Palestine Vice President discuss Gaza truce efforts

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a phone call Saturday with Palestinian Vice President, Hussein Al Sheikh to discuss the latest developments related to efforts aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip.The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Abdelatty expressed hope that international efforts would soon lead to a complete cessation of hostilities. He emphasized that ending the war would help alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza and improve access for humanitarian aid.He underscored the urgent priority of halting the war, ensuring that the Palestinian people remain on their land without displacement, and rejecting any plans to annex Palestinian territories. He also stressed the importance of preserving the territorial unity of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, initiating early recovery efforts, and beginning the reconstruction of Gaza.For his part, Vice President Al Sheikh highlighted the importance of leveraging the positive momentum created by the recent proposal from US President Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza. He noted that such momentum could be key in putting an end to the humanitarian catastrophe the Strip has endured for the past two years.

US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff (R) and Jared Kushner await the arrival of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, New Jersey, on July 13, 2025. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Witkoff, a senior US envoy, are heading to Egypt to finalize hostage release details.  AFP
Region

US envoys head to Mideast to finalise Gaza truce plan

Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and senior Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff were heading to Egypt to finalise hostage release details, official sources said Saturday.A White House official confirmed Kushner and Witkoff are traveling to the region to address the finalization of details on the release of hostages and to discuss the deal pushed by the US president to bring an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.The Palestinian resistance group on Friday reacted positively to a plan that would end two years of war, saying it was ready to release all hostages and discuss details on the deal.Trump in turn called on Israel to "immediately" halt its bombings of the war-ravaged territory, although Washington's chief ally in the region said Saturday its troops were still operating in Gaza.Trump's proposal calls for a halt to hostilities, the release of hostages within 72 hours, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and Hamas's disarmament.In an interview Saturday with Axios, Trump -- highlighting his behind-the-scenes diplomacy including with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- said a peace deal in Gaza was "close" and that he will push to have it finalized in coming days.Trump also said his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan was "very helpful" in urging Hamas to agree to the release of hostages."Erdogan helped a lot. He is a tough guy, but he is a friend of mine and he was great," Trump said.Netanyahu said in Jerusalem that he had instructed negotiators to travel to Egypt for talks over a Gaza deal."I have instructed the negotiating team to go to Egypt to finalise the technical details. The intention is to limit the negotiations to a few days," Netanyahu said in a televised statement, without specifying when the talks would take place.

Dr Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Qatar

Qatar welcomes Hamas's nod for US president's Gaza proposal

Adviser to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari said that Qatar welcomes the announcement by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) of its acceptance of US President Donald Trump's proposal to end the war in Gaza and its willingness to release all hostages, as part of the exchange formula contained in the proposal.In a post on X, Dr al-Ansari also affirmed Qatar's support for the US president's call for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate the safe and rapid release of the hostages, achieving rapid results that stop the bloodshed of our Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip.He added that Qatar confirms that it has begun working with its mediation partners in Egypt, in co-ordination with the US, to complete discussions on the plan to ensure an end to the war.

Tents at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues. AFP
Region

Hamas agrees to free hostages under Trump's Gaza proposal

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced Friday that it has submitted its response to US President Donald Trump's plan to cease the war in the Gaza Strip to the mediators.In a statement, the movement said it had held extensive consultations to reach a "responsible position" on the US president's plan, out of its desire to halt the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.It expressed its appreciation for Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of US President Donald Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, an exchange of prisoners, the immediate entry of aid, and the rejection of the occupation of the Strip and the displacement of the Palestinian people from it.It added: "We announce our agreement to the release of all prisoners, alive and dead, in accordance with the exchange formula included in President Trump's proposal and with the provision of field conditions for the exchange process," stressing its readiness to immediately enter negotiations through the mediators to discuss the details.The movement also renewed its agreement to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats, based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support.The statement continued saying that the other issues included in President Trump's proposal related to the future of the Gaza Strip and the inherent rights of the Palestinian people are linked to a comprehensive national position and based on relevant international laws and resolutions. These matters will be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework, of which Hamas will be a member and to which it will contribute responsibly, the statement said.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani
Qatar

Trump admires Amir's efforts to achieve peace

President of the US of America Donald Trump voiced his deep appreciation for the efforts of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to achieve peace and stability in the region, describing His Highness as an amazing person who seeks peace.During a press conference held Monday, the US president stressed the importance of Qatar's pivotal and strategic role as a reliable and effective mediator in efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East, emphasising the significance of its constructive contribution to achieving diplomatic solutions.He also noted the wonderful and productive phone call he had earlier Monday with HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, stressing the importance of the close partnership and ongoing coordination with Qatar in supporting peace efforts and enhancing regional stability.

Tents at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on Monday, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues. AFP
Region

White House releases Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan

After days of speculation, the White House on Monday released a 20-point plan for ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza, releasing hostages held by Hamas, and outlining the Palestinian enclave's future.Speaking alongside President Donald Trump at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave cautious backing to plan.Here is the plan, as released by the White House:Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors.Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1,700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023, including all women and children detained in that context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip. At a minimum, aid quantities will be consistent with what was included in the January 19, 2025, agreement regarding humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to remove rubble and open roads.Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not associated in any manner with either party. Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented under the January 19, 2025 agreement.Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the "Board of Peace," which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including Former Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trump's peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment.A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East. Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by well-meaning international groups, and will be considered to synthesize the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for future Gaza.A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbors.A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbors or its people.The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the rapid and secure flow of goods to rebuild and revitalize Gaza. A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties.Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the Unites States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. Practically, the IDF will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the ISF according to an agreement they will make with the transitional authority until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.In the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF.An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace.While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people.The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on Monday.  AFP
Region

Trump announces Gaza peace plan, with Netanyahu backing

President Donald Trump unveiled a wide-ranging Gaza peace plan Monday and won backing from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.The 20-point plan, which Trump has also circulated to Arab leaders, calls for a ceasefire, release of hostages by Hamas, disarmament of Hamas and gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.Other key points include deployment of a "temporary international stabilisation force" and creation of a transitional authority headed by Trump himself and featuring other foreign leaders.The deal would demand resistance movement Hamas fighters fully disarm and be excluded from future roles in the government. However, those who agreed to "peaceful co-existence" would be given amnesty.Following Israeli withdrawal, the borders would be opened to aid and investment.In a crucial change from Trump's earlier apparent goals, Palestinians will not be forced to leave Gaza and instead, the document said, "we will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza."Netanyahu made clear he was in favour, saying it "achieves our war aims," while Trump said he was hopeful that Hamas would also give its backing.Approval from all sides was "beyond very close," Trump said. Proposal calls for release of hostages within 48 hours of ceasefire.However, many important details remained to be clarified.The US president had met key Arab leaders at the United Nations last week and said Sunday on social media that " all are on board for something special, first time ever".Normally a staunch ally of Netanyahu, the US president has shown increasing signs of frustration ahead of the Israeli premier's fourth White House visit since Trump's return to power.Trump was infuriated by Israel's recent strike on Hamas members in key US ally Qatar.And he warned Netanyahu last week against annexing the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as some of Netanyahu's cabinet members have urged, a move that would seriously complicate the route to Palestinian statehood.Netanyahu's coalition government is propped up by the far-right ministers who oppose a peace deal.Hamas' apparent absence from the negotiations has raised questions about the prospects for the latest initiative.Meanwhile, Israeli strikes continued across the Gaza Strip, killing at least four people in Khan Younis, according to the Hamas-run territory's civil defense agency.Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza urged Trump to uphold his Gaza proposal.And in Gaza, people expressed a mix of hope, exhaustion and distrust ahead of the White House meeting.Israel's offensive has killed 66,055 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures in the Hamas-run territory.

Participants march with Palestinian flags during a demonstration near the Brandenburg Gate in the center of Berlin.
Region

Hamas yet to get Trump plan; Israel expands Gaza assault

Hamas has not received US President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan, the Palestinian resistance group which runs the enclave said Saturday as Israeli forces expanded their assault on Gaza City. "Hamas has not been presented with any plan," a Hamas official who asked not to be named told Reuters.In his comments to reporters on Friday in which he said "it's looking like we have a deal on Gaza", Trump offered no details of its contents and gave no timetable. Israel has not yet made any public response to Trump's comments.Trump is due on Monday to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who heads a hard-right governing coalition opposed to ending the Gaza war until Hamas is destroyed.Trump also said on Friday talks on Gaza with Middle Eastern nations were intense and would continue as long as required.His special envoy Steve Witkoff said the US president had presented proposals to the leaders of multiple Muslim-majority countries this week that included a 21-point Middle East peace plan.In Gaza meanwhile, the fighting continued.The Israeli military said its aircraft struck 120 targets across the strip over the past day as troops pressed deeper into Gaza City. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 74 people were killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours.In a post on social media platform X, the military's Arabic spokesman repeated calls for Gaza City residents to evacuate.

King Felipe VI of Spain addresses the United Nations (UN) General Assembly during the 80th session of the annual event on Wednesday, in New York City. AFP
Region

Spain's King Felipe demands Gaza ceasefire, urgent aid

King Felipe VI of Spain has called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the delivery of humanitarian aid, stressing that there should be no longer silence over the killing and starvation in the enclave. There must be no glossing over the systematic destruction of schools and hospitals, the killing of civilians, and the deliberate infliction of starvation in Gaza, he stressed, addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. He described what is unfolding in the Gaza Strip as a matter that shocks human conscience and constitutes a profound disgrace to the international community, while calling upon the Israeli entity to immediately cease all acts of killing. King Felipe further noted that the international community must assume its responsibility to achieve peace through the two-state solution, averring that the recognition of a Palestinian state should help establish peace and regional stability in the region. He expressed his pushback on the rising voices that claim the end of multilateralism and that the UN has become defanged, calling upon all to recall the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the UN in the aftermath of WWII, and the grim chapter humanity endured during that era. In addition, the King underscored the utmost importance of cooperation and multilateralism to confront the current epochal challenges, stressing that the UN has become instrumental, cannot be dispensed with, and that no alternative can be found for it. He expressed his deep concern over the erosion of democracy and the growing departure from the fundamental values that underpin peaceful coexistence among all peoples, affirming his country's unwavering commitment to continue supporting efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in accordance with the principles of international law. The high-level week of the UN General Assembly continues in full swing, with today featuring remarks from additional heads of state and government during the general debate, a high-level meeting on the situation of Palestinian children, the climate summit, a Security Council meeting on artificial intelligence, and other high-stakes events and dialogues.

Displaced Palestinians move with their belonging's southwards on a road in the Nuseirat refugee camp area in the central Gaza Strip, as Israel presses its ground offensive to capture Gaza City. AFP
Region

Nearly 2mn Palestinians displaced in Gaza: UNRWA

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced the forcible displacement of 1.9 mn people in the Gaza Strip.In a statement, the UN agency said that "For 2 years too long, UNRWA has been calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the scale of suffering and destruction is unimaginable." It added, "We call again for a ceasefire now."Last Friday, the UNRWA reported that the cost of displacement from Gaza City in the north of the Strip to the south is estimated at $3,180 per family. The agency also pointed to severe overcrowding in areas designated for the tents of Palestinians displaced by the Israeli military offensive.This comes amid the massive humanitarian crisis facing the people of the besieged Gaza Strip, which has been the target of a war of extermination for nearly two years, and amid the intensification of Israeli occupation operations in Gaza City in recent days.Medical sources in the Gaza Strip announced Sunday that five deaths were recorded in the Strip due to famine and malnutrition over the past 24 hours.These sources reported that the total number of deaths from famine and malnutrition has risen to 447, including 147 children.The death toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, which began on Oct. 7, 2023, has risen to 65,283 martyrs.In a statement Sunday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said that hospitals in the Strip received, over the past 24 hours, the bodies of 75 martyrs (four of whom were recovered from under the rubble of destroyed buildings) and 304 wounded.

Dr. al-Ansari stressed that both mediators Egypt and Qatar has been working constantly and tirelessly to end the escalating situation in Gaza
Qatar

Qatar, partners continue efforts to end Gaza war

Israel has not given any official response to the Hamas approved plan for settlement even though this plan agrees with almost 98% of Israeli proposals and demands in this regard, pointed out HE Dr Majed bin Mohamed al-Ansari, Adviser to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday.Addressing the ministry’s weekly press briefing, he explained that both mediators - Egypt and Qatar - have been working tirelessly to end the escalating situation in Gaza and find a way out for the sufferings of the Palestinian people there.“However, it seems that the Israeli side is not taking the issue of peace settlement seriously and the situation on the ground has continued to deteriorate with the targeting of journalists, media persons, medics, aid workers and aid seekers, in addition to more killing of civilians and worsening the suffering of the Palestinian people on the ground,” he observed.Dr al-Ansari noted that both Qatar and Egypt are mainly concerned about ending this worsening situation and determined to continue the peaceful negotiations alongside all the other mediators and involved parties, especially the American side, regardless where and when the negotiations take place.Regarding the negative and provocative statements in the Israeli media that tend to worsen and escalate the situation, the Qatari official stressed that as mediators, Qatar is only concerned about the official Israeli response and such statements are of no serious concern.Further, no official response to Hamas proposal has been issued so far by the Israeli government, even though the plan has been there for more than 10 days with them. Dr al-Ansari further stressed the need for more pressure on the Israeli government by the international community to end the situation that has been taking a very dangerous turn on the humanitarian level.