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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.

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.

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.

The State of Qatar expressed its regret over the UN Security Council's failure to adopt a draft resolution aimed at ending the catastrophic humanitarian suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli aggression, and calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire by all parties, as well as the immediate release of all Palestinian prisoners. This came in the State of Qatar's statement delivered by Her Excellency Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani during the UN General Assembly's plenary session on agenda item 64 concerning the "Use of the Veto," held pursuant to Resolution 76/262 following the use of the veto against the draft resolution on the situation in the Gaza Strip. Her Excellency said that the session was convened in the aftermath of the use of a veto in the Security Council on Sept. 18 against a draft resolution submitted by the elected members of the Council addressing the situation in Gaza. She added that the group of eight Arab and Islamic countries, which met with US President Donald Trump last month on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 80th session of the General Assembly, had jointly called on Israel to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza and to ensure its safe and unhindered distribution in coordination with the United Nations and humanitarian organizations. Her Excellency stressed that the State of Qatar will continue its efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region, preserve international peace and security, and work toward a resolution that brings an end to the war in the Gaza Strip. Her Excellency also noted that the State of Qatar takes pride in the fact that its joint mediation efforts with the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America have successfully led to the release of many Palestinian detainees and prisoners, in addition to the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, despite the complex obstacles and challenges. Her Excellency Qatar's Permanent Representative to the UN affirmed the State of Qatar's readiness to remain actively engaged in efforts to end the war in the Gaza Strip in line with President Trump's initiative. This reflects Qatar's longstanding commitment to resolving conflicts through diplomatic means and underscores its role in promoting regional stability and security, Her Excellency added. Her Excellency also reiterated the State of Qatar's welcome for President Trump's leadership and sincere efforts to bring the war in Gaza to an end, expressing confidence in his ability to chart a path to peace, as was reaffirmed in the joint statement issued with the eight Arab and Islamic countries on Sept. 29. Her Excellency underlined that the State of Qatar underscores the importance of its partnership with the United States in promoting peace in the region, pointing out that in this context, Qatar welcomed President Trump's proposal, which includes ending the war, rebuilding Gaza, preventing the displacement of the Palestinian people, and advancing comprehensive peace. The proposal also includes a commitment to prevent the annexation of the West Bank, and that the eight Arab and Islamic nations have expressed their willingness to engage positively and constructively with the United States and other relevant parties to finalize and implement the agreement to ensure peace, security, and stability for all people in the region through a joint commitment with the US to end the war in Gaza via a comprehensive agreement. This would guarantee unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid, prevent displacement of Palestinians, establish a security mechanism for all parties, secure full Israeli withdrawal, support the reconstruction of Gaza, and pave the way for a just peace based on a two-state solution — one that fully reunifies Gaza and the West Bank within an independent Palestinian state, in accordance with international law, as the key to regional stability and security. She noted that the State of Qatar reiterates its welcome to the UN General Assembly's adoption of the New York Declaration on implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent Palestinian state, which was issued at the high-level international conference on resolving the Palestinian question through peaceful means. HE conveyed the State of Qatar's thanks to the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic for their leadership in co-chairing the successful conference and welcomed the growing number of UN member states recognizing the State of Palestine as part of advancing a just and comprehensive resolution to the conflict.Her Excellency reaffirmed the State of Qatar's unwavering and historic position in support of the brotherly Palestinian people and their legitimate struggle, rooted in the right to self-determination and in line with relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

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.

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.

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.

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.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that ongoing talks have been taking place for four days with leaders from countries in the region to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, stressing that the negotiations would continue until a successful agreement that achieves peace is reached. Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the discussions included leaders from several Islamic countries and that the Palestinian movement, Hamas, was fully aware of these negotiations, adding that the Israeli side has been informed of all their details at every level. He noted that optimism was higher than at any time in decades of conflict and that there was genuine willingness and strong enthusiasm to reach a historic agreement, with all parties eager to move beyond what he described as a dark period of death and destruction. Trump expressed pride in being part of these negotiations, saying they must secure the release of hostages and establish lasting peace. Speaking separately to reporters at the White House, he said he was very close to reaching an agreement on Gaza, stressing that any deal would be contingent on the return of hostages and an end to the war. He described his talks with European and Arab leaders as productive and constructive.

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.

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.

The death toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, which began on Oct. 7, 2023, has reached 64,803 martyrs and 164,264 injured.In a statement today, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said that within the last 24 hours, hospitals in the Gaza Strip received 47 martyrs and 205 injured people.The total death toll since the occupation violated the ceasefire agreement on March 18, 2025, has reached approximately 12,253 martyrs and 52,223 wounded.The statement added that five martyrs and 26 wounded have arrived at hospitals in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of those killed in the struggle for a living to 2,484, and more than 18,117 wounded.It also noted that hospitals in the Gaza Strip recorded seven new deaths, including two children, over the past 24 hours as a result of starvation and malnutrition. This brings the total number of starvation victims to 429, including 145 children.