Articles in this Cluster
08-07-2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Donald Trump to discuss several pressing security issues. The meeting came after the US levied strikes against Iran's nuclear program, setting it back by up to two years. The two leaders are expected to address the future of US-Israeli relations, the ongoing war in Gaza, and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Trump is likely to pressure Netanyahu to end the war, which has been ongoing for over 20 months, and to secure the release of the remaining hostages, including two Americans. The US and Israel have entered a "new era of strategic partnership" following their joint military operations against Iran, and Netanyahu is expected to seek to cement this level of US support. Trump is also expected to discuss expanding the Abraham Accords, normalizing diplomatic ties between Israel and Arab nations, but progress is contingent on a ceasefire in Gaza and appeasing Netanyahu's conservative base.
08-07-2025
Keith Siegel, a 66-year-old American Israeli who was released from Hamas captivity in February after 484 days, believes US President Donald Trump has the power to secure the release of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza and end the war. Siegel was kidnapped during the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and was released under a ceasefire deal that Trump helped broker. He thanked Trump for his release and said the president could put pressure on both sides to agree on a deal, saying "Trump will do what needs to be done." Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas resumed on Sunday but ended without a breakthrough, with Hamas requesting changes to the proposed deal, including a US guarantee that hostilities would not resume if negotiations failed.
08-07-2025
US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he thinks negotiations are "going along very well" and that Hamas is willing to agree to a ceasefire. The talks, mediated by the US, aim to end the 21-month conflict in Gaza. Netanyahu also nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his efforts to forge peace in the region. The proposed ceasefire deal would involve Hamas releasing hostages and Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners, but obstacles remain, including disagreements over aid to Gaza.
08-07-2025
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a possible ceasefire in Gaza are set to resume in Doha, Qatar, amid continued Israeli airstrikes in the Strip. At least 38 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Sunday, with Israeli military saying it struck over 130 targets in Gaza in the past 24 hours. Ceasefire talks, mediated by the US, involve a proposed 60-day truce and partial release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. Hamas is seeking guarantees that the truce will lead to a total end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli troops, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insists on eliminating Hamas' military capabilities. Netanyahu is set to meet US President Trump on Monday to discuss the deal.
08-07-2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Trump at the White House, where they celebrated their recent joint strikes on Iran as a "historic victory." However, the meeting was also marked by ongoing concerns about Israel's 21-month war against Hamas in Gaza. Trump has expressed a desire to see the conflict end soon, ideally with a ceasefire agreement this week, and has been pressuring Netanyahu to wrap up the war. A potential ceasefire deal is being discussed, which could bring a 60-day pause in fighting, aid to Gaza, and the release of hostages, but a sticking point remains whether the ceasefire will end the war altogether. Hamas wants a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Netanyahu insists the war will only end when Hamas is militarily defeated or surrenders. Trump, who has been seeking a Nobel Peace Prize, presented with a letter from Netanyahu nominating him for the award, has pledged to be "very firm" with Netanyahu on ending the war, but the details of the proposed ceasefire deal remain unclear.
08-07-2025
The US envoy to Lebanon, Tom Barrack, expressed satisfaction with Lebanon's response to a US proposal to disarm the Hezbollah terrorist group in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. Barrack met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and said he was "unbelievably satisfied" with Beirut's timely response to the June 19 proposal, which called for the disarmament of Hezbollah within four months. The development comes as negotiators work to end Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and Barrack suggested that Lebanon and Israel share the same goal of peace and that the Trump administration may look to add Lebanon to the Abraham Accords, a policy aimed at normalizing ties between Israel and other nations in the region.
08-07-2025
President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu are set to meet at the White House to discuss the future of Gaza without Hamas. Experts suggest that a non-Hamas technocratic government, comprised of unaffiliated Palestinians, could be a viable alternative, backed by key Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE. However, securing Israeli approval and ensuring counterterrorism access are major hurdles. Proposals include empowering local clans to establish self-governing enclaves, with local Gazans patrolling internally while the IDF secures the perimeter. Intensive American-led diplomacy is seen as crucial to bridging the deep divides between Israel, Arab states, and international players.
08-07-2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, presenting him with the nomination letter at a White House dinner. Netanyahu praised Trump for "forging peace" and credited him with helping to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran last month. The nomination comes as indirect negotiations with Hamas continue, aiming to secure a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and potentially leading to the release of Israeli hostages and increased aid to the region. Trump has claimed credit for stopping Iran and Israel's conflict, and has announced plans for talks with Iran, although Iran has not confirmed this. The ceasefire talks are ongoing amid ongoing fighting in Gaza and Ukraine.
08-07-2025
The US is set to remove the Syrian Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its list of foreign terrorist organisations. HTS, previously al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, led a rebel offensive that toppled the Assad regime and its leader is now Syria's interim president. The move comes as Western countries reset relations with Syria, with the US having ended sanctions against the country and the UK lifting sanctions on Syria's defence and interior ministries and announcing a £94.5m support package. However, concerns remain about the new government's operation, including its treatment of minority groups and lack of female representation.
08-07-2025
The US State Department will lift the terrorist designation for Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced, months after HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa became Syria's president. HTS, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, has been on the US list of foreign terrorist organizations since 2014 due to its affiliation with al Qaeda. Rubio cited al-Sharaa's commitment to combat terrorism and the planned disbanding of HTS and other rebel groups as reasons for the decision. The move comes after President Trump met with al-Sharaa in May and announced plans to lift sanctions against Syria, a significant boost to the country's new government.
08-07-2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a "very important and productive" phone call with President Donald Trump, discussing ways to strengthen Ukrainian air defenses, possible joint US-Ukraine weapons production, and broader efforts to end the war with Russia. Trump said the call was "very good" and "strategic," and that the US would continue to help Ukraine. Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine, with waves of drones and missiles targeting Kyiv, and Trump expressed disappointment with his previous call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Putin "wants to go all the way and just keep killing people." Trump also mentioned that the US is considering selling more Patriot missiles to Ukraine.
08-07-2025
President Trump announced that the US would send more weapons to Ukraine to help it defend against Russia's ongoing invasion, marking a reversal from his administration's decision to pause some arms transfers just last week. Trump cited Russia's recent large-scale attack on Ukrainian cities, which he said left him "disappointed" and "not happy" with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The decision to send more weapons, primarily defensive, follows a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which they discussed strengthening Ukraine's air defense capabilities.
