Gaza Ceasefire Stalls Amidst US Sanctions on Critic

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Qatar on a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal have stalled due to disagreements over aid distribution and Israeli troop withdrawals. A Palestinian official said the Israeli delegation is refusing to allow unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza through UN agencies. Israel is also rejecting calls for the withdrawal of its forces from areas of Gaza it has occupied since March. Despite the stall, US special envoy Steve Witkoff remains hopeful of an agreement on a 60-day ceasefire by the end of the week, and Qatar, which is mediating the talks along with the US and Egypt, says more time is needed for a breakthrough.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. congressional leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senators John Thune and Chuck Schumer, amid controversy over his visit and criticism that he's trying to drag the U.S. into another war with Iran. Netanyahu discussed a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the U.S. commitment to Israel's security, and the potential for regime change in Iran, suggesting it could bring peace to the region. The meetings come as former President Trump faces criticism for his decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites and as lawmakers introduce measures to restrict future action against Iran without congressional approval. Netanyahu also met with Trump, who expressed confidence in a nearing ceasefire with Hamas and said more details on U.S.-Iran talks would be forthcoming.

President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the second time in two days to discuss a potential ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu emphasized Israel's goal to eliminate Hamas's military capabilities and secure the release of 50 Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Delegations from Israel and Hamas are negotiating in Qatar, with a proposed 60-day ceasefire on the table that would allow for the delivery of emergency supplies and the release of some hostages. The conflict has killed nearly 60,000 people in Gaza and displaced over 2 million, with both sides suffering losses, including the deaths of five young Israeli soldiers on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believe a ceasefire with Hamas is "very close" to being secured. Trump stated that they are "getting very close to a deal" and want to achieve a ceasefire and return hostages. Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, saying there's a "good chance" of a 60-day ceasefire, during which half of the hostages, both alive and deceased, would be returned to Israel. The negotiations have faced challenges, including disagreements over Israel's military presence in Gaza and aid distribution, but US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is hopeful a deal can be secured soon.

A senior Israeli official has stated that a permanent ceasefire in Gaza is "questionable" without the complete removal of Hamas, citing Israel's central war aims of retrieving hostages and eliminating Hamas. The official suggested a 60-day ceasefire might be achievable within a week or two, but expressed doubt over its potential to last beyond that period. The status of Israeli Defence Forces inside Gaza during and after the ceasefire remains a major point of contention in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with Israel proposing a significant military presence that Hamas has rejected. The official emphasized that Israel's goal is to defeat Hamas, and that a two-state solution is not feasible "for the foreseeable future".

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) chief, Eyal Zamir, has stated that conditions have been created to advance a ceasefire deal in Gaza, while US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire could be achieved "this week or next". Zamir claimed that Israel has caused significant damage to Hamas' governance and military capabilities, creating an opportunity for a deal to release hostages. However, a senior Israeli official said a permanent ceasefire is "questionable" without the complete removal of Hamas. Meanwhile, Israeli attacks on Gaza continued, with at least 40 Palestinians killed, including 17 women and 10 children. Hamas has reiterated its commitment to negotiations, but warned of sticking points, including the flow of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The US has imposed sanctions on UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, a critic of Israel's military offensive in Gaza, for engaging with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and supporting its efforts to prosecute American and Israeli nationals. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's successor, Mike Pompeo's statement was made by Marco Rubio stating that Albanese was "unfit for service" as a UN Special Rapporteur. The sanctions will likely prevent Albanese from traveling to the US and freeze any assets she has in the country. Albanese responded by reaffirming her commitment to justice and honoring the tradition of defending justice, and described the sanctions as "mafia-style intimidation techniques". The move is seen as an escalation of the Trump administration's campaign against the ICC, which has already sanctioned four of its judges. The sanctions have been criticized by human rights groups, with Amnesty International's head Agnes Callamard calling for governments to mitigate the effects of the sanctions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian rights, for her "campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel." Albanese has been accused of antisemitism and has pushed to haul US and Israeli officials before the International Criminal Court, claiming Israel practices apartheid and that the US may be liable for the "international crime of aggression" for supporting Israel. Rubio's move has been backed by Israeli leaders and human rights advocates, who praised the State Department for taking action against Albanese's "virulent and violent antisemitism."