International News
Israel, Hamas Set For Truce Talks As Netanyahu Meets Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday as Israel and Hamas signalled readiness to negotiate the next phase of their fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to visit the White House since Trump’s return to office last month, will discuss the future of the truce and efforts to end the ongoing war in Gaza.
In a statement issued hours before the meeting, Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel would send a delegation to Doha, Qatar, later this week for further negotiations.
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“Israel is preparing for the working-level delegation to leave for Doha at the end of this week in order to discuss technical details related to the continued implementation of the agreement,” the office stated.
The decision followed discussions in Washington between Netanyahu and Trump’s advisors, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Hamas has also expressed willingness to negotiate the next stage of the ceasefire, which is being mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
The second phase of the agreement is expected to focus on securing the release of remaining hostages and outlining steps toward ending the war.
The conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, prompting a large-scale Israeli military response.
Since then, the war has devastated Gaza, home to 2.4 million people.
Under the ongoing 42-day truce, Hamas has so far released 18 hostages in exchange for around 600 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
The agreement also allowed an increase in humanitarian aid, including food, fuel, and medical supplies, into the war-ravaged territory.
Trump has taken credit for securing the ceasefire after 15 months of war and has emphasized his dealmaking abilities. However, he has cautioned that the situation remains unstable.
“Talks with Israel and other Middle Eastern countries were progressing,” Trump said on Sunday, but he later warned that there were “no guarantees that the peace is going to hold.”
The U.S. president has also floated a controversial proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring Egypt or Jordan.
He described Gaza as a “demolition site” and suggested the move could be temporary or permanent.
However, the proposal has been firmly rejected by Egypt, Jordan, Palestinian leaders, and ceasefire mediator Qatar.
Beyond Gaza, Israel has escalated operations in the occupied West Bank, claiming to be targeting extremist elements.
On Tuesday, the Israeli military reported that its forces had killed an assailant who fired on troops near the city of Jenin, a frequent flashpoint for violence.
Before departing for Washington, Netanyahu said the conflicts involving Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and rising tensions with Iran had “redrawn the map” of the Middle East.
“But I believe that working closely with President Trump we can redraw it even further, and for the better,” Netanyahu stated.
His meeting with Trump is expected to touch on the broader regional landscape, including a potential normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Trump previously sought such an agreement during his first term and is likely to press Netanyahu to advance the initiative.
While Netanyahu has praised his status as the first foreign leader to meet Trump since his January 20 inauguration as “testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance,” tensions remain over the war’s high civilian toll.
Netanyahu had a strained relationship with Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, particularly over the rising casualties in Gaza.
However, Biden maintained U.S. military aid to Israel throughout the conflict.
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
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According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.
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