US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday there was a “real chance” to end the war in Gaza, as Israel marked two years since the October 7 attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to pursue all war goals, including the destruction of Hamas, including crushing the Palestinian militant group Hamas which waged the attacks. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments.
Qatar, Turkey to join third day of Gaza peace talks in Egypt
Qatar said its prime minister and top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, would travel to Egypt on Wednesday to join the negotiations. Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as well as top Netanyahu adviser Ron Dermer and Turkish delegates are also expected to join the talks.
The plan envisions Israel withdrawing its troops from Gaza after Hamas disarms, and an international security force being put in place. The territory would be placed under international governance, with Trump and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair overseeing it.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Hamas reiterated its longstanding demands for a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza but said nothing about disarmament.
Pro-Palestinian protests, vigils for victims mark October 7 anniversary
As indirect negotiations took place in Egypt on a US proposal to end the war, protests in support of Palestinians took place in Sydney, Istanbul, London and Washington as well as in New York City, Paris, Geneva, Athens and Stockholm.
Demonstrators spoke out against the humanitarian crisis and bloodshed in Gaza while politicians urged pro-Palestinian protesters not to let their outrage turn into glorification of Hamas’ violence.
Hamas says the group ‘wants guarantees from Trump and sponsor countries’ on Gaza deal
Hamas’s top negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya said Tuesday during indirect talks with Israel in Egypt that the group “wants guarantees from [US] President Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all”.’
“We do not trust the occupation, not even for a second,” he told Egyptian state-linked media Al-Qahera News, referring to Israel.
“The Israeli occupation throughout history does not keep its promises, and we have experienced it twice in this war. Therefore, we want real guarantees,” he continued, accusing Israel of violating two ceasefires in the current war.
Meloni says accused of complicity in genocide at world court
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday she was accused of “complicity in genocide” in a complaint to the International Criminal Court over Rome’s support for Israel as it bombards Gaza.
Meloni said in comments broadcast by local media that she had been named in a filing by an advocacy group for Palestinians that accused her and others of complicity by supplying arms to Israel.
She said the complaint also targeted her Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and she also thought that Roberto Cingolani, head of defence group Leonardo, had been named.
Hamas’s top negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya said Tuesday during indirect talks with Israel in Egypt that the group “wants guarantees from [US] President Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all”.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday she was accused of “complicity in genocide” in a complaint to the International Criminal Court over Rome’s support for Israel as it bombards Gaza.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani will join the talks on US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan in Egypt on Wednesday, an official briefed on the talks told Reuters on Tuesday.
