WASHINGTON/CAIRO/JERUSALEM, Oct 5 (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned on Sunday that struggle in Gaza has not but ended regardless of Israel and Hamas each agreeing to components of President Donald Trump’s plan for the strip, as Gazans known as for its fast implementation to finish their struggling.
“We will know very quickly whether Hamas is serious or not by how these technical talks go in terms of the logistics,” Rubio informed NBC Information’ “Meet the Press” concerning the launch of hostages from Gaza.
Hamas had drawn a welcoming response from Trump on Friday by saying it accepted sure key components of his 20-point proposal, together with ending the struggle, Israel’s withdrawal, and the discharge of Israeli hostages and Palestinian captives.
However the group left some points up for additional negotiation at talks in Egypt, in addition to questions unanswered, corresponding to whether or not it might be prepared to disarm, a key demand from Israel to finish the struggle.
Israeli negotiators will depart for Egypt tonight and negotiations on the discharge of the hostages are anticipated to start on Monday, the day earlier than the struggle’s second anniversary, mentioned an Israeli authorities spokesperson.
A Hamas delegation, led by the group’s exiled Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, was additionally anticipated to land in Cairo afterward Sunday, to hitch representatives of america and Qatar for talks over the implementation of essentially the most superior effort but to halt the battle.
Avoiding a phased method
Charly Triballeau/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
An official briefed on the talks mentioned the negotiations will deal with hammering out a complete deal earlier than a ceasefire might be carried out.
“This differs from earlier rounds of negotiations which followed a phased approach, where the first phase was agreed and then required more negotiations to reach subsequent phases in the ceasefire,” the official informed Reuters.
“These subsequent rounds of negotiations is where things broke down previously and there is a conscious effort among mediators to avoid that approach this time around.”
Rubio informed ABC’s “This Week” {that a} timeline for finalizing a deal to launch the hostages was unsure however that talks “cannot take weeks or even multiple days. We want to see this happen very fast.”
Hopes for peace however strikes proceed
Hamza Z.H. Qraiqea/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs
The plan has stirred hopes for peace amongst Palestinians however there was no let up of Israeli assaults on Gaza on Sunday as planes and tanks pounded areas throughout the enclave, killing not less than 16 individuals, native well being authorities mentioned.
4 of these killed have been searching for assist within the south of the strip and 5 have been killed in an airstrike in Gaza Metropolis within the early afternoon, they mentioned.
Shadi Mansour stood within the destruction left by an Israeli airstrike within the Gaza Metropolis suburb of Tuffah on Saturday, which killed his son Ameer, 6, and 16 different individuals.
“Is he a member of the resistance? Is he a fighter? All the targets of the Israeli army are children,” mentioned Mansour.
Ahmed Assad, a displaced Palestinian man in central Gaza, mentioned he had been hopeful when information broke of Trump’s plan however mentioned nothing had modified.
“Unfortunately, there is no translation for this on the ground. We do not see any change to the situation, on the contrary, we don’t know what action to take, what shall we do? Shall we remain in the streets? Shall we leave?” he requested.
Some in Israel optimistic for finish to struggle
Chris McGrath by way of Getty Photographs
In an indication of Israeli optimism over the Trump plan, the shekel forex hit a three-year excessive towards the greenback and Tel Aviv shares reached an all-time excessive.
Some individuals in Tel Aviv shared that sentiment. “It’s the first time in months that I’m actually hopeful. Trump has really instilled a lot of hope into us,” mentioned resident Gil Shelly.
Domestically, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is caught between rising stress to finish the struggle — from hostage households and a war-weary public — and calls for from hardline members of his coalition who insist there should be no let-up in Israel’s marketing campaign in Gaza.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich mentioned on X that halting assaults on Gaza can be a “grave mistake.” He and Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have threatened to carry down Netanyahu’s authorities if the Gaza struggle ends.
However opposition chief Yair Lapid of the centrist Yesh Atid occasion has mentioned political cowl might be offered so the Trump initiative can succeed and “we won’t let them torpedo the deal”.
Return of hostages
Henry Nicholls/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Beneath Trump’s plan, all Israeli hostages, alive and deceased, can be launched. Israel says 48 hostages stay, 20 of whom are alive.
Trump mentioned on Friday he believed Hamas had proven it was “ready for a lasting PEACE” and he known as on Netanyahu’s authorities to halt airstrikes in Gaza.
Israel started attacking Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel during which some 1,200 individuals, largely civilians, have been killed and 251 taken hostage, based on Israeli tallies.
Israel’s marketing campaign, which has killed greater than 67,000 individuals in Gaza, most of them civilians, based on Gaza well being authorities, has led to its worldwide isolation.
Apart from assassinating Hamas’ prime leaders because the struggle began, Israel has additionally focused different regional allies of Iran corresponding to Lebanon’s Hezbollah and killed prime Iranian commanders.
Hezbollah mentioned on Sunday that it supported Hamas’ stance, in coordination with Palestinian factions, with regard to Trump’s Gaza plan.
Further reporting by Jaidaa Taha, Andew Mills, Mahmoud Issa, Miro Maman, Jasper Ward and David Morgan; Writing by Michael Georgy and Hatem Maher; Modifying by William Maclean, Louise Heavens and Ros Russell.
