A US-brokered ceasefire proposal, endorsed by Israel, has been rejected by Hamas. The plan, involving a phased hostage release in exchange for a 60-day truce and prisoner releases, failed to meet Hamas’ core demands for a complete end to hostilities and a restoration of humanitarian aid flows. Hamas indicated its response will be forthcoming, while Israel remains silent publicly, although Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly informed hostages’ families of his acceptance. The proposal’s rejection follows the collapse of a previous ceasefire and amid escalating conflict resulting in thousands of casualties and widespread displacement in Gaza.
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India firmly rejected US President Trump’s offer to mediate the Kashmir dispute, asserting that Pakistan’s illegal occupation of territory must be addressed first. The Indian government stated that dialogue with Pakistan would only occur through military channels to discuss this issue. While the US claimed mediation in a recent ceasefire, India clarified that the de-escalation was initiated by Pakistan. India reiterated its longstanding position that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral matter to be resolved according to the Simla Agreement, excluding third-party intervention.
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A US-mediated ceasefire between India and Pakistan, announced on Saturday, went into immediate effect. The agreement, brokered by US officials after 48 hours of negotiations, was initially met with celebrations in both countries. However, the ceasefire was quickly challenged by renewed cross-border shelling and explosions in Indian-administered Kashmir, with both sides accusing each other of initiating the violations. Despite the setbacks, the agreement allowed both nations to claim a degree of victory, and the fragile peace was hailed as a significant step toward de-escalation.
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The United States will cease acting as a mediator in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, shifting its role to supporting direct negotiations between the two nations. This decision follows a lack of concrete peace proposals from both sides and aligns with warnings of US withdrawal from mediation efforts. While the Kremlin expressed openness to direct talks, it rejected a recent US peace plan, highlighting the significant obstacles to a resolution. The US will continue supporting peace efforts but will no longer actively facilitate meetings between Kyiv and Moscow.
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Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the new de facto rulers of Syria, are seeking international recognition and have stated their desire for peaceful relations with Israel. New governor Maher Marwan emphasized that HTS does not intend to threaten Israel’s security and even suggested US mediation to improve relations. Marwan acknowledged Israel’s concerns, attributing recent Israeli actions to these fears. HTS’s conciliatory message, relayed to Israel by the US, signals a significant shift in the group’s stated foreign policy.
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John Q. Hosedrinker