Hamas says no news on truce deal as thousands of Israelis protest
Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official based in Lebanon, says the Palestinian group is still ready to discuss any truce proposal that ends the nearly nine-month conflict.
“Once again, Hamas is ready to deal positively with any proposal that secures a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a serious swap deal,” Hamdan told a news conference in Beirut.
Arab mediators’ efforts, backed by the United States, have so far failed to conclude a ceasefire, with both sides blaming each other for the impasse. Hamas says any deal must end the war for good and bring full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel says it will accept only temporary pauses in fighting until Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, is “eradicated”.
Hamdan said the group had yet to receive a new ceasefire proposal from mediators. Meanwhile, an estimated 130,000 Israelis converged in Tel Aviv on Saturday night demanding an immediate truce deal to bring the captives home.
Israeli foreign minister issues threat to Iran
Israel Katz has responded to what he said was a threat by Iran to destroy Israel if it attacks Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“My response to Iran is clear: If Hezbollah does not cease its fire and withdraw from southern Lebanon, we will act against it with full force until security is restored and residents can return to their homes,” he said in a post on X.
“A regime that threatens destruction deserves to be destroyed,” Katz added.
Look in the mirror for once... You are the regime that not only threatens destruction but is already carrying out systematic full scale destruction.
National ‘uncommitted’ movement has a message to Biden: Change course on Gaza
The “Uncommitted National Movement”, which has been critical of the US president’s handling of the war in Gaza and has urged voters to cast “uncommitted” ballots in state primaries, has called on Biden to use his leverage to bring about a ceasefire in the besieged coastal enclave.
The coalition, which grew out of a campaign in Michigan’s presidential primary, said in a statement: “If you want us to mobilise the 700,000 Democratic primary voters who cast uncommitted ballots toward your re-election, you must ensure a permanent ceasefire by imposing an arms embargo and not sending another US weapon for Israel’s war and occupation.”
“The battle for the soul of our nation demands Biden to change course – not another bomb.”
The uncommitted campaigns won 29 delegates in several states to send to the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Chicago in August.
STATEMENT on Biden’s re-election and the Democratic National Convention: “We have 29 Uncommitted delegates who are ready to back a Democratic candidate for President who supports a permanent ceasefire and ensures that no more US bombs get supplied to the Israeli government’s…
— Uncommitted National Movement (@uncommittedmvmt) June 29, 2024
