President Trump says US team heading to Egypt for Gaza negotiations
President Donald Trump has again expressed optimism on progress towards a Gaza deal and says a US team just left to take part in the negotiations.
Talking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said “I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East” – beyond just Gaza.
The talks on the US president’s plan are widely seen as the most promising yet for ending a war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and devastated Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people.
European lawmakers call for immediate release of Sumud Flotilla activists
More than 80 parliamentarians from across Europe have condemned Israel’s capture of the Global Sumud Flotilla and urged the immediate release of all volunteers still held in detention.
The flotilla “did not carry weapons, it carried hope”, they said in a statement, and described Israel’s actions as a “blatant breach of international law”.
The sea convoy of activists, journalists, lawmakers and volunteers was stopped by the Israeli navy on October 1 while attempting to break Israel’s 18-year blockade and deliver food and medical aid to besieged Gaza.
More than 450 people were detained with deportations ongoing, including 137 to Turkiye and 171 to Greece and Slovakia. Many remain in a high-security prison, according to the statement.
Lawmakers said reports from released detainees pointed to “inadequate food and water, unsanitary conditions, humiliation, denial of counsel and consular access, and arbitrary delays” – treatment they said could breach international humanitarian law.
They can add more to that number in a couple days :/
