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Trump pushes for captives’ bodies to be urgently returned from Gaza
The US president seems anxious to move this process along. We know he has been pleased with the praise he’s gotten for his diplomatic achievement in getting the ceasefire.
But, the US president, just about an hour before he was speaking here at the White House, saying Hamas needs to disarm, was also lamenting the fact that there are not yet the full number of bodies of the deceased captives that have been returned.
In fact, the US president posted on social media saying the job is not done, the dead have not been returned as promised. Phase two begins right now, he said.
It appears that Trump, who was very optimistic that things could progress, that rebuilding Gaza would be the easy part, may have, as many analysts projected, had a bit of naivete when it comes to understanding how things work in the Middle East, and now is beginning to understand the complexities.
Not wanting to see this process stalled in any way, he is using his might and his bully pulpit, if you will, on social media and in front of the cameras to try and continue the process and even accelerate it.
With 70,000 tons of explosives dropped on Gaza, 83% of all buildings in Gaza destroyed, cemeteries bulldozed, tunnels collapsed and so on, it might be impossible to find the captives' bodies between the remains of tens of thousands of other dead composing bodies stuck in the rubble.
Hamas willing to hand over heavy weapons: Report
US news outlet Axios reports that Hamas has offered to hand over heavy weapons to a Palestinian governing body of Gaza or Arab nations, but will not surrender small arms.
“A US official and a source with knowledge said Hamas expressed its willingness to give up its heavy weapons — mainly rockets and missiles — to a Palestinian or Arab entity, but insisted on keeping their guns for self-defence,” the news report said.
Earlier, Trump threatened to disarm Hamas if it failed to do so itself, saying the effort could be carried out “perhaps violently”. But he also praised Hamas for battling a criminal gang in Gaza.
So, it remains unclear if the US president will allow the Palestinian group to retain light weapons.
Israel officially knocked out of World Cup qualifiers
It’s confirmed. The Israeli national team, which is facing calls to be banned from UEFA and FIFA, will not make it to the World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada next year.
Italy beat Israel 3-0 in Udine today, officially ending their run to make it to the World Cup. The match saw low attendance, with only 9,000 spectators due to boycotts, heavy security measures and protests on the streets throughout the day.
Footage showed some Italian fans booing the Israeli national anthem before the game.
