Results for: Hamas

The United States has accused the militant group Hamas of hindering ceasefire negotiations with Israel by shifting its demands and displaying a preference for a wider conflict in the Middle East. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller alleged that Hamas has repeatedly changed its goals in the talks, despite Israel making concessions. Hamas recently turned down an Israeli ceasefire proposal in Cairo, Egypt, and reportedly proposed that Israel cease hostilities in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages during later phases of a potential agreement. The ceasefire talks remain at a standstill as Israel continues its military offensive against Hamas in Gaza. The United Nations has condemned the discovery of mass graves near Gazan hospitals, expressing concern over potential human rights violations. The Israeli military has denied involvement in the mass graves.

Essa Al-Nassr, a member of Qatar’s Shura Council, made antisemitic remarks and incited violence and terrorism at an Arab League session. He accused Jews of being ‘killers of prophets’ and praised the Hamas massacre on October 7th, 2021, calling it a ‘prelude’ to the annihilation of Israel. Al-Nassr’s comments reflect a broader trend of religious-nationalistic antisemitism in Islamist circles and come amid Qatar’s role as a patron of Hamas and mediator with Israel.

Qatar has stated that the political leadership of Hamas will remain in Doha as long as their presence is beneficial to mediation efforts aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The announcement comes after Qatar reassessed its role in the conflict following the failure of mediators, including the U.S. and Egypt, to secure a pause in fighting during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Qatar, which has been engaged in weeks of behind-the-scenes talks on a possible truce in Gaza, has been criticized by Israeli officials for its mediation efforts.

Qatar has declared that Hamas’ political leadership will continue to reside in Doha as long as their presence contributes to mediation efforts for resolving the Gaza conflict. The decision comes despite rumors of Hamas’ potential expulsion from the gas-rich Gulf state. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, emphasized that Hamas’ presence will be reevaluated upon the completion of their reassessment of mediation efforts.

Hamas officials in Gaza have claimed to discover a mass grave with over 200 bodies at Nasser Hospital, which was recently targeted in an Israeli military raid. However, evidence suggests Hamas’s claims are false, as the bodies had previously been buried at the same location by Palestinians during the conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas operatives. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has also dismissed Hamas’s allegations as “baseless,” stating that they had examined bodies buried by Palestinians near the hospital and returned them to their original location.

Former President Donald Trump has accused President Joe Biden of being responsible for pro-Hamas protests at universities across the country. Trump claimed that Biden’s abandonment of Israel and his attempts to appease Hamas have emboldened radical elements on college campuses. Trump also criticized Biden’s handling of police resources, alleging that excessive police presence at his trial was a sign of weakness in dealing with campus unrest.

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, arrived in Nepal on Tuesday for his first-ever visit to the country. During his two-day visit, the Emir is expected to discuss the working conditions of Nepalese migrant workers in Qatar, as well as the ongoing hostage crisis involving a Nepalese student held by Hamas. Around 400,000 Nepali workers, mostly employed in construction and manual labor, are currently in Qatar. Concerns have been raised regarding extreme heat, inadequate living facilities, and abuse faced by these workers. The Qatar-based Human Rights Watch has urged Qatar, Nepal, and Bangladesh to prioritize labor protection for migrant workers. Additionally, Nepali officials are likely to seek the Emir’s assistance in securing the release of Bipin Joshi, a local held hostage by Hamas since October. The militant group had captured Joshi along with other Nepalese students studying near the Gaza Strip. The Emir’s visit comes amid Qatar’s ongoing role as a mediator in the Gaza conflict. The country has played a key role in negotiating a brief halt to the fighting in November, leading to the release of hostages.

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, has increased its rocket attacks on Israeli targets in recent days. This escalation comes amid ongoing cross-border fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. On Tuesday, Hezbollah announced that two of its members were killed by Israeli fire, while the Israeli army claimed to have eliminated ‘significant’ members of the group in south Lebanon.

Recent satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press indicate the construction of a new tent complex near Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. This development coincides with ongoing Israeli military signals of an impending offensive on the city of Rafah. Khan Younis has faced repeated Israeli military operations in recent weeks. Israel has stated its intention to evacuate civilians from Rafah prior to the anticipated offensive, which has seen hundreds of thousands seeking refuge in the southern city during the ongoing seven-month war.

Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press reveal a new compound of tents being built near Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. The construction comes amid Israeli threats of an offensive targeting the city of Rafah, where half of Gaza’s population has fled. The Israeli military denies involvement in the tent construction, which has been attributed to Egypt by the Haaretz newspaper. Prime Minister Netanyahu has threatened “additional painful blows” against Hamas over the stalled negotiations for releasing hostages held in Gaza, potentially including an attack on Rafah. The US has expressed concerns about civilian safety and urged Israel to avoid mass evacuations from the city.