Exclusive-Rwanda exercises command and control over M23 rebels, say UN experts

Exclusive-Rwanda exercises command and control over M23 rebels, say UN experts

By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK (Reuters) -Rwanda has exercised command and control over M23 rebels during their advance in eastern Congo, gaining political influence and access to mineral-rich territory, according to a confidential report by a group of United Nations experts. The report obtained by Reuters details training which the experts say Rwanda has provided to M23 recruits and military equipment they say Rwanda has deployed - notably "high-tech systems capable of neutralizing air assets" - to give the rebels "a decisive tactical advantage" over Congo's beleaguered army. The report was submitted to the U.N. Security Council sanctions committee for Congo in early May and is due to be published shortly, said diplomats. M23 has advanced in eastern Congo, seizing the region's two largest cities, Goma and Bukavu in January and February. Congo, the United Nations and Western powers say Rwanda is supporting M23 by sending troops and arms. Rwanda has long denied helping M23 and says its forces are acting in self-defence against Congo's army and ethnic Hutu militiamen linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The report by the U.N. experts said Rwanda's military support for M23 was not "primarily" aimed at addressing threats posed by the FDLR, asserting that Kigali was instead focused on "conquering additional territories". Rwanda's U.N. mission and a government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is trying to broker a peace deal between Rwanda and Congo that would bring billions of dollars of Western investment to a region rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals. On Friday the Rwandan and Congolese foreign ministers signed a peace deal in Washington and met with Trump, who warned of "very severe penalties, financial and otherwise" if the deal is violated. Qatar is hosting a parallel mediation effort with delegations from the Congolese government and M23. The U.N. report said Rwanda has hosted leaders of a rebel coalition that includes M23 at its Gabiro Training Centre and also used military centres in Nasho and Gako to train M23 recruits. Rwanda also "drastically increased" the number of Rwandan troops in eastern Congo ahead of M23's advance, according to the experts, who offered "a conservative estimate of 6,000" Rwandan troops active in Congo's North and South Kivu provinces. The U.N. experts also accused Rwanda of "flagrant and systematic violations" of an arms embargo, and said a likely missile attack in January on an armoured personnel carrier carrying U.N. peacekeepers - killing one and injuring four others - appeared to have been fired from a Rwandan military position. An estimated 1,000 to 1,500 Rwandan troops were still active in M23-held territory when the report was drafted, and "several thousand" remained along the border ready to deploy, said the report, which covers investigations conducted up to April 20. PUSH FOR PEACE M23's military gains earlier this year spurred fears of a wider regional war drawing in Congo's neighbours, and also fuelled anxiety over the fate of President Felix Tshisekedi's government. In March M23 travelled as far west as Walikale, an area rich in minerals including tin, putting the rebels within 400 km of Kisangani, Congo's fourth-biggest city. The following month, however, M23 withdrew from Walikale, a decision the experts said was "taken following direct instruction from the Government of Rwanda, once again confirming Rwanda's command and control" over rebel operations. "This included strategic-level decision-making on whether to seize, hold, or relinquish territory, thereby demonstrating overall operational coordination and hierarchical subordination," the report said. The experts also accused Congo of relying on the FDLR and pro-government militia fighters known as Wazalendo, offering them money and logistics in violation of a sanctions regime. A Congo government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly, Ros Russell, Peter Graff)

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July 02, 2025

Exclusive-Rwanda exercises command and control over M23 rebels, say UN experts

Exclusive-Rwanda exercises command and control over M23 rebels, say UN experts By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK (Reuters) -Rwanda has exercised...

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Paramount to pay $16 million in settlement with Trump over '60 Minutes' interview

Paramount to pay $16 million in settlement with Trump over '60 Minutes' interview

In a case seen as a challenge to free speech,Paramounthas agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by PresidentDonald Trumpover the editing of CBS' "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in October. Paramount told media outlets the money will go to Trump's future presidential library, not to the president himself. It said the settlement did not involve an apology. Trump's lawyer said the president had suffered "mental anguish" over the editing of the interview by CBS News, while Paramount and CBS rejected his contention that it was edited to enhance how Harris sounded. They had sought to get Trump's lawsuit dismissed. There was no immediate word from the White House about the settlement of the case, which Trump filed in Amarillo, Texas. The case has been closely watched by advocates for press freedom and by journalists within CBS, whose lawyers called Trump's lawsuit "completely without merit" and promised to vigorously fight it after it was filed. In early February, "60 Minutes" released a full, unedited transcript of the interview. Under the settlement reached with help of a mediator, Paramount agreed that "60 Minutes" will release transcripts of future interviews of presidential candidates, "subject to redactions as required for legal and national security concerns," CBS News cited the statement as saying. Trump, who did not agree to be interviewed by "60 Minutes" during the campaign, protested editing where Harris is seen giving two different answers to a question by the show's Bill Whitaker in separate clips aired on "60 Minutes" and "Face the Nation" earlier in the day. CBS said each reply came within Harris' long-winded answer to Whitaker, but was edited to be more succinct. The president's lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, said that caused confusion and "mental anguish," misleading voters and causing them to pay less attention to Trump and his Truth Social platform. Paramount and controlling shareholder Shari Redstone were seeking the settlement with Trump, whose administration must approve the company's proposed merger with Skydance Media. CBS News President and CEO Wendy McMahon and "60 Minutes" executive producerBill Owens, who both opposed a settlement, have resigned in recent weeks. TheFreedom of the Press Foundation, a media advocacy group that says it is a Paramount shareholder, has said that it would file a lawsuit in protest if a settlement was reached. In December, ABC Newssettled a defamation lawsuitby Trump over statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, agreeing to pay $15 million toward Trump's presidential library rather than engage in a public fight. Metareportedly paid $25 millionto settle Trump's lawsuit against the company over its decision to suspend his social media accounts following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

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July 02, 2025

Paramount to pay $16 million in settlement with Trump over '60 Minutes' interview

Paramount to pay $16 million in settlement with Trump over '60 Minutes' interview In a case seen as a challenge to free speech,Param...

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Hamas says it's ready for a ceasefire but it must put an an end to the war in Gaza

Hamas says it's ready for a ceasefire but it must put an an end to the war in Gaza

CAIRO (AP) — Hamas suggested Wednesday it was open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel but stopped short of accepting a U.S.-backed proposal announced by PresidentDonald Trumphours earlier, insisting on its longstanding position that any deal bring an end tothe war in Gaza. Trump said Tuesdaythat Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The U.S. leader has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war. Trump said the 60-day period would be used to work toward ending the war — something Israel says it will not accept until Hamas is defeated. He said a deal might come together as soon as next week. But Hamas' response, which emphasized its demand that the war end, raised questions about whether the latest offer could materialize into an actual pause in fighting. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the militant group was "ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement." He said Hamas was "ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war." A Hamas delegation is expected to meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposal, according to an Egyptian official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the talks with the media. Israel and Hamas disagree about how the war should end Throughout the nearly 21-month-long war, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over whether the war should end as part of any deal. Hamas has said it is willing to free the remaining 50 hostages, less then half of whom are said to be alive, in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. Israel says it will only agree to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and exiles itself, something the group refuses to do. An Israeli official said the latest proposal calls for a 60-day deal that would include a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid to the territory. The mediators and the U.S. would provide assurances about talks on an end to the war, but Israel is not committing to that as part of the latest proposal, the official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details of the proposed deal with the media. It was not clear how many hostages would be freed as part of the agreement, but previous proposals have called for the release of about 10. Israel has yet to publicly comment on Trump's announcement. On Monday, Trump is set to host Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahufor talks at the White House, days after Ron Dermer, a senior Netanyahu adviser, held discussions with top U.S. officials about Gaza, Iran and other matters. Trump issues another warning On Tuesday, Trump wrote on social media that Israel had "agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War." "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," he said. Trump's warning may find a skeptical audience with Hamas. Even before the expiration of the war's longest ceasefire in March, Trump has repeatedly issued dramatic ultimatums to pressure Hamas to agree to longer pauses in the fighting that would see the release of more hostages and a return of more aid to Gaza's civilian populace. Still, Trump views the current moment as a potential turning point in the brutal conflict that has leftmore than 56,000 deadin the Palestinian territory. The Gaza Health Ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its death count, but says that more than half of the dead are women and children. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. The war has left the coastal Palestinian territory in ruins, with much of the urban landscape flattened in the fighting. More than 90% of Gaza's 2.3 million population has been displaced, often multiple times. And the war has sparked a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, pushing hundreds of thousands of people toward hunger. ___ Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Josef Federman contributed from Jerusalem. ___ Follow the AP's war coverage athttps://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.

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July 02, 2025

Hamas says it's ready for a ceasefire but it must put an an end to the war in Gaza

Hamas says it's ready for a ceasefire but it must put an an end to the war in Gaza CAIRO (AP) — Hamas suggested Wednesday it was open to...

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Ukrainian aid projects wither as Western funding drops

Ukrainian aid projects wither as Western funding drops

By Elizabeth Piper KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -Playing outdoors with his friend, Ukrainian teenager Nazar was badly injured when an explosive device blew up under his feet. Despite his phone being shattered by the blast from what was apparently a discarded munition, he called an ambulance and spent months in hospital where he underwent multiple surgeries and doctors managed to save his leg. Now at home in the eastern village of Nikopol, 130 km (80 miles) south of Kharkiv city and about half that distance from the frontline of Russia's war against Ukraine, the young teen and his mother rely on overseas aid to pay for his care. "They gave us crutches, a walking frame and also a computer tablet ... But mostly it was financial aid," Yevheniia Mostova, Nazar's mother, said in mid-May of the help she received from aid group the International Rescue Committee. That money is running low, however, after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a pause in foreign aid in January and froze operations at the U.S. Agency for International Development. "We do not know what to do next," Mostova, 36, told Reuters in Nikopol, a village of small, single-storey homes, surrounded by tidy vegetable gardens. IRC's support was central to Nazar's mental recovery too, she said, after her traumatised son spent weeks unable to communicate. She now worries about paying for Nazar's painkillers and medical creams for his leg following several skin grafts. Groups like IRC that relied on U.S. funding are reeling. Other leading donors, including Britain, are also paring back humanitarian aid as they seek savings to boost defence spending. The impact of these changes on Ukraine is particularly acute. Ukraine was by far the biggest recipient of USAID funds after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. According to the agency's now-defunct website, it has provided Ukraine with $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid, $5 billion in development assistance and has paid $30 billion directly into Ukraine's budget since. That has all but stopped. U.S. support had been used to pay salaries of teachers and emergency workers, as well as helping Ukrainians displaced internally and overseas, de-mining and support for local media. The cuts coincide with Trump's lurch towards Russia in the war, leaving Ukraine more exposed than at any time since the early days of the full-scale invasion. Reuters spoke to eight non-governmental groups providing humanitarian services to Ukrainians, from medical aid to evacuations, as the war with Russia grinds into its fourth year. They detailed the turmoil caused by Washington's abrupt withdrawal, and cuts in funds from other countries. Two groups had laid off staff, some employees had taken salary cuts, one group has shut its Kyiv office while another is cutting back operations across Ukraine. All are downsizing significantly as funding slows. "The reduction in U.S. assistance ... has already had a critical impact on our organisation," said Dmytro Sherembei, co-founder of the 100% LIFE group, the largest patient-led organisation in Ukraine for health conditions such as HIV. Ukraine is vulnerable, "not only due to ongoing epidemics of HIV, tuberculosis, and hepatitis, but also because it is a country under active military attack ... financial support is not only vital - it is the only way to save lives," he said. EUROPE HASN'T FILLED THE GAP The Trump administration froze and then cut billions of dollars of foreign aid after taking office on January 20 to align with his "America First" policies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed to European allies for help, but far from stepping up to fill the gap, they have also cut back humanitarian aid funding. After Trump called for Europe to shoulder more of the burden in NATO, alliance leaders backed the big increase in defence spending that he had demanded - pushing governments to hunt for savings in other areas, such as foreign aid. Britain plans to cut its aid budget to 0.3% of gross national income from 0.5% by 2027. Germany, another of the biggest donors of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, will cut its overall aid budget by almost 10% this year. "NGOs are competing for the same small pots of money available in Ukraine," said Alain Homsy, IRC's Ukraine country director in Kyiv. With frontlines stretching more than 1,000 km, and millions of Ukrainians living under the daily threat of Russian drone, missile and artillery fire, the needs are vast. U.S. funding covered around 30% of coordinated humanitarian funding plans in Ukraine in 2022, 2023 and 2024, says ACAPS, an independent project that analyses global humanitarian activity. By the end of 2024, there were 39 active USAID programmes in Ukraine, with a total budget of $4.28 billion. Just three months later, in late March 2025, only about $1.27 billion of the awards remained active, ACAPS said. Similarly, aid from Europe is declining, from 6.2 billion euros ($7.3 billion) in 2022 to 4.1 billion euros in 2023 and about 3 billion last year, according to Taro Nishikawa, project lead for the Ukraine Support Tracker at the Kiel Institute think-tank. BESIEGED VILLAGES In the village of Morozivka, occupied by Russian forces for almost seven months before being retaken by Ukraine, the oldest among some 400 residents rely on free medicine from IRC. Its mobile doctors come around once a month, bringing medications for ailments including high blood pressure and diabetes. Svitlana Basova, a 56-year-old social worker, could not access treatment during the Russian occupation. More recently, she's had regular check-ups after her joint surgery. "They treat people well, they help us, (give us) medicines and also they help psychologically," she said. The village's nurse, Yuliia Samiha, 34, says the medical support is crucial. "We don't even have a pharmacy," she said. IRC is now reviewing how to allocate its funds. Britain recently halved the budget of a project with IRC and partners to support Ukrainians with job training and safety services, said Homsy. A UK foreign ministry spokesperson said there would be "no let-up" in support for Ukraine, but acknowledged there would be an impact on specific programmes after a recent government spending review. A German government official said Ukraine was a priority, and a fall in overall aid did not necessarily mean funding for Ukraine would fall. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. For people in Samiha's small village, the idea of losing the help is hard to contemplate. The nearest hospital is some 20 km away and few of the elderly have access to private cars or any kind of regular public transport. "There are not many other options," she said. (Additional reporting by Olena Harmash in Kyiv and Thomas Escritt in Berlin; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Ros Russell)

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July 01, 2025

Ukrainian aid projects wither as Western funding drops

Ukrainian aid projects wither as Western funding drops By Elizabeth Piper KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -Playing outdoors with his friend, Ukr...

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What to Know About Trump’s Gaza Ceasefire Proposal

What to Know About Trump's Gaza Ceasefire Proposal

The sun sets behind destroyed buildings in Gaza on July 1, 2025. Credit - Jack Guez—AFP/Getty Images Israel is open to accepting a 60-day ceasefire, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday, urging Hamas to sign the deal that he said would pave the way for a potential "end" to the war in Gaza. Trump's announcement comes as he expects a visit from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House next week. Last week, the Presidentupped the pressureon Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement that would end the war in Gaza and release the remaining Israeli hostages. It's also come a day after one of thedeadliest days in Gaza, as Israeli attacks killed more than 70 people. More than 56,000 Palestinians and more than 1,700 Israelis have been killed over the course of the war that began when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Trump's shift infocus towards Gazafollows thetenuous ceasefirebrokeredbetween Israel and Iranin June after the U.S. joined Israel inbombing Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump may be hoping that, with a weakened Iran—one of Hamas' key allies in the region—Hamas may be pressured to accept the conditions of this ceasefire agreement. "My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War," Trumppostedon Truth Social on Tuesday evening. "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE." Since thestart of its war with Iranin June, Israel alsointensified its campaignin Gaza.More than 100 people have been killedin Israeli attacks this week, which included astrike on a seaside cafethat killed a Palestinian photojournalist among others,strikes on a schoolthat was sheltering displaced Palestinians, andsoldiers firing on civilians seeking aidat thecontroversialU.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Trump said that mediators Egypt and Qatar will deliver the final ceasefire proposal. The terms have not yet been publicly released, thoughreportssay it would involve Hamas releasing 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 deceased ones during the 60-day ceasefire period. There are an estimated 50 hostages still in Gaza, of whom Israel believes around half are dead. The remaining hostages would be released upon the agreement of a permanent ceasefire. Earlier Tuesday, Trump said Netanyahu "wants to" reach a ceasefire deal and teased that one would likely come next week. Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer met with Trump officials, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Tuesday, and a senior Israeli officialtoldAxios that Dermer is prepared to begin indirect talks with Hamas concerning the deal. Trumprantedover the weekend about corruption proceedings against Netanyahu in Israel, calling it "a Witch Hunt," and Netanyahu's hearings this week were postponed on the basis of classified diplomatic and security reasons. Read More:Trump Tries to 'Save' Netanyahu as Israeli PM Faces Challenges at Home Talks between Israel and Hamas have been stymied by disagreement over whether a ceasefire should include an end to the war. Hamas says a ceasefire must include the end of the war and a full withdrawal of Israel's military from the Gaza Strip, which Israel has refused. Israel says it will only end its war in exchange for the dismantling and exile of Hamas, which Hamas has refused. An offer had already been on the table. Hamas hadreportedly offeredto release all hostages in exchange for a full withdrawal of Israel's military from Gaza and an end to the war. On Sunday, Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawireportedly saidNetanyahu insisted on a temporary agreement that releases only 10 hostages. Mardawi accused Netanyahu of setting "impossible conditions aimed at thwarting the possibility of reaching a ceasefire agreement and a deal on the hostages." Previous ceasefire proposals have only been agreed to by one side or have proved short-lived. In November 2023, six weeks after the outbreak of war, Israel and Hamasbegan an initial four-day ceasefire. Hamas returned 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons. Israel said it would extend the truce for the release of 10 more captives per day, but Netanyahu said he did not want a permanent ceasefire until Israel achieved his aim of dismantling Hamas. Theceasefire collapsed a week laterin December 2023 after 110 hostages and 240 Palestinians were exchanged. Talks to extend the truce further failed as Israel refused Hamas' demand for all of theroughly 10,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 400 children, to be freed, and as Hamasrefused to releasecaptive women soldiers as part of its agreement to release all women and children held in Gaza. Also that month, the U.S.vetoed a United Nations Security Council proposalto stop the war, claiming that Hamas refused to accept a two-state solution, although Hamas' 2017 charterofficially acceptsone. Hamas at the time wasreviewing a three-stage ceasefire proposalby Arab, Israeli, and U.S. negotiators that involved the release of Israeli captives, opening up of aid, and return of dead Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahuultimately rejectedthe proposal after Hamas asked for Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, the release of at least 1,500 Palestinian prisoners, and a four-and-a-half-month ceasefire in exchange for releasing all Israeli hostages. In March 2024, the UNSCpassed a ceasefire proposalwith 14 out of 15 members voting in favor. The U.S. abstained, after earlier in Februaryvetoing another ceasefire resolutionon the basis that it would impact talks between the U.S., Egypt, Israel, and Qatar. Later, the U.S. said the UNSC resolution was "non-binding." In May 2024, Hamas agreed to a three-stage ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar that involved releasing all Israeli hostages in exchange for some number of Palestinian prisoners, increasing aid into Gaza, the gradual withdrawal of Israel from Gaza, and lifting Israel's siege on Gaza since 2007. Israel, however,rejected the proposal, insteadlaunching a new military offensivein the city of Rafah. Then-President Joe Biden alsolaid out a three-phase proposalat the end of May 2024 that would include the release of Israeli hostages and a "full and complete ceasefire." But shortly after Biden announced the proposal, Netanyahu saidIsrael would not end the war"until all of its goals are achieved," including "the elimination of Hamas' military and governmental capabilities." Netanyahu said in June that hewould only accept a "partial" dealthat returns Israeli hostages in return for pausing—but not ending—the war. In August, Netanyahureportedly supportedtheterms of a so-called "bridging" proposalmeant to meet in the middle of both sides' demands after talks in Doha negotiated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar. Hamas, however, rejected the plan, saying its terms, which were not officially made public, includedconditions that it could not agree to, such as Israel's refusal of a full ceasefire and military withdrawal from Gaza. Instead, Hamas called for Netanyahu to sign Biden's earlier proposal. On Jan. 19, 2025, Israel and Hamasbegan a three-phase ceasefireafterdelayed talksandIsraeli military escalation. But after the first phase had been achieved, theceasefire collapsed in Marchwhen Israel launched fresh airstrikes on Gaza before declaring that it was resuming the war. It's unclear whether Trump's proposal, which Hamas has not yet agreed to, will take hold or prove more lasting than prior efforts. But domestic and international pressure has mounted on the U.S., Israel, and Hamas to bring the war in Gaza to an end as it drags into its 21st month. Over the weekend, protesters in Israel called for a deal that would free the remaining hostages in Gaza. "There's a deal on the table,"saidEinav Zangauker, the mother of one of the hostages, at the rally. "What prevents it is Netanyahu's refusal to end the war." Trump allies have suggested it is entirely on Hamas now. "Take the deal, or face the consequences," former White House physician Rep. Ronny Jackson (R, Texas)postedon X. Whether those consequences could include U.S. involvement, as wasthe case with Iran, are unclear. Trump has on multiple occasionsduring his campaignandat the start of his second-term presidencyvowed that the militant group will have "hell to pay" if it does not release all the hostages. Hamas is generally positive about the proposal, but has conditions, Hamas sources told London-based news outlet Al-Sharq Al-Awsat. Those conditions include a demand to make it more difficult for Israel to resume the war if a permanent ceasefire is not achieved by the end of the 60 days such as through the gradual release of the 10 hostages, a source involved in the negotiationstoldtheTimes of Israel. Still, while Trump has asserted that Israel is on board with a ceasefire proposal, observers suggest that may indicate the terms are unlikely to be acceptable to Hamas. "If Netanyahu has agreed to another interim deal, it's almost certainly with language that doesn't commit him to end war," Middle East analyst and former U.S. diplomat Aaron David Millerpostedon X. "The main holdup today is exactly the same as it was last year: Israel's unwillingness to permanently end the war and Hamas's refusal to accept anything less,"addedforeign policy analyst and writer Daniel DePetris. "Unless Trump has found a way to crack those two irreconcilable positions, this is all theater." Contact usatletters@time.com.

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July 01, 2025

What to Know About Trump’s Gaza Ceasefire Proposal

What to Know About Trump's Gaza Ceasefire Proposal The sun sets behind destroyed buildings in Gaza on July 1, 2025. Credit - Jack Guez—A...

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