Current Events in The Middle East After Hours

[Bob the Ninja]

The BBC are now reporting that a ceasefire has been agreed. Announced by Trump, yet to be confirmed by Israel or Iran.

Trump says Iran and Israel have agreed to ceasefire​

US President Donald Trump has announced a "complete and total" ceasefire between Israel and Iran on social media.

Trump says the ceasefire will begin "in approximately six hours from now" after each country has "wound down" their military operations.

Trump's announcement contains a periodic unravelling of hostilities but says that "upon the 24th hour" the war will officially end.

Israel and Iran are yet to confirm a ceasefire has been reached.

Stay with us as we bring you more.

Trump says Israel and Iran have agreed to 'complete and total' ceasefire' - live updates

Trump says Israel and Iran have agreed to 'complete and total' ceasefire' - live updates - BBC News

 

[Gemma]

The ceasefire didn't last long this morning, and Trump wasn't happy about it. I can't stand the man, but for once, I actually agree with him.

More now from US President Donald Trump, who says he's "not happy" with Israel.

"There was one rocket that I guess was fired overboard after the time limit and now Israel is going out. These guys [have] got to calm down," he says, speaking to reporters before heading to the Nato summit in The Hague.

He adds that he didn't like "plenty of things" he saw yesterday.

"I didn't like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal," he says referring to the ceasefire he announced earlier. "They didn't have to unload."

The president continues: "We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f*** they're doing."

He may be even angrier when he finds out the US strikes haven't obliterated Iran's nuclear programme.

The US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities did not destroy the country's nuclear programme and probably only set it back by months, according to an early Pentagon intelligence assessment of the attack.

The Islamic Republic's stockpile of enriched uranium was not eliminated in the bombings, sources familiar with an evaluation by the Defense Intelligence Agency told the BBC's US partner CBS.

The White House said the initial damage assessment was "flat-out wrong" and "a clear attempt to demean" President Donald Trump.

The president has said Saturday's air strikes "completely and totally obliterated" Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities.

 

[Bingo]

The only thing surprising about this announcement is how long it's taken to be made

Israel-Gaza latest: Netanyahu says Israel intends to take full control of Gaza as security cabinet meets

The prime minister adds Israel does "not want to keep it", as the UN warns the move could risk "catastrophic consequences".

www.bbc.co.uk

'We intend' to take control of all of Gaza, but do 'not want to keep it' - Netanyahu​

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Fox News "we intend" to take control of the whole of Gaza.

Speaking ahead of an Israeli security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu is asked by the outlet whether Israel will take control of the Strip.

He responds: "We intend to, in order to ensure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza and to pass it to civilian governance - that is not Hamas and not anyone advocating the destruction of Israel".

"We want to liberate ourselves and liberate the people of Gaza from the awful terror of Hamas," he adds.

But Netanyahu also says Israel does "not want to keep it".

"We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body," he adds.

 

[Scotty G]

UK is now recognising a Palestine state.

Speaking today, Mr Starmer said: "Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine."

It won't make one ounce of difference as Israel continues its war.

 

[Abomb]

US President Donald Trump will push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the framework of a new peace plan to end the Israel-Gaza war during White House discussions on Monday.

• The plan proposes an immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces, release of all hostages, and a surge of aid into Gaza.
• Gaza would then be temporarily governed by a transitional committee and overseen by a new international body called the 'Board of Peace'.
• Mr Trump is set to chair the 'Board of Peace', with Sir Tony Blair among other international leaders expected to join.
• Sir Tony described the plan as "bold and intelligent", thanking Mr Trump for his leadership and willingness to chair the board; Hamas is yet to accept the deal.

Trump had talked up prospects of reaching an agreement, telling journalists on Friday: "I think we have a deal."

President Donald J. Trump's Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict:

• 1. Gaza will be a deradicalised, terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours.
• 2. Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.
• 3. If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed-upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.
• 4. Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.
• 5. Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023, including all women and children detained in that context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.
• 6. Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.
• 7. Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip. At a minimum, aid quantities will be consistent with what was included in the January 19, 2025, agreement regarding humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to remove rubble and open roads.
• 8. Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not associated in any manner with either party. Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented under the January 19, 2025 agreement.
• 9. Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the "Board of Peace," which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including Former Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trump's peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on the best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment.
• 10. A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energise Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East. Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by well-meaning international groups, and will be considered to synthesise the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for the future of Gaza.
• 11. A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.
• 12. No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.
• 13. Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarisation of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy-back and reintegration program, all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.
• 14. A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbours or its people.
• 15. The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the rapid and secure flow of goods to rebuild and revitalise Gaza. A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties.
• 16. Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarisation that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the United States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. Practically, the IDF will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the ISF according to an agreement they will make with the transitional authority until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.
• 17. In the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF.
• 18. An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasising the benefits that can be derived from peace.
• 19. While Gaza redevelopment advances and when the PA reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognise as the aspiration of the Palestinian people.
• 20. The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.

If all parties agree to the framework, it is likely that more discussions would be needed over the exact wording and practical arrangements of a final deal.

It seems like this is all a show. They know Hamas won't accept. They'll then give the green light to wipe it all and say "we offered you peace" - but hopefully I'm wrong and they can move towards peace.

 

[Bingo]

While the plan had initially received buy-in from top Arab leaders, last-minute changes made just moments before its unveiling have infuriated Arab officials, according to a report Tuesday from Axios.

Trump's peace plan was developed over several weeks, and in conjunction with top Arab leaders such as those from Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. However, during Trump's meeting Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, last-minute changes were introduced to the plan, and at the behest of Netanyahu, changes that very well could compromise its initial support among Arab leaders.

"Netanyahu managed to negotiate several edits into the text, in particular on the conditions and timetable for Israel's withdrawal from Gaza," wrote Axios reporter Barak Ravid, an Israeli journalist who spoke with multiple Arab officials on the condition of anonymity.

"Officials from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey were furious over the changes, according to sources with knowledge. The Qataris even tried to convince the Trump administration not to release the detailed plan on Monday due to those objections. The White House released it anyway, and pushed the Arab and Muslim countries to support the plan."

 

[Tom]

Today marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict as Hamas has begun the release of Israeli hostages who have been held for over two years. This decision comes alongside the release of more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, highlighting the complex and often painful negotiations that characterise this long-standing issue.

The hope is palpable; many are looking towards this exchange as a potential pathway to lasting peace in the Middle East. The exchange serves as a reminder of the human cost of conflict, as families on both sides have endured suffering and loss.