Hamas, Israel and Trump
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The leaders of Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire days after major Israeli strikes, a U.S. envoy said Friday, as he urged all sides in war-torn Syria to lay down arms.
Syria and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said on Friday. The deal was “embraced” by Turkey, Jordan and other neighboring countries, the ambassador, who also serves as the US special envoy to Syria, said in a post on X.
The U.S. has withdrawn from Doha ceasefire talks after Hamas' response showed a "lack of desire" for an agreement. Israel also pulled negotiators amid escalating demands.
Overnight Friday and into Saturday, Israeli airstrikes and gunfire killed at least 42 people, the AP reported. Dozens were shot at waiting for aid trucks near the Zikim crossing, in northern Gaza. Israel's military said it fired warning shots to distance a crowd "in response to an immediate threat" and it was not aware of any casualties.
Israel is reviewing a revised response from Hamas to a proposed ceasefire and hostage-release deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Thursday, as Israeli air and ground strikes continued to pound the Gaza Strip.
Airdrops into Gaza have been criticized as insufficient and impractical. The United Nations has called for an urgent ceasefire, though talks appeared Friday to have collapsed.