President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that a senior US official held direct talks with Hamas recently about gaining the release of hostages held in Gaza, after it was revealed earlier this week that direct engagement occurred between the two for the first time in decades.
Trump said the effort was”aimed at helping Israel and that the United States would not pay for the release of captives”.
The US president’s comments come as his envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, accused Hamas of “not being forthright” with Washington during their recent discussions, stressing that the US wants to continue its negotiations with the group, but threatened “an alternative option that will not be good” if the negotiations fail.
This also comes after the US State Department rejected Egypt’s plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, saying that the proposal “does not meet the requirements and nature of what President Donald Trump requested.”
In Gaza, Palestinians are continuing to struggle with diminishing amounts of food and necessities, as well as increased prices, amid Israel’s total siege and ban on the entry of humanitarian aid.
In occupied east Jerusalem, Israel has imposed restrictions on Muslim worshippers hoping to pray at Al-Aqsa, only allowing some people aged over 50 and their young children from the occupied West Bank to enter the holy compound on Fridays during the holy month of Ramadan.
A statement from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said a “limited number of Muslim worshippers” would be admitted in line with last year’s arrangement, starting on Friday without specifying a number.
Those allowed are men age 55 and older, women age 50 and older and children up to age 12. They must also pass security screening and multiple checkpoints.
