The situation at an overview: Hamas rejects Israeli proposal for ceasefire

The indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas on the release of the remaining hostages and a new ceasefire are determined: According to reports, the Islamist group has reported the youngest Israeli proposal. The reason is that he does not see the end of the war, Israeli media reported, citing the rank-high Hamas official Chalil al-Haja. According to the “Jerusalem Post”, the current draft includes the release of ten hostages for a 45-day fire break.

Hamas will not agree to a partial agreement, said Al-Haja. However, the Islamist organization is ready to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that includes the release of all hostages in the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, a complete Israeli deduction from the Gaza Strip and promises for reconstruction.

“Hamas’ statements show that it is not interested in peace, but in constant violence,” said James Hewitt’s spokesman for the National Security Council of the White House. “The conditions of the Trump government have not changed: release the hostages or experience hell.”

“Open gates of hell”

Israel’s right -wing extremist Finance Minister Bezhalel Smotrich called for another military escalation in the Gaza Strip. “It is time to open Hamas the gates of hell and intensify the fights until the Gaza Strip fully occupies, Hamas destroys and President (Donald) Trump’s plan for the voluntary departure of the residents of Gaza to other countries,” he wrote on the news platform X.

The last ceasefire phase ended around a month ago after Israel and Hamas could not have agreed on the conditions for the next phase of the deal. Hamas calls for the implementation of a second phase of the agreement that provides for an end to the war and the withdrawal of the Israeli soldiers. It was originally supposed to start in early March.

Report: US government withdraws hundreds of soldiers from Syria

According to a media report, the US government is said to have started to withdraw hundreds of American soldiers from Syria. The US military closes three of its eight small bases in the northeast of the country, reducing the troop thickness from 2,000 to around 1,400, reporting the “New York Times”, citing two united US officials. The Pentagon did not initially answer a corresponding demand.

The newspaper also wrote that after 60 days it should be checked whether further cuts should be made. The military commanders would have recommended to leave at least 500 US soldiers in Syria. The US soldiers are stationed for the fight against the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) in the region. IS once dominated large areas in Syria and in neighboring Iraq. The organization has been defeated militarily, has spread internationally since then and continues to plan terrorist attacks in the west or donate to them.

US military destroyed by Huthi controlled oil port in Yemen

According to their own statements, the US armed forces destroyed the Ras Isa oil port controlled by the Huthi militia in Yemen. The aim was to support the fighters from Iran an important source of financing, said the central command of the US military (Centcom) responsible for the Middle East. The militia finances its military activities with revenue from the sale of fuel imported across the port.

“The aim of these attacks was to weaken the economic power of the Huthi, who continue to exploit their compatriots and add great suffering,” the statement said. The US military did not give details of the use and possible victims. The Huthi-Nahse broadcaster Al-Masirah reported, however, that 38 people were killed in the attack and over 100 others were injured. The information could not be checked independently.