US President Donald Trump expressed hope that the situation in the Gaza Strip would be resolved within a week.
Trump says deal for ceasefire in Gaza is close
“Negotiations on Gaza are ongoing… We’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
On July 2, Donald Trump said that the US had agreed with Israel on a ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip, including the release of hostages held by Hamas, a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops and increased humanitarian aid.
On July 6, Hamas and Israel, with the mediation of Egypt, Qatar and the United States, resumed talks in Doha on a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Last week, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid al-Ansari clarified that the talks had not yet begun and that mediators were consulting with both sides to resolve differences and prepare a framework for discussions.
According to Gaza health authorities, the death toll in the Palestinian enclave as a result of Israeli military operations launched after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 has exceeded 58,000.
Humanitarian mission heads to Gaza
On Sunday, 13 July, the ship Handala left Italy with pro-Palestinian activists on board in another attempt to “break the naval blockade” of Gaza.
The IDF had asked the political leadership in advance to take all diplomatic measures to prevent the flotilla from leaving, but after their failure, the military is preparing for a forceful interception.
The ship Handala left the port of Syracuse (Sicily) as part of the Freedom Flotilla initiative. The IDF confirmed that special forces from the Shayetet 13 unit will board the ship and prevent it from reaching Gaza. This is not the first such attempt — a month ago, the ship Madlen was intercepted in international waters.
Meanwhile, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed (LFI), has supported the humanitarian mission in Gaza:
“The ship “Handa” and its crew will attempt to break the inhumane blockade of Gaza and save thousands of Gazans doomed to a cruel death. It is a source of pride and admiration that the ship’s crew includes two rebellious MPs, Gabrielle Català and Emma Furo.”
