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Report: Trump, Netanyahu Speak about Gaza Hostage-Ceasefire Deal

Children sit on damaged cars, as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis as conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in the northern Gaza Strip August 14, 2024. (Reuters)
Children sit on damaged cars, as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis as conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in the northern Gaza Strip August 14, 2024. (Reuters)
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Report: Trump, Netanyahu Speak about Gaza Hostage-Ceasefire Deal

Children sit on damaged cars, as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis as conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in the northern Gaza Strip August 14, 2024. (Reuters)
Children sit on damaged cars, as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis as conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in the northern Gaza Strip August 14, 2024. (Reuters)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and discussed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, Axios reported, citing two US sources.

One source told Axios Trump's call was intended to encourage Netanyahu to take the deal, but stressed he did not know if this is indeed what the former president told Netanyahu. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Late last month, Netanyahu visited the US and met President Joe Biden, Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican former President Trump.

Egypt, the United States and Qatar have scheduled a new round of Gaza ceasefire negotiations for Thursday.

Biden laid out a three-phase ceasefire proposal in an address on May 31. Washington and regional mediators have since tried arranging the Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal but have run into repeated obstacles.

Hamas said on Wednesday it would not take part in a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks slated for Thursday in Qatar, but an official briefed on the talks said mediators expected to consult with the Palestinian group afterwards.

Washington, Israel's most important ally, has said that a ceasefire in Gaza will reduce the rising threat of a wider war in the Middle East.

There has been an increased risk of a broader war after the recent killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Both drew threats of retaliation against Israel.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's subsequent assault on the Hamas-governed enclave has since killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, while also displacing nearly the entire population of 2.3 million, causing a hunger crisis and leading to genocide allegations at the World Court that Israel denies.

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Palestinian Leader Abbas Tells Turkish Parliament He Will Visit Gaza, Jerusalem

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses a special session of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) in Ankara, Turkey, 15 August 2024. (EPA)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses a special session of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) in Ankara, Turkey, 15 August 2024. (EPA)
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Palestinian Leader Abbas Tells Turkish Parliament He Will Visit Gaza, Jerusalem

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses a special session of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) in Ankara, Turkey, 15 August 2024. (EPA)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses a special session of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) in Ankara, Turkey, 15 August 2024. (EPA)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday told Türkiye's parliament he had decided to visit Gaza and Jerusalem to protest Israel's war on the enclave, adding that he saw no end to the conflict unless Israel withdrew from occupied Palestinian lands.

Abbas, who met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday to discuss the war and ceasefire efforts, addressed an extraordinary session of Türkiye’s parliament general assembly at the invitation of the Turkish government.

In a 46-minute speech attended by Erdogan, his ministers and lawmakers from all political parties, Abbas accused the United States of prolonging the "catastrophe" by supporting Israel and vetoing resolutions at the United Nations Security Council. He also called on the world to legally punish Israel for its war crimes and violations of international law.

"I have decided to head with the Palestinian Authority (PA) members to the Gaza Strip. I will exert every effort so we can all be with our people to stop this barbaric aggression even if it costs us our lives," Abbas said, adding that he would also go to Jerusalem. He did not specify when he would visit.

Abbas heads the PA, which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

He received a standing ovation before and after his speech, which was also interrupted repeatedly by applause.

Türkiye’s invitation to Abbas came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the US Congress in July.

"On July 24, a war criminal gave a speech which was full of lies in the US Congress. Here today, Mahmoud Abbas stated the truth and the Palestinian cause in every sentence," Turkish parliament speaker Numan Kurtulmus said, speaking after Abbas.

Israel's assault on Gaza, which has killed more than 40,000 people, started after Palestinian armed group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

Türkiye has denounced the war and halted all trade with Israel. It submitted a request to join South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.

Erdogan, who has been a staunch supporter of Hamas, said Türkiye had also planned to invite the political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran.