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Dear A.,
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff condemned Hamas yesterday for refusing to accept the ceasefire offer proposed by the United States and agreed to by Israel – a deal that has been on the table since March.
“What I have seen from Hamas is disappointing and completely unacceptable,” Witkoff said in response to false reports that Hamas had agreed to the terms.
“That deal is on the table," he said. "Hamas should take it."
Meanwhile, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's new mechanism for distributing food aid to Gazans began operating today, backed by the United States and supported by Israel.
The new mechanism is designed to ensure families in Gaza can receive food without it being hijacked by Hamas terrorists.
Two out of the four initial aid centers opened for distribution today, providing 8,000 food boxes to families -- equivalent to 462,000 meals.
"Hamas even tried to put up roadblocks to stop Gazans from getting the food. It didn’t work,"
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said Israel's Foreign Ministry. "Aid for civilians, not for Hamas."
Since October 7, Hamas has hijacked aid and used it as a lifeline for the terror group to further prolong this war.
Hamas is believed to have stolen more than $1 billion worth of aid over the past 18 months.
The new distribution plan seeks to cut Hamas, and complicit U.N. agencies, out of the process.
Earlier in the day, thousands of Gazans briefly overran one of the distribution sites. "Happily, we brought it back under control," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, confirming that many more sites will be put to use.
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IDF: 400 trucks worth of food inspected by Israel awaiting U.N. collection and distribution
Israel is transferring aid to Gaza, but U.N. agencies on the ground in Gaza are still
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failing to distribute it .
Over the past week, more than 400 aid trucks have entered the Gaza Strip as a secondary channel to distribute aid while the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sets up its new distribution mechanisms.
Yet the majority of this aid is sitting untouched on the Gaza side of the border, waiting for the U.N. groups to distribute it.
"With the renewed entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, we have reached out to all humanitarian aid organizations and the international community, and called for them to take part in the distribution of aid to Gazan civilians," said the head of COGAT, which oversees the IDF's aid operations in the Gaza Strip.
"However, in the past few days, the UN has avoided fulfilling its role and instead continues to spread false and incorrect information regarding civilian distress."
"Israel has expanded the routes and aid, and extended the times of collection. Now it's the UN's turn to act accordingly with its obligation. We call on the UN to fulfill their mission entrusted to it as a key humanitarian partner as demanded and without any further delays," he added.
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Top Israeli officials in Washington to discuss Iran negotiations
Israeli Mossad chief David Barnea and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer are in Washington for talks with senior Trump administration officials over the Iran nuclear negotiations.
Dermer and Barnea reportedly met with Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe yesterday.
President Trump announced earlier this week that the U.S. had made “real progress” during the most recent round of talks.
The Trump administration has repeated
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its red line that any agreement must include the “total dismantlement” of Iran’s nuclear program and the elimination of its enrichment capabilities.
Earlier this month, Witkoff said, "We have one very, very clear red line, and that is enrichment. We cannot allow even 1% of an enrichment capability."
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Sincerely,
Cory Meyer
Director of Communications
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