‘Focus on rebuilding of Gaza’

Trump stonewalls question on two-state solution, saying contours of political structure of a future Palestinian state will take time

US President Donald Trump on Monday refrained from taking a position on whether he supports the recognition of a Palestinian state, hours after signing the Gaza ceasefire agreement alongside several world leaders at a peace summit in Egypt.

“I’m not talking about single state or double state or two state, we’re talking about the rebuilding of Gaza,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One during his flight back from the Middle East.

The President said that discussions around the political structure of a future Palestinian state would take time, noting, “A lot of people like the one-state solution. Some people like the two-state solutions. We’ll have to see,” before adding, “I haven't commented on that.” Earlier at the summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi described the moment as a pivotal one for regional peace. He called it a “unique, perhaps last, historic opportunity to achieve a Middle East free of anything that threatens its stability and progress.” El-Sisi reiterated Egypt's long-standing stance in favour of a negotiated two-state solution, saying it “must be achieved in a manner that ensures our shared vision of embodying joint cooperation among the peoples of the region, and cooperation among all countries.” Trump’s cautious remarks came just weeks after he had criticised international efforts to advance Palestinian statehood during his address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 23.

At the time, Trump had described the growing global momentum behind a two-state framework as a "reward" for Hamas. His latest comments, therefore, underline a consistent position that prioritises rebuilding Gaza and securing peace over endorsing any particular political model.

Missing bodies of hostages top list of uncertainties 

The tenuous Gaza ceasefire is holding, but it's shadowed by major uncertainties following the exchange of living hostages for Palestinian prisoners. A top priority is the return of the bodies of 28 deceased Israeli hostages still believed to be in Gaza. Freed hostages and Palestinian prisoners are now receiving medical care. Meanwhile, longer-term issues loom, including the disarmament of Hamas. the future governance and rebuilding of Gaza (estimated to cost $70 billion), and the central question of Palestinian statehood. A summit in Egypt discussed these challenges, with President Donald Trump hailing the deal as a peace starter.

6 ‘intruders’ shot near Gaza: Israel

Israel's military said it opened fire on October 14, to remove a threat posed by suspects who approached its forces in the northern Gaza Strip, and health authorities in the enclave said at least six Palestinians had been killed by Israeli fire. 

The military said the suspects had crossed a boundary for an initial Israeli pullback under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan, in a violation 

of the deal. Gaza's local health authority said the Israeli military killed six Palestinians in two separate incidents across the enclave on Tuesday. On Monday, Hamas freed the last living Israeli hostages from Gaza and Israel sent home busloads of Palestinian detainees under the ceasefire deal, as President of United States of America Donald Trump declared the end of a two-year-long war that has upended broader West Asia region.

Body of Nepal man returned

Kathmandu: The body of a Nepali hero who saved several lives during the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel has been brought back to Tel Aviv and will soon be returned to his family for proper burial, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement.  Bipin Joshi, 23, was abducted from a shelter in Kibbutz Alumim by Hamas on October 7 along with several others.  "Bipin was abducted at the age of 23 from a shelter in Kibbutz Alumim by Hamas. It is assessed that he was murdered in captivity during the first months of the war," IDF said in a statement on social media on Tuesday. The IDF said it will make necessary arrangements to return the body of the victim to his family for proper burial. "The IDF expresses deep condolences to the families, and continues to make every effort to return all the hostages, as Hamas is required to fulfil its part of the agreement.