Qatar submits new proposal for Gaza ceasefire

Qatar has presented a new ceasefire proposal to both Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in an effort to de-escalate the ongoing conflict in Gaza, according to reports on Tuesday.

The proposal includes a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a phased release of hostages held by Hamas.

According to the plan, Hamas would release eight hostages on the first day of the ceasefire, followed by the release of two more on the 50th day.

Additionally, Hamas would be required to return the remains of 18 deceased hostages in three separate phases.

In response, an Israeli official said that the new proposal could provide a foundation for detailed negotiations among the parties. However, he cautioned that any resumed talks between Israel and Hamas would be extremely difficult and are expected to be long and drawn out.

Also on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media that the United States and Israel held extensive talks regarding the situation in Gaza earlier that day.

He confirmed that Israel had agreed to the basic conditions for a potential 60-day ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Trump noted that Qatar and Egypt would be responsible for submitting the finalized terms of the agreement and called on Hamas to accept the proposal as well.

In January, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement concerning the Gaza Strip. However, in early March, hostilities resumed after Israel accused Hamas of rejecting a temporary ceasefire plan proposed by the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East and used the expiration of the first phase of the ceasefire as grounds to renew the blockade on Gaza.

Qatar submits new proposal for Gaza ceasefire

Qatar submits new proposal for Gaza ceasefire

Qatar submits new proposal for Gaza ceasefire

Qatar submits new proposal for Gaza ceasefire

President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung has expressed his hope that his upcoming visit to China will help eliminate past misunderstandings and issues, underscoring the importance of ties between the two countries.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Lee will pay a state visit to China from Jan 4 to 7. It will be Lee's first visit to China since he took office.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) in Seoul on Wednesday, Lee acknowledged the existing misunderstandings and issues between the two countries, noting that addressing these issues is a key goal of his visit.

"The current international landscape is turbulent, with escalating issues among various countries. In this context, the relationship between the Republic of Korea and China holds significant importance for us. the ROK and China are deeply interconnected in many areas, including history, economy, geopolitics, politics and security. Northeast Asia's peace, stability, mutual respect, and common prosperity are crucial for both countries," said Lee.

"Admittedly, there have been some misunderstandings and issues between the ROK and China, which have hindered the development of bilateral relations to some extent. Therefore, the purpose of my upcoming visit to China is to minimize or eliminate these past issues, foster a leap in our bilateral relations to a new level, and solidify the ROK and China as partners that mutually support each other's development," he said.

ROK President hopes to reduce misunderstandings with China during upcoming visit