Trump: Significant progress made towards ending Gaza war

US President Donald Trump said on June 25th that significant progress was underway to end the war in Gaza, Middle East Eye reported.

He linked the developments for Gaza to recent US strikes on Iran, suggesting that the military action might positively influence the broader situation in the Middle East and help bring the conflict closer to resolution.

A report by Middle East Eye via Reuters on June 24th stated that the Israeli military chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, announced a shift in focus in Israel towards Gaza, in which retrieving captives and dismantling Hamas’s control is a key priority.

Previously, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution calling for a lasting and unconditional Gaza ceasefire, the BBC reported on June 4th. All 14 other council members supported the resolution, which also called for the release of hostages and unrestricted humanitarian aid.

US Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, argued that the resolution would harm diplomatic efforts and criticised it for not condemning Hamas. Meanwhile, over two million people in Gaza face starvation. Aid delivery has shifted to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israel and US-backed group, in which there have been deadly incidents near its distribution sites.

Additionally, according to a report by Al-Monitor on June 12th and as Maghrebi cited, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

The resolution passed with 149 votes in favour, 12 against, and 19 abstentions. The resolution demanded Israel end its blockade on Gaza to allow aid into the territory. It also reaffirmed support for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

Al-Monitor, Maghrebi.org, Middle East Eye, Reuters