Hamas has stated it is prepared to “engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations” to implement the terms of a draft ceasefire proposal supported by the United States, according to a statement issued by the militant group.

Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, also signaled its support for the negotiations but insisted on “guarantees” that Israel would not resume military operations once the hostages held in Gaza are released.

The ongoing conflict was triggered by Hamas’s unprecedented assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to a large-scale Israeli military campaign aimed at dismantling the group and securing the release of hostages taken during the attack.

Two temporary ceasefires brokered previously by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States led to short pauses in fighting and the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian detainees.

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to bringing home all hostages currently held in Gaza, stating: “I feel a deep commitment, first and foremost, to ensure the return of all our abductees, all of them,” amidst mounting public pressure.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump also commented on the situation, expressing concern for the civilians in Gaza: “They’ve gone through hell,” he said, while calling for their safety.

New 60-Day Ceasefire Proposal

According to a Palestinian source familiar with the talks, the current U.S.-backed proposal includes a 60-day truce during which Hamas would release around half of the Israeli captives still alive in Gaza—estimated to be 22 individuals—in return for Israel freeing an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners.

Out of the 251 individuals abducted during the October attack, 49 remain in captivity in Gaza, with the Israeli military stating that 27 of them are presumed dead.

Nearly 21 months of conflict have resulted in catastrophic humanitarian conditions for over two million residents of the Gaza Strip. Israel has expanded its military campaign in recent weeks, targeting suspected Hamas positions across Gaza, including areas near Gaza City in the north, and Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south.

Gaza Civil Defence spokesperson Mohammad al-Mughayyir reported that Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 52 people on Friday. The Israeli military acknowledged the reports and stated it was reviewing the incidents, requesting additional details for some of them.

Due to limited access and severe media restrictions, AFP noted that it could not independently verify the casualty figures provided.

Among the reported casualties were five individuals allegedly shot while waiting for humanitarian aid near a U.S.-run distribution center in Rafah and others near Wadi Gaza Bridge. These deaths follow a string of similar incidents near aid points, which the United Nations has warned could worsen an already dire famine risk.

At Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, families mourned 16 individuals killed in Thursday’s shooting near another aid center. One grieving woman, Narmin Abu Muammar, said: “I lost my brother at the American distribution center that was supposed to feed people. They are killing people, not feeding them.”

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) confirmed that Abdullah Hammad, a recently contracted staff member, was among those killed in Thursday’s incident, making him the 12th MSF worker to have died in the ongoing conflict. “We demand an end to this bloodshed,” the organization said in a statement.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, jointly operated by U.S. and Israeli agencies, has distanced itself from reports of fatalities near its distribution sites.

Mughayyir further reported that eight people, including a child, died in an airstrike targeting the tents of displaced civilians near Khan Yunis. Two other strikes on coastal camps claimed eight more lives, including two children.

The Israeli military stated it is conducting operations throughout Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure.

According to an AFP tally based on Israeli data, the Hamas-led attack in October 2023 killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign has resulted in at least 57,268 deaths in Gaza, the majority of whom were civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-administered territory. The United Nations recognizes these figures as credible.

Ukraine has reportedly killed Major General Mikhail Gudkov, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, marking one of the most high-profile Russian military casualties since the onset of the full-scale war in 2022.

According to CNN, Gudkov was killed in combat in Russia’s Kursk region. The announcement came from Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of Russia’s far eastern Primorsky region.

Gudkov, a prominent military leader, also commanded the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, a unit heavily involved in Russia’s war effort against Ukraine. His death makes him one of the highest-ranking Russian officers to be killed in the conflict to date.

In a statement quoted by CNN, Governor Kozhemyako described Gudkov as a “strong-willed warrior” who “died fulfilling his duty alongside his fellow soldiers.” He declined to provide specific details about the circumstances of the general’s death.

Kozhemyako had previously honored Gudkov with medals for bravery and spoke of a long-standing relationship with him.

The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed Gudkov’s death on Thursday, stating that he was killed in combat operations in the Kursk region. As of now, Ukrainian authorities have not issued an official response.

President Vladimir Putin had appointed Gudkov as the Navy’s deputy chief in charge of coastal and ground forces in March. At the time, Putin emphasized the importance of transferring Gudkov to a leadership position with greater responsibilities, citing his experience as a model for other units.

Accusations of War Crimes

Major General Gudkov had also been under scrutiny from Ukrainian authorities, who accused him and members of the 155th brigade of committing war crimes during the early stages of the conflict. These allegations include the killing of civilians in Bucha, Irpin, and Gostomel—areas that drew global condemnation for atrocities committed during the initial Russian invasion.

Kyiv further claims that Gudkov’s unit was involved in the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war, in violation of the Geneva Convention. Russia, however, has consistently denied all allegations of war crimes throughout the conflict, with both sides continuing to trade accusations since 2022.

Republicans in the House of Representatives advanced President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill early Thursday morning, pushing it toward a final vote and appearing to overcome internal party concerns about its steep cost.

After a day of behind-closed-doors negotiations at both the Capitol and the White House, lawmakers voted 219-213 around 3:30 a.m. (0730 GMT) to clear the final procedural hurdle needed to begin debate. A final vote on the bill was expected around 5:30 a.m.

On Wednesday, a previous procedural vote was held open for seven hours—giving Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson time to rally support from hesitant Republicans. Johnson expressed optimism after the day’s deliberations, calling them “long and productive,” and credited Trump with personally calling holdouts through the early hours of Thursday.

“There couldn’t be a more engaged and involved president,” Johnson told reporters.

The Senate narrowly approved the bill on Tuesday, after heated debate over its projected $3.4 trillion addition to the national debt—currently at $36.2 trillion—and controversial $900 million cuts to Medicaid, a program that provides healthcare for low-income Americans.

Democrats Stand United in Opposition

With just a 220-212 majority in the House, Republicans can afford no more than three defections to pass the bill. Democrats remain firmly opposed, criticizing the legislation as benefiting the wealthy while slashing vital services for average Americans. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill could lead to nearly 12 million people losing their health insurance.

“This bill is catastrophic. It’s not policy—it’s punishment,” said Representative Jim McGovern during the floor debate.

Although internal divisions have plagued Republican ranks in recent years, the party has largely remained aligned behind Trump since his return to office in January. Any amendments made by the House would require another round of Senate approval, making it difficult to meet the administration’s July 4 deadline.

The legislation includes most of Trump’s key domestic priorities: extending his 2017 tax cuts, scaling back health and food aid programs, ramping up immigration enforcement, eliminating several green energy incentives, and raising the debt ceiling by $5 trillion to avoid a looming default.

Some Republicans have expressed unease over the Medicaid reductions, prompting the Senate to allocate additional funding for rural hospitals in a bid to soften the blow.

India has sent a team of geologists to Zambia to investigate potential copper and cobalt deposits, according to two Indian government sources, as part of its broader push to secure critical minerals vital for its clean energy transition.

Earlier this year, the Zambian government granted India access to 9,000 square kilometers of land for exploration. The project focuses on cobalt—an essential element in batteries used for electric vehicles and mobile phones—as well as copper, a key material in power generation, electronics, and construction.

The exploration initiative is set to span three years, with most of the sample analysis taking place in Indian laboratories, one of the sources said. The team is expected to make multiple site visits throughout the duration of the project, the sources added, speaking on condition of anonymity as the details are not yet public.

Upon completion of the initial survey, India intends to apply for a mining lease from Zambian authorities. The government may also invite private-sector firms to join the venture, according to the same sources.

India’s Ministry of Mines has not issued a formal response to requests for comment.

New Delhi has been actively engaging with several African nations to secure mineral resources through government-to-government agreements. Simultaneously, it is exploring opportunities in resource-rich regions like Australia and Latin America.

In March, Reuters reported that India is also in talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo to establish a preliminary agreement for access to cobalt and copper supplies. An Indian delegation visited Congo last month for a mining conference and conducted site inspections, the Ministry of Mines confirmed via a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Amid internal discussions, Indian officials have expressed concern over the country’s growing exposure to the tightening global copper market. Strategies to ensure steady mineral supplies are being considered as part of ongoing trade negotiations, Reuters reported last week.

India’s reliance on copper imports has increased significantly since the 2018 shutdown of Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper plant. In the fiscal year ending March 2025, copper imports reached 1.2 million metric tons—marking a 4% year-on-year rise.

India also remains heavily dependent on cobalt imports, with inbound shipments of cobalt oxide climbing 20% in 2024–25 to 693 metric tons, as per government statistics.