Live Updates: Blinken calls Israeli officials to discuss Gaza ceasefire deal

Monday, June 3, 2024

0146 GMT — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called top Israeli officials to discuss a proposed deal for a truce in Gaza, the State Department has said.

Blinken spoke with war cabinet minister Benny Gantz and defence minister Yoav Gallant, according to statements.

In both calls, he "commended" Israel for the proposal, which was outlined by US President Joe Biden, and said the onus was on Hamas to agree.

2320 GMT — Pro-Palestinian protests at University of Helsinki enter 2nd month

Pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Helsinki in the Finnish capital entered their second month on Sunday.

Launched by students in May, the rallies have persisted despite the university administration's decision to suspend student exchange agreements with Israeli universities.

Students continue to express solidarity with Gaza at an encampment established in front of the main building.

The university said its board and rector are shocked by the civilian victims of Israel's Gaza war and called on the parties involved to prevent genocide in accordance with the decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands.

2210 GMT — US-backed Gaza ceasefire deal mostly accepted by Israel: report

Israel has accepted most of the broad outlines of a proposed hostage swap and ceasefire deal announced late last week by US President Joe Biden, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority has reported.

The state broadcaster said the Palestinian resistance group Hamas announced that it would respond positively to the proposal.

It said the three-phase plan would start with a six-week ceasefire, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of women and children being held hostage in the enclave.

Biden said that during this time, there would be an increase in humanitarian assistance and Israel and Hamas would negotiate a permanent ceasefire.

The second phase would involve the release of all other hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, according to the broadcaster.

The final phase would involve the start of a reconstruction plan in Gaza and the return of the remains of deceased hostages to their families.

2135 GMT — Israeli support for US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal: 40 pct in poll

Some 40 percent of Israelis support a proposal announced late last week by US President Joe Biden that he said could lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, according to a poll conducted by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

However, nearly 27 percent of the respondents said they opposed the deal and around 33 percent said they are undecided, the public broadcaster reported.

The survey also found that around 42 percent of Israelis believe the Palestinian resistance group Hamas’s governance in Gaza cannot be eliminated, while 32 percent said Israel was capable of doing so.

It further revealed that 55 percent of Israelis “support expanding the confrontation with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.”

For our live updates from Sunday, June 2, 2024, click here.