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US rejects Hamas ceasefire demands

White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff describes Hamas’ terms as 'totally unacceptable'.

White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff described Hamas’ demands as 'totally unacceptable', after the militant group outlined the terms under which it would be willing to accept a new ceasefire. Hamas said it would give up effective control of Gaza after the war, but did not offer to completely disarm. Hamas also wishes to make a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza a condition of releasing all the hostages.

Also in the programme: Australia announces details of its scheme to redress the harms done to the ‘stolen generation’ of aboriginals forcibly removed from their families. Later, we hear from Johan Helberg, a Norwegian man who awoke to find a 135 metre container ship had run aground in his back garden.

Joining presenter Julian Worricker are the Financial Times Political Editor George Parker, and professor Lesli Vinjamuri, Director of the US and Americas programme at the Chatham House thinktank.

(Picture: The sun sets over Gaza, as seen from Israel. Photo by REUTERS/Amir Cohen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

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50 minutes

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  • Sun 1 Jun 2025 05:06GMT