TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
- Hamas political representative fails to confirm whether Hamas will disarm
- The search for a missing toddler in South Australia comes to an end
- Cameron Green remains on track for the Ashes
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Hamas is refusing to confirm whether or not they will disarm, as part of the second phase of the US-brokered peace deal for Gaza.
Mohammad Nazzal, a member of the political arm of Hamas, says the question as to whether Hamas will hand over its weapons is contingent on the nature of the project.
REPORTER: "So yes or no, will Hamas give up its weapons?"
NAZZAL: "I cannot answer with a yes or no. Frankly, it depends on the nature of the project. The disarmament project you are talking about, what does it mean? To whom will the weapons be handed over? Why are the weapons being handed over? Well, there is a question: Will the Israelis hand over the nuclear weapons inside the Zionist entity?"
Mr Nazzal reiterated that Hamas did not give its approval to the second phase of the plan, saying they communicated with US President Trump that they agreed to a ceasefire, the release of prisoners and the entry of aid, but that they require a Palestinian national position on other matters.
There are concerns around the fragile ceasefire, as Israel and Hamas accuse each other of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Israel has killed a number of civilians since the ceasefire began, while also accusing Hamas of failing to return the 19 remaining deceased hostages.
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Health officials in the Gaza Strip are struggling to identify the bodies of Palestinians returned by Israel under the Gaza ceasefire.
Health authorities in the Gaza Strip do not have access to DNA testing or other sophisticated technology used to identify the remains of Israeli hostages.
Dr Mohammed Zaqout, Gaza's Director General of Hospitals, says they have only been able to identify four bodies so far.
Hamas official Ahmad Abdul-Hadi says the group is facing difficulties recovering the bodies of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, saying some are underneath rubble that must be cleared with heavy equipment.
"There is extreme difficulty due to the massive destruction, and therefore equipment is needed. We are now requesting equipment to be brought in to enable the removal of rubble and the recovery of bodies."
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The search for a missing four-year-old in South Australia has been called off.
South Australian police say the renewed four-day foot search at Oak Park Station where Gus Lamont vanished has ended without any evidence being found.
In the 20 days since he disappeared, only a single footprint with a "very similar boot pattern" to his footwear has been found.
Police say the investigation into his disappearance will continue, but the search phase has ended.
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A group of Indigenous Australians have met King Charles at Australia House in London to mark the 40th anniversary of the hand back of Uluru National Park.
Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Uluru and Kata Tjuta are some of central Australia's most iconic landscapes and sacred sites for the local Anangu people.
King Charles attended the commemoration where he met nine Indigenous Australian representatives and the owners of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Sammy Wilson is an Anangu traditional owner and custodian of Uluru.
Speaking through a translator he says the issue of repatriation of Indigenous remains and artefacts is the next step forward.
"For us, 40 year celebration is huge. But 40 years into the future, we want to celebrate a bit more as well. And into the future, we'd like to come and visit the museums around the repatriation stuff for our area as well, and come and visit the area in London so we can do repatriation for our people as well."
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Cameron Green remains on track for the Ashes despite a side niggle ruling him out of the three-match ODI series against India, starting in Perth on Sunday.
Green experienced what Cricket Australia has described as "low grade side soreness" at training this week and was withdrawn from the squad on Friday.
The 26-year-old's injury has resulted in an ODI recall for Marnus Labuschagne, who was the biggest axing from the squad when it was initially named earlier this month.
Green underwent radical spinal surgery a year ago, and only recently returned to bowling duties.
