Gaza Tensions Rise as Israel Halts Northward Movement, Citing Hamas Violations GAZA — Tensions escalated in Gaza on Sunday as Israeli troops prevented Palestinians from returning to their northern homes, with Israel accusing Hamas of violating a recently brokered cease-fire and Hamas countering that Israel was stalling. Under the initial phase of the agreement brokered … Read more
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President Donald Trump said Saturday he’d like to see Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations increase the number of Palestinian refugees they are accepting from the Gaza Strip — potentially moving out enough of the population to “just clean out” the war-torn area to create a virtual clean slate. … Read more
Israel has released 200 Palestinian prisoners after Hamas freed four hostages on Saturday in the latest transfer under the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Hamas handed four Israeli hostages over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza on Saturday and they were handed on to the Israel Defense Forces. The four soldiers have … Read more
About 90 Palestinian prisoners were released early on Monday in exchange for three Israeli hostages handed over by Hamas to Israel on Sunday, as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal aimed at ending 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas. The prisoners, most of whom were freed from Ofer prison in Ramallah in the … Read more
The sounds of celebration replaced those of explosions in the Gaza Strip on Sunday as a fragile cease-fire came into effect after 470 days of war, allowing some hostages to return home to Israel, Palestinians imprisoned in Israel to be released, and displaced Gazans to search for what was left of their homes. Under the … Read more
Day one of the ceasefire and – after a delayed start – the pieces fell into place. Early in the day, the first displaced residents of Gaza began returning to their homes, many witnessing entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble. Then, on Sunday evening, three Israeli women hostages returned home after 471 days in Hamas captivity. … Read more
Three Hostages Freed After 471 Days in Captivity as Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire Takes effect TEL AVIV — Three hostages, including one who survived the brutal Nova music festival massacre during the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, have been freed after the Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal went into effect following hours of uncertainty. Romi Gonen, 23, Emily Damari, 28, … Read more
The much awaited ceasefire deal between Israel and Gaza based Hamas militant group is set to begin at 8:30am local time (12pm IST), mediator Qatar involved in the agreement announced on Saturday. The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will involve the exchange of hostages detained by Hamas and release of Palestinian detainees by the Israeli … Read more
Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel “will not relent until all hostages are released” by Hamas. In an address on Saturday, Mr Netanyahu said Israel retains the right to resume war in Gaza with US backing should the second stage of the agreed ceasefire prove pointless. “If we must return to fighting we will do that … Read more
Hamas is expected to release the first hostages under a Gaza ceasefire deal on Sunday, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s office said on Friday. If successful, the ceasefire would halt fighting that has razed much of heavily urbanised Gaza, killed more than 46,000 people, and displaced most of the tiny enclave’s pre-war population of 2.3 million … Read more