The truce was agreed in a Declaration of Principles signed by the two sides after three months of talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, which follows a separate Congolese-Rwandan peace deal signed in Washington last month.
“As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock, I think it’s an appropriate time. I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out. I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday,” Trump said.
A Hamas spokesman on Monday accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement with the group, including targeting Palestinians in Gaza with airstrikes, and said that next Saturday’s hostage release would be delayed. A Hamas spokesperson said Monday that the group will delay the next hostage release after accusing Israel of violating ceasefire agreement. Israel and […]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the sight of the frail hostages was shocking and would be addressed.
The four were all members of a mainly female unit of observers posted round Gaza to watch for signs of Hamas activity, who were among around 250 hostages seized during the attack on Oct. 7.
Some 250 people were kidnapped during Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered 15 months of war. Around 100 hostages still remain in Gaza, after the rest were released, rescued, or their bodies were recovered.
Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas – which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the US and others – in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
Mediators gave Israel and Hamas a final draft of a deal to end the war in Gaza, an official briefed on the negotiations said, after a midnight ‘breakthrough’ in talks attended by envoys of both Joe Biden and Donald Trump
A US-France-brokered ceasefire agreement to the 14-month conflict between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah came into power on Wednesday morning, but Israel’s vow to double down on its war in Gaza and focus on its main enemy, Iran, could soon challenge the deal’s solidity.
US officials confirmed Wednesday that Washington had suspended a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel over concerns they would be used in Rafah without a sufficient plan for civilians there. This decision to halt the delivery of what are likely MK-84s – one of the most destructive munitions used by Western armies – comes as Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu doubles down on his determination to launch a lethal ground assault in Rafah despite US warnings.
The U.S. proposal would have seen Israel release 900 Palestinians in exchange for 40 hostages.
The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza Strip for the month of Ramadan, leading to “a lasting sustainable” cease-fire. As many as 14 countries voted in favor of the resolution, presented by 10 elected members of the Council, while the US abstained from voting. The resolution called […]
