Their return went ahead after Hamas agreed to hand over three Israeli hostages this week and Israeli forces began to withdraw from a main corridor across the enclave under terms of an agreement on a ceasefire in the 15-month-long war. In Israel, families of hostages waited anxiously for news of their loved ones. Along a […]
A day after a second exchange of Israeli hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, the holdup underlined the risks hanging over the truce between Hamas and Israel, longtime adversaries in a series of Gaza wars. U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, will travel to Israel on Wednesday to […]
The prisoners were released in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital that was seized by the Iran-backed Houthis in 2014, precipitating a civil war that has shattered the country. “This operation has brought much-needed relief and joy to families who have been anxiously waiting for the return of their loved ones,” said Christine Cipolla, the ICRC’s head […]
In exchange for the second release of the captives on Saturday, Israel is expected to release 200 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Ahead of the release, scores of masked Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters gathered at the square where a large crowd of Palestinians also congregated. In addition to hundreds of Hamas members, other Palestinian […]
The intelligence indicates a similar number of Hamas fighters have been killed during that period, the sources said. The latest official U.S. estimates have not been previously reported. Hamas and Israel began a ceasefire on Sunday after 15 months of a conflict that has devastated the Gaza Strip and inflamed the Middle East. The sources […]
Defying international concern, Israeli lawmakers have passed legislation that bars the agency, UNRWA, from operating in Israel and east Jerusalem, the sector of the city annexed by Israel following the 1967 Six Day War. The agency has faced criticism from Israel that has escalated since the start of the war, including claims that a dozen […]
The truce is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and the Hamas. The fragile deal has so far held, quieting airstrikes and rockets and allowing for increased aid to flow into the tiny coastal territory. On Saturday, four hostages are expected to be freed for 200 prisoners, […]
The truce took effect on Sunday after 15 months of conflict with the handover of the first three hostages held by Hamas and the release of 90 Palestinians from Israeli jails. Now attention is shifting to the rebuilding of the coastal enclave, which the Israeli military has reduced to vast tracts of rubble in its […]
“Humanitarian aid continues to move into the Gaza Strip as part of a prepared surge to increase support to survivors,” the UN’s humanitarian office (OCHA) said. “Today, 915 trucks crossed into Gaza, according to information received through engagement with Israeli authorities and the guarantors for the ceasefire agreement.” Throughout the conflict in Gaza, the UN […]
“I express gratitude to all the mediators,” the Argentine pontiff said shortly after the start of a truce between Israel and Hamas began. “Thanks to all the parties involved in this important outcome. I hope that, as agreed, it will be immediately respected by the parties and that all the hostages will finally be able […]
