Tag: Ceasefire
Trump ‘very angry’ with Putin over Ukraine ceasefire negotiations
Donald Trump has said he is “very angry” and “pissed off” with Russian President Vladimir Putin after weeks of attempting to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine. In an NBC News interview, the US president said he was angry with Putin for attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s credibility, and threatened to impose a 50% tariff on…
Russia and Ukraine Agree to Black Sea Cease-Fire: What to Know
Russia-Ukraine War It remains unclear if the commitments to stop attacks and ensure safe shipping in the Black Sea, which came with many caveats, would happen soon. By Ivan Nechepurenko and Constant Méheut Ivan Nechepurenko reported from Tbilisi, Georgia, and Constant Méheut from Kyiv, Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine have said they are committed to cease…
Russia and Ukraine agree naval ceasefire in Black Sea
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea in separate deals with the US, after three days of peace talks in Saudi Arabia. Washington said all parties would continue working toward a “durable and lasting peace” in statements announcing the agreements, which would reopen an important trade route. They have…
Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kills Over 400, in Breakdown of Cease-Fire
Middle East Tensions Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he had ordered the aerial attacks after Hamas’s “repeated refusal” to release the remaining hostages it holds. “This is just the beginning,” he said. By Patrick KingsleyRawan Sheikh AhmadYan ZhuangAaron Boxerman and Michael Levenson Patrick Kingsley, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad and Aaron Boxerman reported from Jerusalem. Israeli…
Putin agrees in Trump call to pause Ukraine energy attacks but no full ceasefire
President Vladimir Putin has rejected an immediate and full ceasefire in Ukraine, agreeing only to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, following a call with US President Donald Trump. The Russian leader declined to sign up to the comprehensive month-long ceasefire that Trump’s team recently worked out with Ukrainians in Saudi Arabia. He said a comprehensive…
Prospect of Ukraine ceasefire still uncertain despite Trump’s optimism
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Vladimir Putin of trying to “sabotage” diplomatic efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire. In a post on social media, he urged the US to put more pressure on the Russian president, saying only the “strength of America” could end the war. The Ukrainian leader said Putin was “doing everything…
Putin sets out conditions for Ukraine ceasefire
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agreed with the idea of a ceasefire in Ukraine, but that “questions” remained about the nature of a truce as he set out a number of tough conditions. The Russian president was responding to a plan for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine agreed to earlier this week after talks…
Ukraine Ceasefire Deal Relies on Critical Minerals That Will Be Difficult to Access
Ukraine Ceasefire Deal Relies on Critical Minerals That Will Be Difficult to Access By Scott L. Montgomery & The Conversation US Granite being mined on February 26, 2025, in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine. Despite the ongoing war, many mining companies across the country have continued their operations, extracting resources such as titanium, graphite, and…
Ukraine ready to accept 30-day ceasefire with Russia
Ukraine has said it is ready to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire with Russia proposed by the US, after a day of US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would present the offer to Russia and that “the ball is in their court”. Ukraine’s President Volodomyr Zelensky said it…
With Cease-Fire Shaky, Israel and Hamas Consider Both Diplomatic and Military Options
Middle East Tensions As the first phase of the truce in Gaza ends, the two sides are continuing negotiations but also preparing for a possible return to war. By Adam Rasgon and Iyad Abuheweila Adam Rasgon reported from Jerusalem, and Iyad Abuheweila from Istanbul. When the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas was announced in…
Israel Halts Aid to Gaza and Proposes New Cease-Fire Framework
Middle East Tensions Israel has called for Hamas to accept a temporary extension of the existing cease-fire deal, and to release more hostages. By Isabel Kershner Reporting from Jerusalem Israel announced on Sunday that it was immediately halting the entry of all goods and humanitarian assistance into Gaza, trying to force Hamas into accepting a…
UK, France and Ukraine agree to work on ceasefire plan for Russia’s war in Ukraine
By The Associated Press LONDON — Britain, France and Ukraine have agreed to work on a ceasefire plan to present to the United States, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday as he prepared to host a summit of European leaders to discuss ending the war. The summit has been overshadowed by the extraordinary scolding…
Kurdish militant group PKK declares ceasefire after decades of conflict with Turkey
By Willem Marx Militants from the Kurdish ethnic group who have fought an insurgency against Turkish authorities for more than four decades have declared a ceasefire, in what may represent a significant political breakthrough for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The announcement came just two days after the leader of the militant PKK group, Abdullah…
Fate of Bibas Family Renews Fears for Israel-Gaza Cease-Fire
Middle East Tensions News Analysis Hamas said it had returned the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons. The Israeli military announced that the boys were murdered in Gaza and that Ms. Bibas’s body was that of someone else. By Patrick Kingsley Reporting from Jerusalem For 16 months, the smiling faces of Shiri Bibas…
Rubio is in Saudi Arabia to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and Ukraine war
Aya Batrawy DUBAI — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is holding meetings in Saudi Arabia on Monday to discuss President Donald Trump’s displacement and redevelopment plans for the Gaza Strip and to meet with Russian counterparts on steps to ending the war in Ukraine. This is Rubio’s first visit to the Middle East as secretary…
Israel says Gaza ceasefire will end if Hamas does not free hostages by Saturday
Israel’s prime minister has warned Hamas it will end the ceasefire in Gaza and resume intense fighting if the Palestinian group “does not return our hostages by Saturday noon”. Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered Israeli forces to amass inside and around Gaza in response to Hamas’s announcement that it was postponing freeing more hostages…
Gaza Cease-Fire Deal Hangs in the Balance Ahead of Trump’s Meeting With Jordan’s King
Trump Administration Hamas and President Trump have threatened to upend the cease-fire. Analysts say those words could prove hollow, but the deal still may not last beyond early March. By Patrick Kingsley and Ronen Bergman The future of the cease-fire in Gaza, along with the territory’s long-term fate, hung in the balance on Tuesday as…
Trump Issues Cease-Fire Ultimatum After Hamas Postpones Release of Israeli Hostages
Middle East Tensions Stalling the next release of hostages from the Gaza Strip, scheduled for the coming weekend, raises new challenges for the already tenuous six-week truce and chances for a lasting end to the war. By Lara JakesRonen BergmanAdam Rasgon and Johnatan Reiss Lara Jakes reported from Jerusalem, and Johnatan Reiss from Tel Aviv.…
Rwandan-backed rebel group M23 declares unilateral ceasefire in DRC
Militias say decision is ‘for humanitarian reasons’, as UN says at least 900 killed in last week’s fighting with DRC forces The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who seized the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo last week have declared a unilateral ceasefire starting on Tuesday. The Congo River Alliance, a coalition of…
He Survived 15 Months of War in Gaza, Then Died as Cease-Fire Neared
Middle East Tensions Middle East Tensions Middle East Tensions Fighting claimed lives until the final moments before the truce between Israel and Hamas took effect. For some, an unexpected delay of a few hours proved deadly. By Bilal Shbair and Erika Solomon Bilal Shbair reported from Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. After more…
Hamas releases 4 more hostages as part of ceasefire agreement with Israel
Jerome Socolovsky Four female soldiers taken hostage in the Oct. 7, 2023 incursion into southern Israel by fighters belonging to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza have won back their freedom. Liri Albag, 19; Karina Ariev, 20; Daniella Gilboa, 20 and Naama Levy, 20, were handed over to representatives of the International Committee of…
Dramatic day ushers in a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire after 15 months of war
After 15 months of war that began with a brutal attack on Israel by Hamas and ended with much of the Gaza Strip levelled by Israel, a ceasefire came into effect on Sunday that saw three women hostages released from Gaza and 90 Palestinians expected to be freed from Israeli jails in return. For two…
33 hostages are expected to be released by Hamas as part of a ceasefire with Israel
By NPR Staff After more than 15 months of fighting, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal, raising hopes for families that their loved ones could soon return home. In the first phase of the deal, Hamas is expected to free 33 hostages over six weeks — starting with three on…
Netanyahu issues warning ahead of Gaza ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country is ready to resume the war against Hamas should talks for a second phase of the ceasefire fail. In a televised speech just hours before it was due to start on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed that the ceasefire was “temporary” and Israel reserved the right to resume strikes…
Israel’s cabinet approves Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal
Israel’s government has approved the new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas, paving the way for it to take effect on Sunday. The decision came after hours of discussions that continued late into the night. Two far-right ministers voted against the deal. The security cabinet earlier recommended ratifying the agreement, saying it “supports…
Israel delays vote to approve Gaza ceasefire deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed a cabinet vote to approve the Gaza ceasefire deal, due on Thursday, accusing Hamas of seeking last-minute changes to the agreement. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a “loose end” was being tied up and that he was confident the ceasefire would still begin on Sunday as…
Gaza Cease-Fire Deal Brings Joy, but Is Shadowed With Uncertainty
Gaza Cease-Fire Deal News Analysis An agreement offers Gazans at least some respite, and for Israelis it means the release of hostages. But the deal’s ambiguity leaves open the possibility that fighting could resume within weeks. By Patrick Kingsley Reporting from Jerusalem After 15 months of bombardment and suffering, the prospect of a cease-fire and…
Gaza ceasefire deal to take effect on 19 January, Qatar says
Israel and Hamas have agreed a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal following 15 months of war, mediators Qatar and the US say. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said the agreement would come into effect on Sunday so long as it was approved by the Israeli cabinet. US President Joe…
Israel and Hamas Near Agreement on Cease-Fire Deal, Qatar Says
Middle East Crisis Middle East Crisis Middle East Crisis The negotiations, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, appear to be making progress after months of failed attempts to achieve a breakthrough. By Adam RasgonAaron BoxermanIsabel Kershner and Ismaeel Naar Israel and Hamas appeared close to an agreement to declare a cease-fire in Gaza…
Special counsel defends Trump indictment in report. And, Israel-Hamas ceasefire nears
By Brittney Melton here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. The Department of Justice released today its election interference report against President-elect Donald Trump. Although special counsel Jack Smith won’t record a criminal conviction against Trump, the report asserts…
Gaza ceasefire deal being finalised, Palestinian official tells BBC
The terms of a deal between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages are being finalised, a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations has told the BBC. It comes as US President Joe Biden said a deal was “on the brink” of coming to fruition, and that his administration…
Israeli Security Chiefs Join Critical Talks for a Cease-Fire in Gaza
Middle East Crisis Pressure is on to reach a deal that would see Hamas release at least some hostages before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office. By Isabel KershnerAdam Rasgon and Ronen Bergman Isabel Kershner and Adam Rasgon reported from Jerusalem, and Ronen Bergman from New York. Israeli security and policy chiefs arrived in Qatar…
Reports of optimism about Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal
US secretary of state says he is confident agreement can be reached in renewed push before Donald Trump takes office Israel and Hamas appear to be edging closer towards a ceasefire and hostage release deal that could bring the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip to an end amid reports of optimism among decision makers. The…
Hamas Approves List of Hostages It May Free Under a Cease-Fire Deal With Israel
Middle East Crisis Israel says Hamas has not provided any information about the status of those 34 hostages, dampening any notion that the endorsement is a step toward a deal to stop the war. By Isabel Kershner and Abu Bakr Bashir Reporting from Jerusalem and London As Israeli and Hamas officials continued indirect talks on…
Middle East crisis live: Israel and Hamas wrangle over potential ceasefire and hostage deal
Israel and Hamas are wrangling over the details of a potential deal to halt Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip and return hostages home, as Palestinian officials said intensified Israeli bombardments had killed more than 100 people over the weekend. A Hamas official said the group had approved a list of 34 Israeli hostages to…
Hamas lists 34 hostages it may free under ceasefire
A senior Hamas official has shared with the BBC a list of 34 hostages that the Palestinian group says it is willing to release in the first stage of a potential ceasefire agreement with Israel. It is unclear how many hostages remain alive. Among those named are 10 women and 11 older male hostages aged…
Israel Conducts Raids in Syria Amid Accusations of Cease-Fire Violations
Syria’s Civil War Four weeks after the fall of the Assad regime, Israel is pressing on with a military campaign on Syrian soil. By Ephrat Livni The Israeli military said on Sunday that it has been conducting “operational raids” in recent weeks on Mount Hermon in Syria, continuing a military campaign on Syrian soil that…
Israel’s Military Pounds Gaza as Pressure Mounts for Cease-fire
Middle East Crisis Gaza’s health ministry said that 88 people had been killed over the past day. Israeli and Hamas officials have been holding indirect cease-fire talks via mediators in Qatar. By Hiba Yazbek Reporting from Jerusalem Dozens of Israeli strikes pounded the Gaza Strip over the weekend as Israeli and Hamas officials resumed indirect…
Hamas releases video of Israeli hostage Liri Albag as ceasefire talks resume
Hamas has released a video showing a 19-year-old Israeli captive, as indirect talks between the group and Israel on a ceasefire and hostage release deal resume in Qatar. The footage shows Liri Albag calling for the Israeli government to reach a deal. She was taken hostage along with six other female conscript soldiers at the…
Gaza Cease-Fire Before Trump’s Inauguration Looks Unlikely
Middle East Crisis Despite a recent Biden administration push, talks between Israel and Hamas to end the war appear not to have made significant progress, according to officials familiar with the discussions, as Israeli airstrikes have continued. By Adam Rasgon and Aaron Boxerman Reporting from Jerusalem Talks between Israel and Hamas to end the war…
Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Worsens Amid Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire Push: What to Know
Middle East Crisis Human rights organizations and residents describe the situation in the enclave as getting more desperate. Here is a closer look. By Aryn Baker and Abu Bakr Bashir For the past several weeks, Fadia Nasser, a widow sheltering in Deir al Balah in central Gaza, says she has subsisted on nothing but a…
Tension in the Middle East: Israel-Palestine Conflict Escalates with Genocide Accusations and International Peace Efforts
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has reached a critical new stage in recent weeks. With more than 44,550 Palestinians killed since the start of the war, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has sparked a wave of international condemnation and urgent calls for a ceasefire.
Context of the Ceasefire
The ceasefire agreement, which came into effect at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, mandates the withdrawal of Hezbollah forces from southern Lebanon and the repositioning of Israeli troops to their territory. Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers were deployed to oversee the truce’s implementation. However, disagreements persist over Israel’s right to respond militarily to ceasefire violations.
International News Highlights
Israel and Lebanon are reportedly close to reaching a ceasefire agreement, according to international sources. U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce the agreement within the next 36 hours. The Israeli government will vote on the truce this Tuesday.