Tag: Ceasefire
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.