Page 53 - Hamas

Four-day Gaza truce begins; first group of 13 Israeli hostages freed

The Red Cross confirmed an operation to "re-unite hostages and detainees with their families" has begun

Qatar confirms release of 24 hostages held by Hamas for 7 weeks in Gaza

Qatar's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the release of 24 hostages after seven weeks of captivity in the Gaza Strip. Those released include 13 Israeli citizens, some of whom are dual citizens, in addition to 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino citizen, said Majed al-Ansari, the ministry's spokesman. Qatar was a key mediator in the hostage release. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which delivered the hostages from Gaza into Egypt, also confirmed the release. The hostages, women and children, were undergoing medical checks before they were to be transferred to Israel. They are to be taken to Israeli hospitals and reunited with their families. The hostages are the first of 50 people to be released from Gaza during a four-day truce that began Friday. Israel is to release 39 Palestinian prisoners later Friday, the first of a total of 150 Palestinian prisoners to be freed under the cease-fire. Israel declared war against Hamas after the Islamic militant group killed at least 1,2

Hamas released 13 Israeli hostages under a cease-fire deal: Israeli media

Israeli media say the Hamas militant group has released the first batch of hostages under a cease-fire deal on Friday, including 13 Israelis who have been held in the Gaza Strip for nearly seven weeks. The media cited Israeli security officials. Twelve Thai nationals were also released, according to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. In all, 50 captives are set to be freed during a four-day truce. Israel is set to free 150 Palestinians over the next four days, as part of the deal. Thirty-nine prisoners are to be freed Friday. A four-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas began Friday, allowing sorely needed aid to start flowing into Gaza and setting the stage for the release of dozens of hostages held by militants and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. There were no reports of fighting in the hours after the truce began. The deal offered some relief for Gaza's 2.3 million people, who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment and dwindling supplies of basic necessities, as wel

Pakistan President Alvi's volte-face on a solution to the Palestine problem

After courting controversy by proposing a one-state solution to the Palestine problem, Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi has now said that Islamabad supports a just and peaceful resolution of the vexed issue, based on the two-state solution. Alvi's comments walking back on the earlier stance came during a meeting with Dr Saleh bin Abdullah Humaid, Imam Khatib at Masjid Al-Haram, and adviser at Saudi Royal Courts of Saudi Arabia on Thursday, according to a report in the newspaper Dawn. President Dr Arif Alvi has reiterated that Pakistan firmly supports a just and peaceful resolution of the Palestine issue, based on the two-state solution. He said that the world must realise the pain of the Palestinian people and play its role in ending the Israeli atrocities in Gaza that had killed thousands of innocent people, including women and children, an official press release issued by the Presidency said on Friday. At the meeting on Thursday, which discussed the situation in Gaza, Islamophobia,

Gaza war to continue for at least two more months: Israel Defence Minister

"There will be a continuation, because we need to complete the victory and create the impetus for the next groups of hostages, who will only come back as a result of pressure," he added

Truce begins in Israel-Hamas war; stage set for release of hostages

A temporary truce in the Israel-Hamas war took effect early Friday, setting the stage for the exchange of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. The halt in fighting began at 7 am local time (0500 GMT) and is to last at least four days. During the truce, Gaza's ruling Hamas group pledged to free at least 50 of the about 240 hostages it and other militants took in their deadly Oct 7 attack on Israel. In turn, Israel is to free three Palestinian prisoners for each released hostage. The releases are to take place in stages over the next four days. The truce deal was reached in weeks of intense indirect negotiations, with Qatar, the United States and Egypt serving as mediators. If it holds, it would mark the first significant break in fighting since Israel declared war on Hamas seven weeks ago. About 1,200 people were killed by Hamas attackers in Israel on Oct 7. Israel responded with a massive air and ground offensive that has devastated lar

Israel-Hamas truce to start today, 13 hostages to be freed in first batch

According to Majed Al-Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry, the cease-fire will begin at 7 am local time, with 13 women and children captives set to be released at 4 pm

Israel-Hamas clash: IDF kills Hamas Naval leader Jallah in air strike

Amar Abu Jallah said the Israel Defence Forces were involved from the beginning of the fighting in Gaza in sending a number of attempted naval attacks that were thwarted by Israeli forces

Boycott campaigns over Gaza war hit Western brands in some Arab countries

All have been hit by a largely spontaneous, grassroots boycott campaign over Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip since the deadly Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7

Israel-Hamas truce effective from Friday, 1st captives will be freed: Qatar

Majed Al-Ansari told reporters in Doha the lists of all civilians that would be released from Gaza had been agreed with aid "going in as soon as possible"

Truce without reconciliation

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire is a temporary reprieve

Hostage release under truce deal not before Friday, says top Netanyahu aide

National Security Council chairman Tzachi Hanegbi circulated a statement that said the negotiations for the hostages "are constantly progressing"

What will int'l community do on Hamas using Gaza hospitals as base: IDF

IDF also posted drone footage purportedly showing a "terror complex" being used underneath the Al-Shifa hospital by the terror group Hamas

Israel unveils major Hamas militant hideout beneath Gaza's Shifa Hospital

The Israeli military on Wednesday unveiled what it claimed was a Hamas military facility under Gaza's largest hospital, showing what appeared to be a subterranean dormitory to a group of foreign journalists who were given a rare glimpse inside the besieged enclave. Dozens of soldiers escorted journalists through a narrow stone tunnel -- which the military said stretched 150 metres -- to a series of underground bunkers beneath Shifa Hospital in a shattered Gaza City. The living quarters, located at the end of the tunnel, had an air conditioner, kitchen, bathroom and pair of metal cots in a room fashioned from rusty white tile. They appeared to be out of use. Since Israel declared war against Hamas on October 7, it has repeatedly accused the Islamic militant group of using Gaza's hospitals as cover for military use. It has paid special attention to Shifa, saying Hamas has hidden command centres and bunkers underneath the hospital's sprawling grounds. Israel has not yet unveiled this

Israel, Hamas agree on 1st truce, 50 hostages to be freed in swap

Hamas and allied groups captured around 240 hostages when gunmen rampaged through southern Israeli towns on October 7

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Many leaders spoke on Israel-Hamas war at virtual G20 meeting: Jaishankar

Countries currently remain focused not only on containing any spillover of the conflict but also on ensuring that it doesn't escalate further

Important to ensure Israel war does not take shape of regional conflict: PM

Expressing concern over the prevailing insecurity and instability in West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday told G20 leaders that it is important to ensure that the Israel-Hamas war does not take the shape of a regional conflict and welcomed the announcement of the release of hostages. In his opening remarks at the virtual G20 Leaders' Summit, Modi said terrorism is "unacceptable" to everyone and asserted that the death of civilians wherever it may be is condemnable. In the last few months, new challenges have emerged and the situation of insecurity and instability in West Asia is a matter of concern, he said at the virtual meeting attended by leaders like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, among others. "Our coming together shows that we are ...

Gaza war: Four day cease-fire to start Thu morning, 50 hostages to be freed

Egypt's state-run Qahera TV says the Israel-Hamas truce will take effect at 10 am local time(0800 GMT) on Thursday. Egypt helped mediate the four-day cease-fire, which will facilitate the release of dozens of hostages captured by Hamas during its October 7 attack into southern Israel. The deal will also see the release of dozens of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and the entry of more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israeli media also reported that the truce would begin Thursday at 10 am.

What will happen in Gaza Strip after Israel stops its war on Hamas?

US President Joe Biden wants to bring the more moderate Palestinian Authority from the West Bank, led by Mahmoud Abbas, back into Gaza