Page 4 - Israel-palestine

If they don't disarm, we will disarm them: Trump issues warning to Hamas

The President's statement on Hamas' disarmament added further clarity to the terms of the US-brokered peace agreement

Israel receives remains of 4 more deceased hostages as Gaza aid cuts loom

Hamas hastened on Tuesday to ease the pressure on a fragile ceasefire in its war with Israel by returning the bodies of more dead hostages. The move came after an Israeli military agency said it would slash aid deliveries to Gaza by half over concerns that the militant group was handing remains over slower than agreed. The Israeli Prime Minister's office confirmed late on Tuesday that authorities received four deceased hostages that the Red Cross handed over to Israeli military authorities inside Gaza. The bodies will be taken to the National Centre for Forensic Medicine where they will be identified and the families notified. This latest transfer of remains comes a day after Israel received the bodies of four other dead hostages. Despite the development, it was unclear if the Israeli military agency known as COGAT will follow through with its decision to allow into Gaza only half of the 600 aid trucks called for under the deal. The United Nations' humanitarian office in ...

Israel to halve Gaza aid over slow return of dead hostages, tests truce

The fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war was tested Tuesday as the slower-than-hoped return of deceased hostages from Gaza prompted an Israeli military agency to declare a violation of the truce agreement that it would respond to by halving the number of trucks allowed to bring humanitarian aid into the devastated territory. The United Nations' humanitarian office in Gaza received word of the cuts from the Israeli military agency in charge of transferring aid to the territory, according to spokesperson Olga Cherevko. US officials and international aid groups were also notified, according to three AP sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. The Israeli government did not immediately comment. A day earlier, Israelis celebrated the return of the last 20 living hostages in Gaza and Palestinians rejoiced at Israel's release of some 2,000 prisoners and detainees as part of the ceasefire's first phase. But now attention in Israel has turned to when Hamas

Trump's peace plan faces toughest test in deweaponising Hamas in Gaza

Despite Trump's repeated, unqualified declarations that the war is over, backsliding on either side could threaten a renewal of fighting, analysts said

Amazon fires employee who protested company's ties to Israeli govt

Ahmed Shahrour, a 29-year-old Palestinian engineer, was fired on Monday for violations of company policy

Biden welcomes hostage release, ceasefire deal, commends Trump

Biden also emphasised the efforts of his administration during his presidency to address the humanitarian crisis and bring an end to the conflict

Hostages freed, but complex challenges remain in Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Israel and Hamas moved ahead on a key first step of the tenuous Gaza ceasefire agreement on Monday by freeing hostages and prisoners, raising hopes that the US-brokered deal might lead to a permanent end to the two-year war that ravaged the Palestinian territory. But thornier issues such as whether Hamas will disarm and who will govern Gaza and the question of Palestinian statehood remain unresolved, highlighting the fragility of an agreement that for now only pauses the deadliest conflict in the history of Israel and the Palestinians. For Israelis, the release of the 20 remaining living hostages brought elation and a sense of closure to a war many felt they were forced into by Hamas, although many pledged to fight on for the return of deceased hostages still in Gaza. But with the living hostages freed, the urgency with which many were driven to call for an end to the war will likely diminish, easing pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance the next phases o

Trump hails Gaza war's end, Netanyahu cautious on future peace prospects

President Donald Trump is declaring Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip over and has already barrelled ahead toward far larger goals arguing that the fragile ceasefire his administration helped broker is a chance to bring a lasting peace to the greater Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is equally exuberant about the present, but far more measured in his assessments going forward. He's characterised the deal, which is still in its early stages, as a proposal to free hostages and end the war while also saying that his country used two years of often brutal war in Gaza to showcase its military might. The pair seemingly offering strikingly different perspectives about the prospects for future peace is noteworthy given just how much each lavished the other with praise during speeches before the Knesset, Israel's parliament, on Monday. But it also reflects just how different the political and diplomatic stakes may be for each leader going forward. That's ...

Palestinians celebrate release of prisoners under Gaza ceasefire deal

Cheers erupted among Palestinians on Monday as Israel released nearly 2,000 prisoners under a Gaza ceasefire agreement that saw them exchanged for Israeli hostages freed by Hamas. Large crowds greeted the freed prisoners in Beitunia in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in Khan Younis in Gaza, flashing V-for-victory signs as they descended from International Committee of the Red Cross buses. In Beitunia, they were given traditional keffiyeh scarves as a show of nationalist pride. Some were lifted onto people's shoulders. Others sank into chairs, exhausted. It was an indescribable journey of suffering hunger, unfair treatment, oppression, torture and curses more than anything you could imagine, said Kamal Abu Shanab, a 51-year-old from the West Bank town of Tulkarem who was released after more than 18 years in prison. His face was gaunt. He said he lost 139 pounds (59 kilograms) in prison. We don't recognise him. He's not the person we knew. Our uncle doesn't look like our uncle,

Hamas hands over all 20 hostages to Red Cross under Gaza ceasefire pact

Hamas has announced that 20 living hostages in total will be exchanged for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel

PM Modi welcomes release of all hostages, backs Trump's Gaza peace plan

Israel-Gaza war: Hamas freed 20 remaining hostages as part of the first phase of Trump's initiative

'Cyrus the Great is alive': Why Israelis see Trump as Persia's ancient king

Banners in Israel have merged, calling Trump 'Cyrus the Great' as Gaza peace plan starts, linking him to the Persian king who freed Jewish captives over 2,500 years ago

Trump arrives in Israel as Hamas releases 7 hostages under ceasefire pact

US President Donald Trump landed Monday in Israel to mark US-brokered ceasefire as Hamas begins releasing Israeli hostages after two years of war. Air Force One touched down at Ben-Gurion International Airport at 9:42 am after flying over Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where tens of thousands were gathered, on the way to landing. The flyover came just after the first seven hostages arrived in Israel from Gaza. Over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners will be released as well.

Trump to receive Israel's top civilian honour for Gaza ceasefire deal

Israeli President Herzog announced that Trump will be awarded the 'Presidential Medal of Honour' for his role in brokering a ceasefire with Hamas, supporting Israel, and advancing peace in the region

Process of hostage release from Gaza begins as crowds gather across Israel

An Israeli defence official said that the handover of the hostages by Hamas to the Red Cross was expected to begin at 8 am local time in northern Gaza, though possible delays could occur

Hamas lists over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners to be released in truce deal

Hamas on Monday published list of over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners it said will be released in Israel-Hamas war ceasefire. The release comes after the militant group offered a list of the 20 living hostages it would release as part of the deal. The International Committee of the Red Cross is expected to oversee the releases. The ceasefire, which began noon Friday (0900 GMT), is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and the Hamas militant group. The war began with Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage. The war in Gaza has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, local health officials there say. Israelis on Monday prepared to welcome home the last 20 living hostages from devastated Gaza and mourn the return of the dead, in the key exchange of the breakthrough ceasefire after two years of war. Palestinians awaited the release of hundreds of prisoners held by Israel. US Presid

Red Cross moves in Gaza as Hamas lists 20 hostages to be released today

Releases are planned to start at 8 a.m local time even as huge crowds gather at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to view the release of those kidnapped during Hamas massacre two years ago

Israel prepares to welcome some last hostages from Gaza as ceasefire holds

Israelis on Monday prepared to welcome home the last 20 living hostages from devastated Gaza and mourn the return of the dead, in the key exchange of the breakthrough ceasefire after two years of war. Palestinians awaited the release of hundreds of prisoners held by Israel. US President Donald Trump was arriving in the region along with other leaders to discuss the US-proposed deal and postwar plans. A surge of humanitarian aid was expected into famine-stricken Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless. While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners marked a key step toward ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and the militant group. Living hostages expected first Major Israeli TV stations were airing special overnight broadcasts ahead of the hostages' release as anticipation grew. People began to gather near a large screen in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv before dawn. The hostages' return cap

The war is over, I think ceasefire is going to hold: Trump on Gaza conflict

He made the remarks while speaking to reporters during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One, shortly after emplaning for Israel