By Dan Williams and Nidal al-Mughrabi JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) -The United States has made a “bridging proposal” for the number of jailed Palestinians to be released by Israel in exchange for every hostage freed by Hamas in any new Gaza truce, an Israeli official briefed on the Qatar-hosted talks said on Saturday. An Israeli delegation led … Read more
CAIRO — Hamas said Thursday that its delegation has left Cairo and that talks on a Gaza cease-fire and hostage release will resume next week, making it extremely unlikely that mediators will broker a deal before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Egyptian officials had earlier said the negotiations reached an impasse over Hamas’ demand … Read more
TEL AVIV, Israel — Mediators are making progress on an agreement for a weekslong cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and the release of dozens of hostages held in Gaza as well as Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, Israeli media reported Sunday. Israel’s War Cabinet met to discuss the proposal late Saturday, but there was no official … Read more
Israel sounded a positive note Saturday on efforts to broker a new hostage release and ceasefire deal in its war with Hamas, as concern deepened over the growing humanitarian crisis in the war-torn Gaza Strip. As aid agencies warned of unprecedented levels of desperation and looming famine, dozens more Gazans were killed in Israeli strikes, … Read more
Efrat Machikawa is convinced every day that passes with her 79-year-old uncle in Hamas captivity is threatening his life. Her uncle is hard of hearing and suffers from high blood pressure and other conditions that depend on life-prolonging medication, she says, similar to other elderly hostages still in Gaza. After hearing about conditions of captivity … Read more
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Israel pounded targets in the crowded southern half of the Gaza Strip on Saturday and ordered more neighborhoods designated for attack to evacuate, driving up the death toll even as the United States and others urged it to do more to protect Gaza civilians. At least 200 Palestinians have been … Read more
This picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip, shows an explosion in the northern part of the Palestinian enclave during an Israeli attack on November 22, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Hamas movement. John Macdougall | Afp | Getty Images Israeli bombs hit the Gaza Strip … Read more
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli fighter jets hit Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Friday shortly after a weeklong truce expired, the military said, as the war resumed in full force. Airstrikes hit southern Gaza, including the community of Abassan east of the town of Khan Younis, the Interior Ministry in the … Read more
Eight Israeli hostages were released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip on Thursday as part of a temporary cease-fire deal that has lasted for seven days, the Israeli military said. Israel freed 30 Palestinian prisoners in the early hours of Friday under the truce deal, which has paused the deadliest fighting in decades between … Read more
Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend their truce for at least another day, allowing for the release of more hostages held by the militant group in Gaza. Qatar, the main mediator in the talks between the warring sides, said its efforts to broker a permanent end to hostilities are continuing. The Gulf state was … Read more