Gaza

Qatar PM Confirms Israel and Hamas Reach Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Deal

Qatar's prime minister announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed Wednesday to a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza, adding he hoped the deal would pave the way for a permanent end to the fighting. After mediators earlier said a deal had been reached, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cautioned that some ...

Key Stages of the Expected Gaza Truce Agreement

Just days before Donald Trump returns to the White House, a comprehensive agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza. First announced by sources close to the talks, the agreement was confirmed a few hours later by the Qatari Prime Minister, Mohammed ben Abderrahmane al-Thani. Here are the points of the agreement ...

Gaza: What We Know About the Evolving Ceasefire Agreement

Hamas is set to release 33 hostages held in Gaza in return for approximately 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. This exchange marks the first phase of an evolving ceasefire agreement, according to Israeli and Palestinian sources. Mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have intensified efforts in recent weeks to finalize the ...

Blinken Claims Hezbollah Is Now 'Just a Memory'

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Tuesday, referred to "Hezbollah's retreat to the north of the Litani River," noting that "Iran has lost the ability to supply the party with weapons." "Hezbollah has lost and is now a thing of the past. His attacks have harmed the Lebanese and the Israelis," he said at a press conference on the situation ...

Biden Says 'On The Brink' of Achieving Gaza Deal

A ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Hamas and Israel is "on the brink" of being finalized, US President Joe Biden said Monday, as negotiations in the Middle East continue. "In the war between Israel and Hamas, we're on the brink of a proposal that I laid out in detail months ago finally coming to fruition," Biden said in a farewell ...

Israel Far-Right Minister Vows to Oppose Gaza Deal

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday vowed to oppose any deal to end the Gaza war, while a senior Palestinian official said "significant progress" had been made in negotiations in Doha. Since early January, indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have resumed in Doha to ...

The Future of Gaza: UAE Faces Reconstruction Challenges

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to ravage the Gaza Strip, the territory's post-war future grows increasingly urgent. Since normalizing ties with Israel through the Abraham Accords, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a key regional actor, positioning itself as a potential partner for the reconstruction and governance of ...

Blinken says Gaza ceasefire deal remains 'very close'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that a Gaza ceasefire remained close, but reiterated that it may not happen before President Joe Biden hands over to Donald Trump. "In the Middle East, we're very close to a ceasefire and hostage deal," Blinken told reporters in Paris. "I hope that we can get it over the line ...

Gaza: Between Truce Hopes and Deadly Escalation, Doha Leads Talks

As indirect talks between Israel and Hamas unfold in Doha, violence escalates in the Gaza Strip, with at least 31 killed in 24 hours. Facilitated by Qatar and backed by the United States and Egypt, these negotiations falter in securing a lasting truce, deepening the Palestinian enclave's plight. As the Israel-Hamas conflict enters its ...

WFP Accuses Israel of Firing on Its Gaza Convoy

The UN's World Food Programme on Monday accused Israel of firing on one of its aid convoys in the war-torn Gaza Strip, saying at least 16 bullets hit the clearly marked vehicles but no staff were injured. Condemning the "horrifying" and "unacceptable" incident, the WFP called again for "all parties to respect ...