Gaza

Gaza: Saar Warns About Regional Instability, Ben Gvir Leaves Coalition

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned on Sunday that the Middle East would remain unstable if the Palestinian militant group Hamas remained in power in the Gaza Strip. "If (Hamas) stays in power, the regional instability it causes might continue," Saar said at a press conference. Speaking as a ceasefire went into effect in Gaza, ...

Israel Recovers Body of Soldier Held in Gaza Since 2014

Israel announced on Sunday that it had recovered, during a “special operation” in Gaza, the remains of an Israeli soldier killed in action in 2014 and held by Hamas ever since. “During the night (of Saturday to Sunday), in a special operation by the Shin Bet (Israel's internal security agency) and the army (...) we brought the body of ...

Israel Intercepts Missiles Fired from Yemen

The Israeli military said it intercepted two missiles fired from Yemen on Saturday, a day before a ceasefire is set to take effect in war-battered Gaza. The military activated air raid sirens in Jerusalem and in parts of central and southern Israel ahead of the interceptions during the day, with the first projectile shot down in the ...

Saudi Arabia and the Dilemma of Recognizing Israel

With a pending Gaza ceasefire and Donald Trump returning as US president, Saudi Arabia's de facto leader must now decide whether to recognize Israel before a Palestinian state is created. For Trump, normalization of Israeli-Saudi ties would be the deal of all deals. But Riyadh has insisted a Palestinian state must be established before such a ...

Gaza Ceasefire to Take Effect on Sunday Morning

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip will take effect at 06:30 GMT on Sunday morning, Qatar, which helped mediate the deal along with the US, said on Saturday. "As coordinated by the parties to the agreement and the mediators, the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will begin at 8:30 am on Sunday, January 19, local time in Gaza," ...

Palestinian President Says Ready to Assume 'Full Responsibility' in Gaza

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday the Palestinian Authority was ready to assume "full responsibility" in post-war Gaza, in his first statement since a ceasefire deal was announced. "The Palestinian government, under president Abbas' directives, has completed all preparations to assume full responsibility in Gaza," including the ...

Israeli Cabinet Convenes to Vote on Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Israel's cabinet convened on Friday to vote on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. The agreement, which was earlier approved by the security cabinet, would halt fighting and bombardment in Gaza's deadliest-ever war. It would also launch on Sunday the ...

Israel Publishes List of 95 Palestinian Prisoners Eligible for Release Starting Sunday

The Israeli Ministry of Justice published a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners, the majority women, who are to be freed starting Sunday as part of the first exchange for Israeli captives under a Gaza ceasefire deal. "The release of prisoners is… subject to government approval of the (ceasefire) plan and will not take place before Sunday 16:00 ...

Gaza Agreement: Is Trump Taking Credit from Biden?

The announcement on Wednesday of a ceasefire in Gaza, scheduled to take effect on Sunday after months of deadly conflict, marked a significant diplomatic breakthrough. However, in the United States, the agreement has triggered another battle – over who deserves the credit: outgoing President Joe Biden or President-elect Donald Trump, whose ...

Reactions to Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Deal

The announcement of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday prompted strong international reactions, with leaders from various countries emphasizing the importance of ensuring long-term peace and security in the region. United States President Joe Biden announced he was "thrilled" that hostages would be freed under a ...