Jerusalem: Israel prepared on Saturday to receive six more hostages from Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, after accusations over the return of a misidentified body this week threatened to derail a fragile truce. The six, the last living hostages from a group of 33 due to be freed in the … Read more
Jerusalem: Israeli police said that explosions rocked several buses in the central city of Bat Yam on Thursday evening in what they described as a “suspected terror attack”, with an official saying that there were no injuries. “Preliminary report – Suspected terror attack. Multiple reports have been received of explosions involving several buses at different … Read more
An Israeli soldier, held captive by Hamas since October 7, 2023, has sent a message for his family through recently released hostages, his father has confirmed. “I am okay,” Nimrod Cohen conveyed via former fellow captives, his father Yehuda told Israeli news outlet N12. “Don’t worry about me. I love you,” Mr Cohen told the … Read more
Kissufim, Israel: Dozens of flag-waving Israelis gathered under a stormy sky Thursday lining the route of a convoy bringing home the bodies of four deceased hostages handed over by Hamas in Gaza. The Palestinian militants had handed over black coffins they said contained the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two young boys, Kfir and … Read more
Each casket was shown with a photo of a body Hamas said it would hand over. Hamas on Thursday displayed four black coffins on a stage in southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis ahead of the handover of the bodies of four Israeli hostages to the Red Cross, an AFP journalist reported. Each casket was shown with … Read more
As world leaders gathered in Munich, Germany, for Europe’s top annual security conference, placating, pleasing, and managing US President Donald Trump stood as a top agenda. Trump’s phone call to Russia’s Vladimir Putin, US Vice-President J.D. Vance’s disruptive speech challenging Europe, and, by association, the very nature of trans-Atlantic alliances, and demands to end the … Read more
Kfar Kila, Lebanon: Lebanese leaders said they were in contact with the United States and France to press Israel to fully withdraw, branding its continued presence in five places an “occupation” after a ceasefire deadline expired on Tuesday. The UN called the incomplete pullout a violation of a Security Council resolution, though it has allowed … Read more
Beirut, Lebanon: A deadline expired Tuesday for all Israeli troops to leave south Lebanon under a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, hours after Israel said it planned to remain in five strategic locations. Israeli troops had started withdrawing Monday from some border villages, according to a Lebanese security official, but they seemed poised to stay in … Read more
Jerusalem: Through tears and tight embraces, freed Israeli-American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen on Saturday finally learnt the name of his youngest daughter, born two months after he was abducted by Hamas in October 2023. In footage published by the Israeli government, Dekel-Chen’s wife Avital, shedding tears of joy as the two embraced after 16 months apart, … Read more
Khan Yunis: Palestinian militants released three Israeli hostages on Saturday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian inmates freed by Israel, completing the latest swap despite fears the Gaza truce deal was near collapse. An AFP journalist saw masked Hamas gunmen parade the hostages onto a stage in front of a crowd in Gaza’s southern city … Read more
Hamas said on Thursday it did not want the Gaza ceasefire agreement to collapse. The Palestinian militant group Hamas said on Thursday it did not want the Gaza ceasefire agreement to collapse. Mediators are exerting pressure for the deal to be fully implemented, ensure Israel abides by a humanitarian protocol and resume exchanges of Israeli … Read more
Hundreds of world leaders and delegates are set to attend the Munich Security Conference this weekend — with conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and simmering tensions in the Indo-Pacific, on the agenda. As Henry Ridgwell reports, all eyes will be on the approach of the U.S. delegation under the new administration of President … Read more