Members phkrause Posted December 2, 2024 Author Members Posted December 2, 2024 UN halts aid shipments through Gaza’s main crossing after looting. It blames the crisis on Israel DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Sunday it is halting aid deliveries through the main cargo crossing into the war-ravaged Gaza Strip because of the threat of armed gangs who have looted convoys. It blamed the breakdown of law and order in large part on Israeli policies. https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-lebanon-hezbollah-iran-news-12-01-2024-6118019c9bc11204026b686206be8f6a? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted December 4, 2024 Author Members Posted December 4, 2024 Middle East latest: An Israeli strike on a Gaza tent camp kills at least 21 people An Israeli strike on a tent camp housing displaced people in southern Gaza killed at least 21 people and wounded 28 on Wednesday, said the director of Nasser Hospital, Atif al-Hout, in the nearby city of Khan Younis. The Israeli military said its aircraft struck senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area. https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-lebanon-war-latest-4-december-2024-1369e179a32e5272ac99f6818f69cb8e? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted December 17, 2024 Author Members Posted December 17, 2024 Gaza Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he had a "very warm" phone call with President-elect Donald Trump, during which they spoke about Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu also said they discussed Israel's stance on Syria, its commitment to preventing Hezbollah from rearming, and the "need to complete Israel's victory" in Gaza, where nearly 45,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its war against Hamas. The leaders also spoke of the need to bring home the remaining hostages in Gaza, Netanyahu said. Hamas and other groups are believed to still be holding 100 hostages in the strip — all but four of whom were captured during the October 7, 2023, attack. Around half are believed to still be alive. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted December 27, 2024 Author Members Posted December 27, 2024 ?? Window closing for pre-Trump hostage deal Supporters and family members of Ziv and Gali Berman, twin brothers who are being held hostage by Hamas, demonstrated in Tel Aviv yesterday. Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg/AP Israeli and U.S. officials involved in the negotiations for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal are concerned that the odds of an agreement before President Trump takes office are slim, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. Why it matters: Trump threatened that there would be "hell to pay in the Middle East" if Hamas did not release the hostages held in Gaza by Jan. 20. President Biden also made mediating a deal a top priority for his final months in office. ? Between the lines: It isn't clear what Trump meant by "hell to pay." A source close to the president-elect said there is no plan for what to do if Trump's deadline is crossed. Some Israeli officials think that if a deal isn't struck, the incoming president could support Israeli measures that the Biden administration opposed, like limiting humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. U.S. and Israeli officials say Hamas' top military leader in Gaza — Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar — doesn't seem to be deterred by Trump's threat. But one U.S. source with direct knowledge of the talks said there is still a likelihood of a deal in the next three weeks. ⚠️ Threat level: U.S. and Israeli officials say that if negotiations don't bear fruit by Jan. 20, the transition to Trump would likely push talks back, possibly by several months. That could cost the lives of more hostages. Keep reading. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 10, 2025 Author Members Posted January 10, 2025 Body of an Israeli hostage is found in Gaza, possibly alongside his son’s remains, army says JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli soldiers recovered the body of a 53-year-old hostage in an underground tunnel in southern Gaza, the military said Wednesday, and the army was determining if another set of remains belongs to the man’s son. https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-hostages-news-01-08-2025-5fd5a3229051f098ef1da834cd8f3c4e? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 13, 2025 Author Members Posted January 13, 2025 Gaza Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken with President Joe Biden about the progress in negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal. The White House said Biden and Netanyahu discussed the negotiations in Doha, based on the proposal the president laid out in May. Biden once again called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the return of the hostages and increased humanitarian aid to the enclave. He also spoke to Netanyahu about the “fundamentally changed regional circumstances” following the ceasefire in Lebanon in November, the collapse of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime the following month and Iran’s weakened position in the region, the White House said. Netanyahu, who met with Donald Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, on Saturday, is facing pressure from both the current and incoming US administrations to reach a deal. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 14, 2025 Author Members Posted January 14, 2025 Significant progress made in talks over Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release, officials say CAIRO (AP) — U.S. and Arab mediators made significant progress overnight toward brokering a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and the release of scores of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, but a deal hasn’t been reached yet, officials said Monday. https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-ceasefire-talks-01-13-2025-395e030947f9964f3fbf5763b9564591? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 15, 2025 Author Members Posted January 15, 2025 Some Israeli soldiers refuse to keep fighting in Gaza JERUSALEM (AP) — Yotam Vilk says the image of Israeli soldiers killing an unarmed Palestinian teenager in the Gaza Strip is seared in his mind. https://apnews.com/article/soldiers-israel-gaza-hostages-717c44de6c13e2b3af2e8b7fb77ebb16? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 15, 2025 Author Members Posted January 15, 2025 Gaza Hopes are rising for a Gaza ceasefire and hostages release deal as talks to finalize any remaining issues are taking place in Doha today. Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages during the first phase of the agreement, two Israeli officials said, the first positive sign in months that a truce in the Israel-Hamas war may be in sight. Officials have expressed cautious optimism that a deal could soon be announced to halt 15 months of fighting that has destabilized the Middle East and devastated Gaza, allow for more aid into the besieged Palestinian enclave and ensure the return of dozens of hostages held by Hamas since its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas and its allies still hold 94 of the 251 hostages taken from Israel, including at least 34 of whom are dead, according to the Israeli government. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 15, 2025 Author Members Posted January 15, 2025 Hamas OKs draft agreement of a Gaza ceasefire and the release of some hostages, officials say CAIRO (AP) — Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, two officials involved in the talks said Tuesday. Mediators from the United States and Qatar said Israel and the Palestinian militant group were at the closest point yet to sealing a deal to bring them a step closer to ending 15 months of war. https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-01-14-2025-a1495c0f4f13102903ce31a862c49baa? A look at the terms — and tensions — in the Israel-Hamas draft ceasefire deal CAIRO (AP) — If the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal goes according to the current draft, then fighting will stop in Gaza for 42 days, and dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed. In this first phase Israeli troops will pull back to the edges of Gaza, and many Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes as stepped-up aid flows in. https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire-draft-terms-hostages-3df21b67620fdc8f62aa1d1e96487880? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 16, 2025 Author Members Posted January 16, 2025 Mediators herald Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. Israel says final details are in flux DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Israel and Hamas have agreed to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, mediators announced Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies. https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-ceasefire-334ecc4420fe3b6fce9f7a27ca886b65? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 16, 2025 Author Members Posted January 16, 2025 Biden, Trump celebrate hostage deal Relatives and friends of people killed and abducted by Hamas react to the ceasefire announcement in Tel Aviv, Israel, today. Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg/AP President Biden and President-elect Trump both wanted a ceasefire deal in Gaza before Inauguration Day — and they got it. Biden has been pushing Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement for over a year, insisting that it would be a critical part of his legacy even when a deal seemed out of reach. Trump had said that "all hell will break out" if Hamas did not free the remaining hostages before he took office. Biden's top Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk, and Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, have both been in Doha since last week and have been working together to push for a deal, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. Palestinians react to news on a ceasefire deal with Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo: Hatem Khaled/Reuters ? Zoom in: The agreement — which will take effect Sunday — begins with a six-week ceasefire, during which Hamas will release 33 hostages, including women and children. More aid will be able to enter Gaza, and Israel agreed to release some Palestinian prisoners. Go deeper. How feuding presidents got a deal Protesters in Tel Aviv celebrate yesterday after news of the agreement. Photo: Amir Levy/Getty Images It took two presidents who can't stand each other to make a deal between Israel and Hamas, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. President-elect Trump swiftly claimed the victory for himself. President Biden retorted sharply when a reporter asked if he or Trump really deserved the credit: "Is that a joke?" Why it matters: Officials from the U.S., Israel and Qatar tell Axios the deal to free the hostages and end 15 months of war wouldn't have been possible without unprecedented coordination between their administrations. While Biden laid out the parameters of this deal way back in May, and spent months pushing the parties to agree to it, Trump's public and private involvement "was the 10 cents missing for the dollar," a U.S. official told Axios. Both Israel and Hamas had far more incentive to sign on once they knew it was a deal with the incoming president, not just the outgoing one, another official acknowledged. Palestinians in Gaza City celebrate news of a ceasefire and hostage deal. Photo: Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images ? Flashback: On Dec. 2, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C) went to Mar-a-Lago for a round of golf with Trump. "I told him that if he issues a statement about the hostages in Gaza it will be a big deal," Graham told Axios. Trump agreed and started dictating to his press team. The resulting Truth Social post said that if the hostages were not freed by Jan. 20, "There will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge." Several days later, Biden National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk traveled to Israel and met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The prime minister told them he wanted a deal on Trump's timeline. Sullivan, McGurk and CIA director Bill Burns all traveled to Doha to launch a final push for a deal. But as McGurk returned home for Christmas, it looked like the window was closing. Trump decided to dispatch his incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to the region after talks picked back up in the New Year and began to show some momentum. Witkoff joined a meeting between Netanyahu and his chief negotiators. McGurk also dialed in. Over the next hour, the envoys from the two administrations probed the areas on which the Israelis were willing to be flexible. Graham told Axios that all the players involved understood that Witkoff speaks for Trump, and "people in the region don't want to start on a bad foot with Trump." From Israel, Witkoff traveled back to Doha and joined McGurk for 96 hours of intense diplomacy. ? Behind the scenes: The final sprint in the negotiations took place at a Qatari government official residence. Hamas representatives were on the first floor, with the Israelis on the second and the Qatari and Egyptian mediators shuttling between them. Negotiations often dragged on until 3 a.m., and resumed in the morning after a few hours of sleep, a U.S. official said. On Wednesday morning, Hamas raised three new demands, according to a U.S. official. "We had to flex a muscle to get them to back off, and we did," the official said. Yesterday afternoon local time, Hamas gave its official positive response. "Only then, we were sure we had a deal," the U.S. official said. The Qatari prime minister made the announcement: "We saw two U.S. administrations working together ... what the U.S. did led to this moment." ? Netanyahu called Trump and thanked him for his help in getting the deal. Only then did he call to thank Biden. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 17, 2025 Author Members Posted January 17, 2025 Gaza deal After more than 15 months of bitter war in Gaza and uncertainty over the fate of the hostages, Israel and Hamas finally agreed to a ceasefire on Wednesday. Celebrations erupted around the world as talks of the deal spread, though many of its details and the timeline remain unclear. Israel's cabinet was expected to approve the deal today but the vote was delayed as some sticking points remain unresolved with Hamas. The first phase of the truce, set to begin on Sunday, could see the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli custody. The agreement may also soon bring a withdrawal of Israeli troops and an influx of aid into the enclave amid a dire humanitarian crisis. Netanyahu says ‘last minute crisis’ with Hamas holding up approval of Gaza truce and hostage deal Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that a “last minute crisis” with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval of a long-awaited agreement to pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release dozens of hostages. Israeli airstrikes meanwhile killed dozens of people across the war-ravaged territory. Read more. What to know: Netanyahu’s office said his Cabinet won’t meet to approve the agreement until Hamas backs down, accusing it of reneging on parts of the agreement in an attempt to gain further concessions. Netanyahu’s office had earlier accused Hamas of backtracking on an earlier understanding that he said would give Israel a veto over which prisoners convicted of murder would be released in exchange for hostages. Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, said the militant group “is committed to the ceasefire agreement, which was announced by the mediators.” Under the deal reached Wednesday, 33 hostages were set to be released over the next six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The remainder of the hostages, including male soldiers, were to be released in a second — and much more difficult — phase negotiated during the first phase. Hamas has said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has vowed to keep fighting until it dismantles the group and to maintain open-ended security control over the territory. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy Israeli bombardment overnight as people celebrated the ceasefire deal. In previous conflicts, both sides have stepped up military operations in the final hours before ceasefires as a way to project strength. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Live updates: Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement awaits final approval Trump and Biden both claim credit for Gaza ceasefire deal Gaza truce gives Israelis and Palestinians hope but may not end their suffering Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 17, 2025 Author Members Posted January 17, 2025 A Deal Too Late: Israel Agrees to the Ceasefire It Rejected Months Ago, Thousands More Died As President Joe Biden announced the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas from the White House on Wednesday, he repeated a key detail throughout his address: that the deal accepted today was the same deal he helped put on the table in May. https://theintercept.com/2025/01/15/israel-hamas-ceasefire-biden-netanyahu-deaths/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 18, 2025 Author Members Posted January 18, 2025 28 Rumors We've Fact-Checked About Israel-Hamas War Since Its Beginning Israel and Hamas have reportedly reached a ceasefire deal to free dozens of hostages and pause the 15-month war. https://www.snopes.com/collections/israel-hamas-ceasefire/? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 18, 2025 Author Members Posted January 18, 2025 US says Gaza ceasefire to start as planned despite 'loose end' DOHA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The Gaza Strip ceasefire should begin on Sunday as planned, despite the need for negotiators to tie up a "loose end" at the last minute, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-hamas-ceasefire-accord-followed-by-airstrikes-gaza-residents-say-2025-01-16/ Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 18, 2025 Author Members Posted January 18, 2025 Ceasefire deal Israel's full security cabinet will hold a vote Saturday on the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, which US officials expect to take effect Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a truce has been agreed upon with Hamas to release the hostages held in Gaza, though discussions with his cabinet are still underway. The agreement would also see a pause in fighting in the enclave and the phased release of Palestinian prisoners. G7 leaders released a statement endorsing the ceasefire agreement, explaining it "has the potential to secure the release of all remaining hostages; further facilitate urgently needed humanitarian aid; and pave the way for civilians to return to, and rebuild, their homes and their lives," said the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Netanyahu says deal to release hostages held in Gaza has been reached Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip has been reached, after his office said earlier there were last minute snags in finalizing a ceasefire that would pause 15 months of war. Read more. Key points: Netanyahu said he would convene his security Cabinet later Friday, and then the government, to approve the long-awaited hostage deal. Netanyahu’s pre-dawn statement appeared to clear the way for Israeli approval of the deal, which would pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and see dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The deal would also allow hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to the remains of their homes in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes, meanwhile, killed at least 72 people in the war-ravaged territory on Thursday. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Live updates: Netanyahu’s security cabinet votes on Gaza truce Satellite photos show the Gaza Strip before and after the devastation of the Israel-Hamas war Mysterious airstrip appears on a Yemeni island as Houthi rebel attacks threaten region Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 19, 2025 Author Members Posted January 19, 2025 Israel’s Cabinet approves a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Cabinet approved a deal early Saturday for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages held there and pause the 15-month war with Hamas, bringing the sides a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever. https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-01-17-2025-9a97e6c7b2badb3d3e278ab090d6ad15? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 20, 2025 Author Members Posted January 20, 2025 Ceasefire begins in Gaza Displaced Palestinians start to return to their houses in Gaza today. Photo: Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images After a three-hour delay, the ceasefire in Gaza began at 11:15 a.m. local time (4:15 a.m. ET) with Israel and Hamas agreeing to stop the fighting for 42 days. Why it matters: This is the first ceasefire in the Gaza war since November 2023, Axios' Barak Ravid writes. The war, which started with the Hamas terror attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, has been the bloodiest period in the Israel-Palestinian conflict since 1948. More than 46,000 Palestinians and more than 1,600 Israelis have been killed — most of them civilians. The war created a devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, displacing around two million Palestinians and destroying tens of thousands of buildings. Catch up quick: The ceasefire was supposed to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. ET) on Sunday. But after Hamas failed to submit a list of the three hostages it is going to release today, Israel announced the ceasefire would not come into force. Israeli jets conducted several air strikes in Gaza on Sunday morning local time, and at least 8 Palestinians were killed. Hamas submitted the list around 10:30 a.m. local time, and the ceasefire began 45 minutes later. Keep reading. Three Israeli hostages arrive in Israel as fragile ceasefire passes first hurdle The first three hostages released from Gaza have arrived in Israel, the military announced Sunday, hours after the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold. The deal ushers in an initial six-week period of calm and raises hopes for the release of dozens of militant-held hostages and an end to the devastating 15-month war. Read more. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 21, 2025 Author Members Posted January 21, 2025 Hamas returns 3 Israeli hostages and Israel frees 90 Palestinian prisoners After 15 months of collective grief and anxiety, three Israeli hostages left Hamas captivity and returned to Israel, and dozens of Palestinian prisoners walked free from Israeli jails, leaving both Israelis and Palestinians torn between celebration and trepidation as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold Sunday. Read more. Why this matters: The skies above Gaza and Israel were silent for the first time in over a year, and Palestinians began returning to what was left of their homes across the war-ravaged enclave. After months of tight Israeli restrictions, more than 600 trucks carrying humanitarian aid rolled into the devastated territory. In Israel, the joy of seeing freed hostages reunited with their families was tempered by major questions over the fate of the nearly 100 others abducted in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, still in captivity in Gaza. The next release of hostages and prisoners is due Saturday. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Who are the Israelis released on the first day of the ceasefire? What does the ceasefire agreement mean for Israel, Hamas, and the wider Middle East? Yemen’s Houthis signal they’ll limit their attacks in the Red Sea corridor to Israeli ships Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 25, 2025 Author Members Posted January 25, 2025 How the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal will unfold — and why it is so precarious CAIRO (AP) — Israeli troops have pulled back to the edges of Gaza, the first hostages have been released and many Palestinians have returned to what remains of their homes in the first few days of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-ceasefire-war-cb56a3da64e144492decfffc40c589cf? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 27, 2025 Author Members Posted January 27, 2025 ⚡ 4 Israeli soldiers released on Day 477 Photo: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters Four Israeli women soldiers who were kidnapped by Hamas during the Oct. 7 terror attack and held in Gaza were returned safely to Israel today. This was the second set of hostages released since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire came into effect a week ago, Axios' Barak Ravid writes. Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of the soldiers. 120 of those prisoners were serving life sentences for killing Israelis. As the four Israelis were released, hundreds of people cheered in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square where they were watching the drama unfold on a big screen television. "I had goosebumps watching them," Aviv Bercovich, one of the onlookers, told AP. "I just want the war to end." Keep reading. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 27, 2025 Author Members Posted January 27, 2025 Tens of thousands return to devastated northern Gaza for first time in over a year as Israel lifts its closure under truce Tens of thousands of Palestinians streamed into the most heavily destroyed part of the Gaza Strip on Monday as Israel lifted its closure of the north for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas in accordance with a fragile ceasefire. Read more. Why this matters: Israel ordered the wholescale evacuation of the north in the opening days of the war and sealed it off shortly after ground troops moved in. Around a million people fled to the south in October 2023, while hundreds of thousands remained in the north, which had some of the heaviest fighting and the worst destruction of the war. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump’s Palestinian refugee idea falls flat with Arab allies and confounds a Republican senator 22 reported killed in Lebanon before agreement to extend deadline for Israeli forces to withdraw Yemen’s Houthi rebels unilaterally release 153 war detainees, Red Cross says Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 30, 2025 Author Members Posted January 30, 2025 Hostage release Eight hostages — three Israeli and five Thai — were released from Hamas militants in Gaza today. Israeli authorities are also expected to release 110 Palestinian prisoners in the coming hours. Of those, 32 were sentenced to life imprisonment and another 30 are children, according to Hamas. In phase one — the current phase — of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, a total of 33 Israeli hostages taken captive by Hamas and other armed groups in the October 7 attacks are supposed to be freed. Israel is expected to release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in turn. Hamas frees 8 more hostages as Gaza truce holds. Israel is set to release 110 prisoners Hamas-led militants freed eight hostages on Thursday in the latest release since a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took hold earlier this month. Israel was expected to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners. Read more. Why this matters: The truce is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel sparked the fighting. It has held despite a dispute earlier this week over the sequence in which the hostages were released. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ This is what one family in Gaza returned home to after 15 months of war How did so many Thai farmers end up held hostage by Hamas? Leader of rebels who toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad is named country’s interim president Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted January 30, 2025 Author Members Posted January 30, 2025 Israel delays Palestinian prisoners release over 'shocking' scenes at hostages handover Israel said it is delaying the release of more than 100 Palestinian prisoners in response to what the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called “horrific scenes” at one of the hostage handovers in Gaza today. https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-hamas-ceasefire-war-gaza-01-30-25-intl-hnk? Who are the Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for Israeli hostages? RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday in exchange for three Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Five Thai workers held captive in the enclave were also freed in a separate deal with Thailand. Thursday’s prisoner-for-hostage swap marked the third round of exchanges as a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas entered its second week. https://apnews.com/article/palestinian-prisoners-exchange-gaza-ceasefire-6c00b4d1e54b941e942b1f5a9ccb83d3? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
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