9 hours ago Protesters block main Tel Aviv road urging Israeli government to secure hostage deal

Protesters blocked one of Tel Aviv's main roads on Thursday night (16 January) as they called for all remaining hostages in Gaza to be released.

Politics

29 minutes ago The relief I’ll feel if the Gaza ceasefire deal holds is tempered by rage. Because it could have happened so much sooner | Jonathan Freedland

The agreement reached this week is basically the plan Joe Biden unveiled in May. So much pain, terror and death could have been avoidedWhen news of the ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas first broke on Wednesday, a friend offered the kind hope that now, at last, there could be a sense of joy. I wanted very much to feel that way but, at that moment, I could not – and here’s why.For one thing, a mere announcement did not seem enough. When it comes to the Middle East, “believe it when you see it” tends to be a good operating principle. Sure enough, there followed 48 hours of hitches and last-minute delays and even now, as I write this and after the Israeli security cabinet approved the deal, it seems like tempting fate to assume everything will run smoothly. Continue reading...

Economics

2 hours ago Who are the 33 Israeli hostages set to be released under first phase of Gaza ceasefire?

Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, starting on Sunday

Events

7 hours ago Brit Emily Damari is confirmed to be among 33 Hamas hostages to be released as part of Gaza ceasefire deal

The 28-year-old was shot in the hand and leg when she was snatched from her home in southern Israel during the October 7 attack by Hamas.

Economics

2 hours ago Watch live: Israelis gather in Hostage Square as security cabinet approves ceasefire deal

Watch live as Israelis gather in Hostage Square, Tel Aviv, on Friday, 17 January, as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war-time security cabinet approves a long-awaited ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Events

10 hours ago Gaza ceasefire latest: Israeli cabinet will meet to approve agreement today, says Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told agreements have been reached on a deal to release the hostages

Politics

26 hours ago Gaza deal should benefit Netanyahu in short term, but he is critically exposed

Israeli PM must appease his coalition to avoid fresh elections, as well as reckoning with unpredictable TrumpMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe nature of Israel’s febrile coalition politics has long favoured theatrics. The standing and psychology of its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, adds a further element of panic and cynical calculation.All those characteristics were in evidence as Israel and Hamas edged towards a ceasefire deal, particularly in Netanyahu’s struggle to triangulate his portrayal of an agreement that has the potential to damage him politically. Continue reading...

Economics

3 hours ago Israel's security cabinet backs Gaza ceasefire deal which could see first hostages handed over and ceasefire begin on Sunday

Israel's security Cabinet has today recommended approval of a ceasefire deal that would pause the 15-month war with Hamas in Gaza

Events

12 hours ago The Middle East, inflation and Trump’s return – what will Biden’s legacy be? – podcast

After 15 months of war, a ceasefire deal in Gaza has been reached. In his farewell address to the nation, Joe Biden tried to convince the US public that it was just one of many successes he’d had in the White House. But is that how his time in office will be remembered? Jonathan Freedland speaks to the author Franklin Foer about Biden’s legacyArchive: CBS, PBS Newshour, CBS Chicago, CNC, WPLG Local 10, BBC Continue reading...

Politics

32 hours ago This Gaza ceasefire deal is a fragile thing, beset by strongman egos. But it is our best hope yet | Simon Tisdall

Netanyahu, with Trump waiting in the wings, has no interest in lasting peace. From these beginnings must come political change – and a reckoning At last! The yearned-for Israel-Hamas ceasefire-for-hostages deal is finally happening. It is welcome. Like thin ice covering deep waters, it is scarily fragile, prone to crack under the slightest pressure. And it is desperately, lethally overdue. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, and many Israelis, have died since last May, when US president Joe Biden first set out the parameters of this agreement. Civilians are still being killed in Israeli airstrikes that have actually intensified since the two sides grudgingly initialled the deal in Qatar.Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere are naturally relieved these merciless Israeli bombardments will soon stop. But celebrations are tempered by fears about the future, and by deep grief and anger over the still terrifying present and immediate past. According to Gaza health ministry figures, more than...

Economics

4 hours ago Gaza ceasefire latest: Israeli security cabinet recommends approval of deal

Ceasefire set to start on Sunday when first hostages are expected to be released

Events

13 hours ago Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire and hostage release deal as Donald Trump prepares to take office

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that a ceasefire deal as well as a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip has been reached.

Politics

41 hours ago A ceasefire deal is here. For Gaza, the Middle East and the world, the future remains unknown

The sacrifice has been so great, the misery so complete, that few can claim with certainty that this was all worthwhileThere may be no winners in war, but history suggests combatants are often eager to convince the world otherwise.The ending of the 15-month conflict in Gaza may prove an exception. The sacrifice has been so great, the misery so complete, and the ultimate future for Gaza so uncertain that few can claim with certainty that this was all worthwhile, or likely to benefit Israel’s security in the long term. The damage to Israel’s reputation may last decades. Continue reading...

Economics

4 hours ago ‘A ceasefire is just the start’ say British Palestinians with family in Gaza

The ceasefire deal would release dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza and pause the 15-month-war.

Events

20 hours ago Trump’s official portrait claims to ‘go hard’. Vance just looks stunned he pulled this off

The president-elect’s pose says: here’s a man you can’t get rid of easily. The new vice-president’s says: ‘Can you believe this?’It’s possible that you have seen far more of Donald Trump’s face than you’d like in recent months. But if you haven’t, then I’ve got great news: the president-elect’s official portrait has now been released. This morning, Trump’s transition team shared official portraits of the incoming president and his vice president-elect, JD Vance, before their inauguration next week. “Official Portraits Released – And They Go Hard ????” an accompanying statement from the Trump team proclaimed.So just how hard do they go? You can rate them for yourself, but Trump’s somewhat untraditional pose is certainly trying to project “tough guy”. He’s got one eye squinted menacingly and a grim, defiant look on his face. The pose is strikingly similar to his famous mugshot from 2023. Continue reading...

Politics

6 hours ago Israel's security Cabinet meets to vote on a ceasefire to pause the war in Gaza and release hostages

Israel’s security Cabinet has convened to vote on a ceasefire deal after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed an agreement had been reached that would pause the 15-month war with Hamas in Gaza and release dozens of hostages held by militants there

Events

20 hours ago Trump’s official portrait claims to ‘go hard’. Vance just looks stunned he pulled this off | Arwa Mahdawi

The president-elect’s pose says: here’s a man you can’t get rid of easily. The new vice-president’s says: ‘Can you believe this?’It’s possible that you have seen far more of Donald Trump’s face than you’d like in recent months. But if you haven’t, then I’ve got great news: the president-elect’s official portrait has now been released. This morning, Trump’s transition team shared official portraits of the incoming president and his vice-president-elect, JD Vance, before their inauguration next week. “Official Portraits Released – And They Go Hard ????” an accompanying statement from the Trump team proclaimed.So just how hard do they go? You can rate them for yourself, but Trump’s somewhat untraditional pose is certainly trying to project “tough guy”. He’s got one eye squinted menacingly and a grim, defiant look on his face. The pose is strikingly similar to his famous mugshot from 2023. Continue reading...

Politics

7 hours ago 'Everybody is tense': Family of released hostage hopeful of ceasefire confirmation

Hostages' families are hopeful for the return of their loved ones but remain "tense" waiting for a deal between Israel and Hamas.

Events

21 hours ago Israel’s extremist national security minister threatens to quit over Gaza ceasefire deal – live

Itamar Ben-Gvir says he will resign if Netanyahu’s cabinet ratifies ceasefire; 80 people killed in Israeli strikes since deal announced, Gaza agency says Netanyahu: no vote on Gaza ceasefire until Hamas accepts all termsFamilies of hostages say they are in agony over ceasefire delaysKey mediator Qatar said that 33 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would be released in the first stage of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war in the Palestinian territory.Israel earlier said it would release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first stage of a Gaza truce agreement, Israeli and Palestinian sources reported Tuesday. Continue reading...

Politics

7 hours ago Middle East latest: Israeli security cabinet meets to decide on ceasefire deal

Israel’s security cabinet is convening to decide whether to approve a deal that would release dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza and pause the 15-month-war

Events

23 hours ago US confident Gaza ceasefire will start on Sunday – despite Netanyahu delaying cabinet vote to sign it off

Israeli cabinet now expected to meet on Friday to sign-off truce – after Israeli PM accuses Hamas of backtracking on agreement

Politics

8 hours ago A year of war in Gaza: A timeline of key moments as ceasefire deal agreed

Fifteen months after Israel vowed to wipe Hamas ‘off the face of the earth’ following the 7 October attack, a ceasefire has been reached

Events

24 hours ago US says it is ‘confident’ ceasefire will go into effect on Sunday as Israeli cabinet due to vote on Friday – live

US secretary of state Antony Blinken says he is confident ceasefire will happen; Israeli cabinet to convene on Friday morning to ratify the dealThe devastating impact of 15 months of war on GazaHow Trump loomed over Gaza ceasefire negotiationsKey mediator Qatar said that 33 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would be released in the first stage of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war in the Palestinian territory.Israel earlier said it would release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first stage of a Gaza truce agreement, Israeli and Palestinian sources reported Tuesday. Continue reading...

Politics

8 hours ago Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner 'set to be freed from jail'

“There is currently no prospect of an indictment in the Maddie case. As things stand, the accused’s imprisonment will end in early September.”

Events

24 hours ago ‘Homeless people given free lunch’ to attend Trump Jr event in Greenland

People in Maga hats at meal last week did not know Donald Trump’s son and were invited off the street, hotel boss saysA group of Greenlanders who attended a lunch hosted by Donald Trump Jr wearing Make America Great Again caps were not dedicated supporters of the US president-elect but homeless people enticed by the prospect of free food, it has been claimed.Trump Jnr visited the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk, last week, shortly after his father declared it was an “absolute necessity” for the US to take control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory. Continue reading...

Politics

10 hours ago Gaza ceasefire live: Israel security cabinet to meet later after hostage deal reached, Netanyahu says

Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says that security cabinet will meet on Friday following earlier delays in talks to release hostages in return for ceasefireAnalysis: Islamist groups will emerge from Gaza war weakenedDuring his final press conference earlier on Thursday, US secretary of state Antony Blinken was heckled by two journalists who criticised him for his support for the war in Gaza.That includes providing Israel with diplomatic support at the UN – blocking multiple calls for a ceasefire – and continuing to send billions of dollars worth of weapons to Israel despite concerns within his own department it is committing human rights violations. Reuters reports:“Criminal! Why aren’t you in The Hague,” shouted Sam Husseini, an independent journalist and longtime critic of Washington’s approach to the world. The Hague is where the International Criminal Court is located.The unusually confrontational scene in the State Department briefing room only ended when security personnel forcibl...

Events

28 hours ago Ed Davey urges King Charles to strike a 'pageantry for weaponry' deal with Donald Trump: Lib Dem leader tells monarch not to invite US President to Britain until he supports Ukraine

Ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration as US President on Monday, Sir Ed claimed Britain should use the 'leverage' of a state visit to influence American foreign policy.

Politics

13 hours ago Gaza ceasefire: Israel security cabinet to meet on Friday after hostage deal reached, Netanyahu says – live

Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says in statement that security cabinet will meet on Friday following earlier delays in talks to release hostages in return for ceasefireAnalysis: Islamist groups in Middle East will emerge from Gaza war weakenedIn what has been advertised as his final interview as president, Joe Biden has said that Israel “has to find a way to accommodate the legitimate concerns” of Palestinians for the long term sustainability of Israel. He told broadcaster MSNBC:And the idea that Israel is going to be able to sustain itself for the long term without accommodating the Palestinian question ... It’s not going to happen ....And I kept reminding my friend, and he is a friend, although we don’t agree a whole lot lately, Bibi Netanyahu, that he has to find a way to accommodate the legitimate concerns of a large group of people called Palestinians, who have no place to live independently. Continue reading...

Events

29 hours ago Israel and Hamas accuse each other of deception as Netanyahu blames the terror group for 'last

Palestinians, Israelis and people around the world are waiting with bated breath for the ceasefire to come into effect after previous negotiations collapsed.

Politics

15 hours ago Netanyahu's national security minister threatens to QUIT if ceasefire deal is signed

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (pictured) made the bombshell claim as the Hamas-Israel agreement and hostage talks are set to be finalised today.

Events

30 hours ago Netanyahu: no vote on Gaza ceasefire deal until Hamas accepts all terms

Israeli prime minister’s demand before expected cabinet meeting threatens to derail peace negotiationsMiddle East crisis – live updatesBenjamin Netanyahu has said his cabinet will not meet to vote on the ceasefire and hostage release deal announced by Qatar to pause the war in Gaza until “Hamas accepts all elements of the agreement”, in a development that threatens to derail months of work to end the brutal 15-month conflict.The announcement from the Israeli prime minister’s office on Thursday morning came before an expected cabinet meeting in which ministers were expected to ratify the deal reached in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Wednesday night. Continue reading...

Politics

22 hours ago Families of hostages held in Gaza say they are in agony over ceasefire delays

Relatives of some of 98 still believed held by Hamas describe being in limbo but remain ‘cautiously optimistic’Middle East crisis – live updatesFamilies of hostages being held in Gaza have said delays to the ceasefire and hostage deal have left them in limbo and agony.Relatives of some of the 98 hostages still believed to be held by Hamas reacted with “guarded optimism” to the truce announced by Qatar and the US on Wednesday, but a vote by the Israeli cabinet has been delayed by the Israeli prime minister until Friday, saying Hamas must accept “all elements of the agreement”. Continue reading...

Events

30 hours ago Israeli cabinet vote on Gaza ceasefire deal postponed as Netanyahu accuses Hamas of seeking 'to extort last minute concessions'

Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 48 people over the past day

Politics

23 hours ago ‘We will be betrayed’: cold, fearful and still under fire, Gaza’s people wait

Palestinians describe grief and anxiety as they seek news that the ceasefire is going ahead, and airstrikes continueMiddle East crisis – live updatesAmid continuing airstrikes, bitter cold and news of delays, millions in Gaza were waiting anxiously on Thursday for confirmation that the ceasefire-for-hostages deal between Hamas and Israel was going ahead.Many spoke of their fear that hopes of a new beginning after a 15-month conflict might be dashed. The war has killed many tens of thousands in the territory and reduced swathes of it to ruins. Continue reading...

Events

32 hours ago ‘Is that a joke?’: Biden asked if Trump should receive more credit for Israel

Outgoing president Joe Biden turned to a reporter with confusion after he was asked if Donald Trump should be receiving more credit for the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Politics

23 hours ago More than 80 Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes since ceasefire announcement, Gaza civil defence agency says – live

US secretary of state Antony Blinken says he is ‘confident’ ceasefire will happen; Israeli cabinet to convene on Friday morning to ratify the dealThe devastating impact of 15 months of war on GazaHow Trump loomed over Gaza ceasefire negotiationsKey mediator Qatar said that 33 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would be released in the first stage of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war in the Palestinian territory.Israel earlier said it would release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first stage of a Gaza truce agreement, Israeli and Palestinian sources reported Tuesday. Continue reading...

Events

32 hours ago Cameron Diaz surprises Jamie Foxx after taunting Trump with Elon Musk claim

Foxx couldn’t hide his shock over Diaz’s jab at the president-elect’s friendship with tech billionaire

Politics

28 hours ago Israel Hamas ceasefire agreement hits snag hours before Sunday peace deal set to start

Israel's Cabinet won't meet to sign off any Hamas ceasefire agreement until a late snag has been resolved, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - just days before Sunday's ceasefire was due to start

Events

32 hours ago This Gaza ceasefire deal is tainted by Trump, Netanyahu and their disregard for peace | Simon Tisdall

From these beginnings must come a just and lasting settlement for Palestinians and Israelis alike – and a reckoningAt last! The yearned for Israel-Hamas ceasefire-for-hostages deal is finally happening. It is welcome. Like thin ice covering deep waters, it is scarily fragile, prone to crack under the slightest pressure. And it is desperately, lethally overdue. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, and many Israelis, have died since last May, when the US president, Joe Biden, first set out the parameters of this agreement. Civilians are still being killed in Israeli airstrikes that have actually intensified since the two sides grudgingly initialled the deal in Qatar.Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere are naturally relieved that these merciless Israeli bombardments will soon stop. But celebrations are tempered by fears about the future, and by deep grief and anger over the still terrifying present and immediate past. According to Gaza health ministry figures, more than 46,000 people have...

Politics

30 hours ago At least 70 Palestinians killed in Gaza airstrikes as Israeli cabinet delays meeting to agree ceasefire – live

Final sign-off for ceasefire deal delayed after Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Hamas of ‘reneging’ on parts of agreementThe devastating impact of 15 months of war on GazaHow Trump loomed over Gaza ceasefire negotiationsRelatives of hostages welcome ceasefirePalestinians express joy over ceasefire dealKey mediator Qatar said that 33 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would be released in the first stage of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war in the Palestinian territory.Israel earlier said it would release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first stage of a Gaza truce agreement, Israeli and Palestinian sources reported Tuesday. Continue reading...

Events

34 hours ago Gaza ceasefire deal LIVE: Israel's cabinet set to meet to approve deal amid scenes of jubilation in Middle East

Deal reached after 15 months of conflict that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians

Politics

31 hours ago Israel continues deadly strikes on Gaza despite ceasefire announcement

A series of Israeli strikes have hit the Gaza Strip, following the agreement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Events

41 hours ago ‘Happiness, sadness, grief and worry’ across Israel and Gaza following ceasefire deal agreement

People are celebrating in the streets as a ceasefire deal is reached, but they still have 72 hours to wait, writes Bel Trew from Tel Aviv

Politics

31 hours ago British hostage families tell of hopes for reunions amid Gaza ceasefire as Londoner says 'miracles do happen'

News of a ceasefire has been welcomed by families worldwide

Events