11 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

2 hours 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

4 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

12 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

2 hours ago Relief at this Gaza deal should be tempered by rage at Hamas and Netanyahu. How dare they take so long? | Jonathan Freedland

The agreement reached this week is basically the plan Joe Biden unveiled in May. So much pain 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

5 hours ago After the ceasefire, Gazans face a different kind of war. But we’re still clinging to hope | Al

Thousands of Palestinians are homeless, their houses reduced to rubble. It could take decades to rebuild their livesAl-Meqdad Jamil Meqdad is a writer and researcher from Gaza working in humanitarian and community workThe ceasefire news came suddenly, with an agreement we had heard before, surrounded by bureaucracy, hope and death. People all around me in Gaza – on buses, on donkey carts, in cars, on the street and in the markets – are describing it as a “war after the war”.The ceasefire is not the end of suffering. It is the beginning of everything else. It is an opportunity for people in northern Gaza, Rafah and elsewhere to mourn their loved ones who were killed and their destroyed homes. It is an opportunity to cry for those who have held back their tears for more than 15 months. We were told we could return to our homes, but those homes now lie in rubble. Most of them were levelled to the ground; some were left standing but are uninhabitable.Al-Meqdad Jamil Meqdad is a writer a...

Events

15 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

9 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

6 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

23 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

6 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

26 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

7 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

32 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

9 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

12 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

15 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

25 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 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

33 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

34 hours ago Netanyahu says Israel security cabinet will not meet to agree ceasefire deal until Hamas backs down on ‘last

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 Middle East latest: Netanyahu says Cabinet won't meet over ceasefire until Hamas drops new demands

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday his Cabinet won’t meet to approve the agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages until Hamas backs down from what it called a “last minute crisis.”

Events

35 hours ago Israel security cabinet to meet to approve ceasefire deal as strikes continue on Gaza – live

Medics in Palestinian territory say more than 30 killed in strikes; Benjamin Netanyahu says ‘final details’ of deal still being worked on The 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