17 hours ago The inside story of how an unlikely alliance of Trump and Biden led to historic Gaza ceasefire deal

The two presidential camps worked together to bring about the talks that led to the pause in the conflictIt was a subtle, but significant flex of power by Donald Trump’s new envoy to the Middle East. Ten days before tomorrow’s presidential inauguration, he called Israel to announce he was coming to Tel Aviv to meet Benjamin Netanyahu.Trump had demanded a deal to release Israel’s hostages before he took his oath of office, and the man charged with making that happen was Steve Witkoff – a New York property developer confident that a long relationship with Trump could offset a lack of diplomatic experience. Continue reading...

Politics

1 hour ago British hostage Emily Damari, 28, is set to be released today as Hamas releases names of three women being freed at 2pm in ceasefire deal

Emily Damari, 28, (pictured) was kidnapped during the October 7 attacks in Israel and has been a hostage for 470 days.

Economics

45 minutes ago Mother of British hostage Emily Damari says she won't believe she's free until she see's her as friends of another woman set to be released by Hamas today jump with joy

Mandy Damari, 63, has faced an agonising wait of 471 days to be reunited with her daughter Emily (pictured) after the 28-year-old was kidnapped during the October 7 attacks in 2023.

Events

1 hour ago The three female hostages Hamas says it will release first under the ceasefire deal

A British-Israeli citizen, a Nova festivalgoer and a veterinary nurse are the three women to be freedIsrael-Gaza war – live updatesA ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has taken effect, pausing a 15-month war that has brought devastation and political change to the Middle East.As part of the deal, three Israeli hostages are due to be released later on Sunday, named by Hamas as Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. Continue reading...

Economics

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

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

Events

1 hour ago ‘Should we grieve, rejoice or cry?’: Palestinians in Gaza react to ceasefire

Celebrations break out across the territory but many are worried ceasefire will break down and war will resumeIsrael-Gaza war – latest updatesPalestinians in Gaza celebrated the ceasefire that came into effect at 9.15am GMT on Sunday, describing “the most beautiful joy in the world” after 15 months of devastating war that has killed tens of thousands there and laid waste to swaths of the territory.“I feel very beautiful. We hope that God will complete this joy and that we return to our homes and lands safely. This is the most beautiful joy in the world, thank God,” said Moaz Qirqiz, 46. Continue reading...

Events

2 hours ago Gaza ceasefire begins as British woman among three Israeli hostages to be released

Long-awaited truce has begun after last minute tensions between Israel and Hamas, clearing the way for hostages to be released after 15 months of captivity

Events

2 hours ago Gaza ceasefire finally begins after three hours of delay and Israeli strikes

Truce in effect as Hamas names hostages to be freed: Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31Israel-Gaza war – live updatesHow will the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal work?The long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has finally come into effect, behind schedule by almost three hours, during which Israeli forces continued to strike Gaza, blaming the militant group’s failure to release the names of the hostages due to be released on Sunday.The ceasefire finally started at 9.15am GMT, after Hamas posted the names of the three hostages on its social media channels. Continue reading...

Events

3 hours ago Gaza ceasefire begins as Hamas names British woman among three Israeli hostages to be released

Long-awaited truce on knife edge, worrying families of hostages and civilians in Gaza

Events

3 hours ago Hamas names first Israeli hostages to be released after ceasefire delay

The militant group said in a statement it was committed to the deal

Events

3 hours ago Last remaining British hostage named by Hamas as one of three set to be released

British-Israeli Emily Damari, 28, has been in captivity for 470 days.

Events

4 hours ago Gaza ceasefire LIVE updates as Israel sets new time amid Hamas hostages release

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire in Gaza would not begin until Hamas provided the list of hostages to be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners

Events

5 hours ago Gaza ceasefire delayed as Israel makes key demand of Hamas and continues to attack

The list of names of hostages due to be released today had not been handed over when the deadline for the truce to begin passed at 8.30am. local time, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said

Events

7 hours ago Netanyahu warns again that Gaza ceasefire will not begin until Hamas provides a hostage list

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday that the ceasefire in Gaza will not begin until Israel has received a list of the hostages set to be released from Hamas

Events

10 hours ago World holds its breath before Gaza ceasefire and hostage releases as bullish Netanyahu insists Israel 'reserves the right to resume the war with force' if necessary

The Israeli Prime Minister's declaration comes as families of hostages held in Gaza brace for news of loved ones, while Palestinians prepare to receive detainees.

Events

14 hours ago Rescued hostage Noa Argamani's appeal after Hamas puts Gaza ceasefire deal in doubt

Noa, 27, said her 'heart breaks' for her boyfriend Avinatan Or, 30, who is among 98 still held in Gaza , and pleaded for them to be freed.

Events

16 hours ago Faces of the 33 Hamas hostages set to be freed in first phase of Gaza ceasefire

Hundreds of Israeli hostages were captured during the October 7 attack with Hamas militants kidnapping them and taking them into Gaza where they have remained for 15 months

Events

17 hours ago Netanyahu says Israel ‘reserves right to resume war’ as over 70 arrested at pro

Benjamin Netanyahu warns ceasefire with Hamas is ‘temporary’ as first hostages expected to be released on Sunday

Events

19 hours ago The Observer view on the Gaza ceasefire: it’s time for both sides to think again

This brief, fragile pause is a chance for all involved in the Israel-Palestine conflict to accept that violence does not work The ceasefire in Gaza, due to begin tomorrow, will bring welcome relief from daily violence but amounts, at present, to little more than a fragile, temporary pause in a conflict that is far from over. Israel has not achieved its principal war aim, as defined by its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu: the total elimination of Hamas. Nor has Hamas achieved its objective: the destruction of Israel. The leaders responsible for the 7 October 2023 terrorist atrocities are dead. The organisation’s capabilities are severely reduced. But it has survived – which its supporters claim is a victory for Palestinian sumud (steadfastness).Most of the 98 remaining Israeli hostages, alive and dead, will not be freed in this first phase of the ceasefire, which is to last for six weeks. There is no agreed “day after” strategy for devastated Gaza, where nearly 47,000 Palestinians...

Events

21 hours ago ‘I’ll kiss the ground’: chaos feared amid Gaza ceasefire as families head home

Hundreds of thousands are now set to return to whatever remains of their houses or to claim bodies from the rubbleAid agencies in Gaza are bracing for chaotic scenes this week as hundreds of thousands of people try to return to homes across the territory after the expected implementation of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Sunday.Before the ceasefire, which is due to begin at 8.30am local time, Israel has continued to carry out attacks inside Gaza. The local health ministry claimed on Saturday that 23 Palestinians had been killed in the previous 24 hours, while the Israeli army said it had conducted strikes on 50 “terror targets” on Friday. Continue reading...

Events

25 hours ago Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will begin tomorrow with Brit Emily Damari one of the 33 hostages to be released

Until now, the exact time of the ceasefire's start had been unclear, though Israel had said that no Palestinian prisoners would be freed before 2pm GMT.

Events

26 hours ago Gaza ceasefire to begin on Sunday as Israel approves deal to free hostages in exchange for prisoners

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

Events