3 h. ago Missing bodies of hostages top the list of uncertainties as fragile Gaza ceasefire holds

The tenuous ceasefire in the two-year Israel-Hamas war is holding even as complex issues remain ahead, a day after widespread jubilation over the return to Israel of the last 20 living hostages held in Gaza and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange

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4 h. ago Gaza ceasefire live: Israel identifies dead hostages and says troops have fired at suspects as key truce issues remain

Defence minister says delay in returning more bodies would be a violation of ceasefire as forces open fire on people approaching troops in northern GazaIsraelis and Palestinians celebrate as truce brings hope of ‘era of peace’Despite the ceasefire agreement, a medical source told Palestinian news agency Wafa today that four people were killed when Israeli drones fired at residents inspecting their homes in Gaza’s eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood. We have not yet been able to independently verify this information.Israel’s military said it opened fire on Tuesday to remove a threat posed by several suspects who approached Israeli forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip. Continue reading...

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20 h. ago All living Israeli hostages freed and hundreds of Palestinian detainees and prisoners released as Trump leads Egypt summit – live

US president in Egypt alongside world leaders after Israeli families welcome hostages home and Palestinian detainees are freedHamas releases 20 remaining living Israeli hostagesJoy and sorrow as Palestinian prisoners and detainees returnDonald Trump has questioned whether former UK prime minister Tony Blair will serve on a new “board of peace” that is intended to oversee the governance of Gaza.The US president’s comments come amid ongoing criticisms of Blair for his role in the Iraq war that began in 2003. Continue reading...

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22 h. ago ‘Locked up for 24 years’: joy and sorrow as Palestinian prisoners and detainees return home

Nearly 2,000 people, including about 1,700 seized from Gaza and held without charge, set free from Israeli jailsGaza ceasefire – live updatesThe police could not hold the crowds back. As soon as they saw the Palestinian prisoners through the windows of the bus, hundreds of people gathering in front of a theatre in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank rushed forward, chanting the names of loved ones they had not seen for years and in some cases, decades.The prisoners were gaunt, the sharp angles of their faces decorated by freshly scabbed-over wounds. Loved ones hoisted them up on their shoulders with ease. One prisoner, swaddled in a Palestinian keffiyeh and splaying his fingers into a V for victory, was dropped before his mother, whose feet he began to kiss. Continue reading...

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22 h. ago ‘Locked up for 24 years’: release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees sparks joy and sorrow

Nearly 2,000 people, including about 1,700 seized from Gaza and held without charge, set free from Israeli jailsGaza ceasefire – live updatesThe police could not hold the crowds back. As soon as they saw the Palestinian prisoners and detainees through the windows of the bus, hundreds of people gathering in front of a theatre in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank rushed forward, chanting the names of loved ones they had not seen for years or, in some cases, decades.Their faces were gaunt, the sharp angles decorated by freshly scabbed-over wounds. Loved ones hoisted them up on their shoulders with ease. One, swaddled in a Palestinian keffiyeh and splaying his fingers into a V for victory, was dropped before his mother, whose feet he began to kiss. Continue reading...

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25 h. ago 'You are coming home': surviving Israeli hostages freed after two years in Gaza – video report

All 20 remaining living Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas after more than two years in captivity in Gaza. Hostages were handed over to the Red Cross before finally rejoining their families with the help of the Israeli army. Hamas had allowed some of the hostages to make video calls home on Monday morning before their release.Emotional footage was shared by Israeli broadcasters to an estimated 65,000 people gathered in front of large screens in 'hostages square' in Tel Aviv and to millions more watching the coverage at home. Hundreds were there from the early hours of Monday and tens of thousands more joined them as the morning went on where they watched live footage of events from large screens on two sides of the square. Israeli ministers had approved overnight a list of 1,718 Palestinian prisoners due to be releasedHamas releases 20 remaining living Israeli hostages after two years in GazaGaza ceasefire – live updatesAs Donald Trump heads to Gaza ‘peace summit’ in Egypt...

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27 h. ago Israeli hostages released: all living captives freed as Trump receives standing ovation at Knesset – latest updates

Donald Trump to speak to Israeli parliament as released hostages are seen in first imagesFull report: Hamas releases Israeli hostages after more than 780 days in GazaExplainer: As Donald Trump heads to Gaza ‘peace summit’ in Egypt, who is going – and who isn’t?Donald Trump has questioned whether former UK prime minister Tony Blair will serve on a new “board of peace” that is intended to oversee the governance of Gaza.The US president’s comments come amid ongoing criticisms of Blair for his role in the Iraq war that began in 2003. Continue reading...

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29 h. ago Israeli hostage release: remaining living hostages reportedly freed – latest updates

Donald Trump arrives in Israel as released captives are seen in first imagesFull report: Hamas releases first seven of 20 Israeli hostages after more than 780 days in GazaWho are the 20 hostages believed alive and expected to be freed from Gaza?Explainer: As Donald Trump heads to Gaza ‘peace summit’ in Egypt, who is going – and who isn’t?Donald Trump has questioned whether former UK prime minister Tony Blair will serve on a new “board of peace” that is intended to oversee the governance of Gaza.The US president’s comments come amid ongoing criticisms of Blair for his role in the Iraq war that began in 2003. Continue reading...

Politics

30 h. ago Israeli hostage release: Netanyahu welcomes Trump with second group of hostages expected to be released shortly – live updates

Israeli PM greets US president at Ben Gurion airport as Red Cross travels to collect second group of living captivesFull report: Hamas releases first seven of 20 Israeli hostages after more than 780 days in GazaWho are the 20 hostages believed alive and expected to be freed from Gaza?Explainer: As Donald Trump heads to Gaza ‘peace summit’ in Egypt, who is going – and who isn’t?Donald Trump has questioned whether former UK prime minister Tony Blair will serve on a new “board of peace” that is intended to oversee the governance of Gaza.The US president’s comments come amid ongoing criticisms of Blair for his role in the Iraq war that began in 2003. Continue reading...

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31 h. ago Israeli hostage release: Israeli military receives first seven hostages released by Hamas – live updates

IDF says it now has the first of those released under Trump’s deal, with the US president due to arrive in Israel shortlyFull report: Hamas releases first seven of 20 Israeli hostages after more than 780 days in GazaWho are the 20 hostages believed alive and expected to be freed from Gaza?Explainer: As Donald Trump heads to Gaza ‘peace summit’ in Egypt, who is going – and who isn’t?Donald Trump has questioned whether former UK prime minister Tony Blair will serve on a new “board of peace” that is intended to oversee the governance of Gaza.The US president’s comments come amid ongoing criticisms of Blair for his role in the Iraq war that began in 2003. Continue reading...

Events

32 h. ago Israeli hostage release: IDF says Red Cross on way to pick up first Gaza hostages

Donald Trump is due to arrive in Israel shortly after the expected release of 20 living Israeli hostages at 8am local timeFull report: Israel expects all 20 living hostages to be freed from Gaza on Monday morningExplainer: As Donald Trump heads to Gaza ‘peace summit’ in Egypt, who is going – and who isn’t?Who are the 20 hostages believed alive and expected to be freed from Gaza?Donald Trump has questioned whether former UK prime minister Tony Blair will serve on a new “board of peace” that is intended to oversee the governance of Gaza.The US president’s comments come amid ongoing criticisms of Blair for his role in the Iraq war that began in 2003. Continue reading...

Politics

39 h. ago Gaza ceasefire live: Trump says ‘war is over’ as he heads to Middle East for release of hostages

Israeli prime minister says there are ‘very great security challenges ahead of us’ but expects hostages will be released tomorrowIsraeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that Israel is ready for the “immediate” reception of all Gaza hostages.“Israel is prepared and ready to immediately receive all of our hostages,” he said in a statement after a meeting with the coordinator for the hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch. Continue reading...

Events

50 h. ago Ceasefire live: aid trucks enter Gaza as Netanyahu says Israel is ready for ‘immediate’ release of hostages

Israel’s military says it has completed first phase of withdrawal, ahead of Monday peace summit in EgyptIsraeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that Israel is ready for the “immediate” reception of all Gaza hostages.“Israel is prepared and ready to immediately receive all of our hostages,” he said in a statement after a meeting with the coordinator for the hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch. Continue reading...

Events

51 h. ago Ceasefire live: aid trucks enter Gaza as Hamas confirms it will begin releasing Israeli hostages on Monday morning

Israel’s military says it has completed first phase of withdrawal, ahead of Monday peace summit in EgyptA Hamas source close to the Palestinian militant group’s negotiating committee has told AFP that it will not participate in postwar Gaza governance.“For Hamas, the governance of the Gaza Strip is a closed issue. Hamas will not participate at all in the transitional phase, which means it has relinquished control of the Strip, but it remains a fundamental part of the Palestinian fabric,” the source told AFP.Israel’s great challenge after the phase of returning the hostages will be the destruction of all of Hamas’s terror tunnels in Gaza, directly by the IDF and through the international mechanism to be established under the leadership and supervision of the United States. This is the primary significance of implementing the agreed-upon principle of demilitarizing Gaza and neutralizing Hamas of its weapons. I have instructed the IDF to prepare for carrying out the mission. Continue r...

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54 h. ago Gaza ceasefire LIVE: Starmer to meet Trump as landmark hostage return expected

Israeli families who have spent years waiting to see their loved ones again are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the first hostages - as fury grows against Benjamin Netanyahu

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66 h. ago More than 500,000 people return to Gaza City amid ceasefire, as Steve Witkoff addresses Tel Aviv crowd – live

Palestinians return to destruction as US special envoy visits Hostages Square in Israel with Jared Kushner and Ivanka TrumpMalak A Tantesh, a young reporter who has contributed to the Guardian’s coverage, has written about a harrowing two years in besieged Gaza. You can read her account here:The Trump plan calls for Israel to maintain an open-ended military presence inside Gaza, along its border with Israel. An international force, comprised largely of troops from Arab and Muslim countries, would be responsible for security inside Gaza. The US would lead a large internationally funded reconstruction effort, reports the Associated Press (AP). The plan envisions an eventual role for the Palestinian Authority – something Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long opposed. But it requires the authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, to undergo a sweeping reform programme that could take years. According to the AP, the Trump plan is even more vague about a future Pale...

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3 d. ago Gaza ceasefire LIVE: Massive protest will shut down London one day after deal

The large scale pro-Palestine protest, which comes a day after the Gaza ceasefire came into effect, will see hundreds of thousands take to the streets of London today

Events

3 d. ago Trump says ‘for the most part, there is consensus’ on next stages of Gaza ceasefire plan – live

US president adds Hamas were gathering the hostages now, as displaced Palestinians return to northern GazaAs Abdel Fattah al-Kurdi made the long journey back to Gaza City, he found himself getting lost. Though he left the city just a few weeks ago, he could no longer recognise its streets. The buildings he had grown up in between had collapsed, their contents carpeting the roads in a mixture of torn furniture and broken concrete.Al-Kurdi could only recognise the Netzarim checkpoint marking his entry into north Gaza by the bodies lying at its feet – those who had tried to return home too early, their faces obscured by dust after being cut down by Israeli fire. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Gaza latest: Palestinians return to rubble of Gaza homes after ceasefire brings fragile calm

Israeli troops withdrew to agreed lines earlier in the day as part of ‘phase one’ of Trump’s peace deal

Events

3 d. ago Gaza latest: Hamas thanks Trump for role in peace deal but says Tony Blair not welcome

Israeli troops withdrew to agreed lines earlier in the day as part of ‘phase one’ of Trump’s peace deal

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