5 h. ago Steve Witkoff: from property developer to global spotlight as Trump’s tough

His friendship with the president dates back to a late-night encounter in a deli. Now he is a loyal envoy brokering the Gaza ceasefire and peace talks on UkraineWith the first phase of the ceasefire nearing its end, an American property developer has emerged as a key figure in determining whether Gaza attains a more enduring peace or slips back into war.Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s typically idiosyncratic pick as special Middle East envoy, has also found his way into the midst of talks with Russia over Ukraine’s future, sitting opposite Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, instead of the official special envoy for the region, Keith Kellogg. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Hamas frees six hostages as first phase of ceasefire nears end

First phase of effort to end more than a year of conflict set to conclude on Thursday

Events

8 h. ago Hamas freed five Israeli hostages under phase one of ceasefire

Hamas has released five Israeli hostages, including Avera Mengistu, who had been held captive in Gaza for over ten years.

Events

10 h. ago Middle East crisis live: Hamas releases six hostages as Israel prepares to free hundreds of Palestinians

Hisham al-Sayed, Tal Shoham, Avera Mengistu, Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert have now been releasedA masked militant has sat down at a table on the stage with a Red Cross representative and they appear to be signing documents.Live images from Rafah are showing masked Hamas fighters taking to the makeshift stage, with one speaking into a microphone. Continue reading...

Events

11 h. ago Hamas frees five hostages as first phase of ceasefire nears end

Militant group due to release one more hostage on Saturday as part of exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners

Events

12 h. ago Three more Israeli hostages released by Hamas as Israel to free Palestinian prisoners

The hostages are among the final living captives to be freed under phase one of a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire, over 600 Palestinians are due to be released from Israeli prisons

Events

13 h. ago Hamas frees two hostages as first phase of ceasefire nears end

Militant group due to release a further four hostages on Saturday as part of exchange for 600 Palestinian prisoners

Events

14 h. ago Two Israeli hostages released by Hamas as Israel to free Palestinian prisoners

The hostages are among the final living captives to be freed under phase one of a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire, over 600 Palestinians are due to be released from Israeli prisons as well

Events

15 h. ago Six Israeli hostages released by Hamas as Israel to free Palestinian prisoners

The hostages are among the final living captives to be released under phase one of a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Events

3 d. ago Trump’s Gaza takeover won’t happen. But it has already changed the face of Israeli politics | Yair Wallach

The US president’s support for forcibly relocating Palestinians has laid the ground for Netanyahu’s ultimate fantasyWhen President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Hamas last week to release all hostages by noon on 15 February, warning that otherwise “all hell [will] break loose”, the Israeli right was ecstatic. Here was a chance to finally move ahead with the complete occupation and annihilation of the Gaza Strip. The families of Israeli hostages were petrified about the prospect of the ceasefire collapsing, yet members of the ruling coalition called to kill the deal. “We have international support, give the order!” demanded the Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich.But the order never came. Hamas abided by the agreement and freed three hostages; Israel then released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Trump shrugged and said that it was Israel’s decision. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, who visited Israel on Sunday, signalled that the direction of travel is not towards resuming h...

Politics

4 d. ago Hamas says it will free 6 living hostages and hand over four bodies, accelerating Gaza releases

A top Hamas leader says the militant group will release six living Israeli hostages on Saturday and the bodies of four others on Thursday

Events