8 h. ago Trump completes ‘semiannual’ physical before traveling to Middle East

White House had described doctor visit as ‘routine yearly checkup’ although president had annual physical in AprilUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump – the oldest person ever to be elected US president – had what he has described as a “semiannual physical” at the Walter Reed national military medical center on Friday.The visit, which the White House announced earlier this week, comes as Trump is preparing to travel to the Middle East on the heels of a ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, described it as a “routine yearly checkup”, although the president had his annual physical in April. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Returning to ruins: photos of Palestinian families going home

Palestinian families who have been displaced by Israel's two-year war on Hamas have started returning to their destroyed homes in Gaza after the Israeli military announced a ceasefire with Hamas.

Society

13 h. ago Israel says Gaza ceasefire has begun as troops pull back and thousands of Palestinians return home

IDF says ceasefire agreement came in at midday local time, with Israeli hostages expected to be released early next week

Politics

17 h. ago Israel says ceasefire has begun as troops pull back from some areas of Gaza

IDF says ceasefire agreement came in at midday local time, with Israeli hostages expected to be released early next week

Politics

18 h. ago Israel says ceasefire has begun as troops pulled back from some areas of Gaza

IDF says ceasefire agreement came in at midday local time, with Israeli hostages expected to be released early next week

Politics

19 h. ago Netanyahu has clung on through Israel’s war, but will he survive peace? Experts weigh in on what happens next

With a ceasefire set to take effect, questions loom over whether the Israeli PM can hold together his far-right coalition. But analysts tell Taz Ali that the great survivor of Israeli politics may find a way to carry on

Events

20 h. ago Indonesia denies visa to Israeli gymnastics team amid Gaza outcry

Indonesia to bar Israeli athletes from gymnastics world championships in Jakarta

Politics

22 h. ago Israel approves Trump's Gaza ceasefire and hostage release plan as Hamas says war 'over'

Israeli hostages expected to be released early next week and ceasefire begin on Saturday after Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet ratified the peace agreement

Events

27 h. ago Israel agrees to end brutal Gaza war after 734 heartbreaking days

The Israeli government has approved a ceasefire and hostage swap deal with Hamas, just days after the country marked two years since the October 7 massacre

Politics

28 h. ago 'I didn't think it was going to happen': Israelis gathered to sing, dance, and pray together as news broke of peace deal

Thousands of Israelis packed into Hostages Square to dare to dream that the war is over and all 48 remaining hostages are coming home, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

Politics

29 h. ago 'I didn't think it was going to happen': Israelis sing, dance, and pray together as news broke of peace deal

Thousands of Israelis packed into Hostages Square to dare to dream that the war is over and all 48 remaining hostages are coming home, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

Politics

29 h. ago Peace at last for Gaza: Israeli security cabinet approves Trump

Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced on Thursday that it had given its final approval to back the agreement after 734 days of war.

Politics

32 h. ago Hamas says war with Israel 'over' after receiving guarantees from US over Trump deal

Israeli ministers are meeting to discuss the Gaza ceasefire deal, which they are expected to approve today

Politics

33 h. ago Gaza ceasefire plan live: Hamas chief negotiator says group received guarantees that war has ended

Khalil al-Hayya says US, Arab mediators and Turkey gave assurances that war ‘has ended permanently’; Israel’s security cabinet has yet to publicly approve the dealFull report: First phase of deal to end war in Gaza agreedWhat we know so far about the dealFamilies of Israelis held hostage in Gaza gathered in what has come to be known as Hostage Square in Tel Aviv after the announcement.“President Trump, thank you very much. We thank him, our children will not have returned home without him,” said Hatan Angrest, whose son Matan is among the hostages. Continue reading...

Events

34 h. ago The Guardian view on Trump and the ceasefire deal: hope at last, but the real work is just beginning | Editorial

This is the best prospect of ending Israel’s war in Gaza since it began. But a long-term solution remains distantDonald Trump called the pause in hostilities he has brokered the first step to a “strong, durable and everlasting peace”. No one can do more to determine the outcome than the US president. This was, for him, a modest statement, acknowledging that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of his plan – it being their decision, not his, to break a multi-point agreement into a multi-stage discussion. Two parties so far apart agreed on one thing: both would rather defer the really difficult issues.In Israel and Gaza, there was joy – however tentative – at the announcement. An end to the annihilation, the release of all hostages and the resumption of large-scale aid have all been desperately needed. There is every reason to fear that this will not lead to a lasting peace, and every reason to strive to ensure that it does. In finally reining in Benjamin Netanyahu, and...

Economics

39 h. ago What we know about the next steps in the deal to pause the war in Gaza

Israel and Hamas sealed a breakthrough deal to pause the war in Gaza and release the remaining hostages

Economics

43 h. ago Do you think the Gaza peace deal will last? Take our poll and have your say

Following two years of devastating war, Israel and Hamas have finally agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal - the closest we've come yet to ending the Gaza conflict. But do you think the truce will hold?

Economics

46 h. ago Trump tells families of Israeli hostages 'they're all coming home Monday' in heartwarming video as he celebrates 'peace in the Middle East'

Donald Trump spoke to the families of Israeli hostages on Wednesday night just hours after he announced a peace deal between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza.

Politics

50 h. ago A Gaza ceasefire deal could be Trump’s biggest diplomatic achievement – but the devil is in the detail

The plan attempts to thread the needle between creating the conditions for a ceasefire and negotiating a lasting end to the war but hard questions remainFor Donald Trump, a peace deal – or even a durable ceasefire between Israel and Hamas – could be the biggest diplomatic achievement of his presidency.The details and sequencing of a deal to end Israel’s war in Gaza remain murky, but the statement of purpose by both Israel and Hamas is meaningful. In agreeing to a deal with political backing from Arab states and other regional powers, this is the best chance for an end to the war since a ceasefire broke down in March returning Gaza to a grinding war that has left nearly 68,000 dead, most of them civilians. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Gaza ceasefire deal: What we know so far about the ‘first phase’ of the peace plan

US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the ‘first phase’ of his plan to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisonersFull story: ‘First phase’ of ceasefire deal to end war in Gaza agreed by Israel and HamasDonald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of a peace plan to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisoners held in Gaza.In a post on Truth Social, thanking mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. He said: “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”Hamas said it had reached the agreement, confirming the deal includes an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave and a hostage-prisoner exchange. The group said in a statement the deal came after “responsible and serious negotiations” over the Trump’s proposal.Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu than...

Economics