Gaza

Eight Hostages Freed in Gaza as Israel Releases 110 Palestinian Prisoners

Three Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals were released on Thursday in Gaza in exchange for 110 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a process marked by scenes of chaos during the release of captives in the Palestinian territory. This exchange is the third under the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, brokered by international ...

Araghchi Met Hamas Leaders in Qatar, Discussed the Reconstruction of Gaza

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Hamas leaders and discussed the reconstruction of Gaza during a visit to Qatar on Thursday, according to the Palestinian militant group, whose political office is in Doha. Senior leaders of Iran-backed Hamas attended the talks, including Shura advisory council leader Mohammed Darwish and chief negotiator ...

EU Pledges 3 Billion Euros for Jordan in New 'Strategic' Partnership

The European Union on Wednesday promised 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion) of financing and investments for Jordan as part of a new "strategic" partnership with the key Middle East ally. "With the current geopolitical shifts and growing crises in the region, strengthening the EU-Jordan partnership is the right decision at the right time," European ...

Qatar Reaffirms Two-state Solution Following Trump Call to Move Gazans

Qatar reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump repeated his call to move Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt or Jordan. Foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari did not reveal details of conversations with US officials, but said Qatar often didn't see "eye to eye" with its allies. "Our position has ...

Hamas to Free Four Israeli Female Soldiers on Saturday

Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, has confirmed plans to release four Israeli female soldiers on Saturday, as part of the ongoing Gaza ceasefire agreement. The announcement came on Friday, with Israel quickly acknowledging the names of the hostages, all of whom are aged 19 to 20. The four women are identified as Karina Ariev, ...

Islamic Jihad Operative Killed by Israeli Military Amid Gaza Truce

The Israeli military said Wednesday that it killed an Islamic Jihad militant in southern Gaza, the first such reported death since the start of a ceasefire with Hamas in the Palestinian territory. In a statement, the military said Israeli troops in southern Gaza "identified several armed suspects who posed a threat" and "operated ...

Qatar PM: Lasting Gaza Peace Requires "Good Faith" by Israel and Hamas

Qatar's prime minister said Tuesday that a lasting peace in Gaza would depend on Israel and Hamas acting in "good faith", days into a fragile truce in the Palestinian territory mediated by the Gulf state. "If they are embarking in this in good faith, this will last and hopefully will lead to phase two, will lead to a permanent ceasefire," Prime ...

Hamas Claims Gaza Will 'Rise Again' and Rebuild After Israeli Destruction

Palestinian militant group Hamas said Monday that Gaza and its people "will rise again" and rebuild the territory battered by more than 15 months of Israeli bombardment. "Gaza, with its great people and its resilience, will rise again to rebuild what the occupation has destroyed and continue on the path of steadfastness until the ...

The Trump Administration and the Challenge of Multiple US Presidential Envoys to the Middle East

As the second Donald Trump administration begins its term, it is poised to tackle significant global challenges, particularly in the Middle East. The conflict dynamics are in constant flux between escalation and de-escalation, which brings ongoing concerns about the potential for costly US intervention. Recent surveys by the Council on Foreign ...

The Deferred Normalization

The election of a president and the nomination of a new prime minister in Lebanon were good omens, but the process of political normalization doesn’t seem to be moving in the right direction. The ongoing negotiations in Gaza about the release of Israeli hostages and the swap of Palestinian prisoners are stumbling as well. The smooth transition ...

First Israeli-Hamas Prisoner Exchange as Gaza Truce Begins

The Israeli military said on Sunday that the three released hostages had crossed into Israeli territory accompanied by its troops. "A short while ago, accompanied by IDF (military) and ISA (security agency) forces, the released hostages crossed the border into Israeli territory. The released hostages are currently on their way to an initial ...

The World Reacts to the Release of Hostages in Gaza

As a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Sunday morning, and the first exchange of prisoners took place by late afternoon, here are the first reactions at local and international level: United States US President Joe Biden on Sunday welcomed the fact that the Middle East is a “fundamentally transformed region” ...