ceasefire

Israel Ready for 60-Day Ceasefire in Exchange for Hostage Release

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he ordered negotiators to "advance" talks on releasing hostages held in Gaza, after sensing an opportunity amid Israel's unprecedented attack on arch-foe Iran. "I gave instructions the day before yesterday to advance negotiations, because I sense an opening... 
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Israel Steps Up Military Pressure on Lebanon’s Official Authorities

As the Israeli Army issued a warning to Beirut’s southern suburbs on Thursday, Lebanon sought to avoid Israeli airstrikes on the targeted sites. The Lebanese representative to the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee approached the committee’s chairman, US General Michael Leeney, promising that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) would enter and inspect ...

Lebanese Army Warns of Rising Tensions, Reaffirms Commitment to 1701

The Lebanese Army accused Israel of escalating its attacks on Lebanon and warned of a potential freeze in coordination with international ceasefire monitors. In a strongly worded statement on Friday, released by the Army Command, the military condemned what it described as a “clear attempt by Israel to undermine Lebanon’s recovery and ...

US Expected to Block Gaza Ceasefire Vote at Security Council

The UN Security Council will vote Wednesday on a resolution calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza, a measure expected to fail due to a US veto. It is the 15-member body's first vote on the subject since November, when the United States -- a key Israeli ally -- also blocked a text calling for an end to fighting. The ...

Ukraine Peace Talks: What are Kyiv and Moscow's Positions?

Delegations from Kyiv and Moscow are holding on Monday a second round of direct talks on the possibility of ending the war in Ukraine, triggered by Russia's February 2022 invasion. The two sides are set to present their visions of what a peace settlement could look like at the negotiations, which will be presided over by Turkish Foreign Minister ...

Israel Threatens Hamas With ‘Annihilation' as Trump Says Gaza Ceasefire Close

Israel on Friday said Hamas must accept a hostage deal in Gaza or "be annihilated", as US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire agreement was "very close". It came amid dire conditions on the ground, with the United Nations warning that Gaza's entire population was at risk of famine. Defense Minister Israel ...

Turkey Proposes to Host Trump-Putin-Zelensky Meeting

Turkey on Friday proposed to host a meeting between the American, Russian and Ukrainian presidents in an effort to advance toward an end of the three years of war in Ukraine. NATO member Turkey, which has strove to maintain relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, has become a key mediator amid US President Donald Trump's push for a deal to end the ...

Hamas Says Israel-Approved US Truce Plan Falls Short

The White House said Thursday Israel had "signed off" on a new Gaza ceasefire proposal submitted to Hamas, but the Palestinian militant group said the deal failed to satisfy its demands. Negotiations to end more than 19 months of war have so far failed to achieve a breakthrough, with Israel resuming operations in Gaza in March after a ...

Witkoff’s Fragile Path to Peace: Hostages, Truce and Ultimatum

Steve Witkoff, special envoy to US President Donald Trump, has unveiled a new framework aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza. The proposal, delivered to Israeli officials overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, outlines a 60-day truce that would begin with Hamas releasing ten living hostages and the return of 18 bodies, to be carried out in two ...

Abbas Visit Ends Cairo Pact’s Legacy, Joint Statement Set for Action

President Mahmoud Abbas’ recent visit to Lebanon is unlike any before it, neither in symbolism nor substance. Local and regional dynamics have been upended. What held true before September 2024 and even during the turbulent months that followed in Lebanon and Syria, no longer applies in 2025. Abbas in Beirut: A Break from the Past This visit ...

Drones Hit Ukraine as Zelensky Awaits Putin Reply on Talks

Russia fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine overnight, Kyiv said Monday as it awaits the Kremlin's response to Volodymyr Zelensky's call for a personal meeting with Vladimir Putin this week. Ukraine and its allies urged Moscow to agree to a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday, but Putin came back with a counter-proposal for ...