Hostages
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Israel is making the right decision to delay the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages released by Hamas last week week, but the choice was a difficult one, retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt said on Sunday. “No one should kid themselves about the difficulty of decisions that [Prime Minister…
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The Israeli security cabinet on Friday approved the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal announced in Qatar on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. The 11 voting members of the security cabinet approved the deal with a simple majority vote. The full, 33-member Israeli cabinet still needs to approve the agreement. That meeting…
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Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal, mediators announced Wednesday, pausing a devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip and raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies. The deal, coming after weeks of painstaking negotiations in the Qatari capital, promises the release of dozens of…
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War crimes committed by both Israel and Hamas, UN says The UN’s human rights chief has said war crimes have been committed by both sides during the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Volker Turk, speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, said all suspected war crimes should be investigated and those responsible held…
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The head of UNRWA, the UN’s embattled agency for helping Palestinian refugees, has said that he won’t accede to Israeli calls for him to step down. Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, reacted to a question about whether he would resign over accusations that 12 of its staff were involved in the 7 October attacks. “If the…
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News roundup on the Israel-Hamas war- here’s what you need to know If you’re just joining us this evening, here’s a brief summary of the key events from the Israel-Hamas war so far today:
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Hamas is studying a proposed ceasefire deal that would include prolonged pauses in fighting in Gaza and the swapping of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, the group’s senior leaders have said. Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ top political leader, and Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official in Beirut, said the group remains committed to its initial demands…
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MEZIESBLOG now reports the key part of ICJ proceedings on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Judge Donaghue says: “Having considered the terms of the provisional measures requested by South Africa and the circumstances of the case, the court finds that the measures indicated need not be identical to those requested. The court considers that with regard…
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Tantrums, tears, temperature, toilet accidents. These travails of childhood are familiar to any parent. But for Doron Katz Asher, the daily whims of children took on a new, frightening dimension while in Hamas captivity with her two young daughters. If the girls cried, militants would bang on the door of the room where she was…
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Military analyst Sean Bell said earlier this afternoon that Benjamin Netanyahu will face more pressure to bring home Hamas-held hostages following the accidental killing of three by Israeli forces. Now signs have emerged that suggest Israel may be more open to a new agreement with Hamas. Egyptian optimism: Two Egyptian security sources said Israeli officials appeared…
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“The state of Israel is crying and mourning the deaths of our three hostages,” says Benjamin Netanyahu, who is speaking at a news conference. “It has broken my heart, it has broken the entire nation’s heart.” He says they were so close to returning home, but the distance between victory and disaster is “tiny”. The…
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Benjamin Netanyahu has accused human rights groups of turning a blind eye to rapes that Israel says were committed by Hamas during the 7 October massacre. Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, the Israeli prime minister accused the international community of playing down the attacks and even ignoring them. He said he expects “all…
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The family of a woman who was held hostage by Hamas have said she developed a serious heart condition due to her treatment. Hanna Katzir, 78, was captured by the Palestinian militants on 7 October from her Kibbutz Nir Oz home while her husband was killed. Ms Katzir was reported dead by the Palestinian Islamic…
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A week ago, Hamas claimed its youngest hostage – a 10-month-old boy – had been killed along with his four-year-old brother and their mother. The militant group said they had been killed in an IDF strike on Gaza, where they had been held hostage. But there has been no further confirmation of this, and Israel’s…
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The families of the 17 hostages released from Gaza have begun to respond to the news. Inbal Tzach is the cousin of Adi Shoham, who was released with her family tonight. Mr Tzach said it is the “saddest joy and the happiest sadness” as he is happy his loved ones have been released, but “the…
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