Israel reopened the Rafah crossing on Monday (2 February) to a trickle of Palestinians for the first time in months, a major step in a U.S.-backed plan to end the war, though strict Israeli security checks slowed the process.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 30th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A clock in a Tel Aviv square that became a rallying point for Israelis demanding the release of hostages taken during the October 2023 Hamas attack was turned off on Tuesday, 844 days after it began counting their captivity.
Israel has recovered the remains of the last remaining hostage held in Gaza, the military said on Monday, fulfilling a key condition of the initial phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in the Palestinian territory.
Israel will reopen Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt for the passage of people only after completing an operation to locate the body of the last remaining Israeli hostage in the territory, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said late on Sunday.
German police have arrested a Lebanese national on suspicion of being a member of Hamas and of helping to plan attacks in Europe, prosecutors have said.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday evening that the long-awaited “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction has officially been formed.
Hamas is set to cede power in Gaza, as a U.S.-backed Palestinian committee prepares to take over the administration of the territory, Palestinian sources reported.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet say they carried out targeted strikes on Hamas operatives and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip on Thursday (8 January) after detecting a failed rocket launch from the Gaza City area.
Israeli air strikes in Gaza and Lebanon have raised fresh concerns about the durability of ceasefire agreements, after deadly attacks were reported in both territories.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned a move by Israel to ban electricity or water to facilities owned by the UN Palestinian refugee agency, a UN spokesperson said.
Italian authorities have arrested nine people on suspicion of financing Hamas through Italy based charities, prosecutors said on Saturday, in an operation coordinated by anti mafia and anti terrorism units.
The year began with cautious optimism as a ceasefire deal, brokered by Egypt and Qatar on January 15th, brought a temporary halt to the 15 months of devastating war in Gaza.
Israeli forces have launched new airstrikes across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip, despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement leading to multiple casualties.
Türkiye’s intelligence chief has held talks with the head of Hamas’ negotiating team as part of ongoing efforts to advance the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Turkish security sources said on Saturday.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is examining whether Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire agreement by conducting an airstrike on Saturday (13 December) that killed Hamas leader Raad Saad.
The Israeli military said Raed Saed, described as one of the architects of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, was killed on Saturday when a vehicle was hit in Gaza City.
Israel’s position that phase two of the Gaza ceasefire cannot begin without the final hostage being returned is intended to pressure Hamas rather than halt the U.S. plan, analyst Nuno Wahnon Martins tells AnewZ.
The names of world leaders who will serve on the Gaza Board of Peace is expected to be announced early next year according to U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (10 December).
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says that Hamas can only disarm once a credible Palestinian civil administration and a properly vetted, trained police force are in place.
Israel’s participation in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be discussed on Thursday (4 December), as the organising body, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) meet in Geneva to consider whether the country can compete amid threats from some nations to withdraw over the ongoing Gaza war.
The Israeli Military has identified the latest deceased hostage returned by Hamas as Dror Or who died on the 7th of October 2023 after his home was set on fire by Hamas militants.
Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in Gaza on Monday near the line separating zones of Israeli control, exposing tensions in the ceasefire agreement signed on 9 October.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for Hamas to be expelled from the region on Tuesday. The coment on his X account comes a day after the United Nations Security Council endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war that offers Hamas amnesty.
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