Hamas is expected to release Israeli hostages in two stages beginning at 8 AM Monday, as Israel confirms preparations for the first exchanges under the Gaza ceasefire brokered by the U.S.
Israel said on Sunday that hostages held in Gaza are expected to be freed early Monday as part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hamas under a plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Israel Hayom, Hamas will release the Israeli hostages in two batches, with the first group expected to be freed starting at 8 AM local time. “Israel is ready to receive hostages if they are released earlier,” said Shosh Bedrosian, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Bedrosian added that Israel will free Palestinian detainees once the hostages are safely returned from Gaza. Under the current arrangement, 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 detained since October 2023, will be released in exchange for 48 Israeli hostages, including 20 alive.
The truce marks the implementation of the first phase of a 20-point plan unveiled by President Trump on 29 September. The proposal seeks to secure a full ceasefire in Gaza, ensure the release of all Israeli captives, and oversee a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave. The first phase took effect on Friday.
A second phase of the plan calls for the formation of a new governing mechanism in Gaza without Hamas participation, the deployment of a multinational force, and the disarmament of the group.
The Trump administration is pressing ahead with new immigration rules that will impose fixed time limits on visas for foreign students, cultural excha...
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called for a renewed round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks during a two-day visit to Kyiv, as Ankara seeks to r...
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russian cosmonauts and one U.S. astronaut successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Tu...
A United Nations official has accused Hamas of interfering with humanitarian aid distribution in the Gaza Strip, adding further pressure on civilians already facing severe shortages and worsening living conditions.
At least six people, including a nine-year-old girl, were killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, 12 July, Palestinian health officials said.
Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Gaza to mourn Mohammad al-Waheidi, an aid worker remembered for bringing rare moments of happiness to families displaced by war by organising public screenings of World Cup matches.
A United Nations inquiry has called for the immediate release of prominent Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, who has been detained by Israel, saying reports of his treatment in custody raise serious concerns about possible violations of international law.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The United States carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian shipping and proposed a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
The death toll from the fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has climbed to 32 after two more victims died from their injuries, according to Thailand's Police Hospital.
Ukraine and Russia exchanged fresh attacks on Tuesday, with Kyiv targeting shipping and energy infrastructure inside Russia while Moscow launched another large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called for a renewed round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks during a two-day visit to Kyiv, as Ankara seeks to revive its role as a mediator and advance efforts towards a negotiated end to the war.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini says cooperation with Azerbaijan is moving beyond formal diplomacy, with new opportunities emerging in energy, defence, cybersecurity, trade and education.
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has warned that Tehran would target remaining infrastructure in the region if the Islamic Republic’s infrastructure were attacked by the U.S. military, according to the Defa Press military news website.
Uzbekistan will establish an intermodal logistics centre in Belarus before the end of 2026 and launch more than $100 million worth of new regional investment projects as the two countries accelerate implementation of their newly established strategic partnership.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev invited Chinese technology companies to expand investment in Kazakhstan during a business roundtable in Shanghai on 16 July, promoting the country as a regional hub for artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment