U.S. envoy Jared Kushner met Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday as attention shifts to the tougher second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan, with a standoff over roughly 200 Hamas fighters trapped in Rafah tunnels emerging as the immediate test.
The Israeli government said the talks covered disarming Hamas, demilitarising Gaza and ensuring the group plays no future governing role in the enclave. An official briefed on the meeting added that discussions also addressed an international stabilisation force proposed under President Donald Trump’s plan.
Mediators are seeking a fix to the Rafah impasse, where around 200 Hamas fighters remain in tunnels in an area still under Israeli military control. Hamas wants safe passage in return for disarming, a step Israel has resisted. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has framed a disarmament-for-passage arrangement as a test case for wider steps in the ceasefire process, but two Western diplomats said Israel is reluctant to allow movement either deeper into Gaza or to Egypt.
Longer term progress hinges on a transitional governing body for Gaza without Hamas involvement, the mandate and composition of the stabilisation force, the terms of its deployment, disarmament and reconstruction. Any force could require a UN mandate for countries to participate. The United Arab Emirates said it does not yet see a clear framework and would not take part under current conditions.
Both sides accuse each other of breaching the October truce. On Sunday, Hamas returned the body of an Israeli soldier killed more than a decade ago, but four hostage bodies are still believed to remain in Gaza. Israel says Hamas has stalled on handing over all 28 bodies listed in the plan, while Hamas says Israeli restrictions are obstructing aid. Local health authorities in Gaza report 244 Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes since the truce took effect, with two, including a child, killed on Monday after another fatality on Sunday. Israel’s military did not immediately comment.
Israeli officials say all policy moves on Gaza are being coordinated with the U.S. administration. Netanyahu told the Knesset that Gaza would be demobilised either the easy way or the hard way. Mediators warn that any attempt to force the tunnel fighters’ surrender could jeopardise the ceasefire’s second phase.
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Loyalists of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas won most municipal races, election officials said on Sunday (26 April). Reuters reported that elections were held for the first time in nearly two decades in the central Gaza city of Deir al‑Balah, which is governed by Hamas.
Residents in central Gaza are preparing to vote in municipal elections on Saturday (25 April), marking the first ballot in the Strip since 2006. The vote in Deir al-Balah is being watched closely as a rare indication of public sentiment, including towards Hamas.
Slovenia’s national broadcaster RTV Slovenia has confirmed it will not air the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, joining a widening boycott over Israel’s participation.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Disney+ has debuted Disney Animation’s Songs in Sign Language, a new collection of animated musical sequences reimagined in American Sign Language (ASL), released on 27 April to mark National Deaf History Month.
Market reaction to DeepSeek’s preview of its next-generation artificial intelligence model has been relatively subdued, in sharp contrast to the global shock triggered by its breakthrough releases last year.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday Iran could telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to their two-month war. Tehran said the U.S. should remove obstacles to a deal, including its blockade of Iran's ports. Meanwhile Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in St Petersburg for talks.
Adidas shares rose after Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe delivered a historic performance at the London Marathon on Sunday (26 April), becoming the first athlete to run an official marathon in under two hours.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme. Washington is insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
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The President’s Cup 2026 international regatta has officially got under way at the Sarsang Reservoir, marking a historic milestone as the first international sporting event hosted at the site.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded a four-day tour on Tuesday, visiting Pakistan, Oman and Russia, expressing satisfaction with discussions focused on bilateral ties and regional developments.
Belgium and the Netherlands adopted parliamentary resolutions on 16 April urging the release of Armenians held in Azerbaijan and calling for conditions to enable the return of displaced Armenians from Garabagh, prompting a sharp diplomatic response from Baku.
The months-long disarmament process involving the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has made little tangible progress, Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın has said.
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