Israeli airstrikes killed at least 70 people in Gaza overnight, hours after a ceasefire deal was announced to end 15 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas. The deal, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., calls for a six-week truce and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Israeli airstrikes killed at least 70 people in Gaza overnight, according to residents and authorities, just hours after a ceasefire agreement and hostage release deal were announced to end the 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The ceasefire deal, which emerged on Wednesday after mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., is set to take effect on Sunday. It includes a six-week initial truce, during which Israeli forces would gradually withdraw from Gaza, where tens of thousands have been killed. In exchange, Hamas would release hostages it has held, and Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel would be freed.
While the agreement is pending official approval by Israel’s security cabinet and government, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of making last-minute demands and reneging on parts of the deal. A vote by Israel’s security cabinet was expected on Thursday, but Netanyahu’s office stated that the cabinet would not convene until the mediators confirm Hamas’s acceptance of the agreement.
Hamas, on the other hand, has expressed its commitment to the ceasefire. Senior official Izzat el-Reshiq confirmed on Thursday that the group supports the deal, though Israeli hardliners are still hoping to block it. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have both threatened to quit the government if the ceasefire goes ahead.
Calls for Quicker Implementation
Some Palestinians have urged for the ceasefire to be implemented sooner, expressing frustration over delays. "We lose homes every hour. We demand for this joy not to go away," said Gazan resident Mahmoud Abu Wardeh.
While people in Gaza and Israel celebrated the news of the agreement, Israeli military airstrikes continued. Palestinian Civil Emergency Service spokesperson Mahmoud Basal reported 71 deaths and at least 200 injuries.
The Israeli military has said it is looking into the reports of these casualties. At a press conference in Doha, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said ongoing talks with Israel and Hamas were focused on finalizing the agreement’s implementation.
Global Reactions and Future Stages
U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the deal, emphasizing that it would halt the fighting, provide essential humanitarian aid to Gaza, and reunite hostages with their families. Former President Donald Trump, set to take office on Monday, also took credit for the deal.
For Israelis, the idea of releasing Palestinian militants with life sentences for deadly attacks in Israel has been controversial. Still, public opinion surveys show significant support for a deal that could secure the release of hostages, despite the perceived high cost.
If successful, the ceasefire could end a conflict that has devastated Gaza, killed over 46,000 people, and displaced most of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents. It could also reduce tensions across the Middle East, where the war has ignited conflicts in the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, and raised concerns of a broader regional war, particularly with Israel’s arch-nemesis, Iran.
The first phase of the ceasefire deal will involve the release of 33 hostages, including all women, children, and men over the age of 50. The second phase will include the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces. The final phase will address the return of deceased individuals and the start of Gaza's reconstruction, overseen by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.
The Israeli military said on Friday it had killed Hassan Farhat, a commander of Palestinian militant group Hamas, in the Sidon region of southern Lebanon.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has expanded its ground operations in northern Gaza today. The military stated that the operations aim to widen Israel’s buffer zone along the Gaza border.
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Israeli citizens have protested outside the Knesset and Prime Minister’s residence against a controversial law that would alter the judicial appointment committee, a move critics warn could shift power within the judiciary and spark a constitutional crisis.
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U.S. President Donald Trump hopes for the signing of a long-awaited peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which could mark a new era of stability in the South Caucasus, a senior U.S. official said.
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Friday that the sweeping new tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump do not breach the alliance’s treaties, including the provision encouraging economic collaboration among member nations.
Moldova is interested in importing natural gas from Azerbaijan to diversify its energy sources and enhance national energy security, the country’s energy minister said in Baku.
Aid groups in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas urgently need shelter, food, and water after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,700 people. Rescue efforts face challenges due to ongoing civil war, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access, with the toll expected to rise.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
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The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
U.S. President Donald Trump hopes for the signing of a long-awaited peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which could mark a new era of stability in the South Caucasus, a senior U.S. official said.
Moldova is interested in importing natural gas from Azerbaijan to diversify its energy sources and enhance national energy security, the country’s energy minister said in Baku.
Bone fragments believed to date back to the Middle Ages were found in Eyvazkhanbayli village of Aghdam district, according to the local prosecutor’s office.
Lebanon’s new central bank governor, Karim Souaid, has outlined plans to bolster financial oversight and restore economic stability, including restructuring public debt and addressing long-standing obligations to depositors.
The first-ever EU–Central Asia summit is being held in Samarkand, focusing on transport, green energy, and raw materials. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined major projects to deepen regional cooperation.
The first Central Asia-EU Summit has strengthened regional ties, focusing on cooperation in counter-terrorism, trade, energy, and climate change. Leaders committed to supporting stability and development, with significant investments planned for infrastructure and sustainability.
U.S. President Donald Trump hopes for the signing of a long-awaited peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which could mark a new era of stability in the South Caucasus, a senior U.S. official said.
China has escalated its control over vital mineral exports in retaliation to U.S. tariffs, intensifying global supply chain fears as it tightens curbs on rare earths, battery metals, and strategic technologies critical for defence and green energy.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Friday that the sweeping new tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump do not breach the alliance’s treaties, including the provision encouraging economic collaboration among member nations.
Moldova is interested in importing natural gas from Azerbaijan to diversify its energy sources and enhance national energy security, the country’s energy minister said in Baku.
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