Strait of Hormuz blockade should continue says Iran's new Supreme Leader: Middle East conflict on 12 March
Iran should continue “blocking the Strait of Hormuz,” while the U....
Israeli officials have confirmed that they are closely studying the 60-day ceasefire proposal to which Hamas agreed to on Monday.
The proposal includes the release of all 50 Israeli hostages who are still alive, a source close to the matter says.
One Israeli official however insisted that for the war to end, every single Israeli hostage must be returned.
Hamas agreed to the deal on Monday in a post made via Facebook where it said that other Palestinian factions also approved its agreement.
A source familiar with the negotiations said the proposal closely mirrored an earlier plan put forward by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, which Israel had accepted.
Here are key details of the ceasefire proposal, as outlined to Reuters by a senior Hamas leader and two Egyptian security sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity:
- Ten Israeli hostages held in Gaza will be returned along with the bodies of 18 others, spread out over 60 days. Israel says that of 50 hostages held by Hamas and its allies, 20 are believed to be alive.
- In exchange, Israel will release 150 detained Palestinians it sentenced to life in prison and 50 Palestinians it sentenced to more than 15 years.
- For each body Hamas returns, Israel will return the bodies of 10 Palestinian militants.
- Israel will permit aid to enter Gaza with the involvement of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
- The Israeli army will remain in Gaza, but will withdraw to an approximately 1-kilometre-wide (0.6-mile-wide) zone along the enclave's north and eastern borders that also includes the areas of Beit Lahiya and Shejaia.
- Once the ceasefire takes effect, Hamas and Israel will begin negotiations on a permanent ceasefire.
Israel's Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir, said his country was at a turning point in the Gaza war, "with its focus on enhancing the strikes against Hamas in Gaza City," the military spokesman said in a statement.
In a video issued by his office, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "I, like you, hear the reports in the media, and from them you can get one impression - Hamas is under immense pressure."
Over sixty thousand people have died in the Israel - Hamas war which began on October 7 2023 leading to one of the worst humanitarian crisis in recent times.
An earlier ceasefire was agreed in January 2025 with hostage swaps going on from both sides and the seizure of strikes.
Originally billed to happen in three phases each over a six week period, it came to an end on 18th March after Israel launched a surprise attack on Gaza.
The 32 countries belonging to the Internatioanl Energy Agency agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil on Wednesday (11 March), in efforts aimed at bringing down the price of crude oil, which has soared since fighting between Iran, Israel and the U.S. started at the end of February.
The U.S. should shut down its military bases in the Middle East, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday (12 March). His words were read out by a broadcaster on state Iranian television.
A towering lava fountain from Kilauea shot about 400 metres into the air late on Tuesday (11 March) on Hawaii Island, prompting temporary closures at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and part of a key highway as volcanic ash and debris fell over nearby areas.
More than 68,000 children in eastern Afghanistan have been displaced after clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces intensified along the border, according to a new report by Save the Children.
Norwegian police apprehended three brothers suspected of carrying out Sunday's (8 March) bombing at the U.S. embassy in Oslo, in an attack investigators have branded an act of terrorism.
Freight transport on the China–Europe Railway Express grew strongly in the first two months of 2026, highlighting the growing importance of rail links between Asia and Europe. The network moved about 352,000 shipping containers between January and February, a 25% increase from a year earlier.
At least 64 people have been killed in southern Ethiopia following recent landslides and floods, the regional government’s communications office said on Thursday (12 March), citing local police
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Norwegian police apprehended three brothers suspected of carrying out Sunday's (8 March) bombing at the U.S. embassy in Oslo, in an attack investigators have branded an act of terrorism.
Oil prices continue to fluctuate as a result of the conflict in the Middle East with Iran and the insecurity of ships sailing through the key Strait of Hormuz route. Iran has said it will target any ship linked to the U.S., Israel or their allies.
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