Hamas proposes hostage swap deal to end Gaza war
Hamas has proposed a deal to exchange all hostages for a set number of Palestinians jailed by Israel, rejecting an interim truce and calling for broader negotiations to end the war in Gaza.
Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a phone conversation on Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
The leaders emphasized the need for a comprehensive ceasefire, the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the broader goal of regional stability.
According to a statement from the Jordanian Royal Court, the conversation focused on addressing the ongoing conflict in Gaza, ensuring the entry of humanitarian aid, and pushing for a lasting ceasefire in the region. The two leaders also condemned the continuing Israeli assaults on Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank, as well as the violations of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
Both King Abdullah II and President Sisi reaffirmed the importance of supporting Gaza’s reconstruction efforts without displacing its residents, emphasizing that Palestinians should remain on their land. In March 2024, an emergency Arab summit adopted a $53 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza, presented by Egypt, which proposed rebuilding the enclave while keeping its population intact. However, the plan was rejected by Israel and the U.S., which instead supported U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to relocate Gaza's Palestinian population to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan. Both Egypt and Jordan have rejected the U.S. plan, and it has been met with opposition from other Arab nations and international organizations.
The discussions also touched on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Jordan and Egypt to enhance their strategic partnership. President Sisi reiterated Egypt’s full support for Jordan, particularly in the face of any threats to its security and stability.
Additionally, the conversation came amid heightened security concerns in Jordan. On Tuesday, Jordan's intelligence services announced they had foiled a plot aimed at undermining the country's national security, arresting 16 individuals involved. The plot included the illicit manufacturing of missiles using both locally sourced and foreign-imported materials.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Elon Musk announced on Saturday that he plans to visit India later this year, following a discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about potential collaboration in technology and innovation.
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said of Oman is scheduled to visit Moscow on Monday, just days after the commencement of a new round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks mediated by Muscat.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with senior Vatican officials on Saturday for talks that the Vatican described as "cordial," following ongoing criticisms of the Trump administration’s policies, particularly regarding immigration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter, set to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday his plan to reclassify approximately 50,000 federal workers under a new category, "Schedule Policy/Career," which would make it easier to fire civil servants who do not align with his administration's policy agenda.
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