DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

MOSCOW, Dec 1 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree putting St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport under the temporary management of a Russian company, wresting control from investors from Germany, Qatar and other Gulf states. The airport's management company has 14 co-owners. The rights of foreign shareholders will pass to two different Russian entities. Russian shareholders will retain their rights. The decree stated that airport's foreign shareholders would be able to restore their rights to stakes in the new company if they apply and conclude corporate agreements that comply with Russian laws on foreign investment.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Fraport, VTB, Ramzan Kadyrov, Taimuraz, Carlsberg's, Gleb Stolyarov, Alexander Marrow, Ilona Wissenbach, Gareth Jones, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Petersburg's Pulkovo, Qatar Investment Authority, Russian Direct Investment Fund, Baring, Baltika Breweries, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russian, Germany, Qatar, St Petersburg, Abu Dhabi, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ How Qatar swayed Israel and Hamas to make a truce work
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

It was necessary to clarify all the points in the agreement and make sure they meant the same thing to Israel and Hamas, a source briefed on the negotiations said. Qatar's foreign ministry told reporters that Hamas and Israel negotiated in Doha until "the early morning" of Nov. 23 and agreed on a plan to implement the truce deal the next day. Qatari negotiators shepherded Israel and Hamas to agree on exactly where in Gaza Israeli tanks would be stationed during the truce. Israel vets all financial transfers Qatar makes to Palestinians in Gaza, Qatari sources have said. Despite proximity to Hamas officials, Qatari negotiators did not speak directly to the group's leaders in Gaza, but through its representatives based in Doha.

Persons: Qatar’s, Abdullah Al Sulaiti, Imad Creidi, Qatar's, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Sheikh Mohammed, David Barnea, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, shepherded Israel, Al Shifa, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim, Mehran Kamrava, We've, Al Sulaiti, I've, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Matt S, Dan Williams, David Gauthier, Frank Jack Daniel Organizations: Hamas, National Command Centre, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, Qatari, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S . Department of State, U.S, Gaza, Bild, Palestinian, Georgetown University, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Doha, Qatar, Palestinian Territories, Egypt, Gaza, Moscow, London, Hamas, U.S, Russia, Gulf, Berlin, Syria, Qatari, Cairo, Washington, Jerusalem

☆ Israel and Hamas agree to last-minute cease-fire extension of 24 hours
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A helicopter with Israeli hostages released earlier by Hamas lands at Sheba Medical Centre on the sixth day of the temporary truce after Hamas blamed ‘technical issues’ on the delay as family and friends wait nearby in the early morning hours of November 30, 2023 in Ramat Gan, Israel. Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their cease-fire by at least a further 24 hours just minutes before the fragile truce hit its deadline. Under the terms of the deal between the warring parties, three Palestinian prisoners are exchanged for every one Israeli hostage. Qatar, a key mediator of the arrangement which has also been home to Hamas' political division since 2012, noted the continuation of humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza under the terms of the cease-fire. U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed Wednesday that one of the freed hostages was a dual Israeli-American national.

Persons: Joe Biden Organizations: Sheba Medical, Israeli Defense Forces, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Ramat Gan, Israel, Gaza —, Qatar, Gaza, State, American, Egypt, U.S

☆ Can Hamas Locate Remaining Hostages in Mayhem of Gaza War?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

One Israeli source with knowledge of the issue said Hamas was estimated to be holding 90% of the hostages. Hamas and Israel were expected to release more hostages and prisoners on Wednesday, the last day of an extended six-day truce in the Gaza war. Israel has said the truce could be prolonged further, provided Hamas continues to free at least 10 Israeli hostages per day. Palestinian sources said Hamas was able to gather some hostages with smaller groups, but it is unclear whether the Islamic Jihad would carry its own swaps or conduct them through Hamas. Israeli spokesman Eylon Levy said on Wednesday the government held Hamas fully responsible for the abduction of everyone held inside Gaza.

Persons: Nidal, Andrew Mills, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Islamic Jihad, Khalil Al, Hayya, Israel, Gilad Shalit, Shalit, Eylon Levy, Maayan Lubell, Michael Georgy, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Hamas, Islamic, HAMAS, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, West Bank, Palestinian Prisoners, Palestinian Locations: Ahmed Mohamed Hassan GAZA, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Egypt, Iran, Doha, Qatar, Hamas, Jerusalem

Hamas says it is working to locate them in a Gaza Strip shattered by weeks of Israeli bombardment. One Israeli source with knowledge of the issue said Hamas was estimated to be holding 90% of the hostages. Hamas and Israel were expected to release more hostages and prisoners on Wednesday, the last day of an extended six-day truce in the Gaza war. Israel has said the truce could be prolonged further, provided Hamas continues to free at least 10 Israeli hostages per day. Israeli spokesman Eylon Levy said on Wednesday the government held Hamas fully responsible for the abduction of everyone held inside Gaza.

Persons: Abed Sabah, Islamic Jihad, Khalil Al, Hayya, Israel, Gilad Shalit, Shalit, Eylon Levy, Maayan Lubell, Michael Georgy, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Islamic, HAMAS, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, West Bank, Palestinian Prisoners, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Beach, Gaza City, GAZA, Gaza, Egypt, Iran, Doha, Qatar, Hamas, Jerusalem

☆ Why some 40 Israeli hostages may have gone missing in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementSix experts on hostage-negotiation efforts, who spoke to Business Insider, explained how Hamas might have been able to allow hostages to go missing in Gaza. "You've got to appreciate that there's lots of confusion, with the fact that Gaza is essentially a warzone," he told Business Insider. Hamas rounded up a lot of hostages on October 7, and Gaza quickly found itself in a state of chaos amid Israeli retaliatory strikes. All of the aboveFor Chris White, the co-founder of Negotiation Global, who has experience of hostage negotiations in Gaza, hostages going missing could be plausibly explained by all of the above explanations. He told Business Insider: "Is it possible that some hostages escaped?

Persons: —, Scott Walker, You've, Brian Carter, Lebanon's, Hans, Jakob Schindler, Schindler, I've, There's, Roni Krivoy, Rachel Briggs, Boaz Ganor, Ganor, Chris White, Hamas doesn't Organizations: Business, Service, Financial Times, UN, Hamas, Martyrs ' Brigade, Wall, Counter, Factory, Israel's Reichman University, Negotiation Locations: Israel, Gaza, al, Jihad

☆ Israeli, U.S. spy chiefs meet Qatari PM to discuss 'building on' Gaza truce - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The outcome of the talks, which were also attended by Egyptian officials, was unclear, the source added. Health authorities in Gaza say Israel's bombardment of the tiny, densely populated territory has so far killed more than 15,000 people, around 40% of them children. During the first four days of the truce, Hamas fighters released 50 Israeli women and children who had been taken hostage. As part of the two-day truce extension Hamas has agreed to release an additional 10 Israeli women and children each day. So far, there is no indication that Hamas is willing to release any Israeli men or military personnel among those taken captive.

Persons: William Burns, Burns, David Barnea, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, Barnea, Sheikh Mohammed, Andrew Mills, Doina Chiacu, Nadine Awadalla, Alison Williams, Gareth Jones Organizations: U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Palestinian, Hamas, Reuters, Egyptian, U.S, Qatari, Qatar, Israel, Health, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Doha, Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Washington

☆ More Israeli Hostages, Palestinians Expected to Be Freed With Extended Truce
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Hamas-affiliated media reported early on Tuesday that Israel freed 30 Palestinian children and three women, in the truce's fourth swap. Waving Palestinian, Hamas and Islamic Jihad flags, dozens of Palestinians gathered outside Israel's Ofer prison near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank to await the release of additional Palestinians. Each day since the four-day truce began on Friday, Hamas has released some of the hostages while Israel has freed some of the Palestinians it holds. Under the terms of existing four-day truce agreement, Hamas was due to release in total 50 Israeli women and children held hostage in Gaza. It was not clear how many hostages would be released under the extended truce agreement, but earlier the head of Egypt's State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, said the deal being negotiated would include the release of 20 Israeli hostages and 60 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Persons: Nidal, Emily Rose CAIRO, Israel, Israel's Ofer, Gaza's, Alya Ahmed Saif Al, Thani, Antony Blinken, Diaa Rashwan, Arshad Mohammed, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: West Bank, Gaza's Hamas, Security, Hamas, U.S, United, Egypt's, Information Service, Reuters Locations: JERUSALEM, Israel, Gaza, Ramallah, Qatar, Egypt, United Arab Emirates

☆ Biden hopes for extension of Israel-Hamas truce as more hostages released
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( James Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Thirty-nine teenage Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel on Sunday, taking the total since the truce began to 117. The four-day truce agreed last week is the first halt in fighting in the seven weeks since Hamas killed 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages back into Gaza. Some 14,800 Palestinians have been killed, Gaza health authorities say, and hundreds of thousands displaced. The latest three Thai hostages released were in good health, Thailand's prime minister said. Hamas released 24 hostages on Friday, the first day of the truce.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Abigail Edan, Abigail, Carmel Edan, he's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Omar Abdullah Al Hajj, he'd, Thais, Sunday's, Israel, gaunt, children's agency's James Elder, Elder, Raphael Satter, Diane Craft, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Sunday, International Committee, Red Cross, Reuters, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saturday, Palestinian, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.S, Ramallah, Qatar, Egypt, United States, Palestinian, Gaza's, Qatari, Gaza City

Persons: Israel, Israel's Ofer, Gaza's, Alya Ahmed Saif Al, Thani, Antony Blinken, Diaa Rashwan, Arshad Mohammed, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: International Committee, West Bank, Gaza's Hamas, Security, Hamas, U.S, United, Egypt's, Information Service, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, CAIRO, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Ramallah, Qatar, Egypt, United Arab Emirates

☆ Israel's Mossad Hosts Qatari Counterparts on Gaza Talks -Official
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's Mossad intelligence service is hosting its Qatari counterparts to confer on the recovery of hostages held by Hamas and other elements of a Gaza truce that was mediated by Doha, an Israeli security official said on Sunday. Qatari intelligence officers arrived on Saturday for an indefinite stay in Israel, the official said, adding that cooperation between the agencies is "traditionally close", despite the lack of formal relations between the countries. A Qatari delegation travelled to Israel on Saturday to discuss a possible extension to the truce, another official briefed on the visit told Reuters on Saturday, but it was unclear if intelligence officials were involved in the talks. Gas-rich Gulf state Qatar hosts several top Hamas officials and the group's political office. Qatar also has cordial relations with Iran, Israel's arch-foe, which backs Hamas.

Persons: Dan Williams, Andrew Mills, Alexander Smith Organizations: Qatari, Sunday, Reuters, . Locations: JERUSALEM, Gaza, Doha, Israel, Qatar, Iran

☆ Biden Hopes for Extension as Israel-Hamas Truce Enters Final Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Thirty-nine teenage Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel on Sunday, taking the total since the truce began to 117. Her grandfather, Carmel Edan, told Reuters he "simply could not believe" she had been returned, thanking Biden "for all the help he's offered us." The four-day truce agreed last week is the first halt in fighting in the seven weeks since Hamas killed 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages back into Gaza. Some 14,800 Palestinians have been killed, Gaza health authorities say, and hundreds of thousands displaced. Hamas released 24 hostages on Friday, the first day of the truce.

Persons: James Mackenzie JERUSALEM, Joe Biden, Biden, Abigail Edan, Abigail, Carmel Edan, he's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Omar Abdullah Al Hajj, he'd, Israel, gaunt, children's agency's James Elder, Elder, Raphael Satter, Diane Craft, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Sunday, International Committee, Red Cross, Reuters, Palestinian, West Bank Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.S, Ramallah, Qatar, Egypt, United States, Palestinian, Gaza's, Qatari, Gaza City

☆ Mossad hosts Qatari counterparts on Gaza talks: Israeli official
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Qatari intelligence officers arrived on Saturday for an indefinite stay in Israel, the official said, adding that cooperation between the agencies is "traditionally close", despite the lack of formal relations between the countries. A Qatari delegation travelled to Israel on Saturday to discuss a possible extension to the truce, another official told Reuters on Saturday, but it was unclear if intelligence officials were involved in the talks. Gas-rich Gulf state Qatar hosts several top Hamas officials and the group's political office. Qatar also has cordial relations with Iran, Israel's arch-foe, which backs Hamas. Writing by Dan Williams and Andrew Mills; Editing by Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dan Williams, Andrew Mills, Alexander Smith Organizations: Hamas, Prime, Office, Qatari, Sunday, Reuters, ", Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, JERUSALEM, Doha, Qatar, Iran

☆ Israel-Hamas war live updates: Israel and Hamas begin temporary pause in Gaza fighting, with first hostage release expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The 50 hostages, among about 240 taken by Hamas in their Oct. 7 raid on Israel, are expected to be released in batches, probably about a dozen a day, during the four-day ceasefire. The pause will be extended by a day for each additional batch of 10 hostages released, Israel said in a statement. The group said Israel agreed not to attack or arrest anyone in Gaza, and people can move freely along Salah al-Din Street, the main road along which many Palestinians have fled northern Gaza where Israel launched its ground invasion. Hamas has not released a full list of names of those being held in Gaza. Not all the hostages taken on Oct. 7 were being held by Hamas fighters.

Persons: Israel, Salah al, Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Benjamin Netanyahu, — Organizations: Hamas, State, Foreign Ministry, U.S, Qatar, Qatari, United Locations: Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Gaza ., Doha, United States, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Israeli, Egypt

[1/11] An Israeli tank maneuvers, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, near Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, November 23, 2023. Egypt said 130,000 litres of diesel and four trucks of gas will be delivered daily to Gaza when the truce starts, and that 200 trucks of aid would enter Gaza daily. "We all hope that this truce will lead to a chance to start a wider work to achieve a permanent truce." "Control over northern Gaza is the first step of a long war, and we are preparing for the next stages," he added. Israel says Hamas fighters use residential and other civilian buildings, including hospitals, as cover - a charge that Hamas denies.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Majed Al, Ansari, Abu Ubaida, Daniel Hagari, Israel, U.N, Philippe Lazzarini, Deepa Babington, Stephen Coates Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Qatari, West Bank, UNRWA's, Gaza, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israeli, Israel, Israel's, Gaza, Rights DOHA, GAZA, Iran, Qatar, Gaza City, Doha, Egypt, Palestinian, Jabalia, Indonesian

☆ Mediator Qatar says truce in Gaza to start on Friday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in north Gaza, as seen from southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, November 23, 2023. Israel has said the truce could last beyond the initial four days, as long as the militants free at least 10 hostages per day. Ansari did not give details on how many Palestinian women and children will be released from Israeli jails on Friday or when this would take place. Qatar hopes to negotiate a subsequent agreement to release additional hostages from Gaza by the fourth day of the truce. "We all hope that this truce will lead to a chance to start a wider work to achieve a permanent truce," he said.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Majed Al, Ansari, Cross, Andrew Mills, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Alex Richardson, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, Doha, International Committee, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Doha, Qatar

☆ Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: When Will Hostages in Gaza Be Released?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Qatar said the release of hostages held by Hamas would begin on Friday, following a temporary cease-fire beginning at 7 a.m.. Inside the secret negotiations: The agreement to release the hostages was sealed with help from President Biden and survived last-minute problems. Hostage families: Israel has contacted the families of those hostages to be released tomorrow and published guidelines explaining how hostage children should be handled by the Israeli soldiers who accompany them from captivity. Palestinian prisoners: The women and children who will be exchanged for Israeli hostages will be taken to the West Bank and Jerusalem. Behind the delay: The release of the first hostages was delayed by a day until Friday.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Hamas, Qatar's Foreign, West Bank, Jerusalem, Israel, Shifa, Indonesian Hospital Locations: Qatar, Israel

☆ Israel-Hamas war live updates: 'We are not ending the war,' Israel military chief of staff says; no hostage releases expected before Friday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache Katrina Bishop | Ruxandra Iordache | Katrina Bishop | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Qatar's lead negotiator in the Israel-Hamas hostage talks has shared further details of the deal, saying the releases will happen "systematically." "This agreement specifically focuses on civilian women and children in each side, on both sides. It comes after Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel's national security adviser, said late Wednesday that the hostage release has been delayed until at least Friday. "The contacts on the release of our hostages are advancing and continuing constantly," Hanegbi said in a statement translated by NBC News. "The start of the release will take place according to the original agreement between the sides, and not before Friday."

Persons: Qatar's, Mohammed, Khulaifi, Tzachi Hanegbi, Hanegbi Organizations: NBC News Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, U.S, Qatar

"We all hope that this truce will lead to a chance to start a wider work to achieve a permanent truce." A U.S. State Department official called the truce a "hopeful moment" but said work would continue to free all the hostages. Israel had received an initial list of hostages to be freed and was in touch with families, the prime minister's office said. Hamas said 30 people had been killed in an Israeli strike on a school affiliated with the UNRWA in Jabalia. Israel says Hamas fighters use residential and other civilian buildings, including hospitals, as cover.

Persons: Majed Al, Ansari, Joe Biden, Abu Ubaida, Daniel Hagari, Israel, U.N, Philippe Lazzarini, Abu Mustafa, Neighbour Khaled Hamad, Gilad Korngold, Khan Younis, Nasser, Al Shifa, Muhammad Abu Salamiya, Peter Graff, Andrew Heavens, Deepa Babington, William Maclean, Mark Heinrich, Jonathan Oatis, Diane Craft Organizations: Gaza Hamas, UNRWA, Hamas, Qatari, Doha, U.S . State Department, West Bank, UNRWA's, REUTERS, Gaza, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Palestinian, Gaza, DOHA, GAZA, Israel, Qatar, Gaza City, Massachusetts, Nantucket, U.S, Rafah, Jabalia, Indonesian, Gaza's

☆ Israel, Hamas to Start First Truce in Gaza War
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Egypt said 130,000 litres of diesel and four trucks of gas will be delivered daily to Gaza when the truce starts, and that 200 trucks of aid would enter Gaza daily. "We all hope that this truce will lead to a chance to start a wider work to achieve a permanent truce." "Control over northern Gaza is the first step of a long war, and we are preparing for the next stages," he added. Israel launched its devastating invasion of Gaza after gunmen from Hamas burst across the border fence on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and seizing about 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel says Hamas fighters use residential and other civilian buildings, including hospitals, as cover - a charge that Hamas denies.

Persons: Andrew Mills, Majed Al, Ansari, Abu Ubaida, Daniel Hagari, Israel, U.N, Philippe Lazzarini, Deepa Babington, Stephen Coates Organizations: Bassam Masoud, Hamas, Qatari, West Bank, UNRWA's, Gaza, Reuters Locations: Bassam, Bassam Masoud DOHA, GAZA, Israel, Gaza, Iran, Qatar, Gaza City, Doha, Egypt, Palestinian, Jabalia, Indonesian

☆ Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Leads Group's Diplomacy as Gaza War Rages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Stephen Farrell and Samia Nakhoul(Reuters) - Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader based in Qatar, has been the tough-talking face of the Palestinian group's international diplomacy as war has raged back in Gaza where his family home was destroyed in an Israeli air strike in November. Israel regards the entire Hamas leadership as terrorists, accusing Haniyeh, Meshaal and others of continuing to "pull the strings of the Hamas terror organisation." The plan, drawn up by the Hamas military council in Gaza, was such a closely guarded secret that some Hamas officials seemed shocked by its timing and scale. During the decade in which Haniyeh was Hamas' top leader in Gaza, Israel accused his leadership team of helping to divert humanitarian aid to the group's military wing. Three senior officials told Reuters that Khamenei told the Hamas leader in that meeting, that Iran would not enter the war having not been told about it in advance.

Persons: Stephen Farrell, Samia Nakhoul, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Israel, Khaled Meshaal, Yahya Sinwar, Adeeb Ziadeh, Meshaal, Iran's, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khamenei, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, Yassin, Edmund Blair Organizations: Palestinian, Gaza, Al, Hamas, Qatari, Qatar University, Reuters, Islamic University Locations: Qatar, Gaza, Turkey, Doha, Iran, Israel, Al Jazeera, Meshaal, Muslim Iran, Egypt, Tehran, Iranian, Al, Gaza City, Al Jura, Ashkelon, Dubai

Israel's response has been a fierce military campaign that has killed more than 14,000 people inside Gaza so far. Israel regards the entire Hamas leadership as terrorists, accusing Haniyeh, Meshaal and others of continuing to "pull the strings of the Hamas terror organisation." The plan, drawn up by the Hamas military council in Gaza, was such a closely guarded secret that some Hamas officials seemed shocked by its timing and scale. During the decade in which Haniyeh was Hamas' top leader in Gaza, Israel accused his leadership team of helping to divert humanitarian aid to the group's military wing. Three senior officials told Reuters that Khamenei told the Hamas leader in that meeting, that Iran would not enter the war having not been told about it in advance.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Israel, Khaled Meshaal, Yahya Sinwar, Adeeb Ziadeh, Meshaal, Iran's, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khamenei, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, Yassin, Samia Nakhoul, Stephen Farrell, Edmund Blair Organizations: Palestinian, Gaza, Al, Hamas, Qatari, Qatar University, Reuters, Islamic University, Thomson Locations: Qatar, Gaza, Israel, Turkey, Doha, Iran, Al Jazeera, Meshaal, Muslim Iran, Egypt, Tehran, Iranian, Al, Gaza City, Al Jura, Ashkelon, Dubai

☆ Israel and Hamas reach deal to release 50 civilian women and children held in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a humanitarian pause, allowing 50 civilian hostages in the Gaza Strip to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, according to the government of Qatar. "The agreement includes the release of 50 civilian women and children hostages currently held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of a number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons," the ministry said. The major diplomatic breakthrough comes after weeks of conversations between the U.S., Qatar, Israel, Egypt and Palestinian militant group Hamas. Hamas infiltrated southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, including foreigners, and taking about 240 hostages into Gaza. Separately, Hamas said in a statement that Israel had agreed to release 150 Palestinian women and child prisoners.

Persons: Israel, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, —, Joanna Tan Organizations: Hamas, U.S Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Qatar, U.S, Egypt, Jerusalem

☆ Israel–Hamas war: The hostage deal and ceasefire explained
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Israeli tanks take position near a border with Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, November 22, 2023. The pause will be extended by a day for each additional batch of 10 hostages released, Israel said in a statement. Qatar's chief negotiator in ceasefire talks, Minister of State at the Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, said that under the deal there would be "no attack whatsoever. The deal was announced 46 days after the start of the war, one of the most fierce conflicts to erupt between the two sides. The initial negotiations for a deal between Israel and Hamas, both sworn enemies, began within days of the Oct. 7 attack but progress was slow.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Israel, Salah al, Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Mahmoud Abbas, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's, Edmund Blair, Howard Goller Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, State, Foreign Ministry, Committee, WHO, U.S, Palestinian Prisoners Society, West Bank and, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Qatari, United, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Gaza ., Argentina, Britain, Chile, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, U.S, West Bank and Jerusalem, Doha, United States, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Israeli, Cairo

It said the agreement, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, will allow hundreds of humanitarian, medical and fuel aid trucks to enter Gaza. "As we announce the striking of a truce agreement, we affirm that our fingers remain on the trigger, and our victorious fighters will remain on the lookout to defend our people and defeat the occupation," Hamas said. Israel, in a separate statement confirming the deal, said the pause in fighting would be extended for another day for every additional 10 hostages released. Tonight, it approved the proposed deal as a first stage to achieving this goal," Israel's prime minister's office said. Al-Khulaifi added that Qatar hopes the deal "will be a seed to a bigger agreement and a permanent cease of fire.

Persons: Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Khulaifi, Enas Alashray, Ahmed Tolba, Andrew Mills, Rami Ayyub, Jacqueline Wong, Simon Cameron, Moore, Michael Georgy Organizations: State, Foreign Ministry, Reuters, International Committee, ICRC, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, DOHA, Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Egypt, Qatari, Cairo, Washington

Search resuls for: "Qatar's"

25 mentions found