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☆ Gaza Ceasefire Hopes Alive With More Talks Planned
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

"Continued military pressure is a necessary condition for the release of the hostages," Netanyahu said. Israel began its military offensive after Hamas militants from Gaza killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Netanyahu rejects a Palestinian state, which Saudi Arabia says is a requirement for the kingdom to normalise relations with Israel. But last week Israel said it would expand its campaign into Rafah, where about half the enclave's 2.3 million people are penned against the border with Egypt. On the ground in southern Gaza, residents said Israel stepped up its assault on Rafah in the early hours of Thursday.

Persons: Nidal, Humeyra Pamuk, Antony Blinken, Khalil Al, Hayya, Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar, Israel, Washington, Khan Younis, Nidal al, Andrew Mills, Bassam Massoud, Cynthia Osterman, Howard Goller Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Israeli, Hamas, NBC News, Israel Democracy Institute, Nakhoul Locations: Humeyra Pamuk DOHA, TEL AVIV, U.S, Qatar, Egypt, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Cairo, Tel Aviv, Saudi Arabia, ISRAEL, RAFAH Israel, Gaza's, Rafah, Tel Al, Doha

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel pounded targets in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, intensifying a renewed offensive that followed a weeklong truce with Hamas and giving rise to renewed concerns about civilian casualties. It divides the Gaza Strip into hundreds of numbered, haphazardly drawn parcels, sometimes across roads or blocks, and asks residents to learn the number of their location in case of an eventual evacuation. During the truce, Israel freed 240 Palestinians from its prisons. After the end of the truce, militants in Gaza resumed firing rockets into Israel, and fighting broke out between Israel and Hezbollah militants operating along its northern border with Lebanon. Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive in northern Gaza.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Israel, Antony Blinken, Younis, ”, Emad Hajar, Khan Younis, “, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden's, ___ Magdy Organizations: United Nations, Egyptian Foreign Ministry, House, Rescue Committee, Health Ministry, Hamas Locations: Gaza, United States, Dubai, Beit Lahia, Khan, Israel, Egypt, U.S, House ., Palestinian, Lebanon, Cairo, Rising, Bangkok, israel

But the three men topping Israel's hit-list remain at large: Deif, the head of Hamas' military wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades; his second in command, Marwan Issa; and Hamas' leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. The three leaders are directing Hamas' military operations and led negotiations for a prisoner-hostage swaps, possibly from bunkers beneath Gaza, three Hamas sources say. The objective of the war remains to dismantle Hamas' military and government capabilities, Michael said, which could involve a turbulent period in Gaza after the war. An Israeli military officer, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said the IDF viewed the elimination of such combat-level commanders as essential to dismantling Hamas' military capabilities. Israel has killed Hamas' leaders in the past, including the group's founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and its former leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantisi, assassinated in a 2004 air strike.

Persons: Ilan Rosenberg, Yoav Gallant, Mohammed Deif, Deen al, Marwan Issa, Yahya Sinwar, Issa, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gallant, Sinwar, Michael Eisenstadt, we've, Eisenstadt, Osama Hamdan, Joe Biden's, al, Kobi Michael, Michael said, Michael, Gilad Shalit, Shalit, Gerhard Conrad, Conrad, Al, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel, Aziz, Rantisi, Sheikh Yassin, Hamdan, Dan Williams, Samia Nakhoul, Daniel Flynn Organizations: REUTERS, Israeli, Hamas, Brigades, Qatar, Reuters, Military and Security, Washington Institute for Near East, Israel Defense Forces, Israel, Islamic, Israel's Ministry, Strategic Affairs, IDF, German Intelligence Agency, politburo, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Kibbutz Beeri, Israel, Tel Aviv, Deif, Gaza City, Lebanon, East, U.S, States, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Iran, United States, Iraq, Syria, Palestinian, Israeli, Sinwar, Al Jazeera, Rantissi, Jerusalem

☆ Released hostages, detainees may face severe psychological effects, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Newly freed hostages and detainees may experience a range of layered psychological impacts including anxiety, depression, disorientation, grief, post-traumatic stress and survivor’s guilt as they return home and beyond the Israel-Hamas truce, experts say. Over the first four days, Hamas released 69 hostages and Israel freed 150 Palestinians from prison, many of whom were detained but never charged. Eth has not been involved in the hostages’ care, but he said that those who have been released may undergo medical evaluations that might include “very careful” psychological and psychiatric evaluations. Those evaluations could involve looking for signs of traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder or other psychological conditions. “Some might look like they’re doing very well, like they’re resilient early on, and then develop serious symptoms later.

Persons: ”, Spencer, they’re, Abigail Edan, Noam, Emily Hand, —, “, Ani Kalayjian, ” Kalayjian, Walter Busuttil, CNN’s Kim Brunhuber, ” Busuttil, ‘, ” Dollberg, CNN’s Laila Harrak, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, I’m, ’, ” CNN’s Lauren Izso, Alex Stambaugh Organizations: CNN, Spencer Eth, Miami VA Healthcare, University of Miami, Eth, ” Eth, United Nations, National Institute of Mental Health, Academic College of Tel, ” Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, Israel Defense Forces, Get CNN, CNN Health Locations: Israel, Alma, Gaza, Academic College of Tel Aviv

☆ 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

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

☆ First testimonies shed light on the conditions endured by Hamas’ Israeli hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Rob Picheta | Joseph Ataman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —For more than six weeks, the conditions in which the Israeli hostages captured by Hamas were being held in Gaza were virtually unknown to the outside world. Over the first three days of the truce, Hamas released a total of 58 hostages, primarily women and children, and Israel freed 117 Palestinian prisoners. A Red Cross convoy carrying Israeli and foreign hostages heads to Egypt from the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Eighty-four-year-old Alma Avraham, who was among the Israeli hostages freed from Gaza on Sunday, has been admitted to the intensive care unit, Israel’s Soroka Medical Center said. CNN has previously reported that an estimated 40 to 50 of the hostages were held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other groups or individuals.

Persons: Adar, Yafa, “, ” Adva, Rice, Keren Munder, pita, Merav Mor Raviv, Munder, Mor Raviv, Fatima Shbair, Wichanguen, Vetoon Phoome, Alma Avraham, ”, Shlomi Codish, Yelena Magid, Roni Kriboy, Magid, ” Magid, Kriboy, Omri Almog, Chen Goldstein, Tal, ” Almog, Yam, Nadav, Israel – Organizations: CNN, Cross, Medical, Soroka Medical, Monday, Kan, Hamas, Palestinian Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Russian, Kriboy

"We hoped and prayed today would come," Liz Hirsh Naftali and Noa Naftali, Edan's great aunt and cousin, said in a statement, thanking Biden and the Qatari government for their work in getting Abigail released. Her siblings were already there, Noa Naftali said, and the family can provide "the love and support that they need after losing their parents." According to Noa Naftali, Abigail had been held captive in Gaza with neighbors also taken from the Kfar Aza kibbutz, where the toddler, her parents and her siblings lived. Biden said he expects Hamas to release other U.S. hostages as well, and that he wants the pause in the fighting to be extended as long as prisoners are being released. "We will not stop working until every hostage is returned to their loved ones," Biden said.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Joe Biden, Abigail Edan, Abigail, Israel, Biden, Liz Hirsh Naftali, Noa Naftali, Edan's, Carmel Edan, he's, Aza, —, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jeff Mason, Andy Sullivan, Moira Warburton, Jason Lange, Steve Gorman, David Goodman, Alexander Smith, Mark Porter, Josie Kao Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, CBS, Qatari, Reuters, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Ofakim, Israel, Rights NANTUCKET , Massachusetts, Israeli, Palestinian, United States, Nantucket, Washington, Buffalo , NY

The militants released 17 hostages, including 13 Israelis, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners. A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR HOSTAGE FAMILIESShortly before midnight, Hamas released the second group of hostages, 13 Israelis and four Thais. The Israeli hostages freed on Saturday included seven children and six women, Netanyahu’s office announced. A kibbutz spokesperson said all the released hostages either had a family member killed in the Oct. 7 rampage or a loved one still in captivity in Gaza.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Nurhan Awad, Israa Jaabis, Jaabis, ”, Fatah, Mahmoud Abbas, ___ Magdy, Tia Goldenberg Organizations: Hamas, Health Ministry, United Nations, Aid, Palestinian, Crescent, West Bank, Palestinian Prisoners ’ Club, Associated Press Locations: DEIR, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Tel Aviv, United States, Gaza City, Be’eri, Jerusalem, Palestine, Al, Cairo, israel

☆ Fragile Gaza truce is back on track after hours-long delay in hostage-for-prisoner swap
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In a separate development, Hamas announced Sunday that one of its top commanders had been killed, without saying when or how. The militants released 17 hostages, including 13 Israelis, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners. The war has already claimed the lives of more than 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians killed by Hamas in the initial attack. More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: International Committee, Sunday, Hamas, Health Ministry Locations: Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Egypt, Tel Aviv, United States

On the first day of the four-day cease-fire, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison. During the four days, Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners. Israel has said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed — something United States President Joe Biden said he hoped would come to pass. FIRST HOSTAGES FREEDAfter nightfall Friday, a line of ambulances emerged from Gaza through the Rafah Crossing into Egypt carrying the freed hostages. Netanyahu has also vowed to continue the war to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities, end its 16-year rule in Gaza and return all the hostages.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Israel, Joe Biden, Khan Yunis, Schneider, —, Yael Adar, ”, Tamir Adar, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Zichri, Keren Munder, Ruti, Benjamin Netanyahu, Abdulqader Khatib, Iyas, ” Iyas, Majed al, Ansari, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, ___ Organizations: Gaza, United Nations, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, West Bank, Medical, Israel’s, “, Palestinian Prisoners ’ Club, Foreign Ministry, U.S, Israeli, Health Ministry Locations: Gaza, Israel, Philippines, Rocketfire, Khan, Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Egypt, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beitunia, Qatar, Bangkok, Magdy, Cairo, ___, israel

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages who had been held captive in Gaza for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire deal. The freed hostages included 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines, according to Qatar. The freed Israeli hostages included eight women — six of them in their 70s and 80s — and three children. FIRST HOSTAGES FREEDAfter nightfall Friday, a line of ambulances emerged from Gaza through the Rafah Crossing in Egypt, carrying the freed hostages, according to live footage on Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera TV. Israel said the four-day truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Shelli Shem Tov, Omer Shem Tov, I’m, Omer, Ofer, ”, Sofian Abu Amer, Majed al, Ansari, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, ___ Federman, Jeffery, Bassem Mroue, Julia Frankel Organizations: West Bank, Israel’s, Foreign Ministry, Qatar, Israeli’s, . Police, Palestinian Prisoners ’ Club, FIRE, Associated Press, Hezbollah, Israeli, Gaza Health Ministry, Women Locations: RAFAH, Gaza, Thailand, Philippines, Qatar, Israel, Rafah, Egypt, Egyptian, Tel Aviv, Thai, U.N, Northern Gaza, Gaza City, Lebanon, United States, Jerusalem, Cairo, Beirut, israel

☆ Hamas Armed Wing Says Israel 'Stalled' on Possible Deal Over Hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

(Reuters) - Hamas was about to reach an agreement with Israel over the hostages held by the Palestinian militant faction but Israel had "stalled" on that possibility, a spokesman for the group's armed wing said on Saturday. Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, also said in a video speech the group would only release all the hostages it has if Israel freed all Palestinian prisoners. Hamas can also hold talks over a "partial" agreement over the captives, he added. (Reporting by Hatem Maher and Enas Alashray; editing by David Evans)

Persons: Israel, Abu Ubaida, Deen al, Hatem Maher, Enas, David Evans Organizations: Reuters, Brigades Locations: Israel

☆ Hamas armed wing says Israel 'stalled' on possible deal over hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Abu Ubaida, the spokesman of the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, gestures as he speaks during an anti-Israel military show in the southern Gaza Strip November 11, 2019. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 28 (Reuters) - Hamas was about to reach an agreement with Israel over the hostages held by the Palestinian militant faction but Israel had "stalled" on that possibility, a spokesman for the group's armed wing said on Saturday. Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, also said in a video speech the group would only release all the hostages it has if Israel freed all Palestinian prisoners. Hamas can also hold talks over a "partial" agreement over the captives, he added. Reporting by Hatem Maher and Enas Alashray; editing by David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Abu Ubaida, Deen al, Abu Mustafa, Israel, Hatem Maher, Enas, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Brigades, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza

☆ Qatar-led negotiations between Israel and Hamas continue, source says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

An explosion is seen on the Israel-Gaza border, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from the Israeli side, October 27, 2023. REUTERS TV via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsDOHA/JERUSALEM, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Qatar-mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas aimed at de-escalating fighting in Gaza continued on Saturday, a source briefed on the negotiations said, even as Israel intensified its assault on the enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that efforts to secure the hostages' release will continue even during the Gaza ground offensive. Earlier, the armed wing of Hamas said it had been close to reaching an agreement with Israel over the hostages, but Israel had "stalled" on that possibility. Qatari envoys have previously helped mediate truces between the Islamist group and Israel.

Persons: Israel, Gaza's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Abu Ubaida, Deen al, Andrew Mills, Emily Rose, Hatem Maher, Enas, David Evans, Andrew Cawthorne, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Brigades, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Rights DOHA, JERUSALEM, Qatar, Doha, Jerusalem, Cairo

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