Author: Steven Sahiounie

The breakthrough agreement will see dozens of hostages freed and a temporary halt to the fighting The Israeli government has agreed to a deal that will secure the release of 50 hostages abducted by Hamas during the group’s October 7 attack, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In exchange, Israeli forces will briefly pause operations to allow aid into the besieged Gaza enclave. What has Israel said about the deal? Israel’s cabinet voted in favor of the agreement early on Wednesday morning, with Netanyahu outlining the basic details of the “first stage” of the deal in a brief statement. “At least 50 hostages…

The country’s top diplomat has claimed Hezbollah’s presence near the border is a major risk, according to local media Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has warned the UN that the Middle East could descend into a full-scale war if Hezbollah militants remain in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel, local media have reported. Israel’s Channel 12 claimed that the diplomat issued the warning following weeks of sporadic shelling and skirmishes on the Israeli-Lebanese frontier. The clashes have intensified since the deadly incursion by Palestinian militant group Hamas into Israel on October 7. Hezbollah says it has joined the militants…

The aid group has said on social media that 14 of their ambulances have arrived at the besieged hospital accompanied by members of the UN and humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders. “Kidney patients will be transferred to Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah and the injured will be transferred to the European Hospital south of Khan Younis,” it posted on Facebook. Source: AlJazeera

Israeli attacks have continued across the Gaza Strip following news that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a Qatar-mediated deal for a four-day truce. The pause in fighting is not expected to take place before Thursday. Here is the latest on the fighting in Gaza: Source: AlJazeera

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian commends the role of journalists who cover Israeli crimes in Gaza and Lebanon. The martyrdom of journalists as a result of “Israel’s” direct targeting of media crews is evidence of their special role in portraying the genocide that the Israeli regime is committing, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian posted on X. “The martyrdom of dozens of journalists and cameramen in Gaza and South Lebanon in the brutal attacks of the fake Israeli regime, including the martyrdom of two hard-working Al Mayadeen journalists, shows the influence and special role of journalists in portraying the genocide and war crimes of…

Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Hussein al-Sheikh, said that the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the leadership ‘welcome the truth agreement,’ appreciating the efforts made by Qatar and Egypt. “President Abbas and the leadership welcome the humanitarian truce agreement, we appreciate the Qatari-Egyptian effort that has been made,” he said in a post he made on X. “We renew the call for a comprehensive cessation of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, the introduction of humanitarian aid, and the implementation of a political solution based on international legitimacy, leading to an end to…

Maria Zakharova especially lauded Qatar’s efforts to put into practice the global call for de-escalation Moscow welcomes the agreement reached between Israel and the Palestinian radical movement Hamas on a four-day humanitarian pause, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS. “Moscow welcomes the four-day ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, something Russia has called for since the conflict escalated,” she said as she especially lauded Qatar’s efforts to put into practice the global call for de-escalation. Source: TASS

Qatar’s PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani says he hopes the agreement to establish a four-day truce in Gaza will lead to comprehensive peace talks. “We thank our partners for contributing to the truce agreement in Gaza, led by Egypt and Washington,” he added. Earlier today, Israel and Hamas agreed to a Qatar-mediated temporary ceasefire deal that is likely to take place in the coming days. Source: AlJazeera

A temporary truce agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has been agreed upon following lengthy mediation efforts involving Qatar, Egypt and the US. The deal will see 50 women and children held captive in Gaza freed while “a number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons” will also be released. The start time for the pause in fighting will be announced within the next 24 hours and last for four days, with the possibility of extension, according to Qatar. A large number of humanitarian aid convoys will also enter the war-torn Palestinian enclave under the deal. Source;…

Speaking before Israel approved the Gaza deal, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara said the agreement – though temporary – would bring relief on multiple levels. “I’m sure [the pause in fighting] will be a kind of relief for many … whether they are patients in hospitals or whether they are children at home who just want to have one night of sleep without bombings,” Bishara said. “And clearly, the release of [Palestinian] prisoners held captive basically in Israeli prisons for so many years … that’s also welcomed. “And I think the idea of getting those trucks of medicine…