The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that Donald Trump championed has mostly held, but progress has slowed recently.
Middle East Peace
The vote was a crucial next step for the fragile ceasefire and efforts to outline Gaza’s future following two years of war between Israel and Hamas.
The remains of four hostages are still in Gaza after Palestinian militants released the remains of another on Sunday.
With Monday’s return, the bodies of 270 Palestinians have been handed back since the start of the ceasefire.
Since the ceasefire in Gaza took effect on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants had released the remains of 17 hostages, with 11 remaining in Gaza.
Had President Donald Trump not been re-elected, terrorist entities would try to “wipe out” the State of Israel, Sen. Rick Scott told a packed crowd in Las Vegas.
Israel and Hamas are beginning to negotiate a second phase of the ceasefire, which calls for releasing the remaining hostages and extending the truce indefinitely.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will also discuss countering Iran and expanding diplomatic relations with Arab countries in his meeting with President Donald Trump.
Three men held hostage in the Gaza Strip for more than 15 months were freed Saturday, bringing to 18 the number of captives released by terrorists since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began Jan. 19.
Powerful Arab nations on Saturday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring Egypt and Jordan.
The ceasefire in Gaza saw its smoothest exchange yet of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners on Saturday.
It was founded in 1949 to support Palestinian refugees across the Mideast that fled or were forced from their homes during the war over Israel’s creation.
This will be the fourth round of exchanges during the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Israel also released 110 Palestinian prisoners. The swaps are a key part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the war.
The Israeli women are Arbel Yehoud, 29, and Agam Berger, 20, and the man is Gadi Moses. The identities of the Thai nationals were not immediately known.
The visit comes as the United States pressures Israel and Hamas to continue a ceasefire that has paused a devastating 15-month war in Gaza.
Israeli forces in southern Lebanon opened fire on protesters demanding their withdrawal in line with a ceasefire agreement, killing at least 22 and injuring 124, Lebanese health officials reported.
Israel kept thousands of Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza on Sunday as it accused Hamas of violating a fragile ceasefire by changing the order of hostages it has released.
Four female Israeli soldiers who were taken in the attack that sparked the war in Gaza returned safely to Israel on Saturday.
An advocacy group representing the families of hostages confirmed the identities of the captive Israelis to be released on Saturday.
Yuval Raphael won with a performance of the Swedish group ABBA’s pop hit “Dancing Queen,” which she dedicated to the victims of the attack.