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.
The Israeli military said Wednesday its soldiers killed a terrorist in Gaza who it said posed a threat to its forces, as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas stretched into a fourth day.
The attack — the single deadliest on Israel in its history — killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the terrorists abducted another 250. More than 90 captives are still in Gaza, around a third believed to be dead.
Yemen’s Houthi terrorists signaled they will limit their attacks in the Red Sea corridor to only Israeli-affiliated ships after a ceasefire began in the Gaza Strip, but warned assaults could resume if needed.
Emily Damari, 28, was one of three hostages freed Sunday after spending 471 days in captivity. Officials at a hospital that received them said their condition was stable.
The first three hostages were released from Gaza and the first Palestinian prisoners were freed from Israeli custody as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold following 15 months of war.
Three hostages released from Gaza are now in Israel in the first test of a fragile ceasefire with Hamas.
Israel is preparing for the return of the hostages from Gaza with the expectation that many are likely to have severe, life-threatening complications after being in captivity.
The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will go into effect Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time, mediator Qatar announced Saturday.
As one of the oldest hostages taken by Hamas, Oded Lifshitz would be among the first to be released under the ceasefire deal.
Israel’s Cabinet approved a deal early Saturday for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages held there and pause the 15-month war with Hamas.
As he touted the deal, two people in the room accused him of complicity in Israeli violence against Palestinian civilians in loud outbursts that forced him to pause.
Cautious optimism is expressed over the end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
While Qatar’s prime minister said the deal would go into effect on Sunday, Israel said final details still need ironing out.
“I believe we will get a ceasefire,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a speech Tuesday, asserting it was up to Hamas.
Four officials said the coming days would be critical for ending more than 15 months of fighting that has destabilized the Middle East.