Israel confirmed that Hamas has returned the remains of Israeli-American soldier Staff Sgt. Itay Chen as part of a U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire deal, marking the 21st deceased hostage handed over since the truce began.
The fragile US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came under severe strain as Israeli airstrikes hit Rafah following reported Hamas attacks on Israeli troops. Both sides accused each other of breaching the truce, with Gaza authorities citing 47 Israeli violations and dozens of deaths.
Hamas has returned the bodies of four more Israeli hostages, as Israel restricts Gaza aid and warns of violations to the Trump-brokered ceasefire. Growing anger among hostage families and fears of renewed conflict test the fragile truce.
Two years after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the conflict has claimed over 67,000 Palestinian and 1,665 Israeli lives, devastated Gaza, and reshaped the Middle East. As Israel mourns its dead, leaders including Shashi Tharoor call for an end to the horror, while US-brokered talks advance under Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.
Israel insists on the release of all 50 Gaza hostages, casting doubt on a 60-day ceasefire deal agreed to by Hamas and mediated by Egypt and Qatar. Netanyahu faces pressure at home and abroad as war escalates.
Israel’s approval of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Gaza City takeover plan ignites global condemnation, domestic backlash, and fears for hostages amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Hamas calls Israeli PM Netanyahu’s Gaza City takeover plan a “coup” as global criticism mounts. War escalates, hostages remain in danger, and Gaza faces famine-like conditions.
As the Gaza war intensifies and global pressure mounts, Netanyahu Signals Temporary Gaza Ceasefire Amid Expanding Israeli Offensive. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated openness to a temporary ceasefire in Gaza if it facilitates the release of hostages. His statement came during a Jerusalem press conference on Wednesday, where he also addressed escalating tensions with Iran, humanitarian concerns, and Israel’s ongoing military strategy.
In his first Sunday noon Pope Leo XIV Calls for Global Peace in First Sunday Address: “Never Again War.” In the address as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful plea for global peace, calling for a just resolution to the war in Ukraine, an immediate Gaza ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and welcoming the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.