Latest Israel government News

Israelis and Palestinians rejoice after more hostages and prisoners are freed

Jan. 30, 2025 14:35 PM EST

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Eight more hostages were freed from the Gaza Strip by Hamas-led militants on Thursday in a sometimes chaotic process that briefly delayed Israel's release of 110 Palestinian prisoners and underscored the fragility of the ceasefire that began earlier this month. ...

Middle East latest: Eight hostages are released from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners

Jan. 30, 2025 13:14 PM EST

Hamas released eight hostages on Thursday — five Thai farm workers and three dual German-Israeli nationals — in exchange for 110 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. This is the third round of exchanges in the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which is now in its...

Hamas confirms the death of Mohammed Deif, head of its military wing, 6 months after Israel announced he was killed

Jan. 30, 2025 12:24 PM EST
JERUSALEM (AP) — Hamas confirms the death of Mohammed Deif, head of its military wing, 6 months after Israel announced he was killed.

Who are the Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for Israeli hostages?

Jan. 30, 2025 12:08 PM EST

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday in exchange for three Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Five Thai workers held captive in the enclave were also freed in a separate deal with Thailand. Thursday's prisoner-for-hostage swap marked the third round of...

Who are the hostages released as part of the Hamas-Israel ceasefire in Gaza?

Jan. 30, 2025 11:14 AM EST

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hamas-led militants released eight hostages on Thursday after more than 15 months in captivity, including an Israeli soldier, bringing to 15 the number of captives freed since the start of a ceasefire in Gaza more than a week ago. Agam Berger, 20, was among five...

Israel's ban on UN's Palestinian aid agency has come into effect. Here's what that looks like

Jan. 30, 2025 10:18 AM EST

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel on Thursday formally banned the main United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees from operating on its territory despite heavy diplomatic backlash, a move that humanitarian officials warn could have a disastrous impact on aid delivery and jeopardize regional...

Israeli military says seven hostages have been transferred by Red Cross to Israeli forces inside Gaza

Jan. 30, 2025 06:59 AM EST
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli military says seven hostages have been transferred by Red Cross to Israeli forces inside Gaza.

How did so many Thai farmers end up held hostage by Hamas?

Jan. 30, 2025 06:59 AM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Five Thai nationals held hostage by Hamas since its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel were released on Thursday. They were among 31 Thais taken by the militant group, of whom 23 have already been released. Another two have been confirmed dead, and the status of one...

Israeli military says it has received a freed hostage after Hamas hands captive female soldier to Red Cross

Jan. 30, 2025 03:42 AM EST
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli military says it has received a freed hostage after Hamas hands captive female soldier to Red Cross.

International Criminal Court has Putin, Netanyahu in its sights, yet its courtrooms are empty

Jan. 30, 2025 03:18 AM EST

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — For a few hours last week, the International Criminal Court looked poised to take a Libyan warlord into custody. Instead, member state Italy sent the head of a notorious network of detention centers back home. That has left the court without a single...