Qatar says a deal is reached to release an Israeli hostage and allow Palestinians into northern Gaza

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Qatar announced early Monday that an agreement has been reached to release an Israeli civilian hostage and allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, easing the first major crisis of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The statement...

Southern rebels loom large as Syria's new rulers try to form a national army

NAWA, Syria (AP) — As insurgents raced across Syria in a surprise offensive launched in the country's northwest late last year, officials from several countries backing either the rebels or Syria’s government met in Qatar on what to do. According to people briefed on the Dec. 7...

To secure Gaza ceasefire, dealmakers overcame enemies' deep distrust

Inside a lavish clubhouse on Doha’s waterfront, tensions strained by months of fruitless back-and-forth weighed on negotiators as the hour neared 3 a.m. On the first floor, a Hamas delegation whose leader had once evaded an Israeli airstrike that killed seven family members combed...

As Davos 2025 reacts to Trump tack, EU chief leads defense against climate change

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — As the World Economic Forum’s annual gabfest in the Swiss Alps got into full swing on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump gave everybody something to talk about with his actions on his first day back in office. Energy industry executives could consider...

How the deal to pause the Israel-Hamas war could unfold

The Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreemen t is expected to take effect as soon as Sunday. But the most significant diplomatic breakthrough in over a year of brutal war between Israel and Hamas is rife with risks and raises more questions than it answers. The deal presented to...

Here are the key negotiators who helped get a Gaza ceasefire deal

A ceasefire agreement in Gaza has been reached between Israel and Hamas after more than 15 months of war. The United States, Egypt and Qatar have mediated the long-running efforts to halt the fighting in the ravaged Palestinian territory, often coming close to a deal before a frustrating breakdown...

Qatari prime minister says Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire deal to pause Gaza war and release some hostages

Qatari and Hamas officials say a ceasefire has been reached to pause Israel's war in Gaza and release dozens of hostages

Key mediator Qatar says Israel and Hamas are at their ‘closest point’ yet to a ceasefire deal in Gaza

Significant progress made in talks over Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release, officials say

CAIRO (AP) — U.S. and Arab mediators made significant progress overnight toward brokering a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and the release of scores of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, but a deal hasn't been reached yet, officials said Monday. Four officials acknowledged that...