Four freed Palestinians have been rushed to hospital in a “critical condition” after their release as part of a fragile ceasefire, according to a humanitarian group.
“Our crews transferred 4 released prisoners from the reception site to the hospital due to their critical health condition,” the Palestinian Red Crescent said. Some of the 369 prisoners expected to be released today appeared gaunt upon their release.
It came after Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages earlier this morning - Iair Horn, Sasha Trufanov and Sagui Dekel-Chen - in scenes more muted than those seen in previous exchanges.
Earlier this week the ceasefire came close to collapse. Hamas had suspended the release of hostages, accusing Israel of breaching ceasefire obligations, including delaying the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza, carrying out strikes across the enclave and hindering the entry of humanitarian aid.
But following threats from US president Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the militant group said on Thursday the scheduled release would go ahead.
It is unclear whether the released Palestinian prisoners include any held under Israel’s administrative detention policy, under which thousands of Palestinians are held indefinitely in Israeli prisons without trial or charge.
So far, 19 Israeli hostages and five Thai hostages have been freed since the ceasefire began on 19 January.
Key Points
- Palestinian prisoners in 'critical condition' after release
- Release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees begins
- In pictures: Hostages released from Gaza captivity
- Hostage handover calmer than previous ones
- Hostages address the crowds in Gaza before release
Stormzy faces backlash for McDonald’s collaboration after pro-Israel claims
15:42 , Alex CroftBritish rapper Stormzy has faced backlash for his new collaboration with McDonald's.
On Tuesday (12 February), the 30-year-old “Vossi Bop” singer unveiled his new limited edition McDonald’s meal “The Stormzy Meal” – but was quickly accused of hypocrisy for working with the fast food chain over the company’s perceived support of Israel.
The company has been the subject of boycotts from Pro-Palestine campaigners after McDonald’s in Israel gave out thousands of free meals to Israeli forces and citizens following Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October.
Read the full report:
Stormzy faces backlash for McDonald’s collaboration after pro-Israel claims
Crowds kept away from hostages
15:10 , Bel Trew, Chief International CorrespondentIt looks like Hamas and Islamic Jihad tried to keep the crowds back for this hostage release, after previous scenes where crowds mobbed hostages as they were freed.
They created a wide area away from the stage where they have set up a sign reading “no migration except to Jerusalem” - likely a reference to President Trump’s ideas about displacing Gaza’s 2 million strong population.
German police banning Arabic at a pro-Palestine protest is a new blow for democracy
14:27 , Alex CroftAt a time where dystopian scenes feel troublingly commonplace, a protest in Berlin’s Wittenbergplatz this time a week ago – in which marchers called for an end to aggression in the West Bank and an arms embargo on Israel – went even further when police banned the use of any language except German and English.
While protesters sang and chanted in Hebrew and Arabic, they were violently suppressed by police. Arabic music was drowned out by a loudspeaker declaring that “anyone who speaks Arabic endangers public safety”.
This feels unbelievable in a Europe that boasts about its leadership in human rights. Yet unwarranted measures by governments to curtail and punish expressions of solidarity with Palestinians have become increasingly prevalent across Europe.
Erika Guevara-Rosas writes:
German police banning Arabic at a pro-Palestine protest is a new blow for democracy
ICYMI: Israeli could strike Iran early as mid-year - report
13:55 , Alex CroftYesterday, we reported that Israel was considering strikes on Iranian nuclear sites this year, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US intelligence agencies.
The Washington Post has reported that this attack could take place by the middle of this year.
It would set back Iran’s nuclear programme by weeks or months but would risk a wider conflict, US intelligence reports found.
The White House, Israeli government, CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence all declined to comment.
Stop dodging the Gaza issue, Prime Minister – get on the right side of history
13:31 , Alex CroftThis week has marked a new, horrifying phase in the long history of attempts to ethnically cleanse the Palestinian people from their homeland.
Donald Trump’s comments made during Tuesday’s US-Israeli press conference in Washington – that he wishes to “take over” Gaza, to make it “the Riviera of the Middle East” – constitute the most explicit denial of the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and return by any US administration to date.
Away from the headline proposals on Gaza’s future, many Palestinians now fear the prospective Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have escalated attacks since the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Dr Sara Husseini writes:
Stop dodging the Gaza issue, Prime Minister – get on the right side of history
Watch: Moment Sagui Dekel-Chen is reunited with family
13:09 , Alex CroftAfter almost 500 days in captivity, Sagui Dekel is finally reunited with his family ❤️.
— Yaki Lopez🎗️ (@YakiLopez) February 15, 2025
Welcome home Sagui.
We will keep fighting until they're all back🎗️.
pic.twitter.com/lrpNIo4dHz
Inside Gaza’s fragile and furious ceasefire negotiations pushed to the brink of collapse
12:45 , Bel Trew, Chief International CorrespondentHamas militants released three male Israeli hostages held for nearly 18 months on Saturday after a tense standoff with Israel this week saw the fragile ceasefire pushed to the brink of collapse.
Iair Horn, 46, a dual citizen of Israel and Argentina; American-Israeli Sagui Dekel Chen, 36; and Russian-Israeli Sasha (Alexander) Troufanov, 29 were paraded by heavily armed militants on stage in the southern city of Khan Younis before being driven to Israel.
All were abducted from Nir Oz on the October 2023 attack that ignited the war.
More than 360 Palestinian detainees are also slated for release on Saturday. Among them were over 300 Palestinians from Gaza detained since 7 October and 36 serving life sentences, according to Palestinian commission for detainees.
Bel Trew reports:
Inside Gaza’s fragile ceasefire negotiations pushed to the brink of collapse
Irish emergency humanitarian assistance for Gaza to be delivered next week
12:22 , Alex CroftEmergency shelter and food funded by Ireland will be delivered in Gaza next week, the deputy Irish premier has said.
Simon Harris made the announcement ahead of meeting Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
The pair will discuss the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, the need for urgent increases in humanitarian assistance aand how Ireland can assist, “and crucially a discussion around the reconstruction, governance and security of Gaza”, a spokesman for the Tanaiste said.
Read the full report:
Irish emergency humanitarian assistance for Gaza to be delivered next week
Watch: Moment Hamas releases three hostages from Gaza as ceasefire holds
11:57 , Shabnoor IrshadHamas has handed over three Israeli hostages on Saturday, 15 February, including US-Israeli man Sagui Dekel-Chen.
Iair Horn and Russian-Israeli Sasha (Alexander) Trufanov are the two others being freed.
Armed Hamas militants led the three onto a stage at the site in Gaza's Khan Younis.
The three are being returned in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, a swap which eases fears that the agreement could collapse before the end of a 42-day ceasefire.
Dozens of armed militants were deployed at the site of the release.
Moment Hamas releases three hostages from Gaza as ceasefire holds
Palestinian prisoners in 'critical condition' after release
11:46 , Alex CroftFour freed Palestinian prisoners have been immediately transferred to hospital after their release, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.
“Our crews transferred 4 released prisoners from the reception site to the hospital due to their critical health condition,” the group said in a statement.
A total of 369 Palestinian prisoners are due to be released today.
Hostages transported to hospitals by helicopter
11:30 , Bel Trew, Chief International CorrespondentsThe hostages travelled to hospitals Israeli Air Force helicopters, the military has said.
At the hospital, they will be reunited with family members and will receive medical treatment.
Who are remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza and when might they be freed?
11:19 , Alex CroftMore than a year after Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023 – killing around 1,200 people and taking another 250 captive – around 80 hostages remain, although Israel believes around a third are dead.
A ceasefire deal currently in place promises the release of the hostages held by Hamas and other Palestinian militants in Gaza.
The first stage of the ceasefire to due to last six weeks and see “a full and complete ceasefire” while 33 hostages in Gaza and up to 1,900 Palestinian prisoners in Israel are to be freed. The hostages released will include women, the elderly and the sick.
Read the full report:
Who are remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza and when might they be freed?
'Moment of light in the darkness' say hostage families
10:55 , Alex CroftThe Hostage and Missing Families Forum Headquarters have described today as a “moment of light in the darkness”.
It said in a press release: “After 498 agonizing days in captivity, Iair, Sasha and Sagui are returning home - to their families who worked tirelessly for their release, to friends who prayed for their wellbeing, and to an entire nation that believed this day would come.
“Their return today represents a moment of light in the darkness, along with a painful reminder of the urgency to bring back the 73 hostages still in Gaza.All involved parties must ensure that liberation day comes soon for all hostages.
“The testimonies of those who have returned and signs of life leave no room for doubt - time has run out for the hostages!We must reach a comprehensive and immediate agreement, without phases and without delays, that will return all hostages - the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial.”
In pictures: Palestinian prisoners reunite with loved ones in emotional scenes
10:33 , Alex Croft
Release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees begins
09:48 , Alex CroftPalestinian prisoners and detainees have been released from Israeli prisons.
Large crowds gathered near the Ofer prison, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and cheered as the prisoners were freed.
More than 300 Palestinians are expected to be released today.
It is unclear how many of these were being held under Israel’s administrative detention policy, under which thousands of Palestinians are held indefinitely in Israeli prisons without trial or charge.
Live: Israeli Ofer prison where Palestinian prisoners expected to be released as part of ceasefire
09:35 , Alex CroftIsrael to release 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees
09:35 , Alex CroftGaza’s Prisoners’ Information Office said on Friday that 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released from Israeli prisons.
Of these, 36 are serving life sentences, it said.
One of the most prominent is Ahmed Barghouti, 48, a close aide of Marwan Barghouti, a militant leader and iconic Palestinian political figure.
Israel sentenced Ahmed Barghouti to life on charges that he dispatched suicide bombers during the Second Intifada, or Palestinian uprising, in the early 2000s to carry out attacks that killed Israeli civilians.
Statement from the family of Sagui Dekel Chen
09:17 , Bel Trew, Chief International CorrespondentThe family of US-Israeli citizen Sagui Dekel-Chen have released a statement
Here’s what they said:
"Our Sagui is home. A friend, son, partner and most importantly a father has returned. 498 days, almost 500 days, he was so far away and now he's finally on Israeli soil, with us.
“In the coming hours, he will begin his rehabilitation process, he will meet his daughters Gali and Bar, and for the first time meet his little daughter, Shahar, who was born while he was in captivity. Our hearts ache for everything he missed, but now he's here, unlike many others.
“It's important for us to emphasize that there are many more families waiting for their loved ones, and many children waiting for their fathers.We did everything we could on all fronts to reach this moment, and we will continue to act until the last hostage returns home - this is our duty.”
Father of Israeli-American hostage in Gaza ‘in the dark’ despite ceasefire deal with Hamas
09:01 , Alex CroftSagui Dekel-Chen is one of the three Israeli hostages released by Hamas today.
In January, we spoke to his father, Jonathan. Here’s Josh Marcus’ report:
The father of one of the approximately 100 hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas is still “in the dark” about the fate of his son, despite Israel and the militant group reaching a ceasefire and prisoner release deal to bring about the end of the brutal conflict.
Sagui Dekel-Chen was kidnapped from Nir Oz kibbutz during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that kicked off the conflict.
His father, Hebrew University of Jerusalem history professor Jonathan Dekel-Chen, told The Independent he still has very little information about the fate of his son.
“I’m a parent of a hostage who is completely in the dark,” he said. “We don’t have solid information about Sagui or any of the other hostages, who is alive or who is not.”
Father of Israeli-American hostage ‘in the dark’ on son’s status despite ceasefire
Crowds kept away from hostages
08:39 , Bel Trew, Chief International CorrespondentIt looks like Hamas and Islamic Jihad tried to keep the crowds back for this hostage release, after previous scenes where crowds mobbed hostages as they were freed.
They created a wide area away from the stage where they have set up a sign reading “no migration except to Jerusalem” - likely a reference to President Trump’s ideas about displacing Gaza’s 2 million strong population.
In pictures: Hostages released in calmer scenes
08:30 , Alex Croft
Hostage handover a less chaotic display than previous ones
08:25 , Bel Trew, Chief International CorrespondentThis handover was a significant change to the previous two.
The release was far more calm and organised, with a large clearing in front of the stage as crowds were pushed back.
The hostages - Sasha Troufanov, Iair Horn and Sagui Dekel Chen - look in better health than last week’s releases. All three addressed the crowds with a microphone on stage.
Israeli forces have confirmed the handover, saying in a statement: “According to information communicated by the Red Cross, three hostages were transferred to them, and they are on their way to IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip.”
A few exchanges ago, Arbel Yehoud was mobbed by hundreds of people as militants struggled to get her to the ICRC cars in scenes Israelis found horrifying.
Live: Hamas militants seen in Khan Younis ahead of expected hostage release
08:11 , Alex CroftHostages address the crowds in Gaza before release
08:11 , Bel Trew, Chief International CorrespondentAll three men set to be released are on stage, addressing the crowds.
It appears to be Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Sasha Troufanov who were all abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where some 80 of roughly 400 residents were taken hostage during the October 7 attack.
They are holding what appear to be gifts and certificates of their release - Sasha Troufanov, a Russian-Israeli, was the first to come out of the vehicle, who was being held by Islamic Jihad.
Hostage release taking place
08:08 , Alex CroftThree Israeli hostages are currently being freed from captivity in Gaza imminently.
They have been escorted onto a stage by Hamas fighters. They are US-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, Russian-Israeli Sasha (Alexander) Trufanov and Argentine-Israeli Iair Horn.
Vatican condemns Trump's Gaza plan
08:00 , Alex CroftThe Vatican’s lead diplomat criticised US president Donald Trump’s plan to forcibly transfer Palestinians from Gaza before a US takeover of the territory.
"No deportations, and this is one of the fundamental points," Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said at an event in Rome on Thursday.
"Whoever was born and has lived in Gaza must remain on their land,” he added according to the Vatican’s official news outlet.
'We can build new ones' - Iran president responds to reports of potential attacks on country's nuclear sites
07:01 , Alex CroftIranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday Tehran's enemies may be able to strike the country's nuclear centres but cannot deprive it or its ability to build new ones.
He made his comments after the Washington Post reported that US intelligence believes Israel is likely to launch a pre-emptive attack on Iran's nuclear program by mid-year.
Turkey's Erdogan makes rare criticism of Trump
06:00 , Alex CroftIn a rare rebuke of the US president, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke out against what he called Donald Trump's "challenges" to the world - including a proposal to expel Palestinians from Gaza - saying his actions pose a threat to global peace.
Erdogan and Trump had formed a close personal relationship during Trump's first term and referred to each other as friends, despite the often-strained ties between the two NATO countries.
"To btell the truth, I do not find Mr. Trump's behaviour in the past period and his current statements and challenges to many countries in the world to be right, and I do not see these as a positive development," Erdogan said.
The Turkish president was in Jakarta on Wednesday and was interviewed by Indonesian television anchor Najwa Shihab, which aired on YouTube on Thursday.
Israeli military says more than 90 militants arrested over the past week in the West Bank.
Yemen's Houthis say they will attack if US, Israel try to displace Gazans
05:01 , Alex CroftYemen's Houthis will immediately take military action if the US and Israel try to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza, the Iran-backed group's leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said in a televised speech on Thursday.
An Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza's devastating 15-month-old war took effect on January 19 but has appeared close to collapse his week amid mutual accusations of violations.
US President Donald Trump has infuriated the Arab world in presenting a plan to permanently displace Palestinians from Gaza and take over the enclave to turn it into a beach resort.
Houthi said his group would intervene with missiles and drones and attack vessels in the Red Sea if the United States and Israel tried to remove Palestinians from Gaza by force.
"I call on all the armed forces to be ready for military intervention if the criminal Trump carries out his threat," Houthi said.
The Houthis have carried out more than 100 attacks on ships off the shores of Yemen since November 2023 in support of Gaza Palestinian militants fighting Israel, disrupting global shipping trade and causing route changes and losses.
Trump says the US will not be buying Gaza but ‘we’re going to take it’ as he addresses Middle East strife
04:00 , Alex CroftPresident Donald Trump on Tuesday continued pressing his plan for the United States to take ownership of of the Gaza Strip and displace the 2.1 million Palestinians living there into neighboring countries as he met with the leader of one of America’s closest Middle East allies, King Abdullah II of Jordan.
As the two leaders met in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters that the U.S. would not endeavor to purchase Gaza, despite statements made in the last few days in which he’d suggested that some sort of monetary transaction would allow for America to lay claim to the war-torn territory.
“We're going to have Gaza. We don't have to buy. There's nothing to buy. We will have Gaza,” he said when asked about his prior statement about purchasing the long-occupied piece of land.
Full report here:
Trump says the US will not be buying Gaza but ‘we’re going to take it’
Hamas names 3 Israeli hostages set to be released Saturday to uphold shaky Gaza ceasefire
02:30 , Alex CroftHamas named three Israeli hostages Friday set to be released in a weekend trade for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, the latest sign that the shaky Gaza ceasefire deal appears to be holding in spite of a tense dispute that has threatened to renew fighting.
The militant group and a forum representing the families of hostages identified the three men set to be freed Saturday as Israeli-Argentinian Iair Horn, 46; Israeli-American Sagui Dekel Chen, 36; and Israeli-Russian Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29. The trio were abducted from a kibbutz in southern Israel that was ravaged during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack that ignited the devastating war.
Full report here:
Hamas names 3 Israeli hostages set to be released Saturday to uphold shaky Gaza ceasefire
Truce remains fragile ahead of challenges in coming weeks
00:59 , Alex RossThe truce faces a much bigger challenge in the coming weeks.
The first phase is set to conclude at the beginning of March, and there have not yet been substantive negotiations over the second phase, in which Hamas would release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an end to the war.
Trump's proposal to remove some 2 million Palestinians from Gaza and settle them in other countries has thrown the truce's future into further doubt. The plan has been welcomed by Israel but vehemently rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries, which have refused to accept any influx of refugees. Human rights groups say it could amount to a war crime under international law.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right allies are already calling for a resumption of the war after the first phase with the goal of implementing Trump's plan and annihilating Hamas, which remains in control of the territory after surviving one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history.
ICYMI: Israeli could strike Iran early as mid-year - report
Friday 14 February 2025 22:56 , Alex CroftYesterday, we reported that Israel was considering strikes on Iranian nuclear sites this year, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US intelligence agencies.
The Washington Post has reported that this attack could take place by the middle of this year.
It would set back Iran’s nuclear programme by weeks or months but would risk a wider conflict, US intelligence reports found.
The White House, Israeli government, CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence all declined to comment.
Watch: Boris Johnson says Mar-a-Lago great place for people of Gaza to settle
Friday 14 February 2025 21:51 , Alex CroftHamas deprived me of water and kicked and spat on me, says former hostage
Friday 14 February 2025 21:15One of the hostages freed from captivity this month says his captors treated him worse as the 15-month war intensified, kicking him, spitting on him and holding him without water or light.
In a video message addressed to Donald Trump, Keith Siegel, 65, implored the US president to use his "leadership and strength" to ensure the ceasefire held and all hostages returned home.
The statement was one of the first accounts of Hamas captivity from a hostage released during the ceasefire.
Siegel is originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Concern has been growing about the remaining hostages' condition, particularly after the release of three last Saturday, who emerged looking emaciated and frail.
Stop dodging the Gaza issue, Prime Minister – get on the right side of history
Friday 14 February 2025 20:46 , Alex CroftThis week has marked a new, horrifying phase in the long history of attempts to ethnically cleanse the Palestinian people from their homeland.
Donald Trump’s comments made during Tuesday’s US-Israeli press conference in Washington – that he wishes to “take over” Gaza, to make it “the Riviera of the Middle East” – constitute the most explicit denial of the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and return by any US administration to date.
Away from the headline proposals on Gaza’s future, many Palestinians now fear the prospective Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have escalated attacks since the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Dr Sara Husseini writes:
Stop dodging the Gaza issue, Prime Minister – get on the right side of history
Arab countries are putting together a plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its people, and would guarantee security and governance, Jordan's foreign minister said on Friday, adding that his country could not take more Palestinians.
"Just to answer you unequivocally, 35% of our population are refugees; we cannot afford any more, we cannot have Palestinians coming to Jordan. They don't want to come to Jordan and we don't want them to come to Jordan," Ayman Safadi said at the Munich Security Conference.
Cairo and Amman have rejected US president Donald Trump’s plan to "clean out" Palestinians from Gaza and resettle most of them in Jordan and Egypt.
Turkish and US foreign ministers discuss Gaza
Friday 14 February 2025 19:40 , Alex CroftTurkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan and U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio discussed Syria, Gaza, and the Ukraine-Russia war during their first in-person meeting in Munich on Friday, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.
Fidan expressed Turkey's views on measures that countries in the Middle East can take against Islamic State, the source said. He also called for the ceasefire in Gaza to be made permanent.
‘It’s so ridiculous’: Experts say Trump’s plan to ‘take’ Gaza will never work
Friday 14 February 2025 18:36 , Alex CroftDonald Trump continued to push his plan for MAGA-fied peace in the Middle East on Tuesday: the illegal removal of more than two million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, an act that would likely be considered ethnic cleansing under international law.
But outside of the meeting rooms and cocktail lounges where the Trumpworld elite now congregate in Washington D.C., some experts seemed to think it would not actually even be seriously attempted.
On Tuesday, the US president insisted that Palestinians in Gaza no longer wanted to live there and claimed that the “civilization” had been completely wiped out in the region by Israel’s year-long assault.
“I’ve watched it so long, all the death and destruction of Gaza. A civilization’s been wiped out in Gaza,” Trump said on Tuesday.
John Bowden reports:
‘It’s so ridiculous’: Experts say Trump’s plan to ‘take’ Gaza will never work
41 hostages still alive, says Israeli military
Friday 14 February 2025 16:29 , Bel Trew, Chief International CorrespondentAs of today, 179 of the original 251 hostages held by Hamas have been released.
Four people have been held hostage in Gaza since before the beginning of the war, according to Israeli figures.
Of the 76 still in captivity, 35 have been confirmed dead - meaning 41 are still alive, the military said.
Too few tents entering Gaza threatens the truce. Here’s what’s happening
Friday 14 February 2025 16:28 , Alex CroftThree weeks into the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the number of tents and temporary homes entering Gaza risks falling short of the goals set for the deal's first phase.
The looming deficit sits at the heart of a dispute between Israel and Hamas that could topple the tenuous truce.
Hamas has indefinitely delayed the scheduled release of three hostages on Saturday, accusing Israel of obstructing the delivery of tents, pre-fabricated homes and heavy machinery into the devastated territory, where the majority of people are displaced and many live beside the rubble of blasted-out buildings.
Read the full report:
Too few tents entering Gaza threatens the truce. Here’s what’s happening
Vatican condemns Trump's Gaza plan
Friday 14 February 2025 15:25 , Alex CroftThe Vatican’s lead diplomat criticised US president Donald Trump’s plan to forcibly transfer Palestinians from Gaza before a US takeover of the territory.
"No deportations, and this is one of the fundamental points," Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said at an event in Rome on Thursday.
"Whoever was born and has lived in Gaza must remain on their land,” he added according to the Vatican’s official news outlet.
'Biggest fear is the uncertainty', says sister of hostage to be released on Saturday
Friday 14 February 2025 14:22 , Bel Trew, Chief International CorrespondentDalia Cusir, the sister-in-law of Iair Horn, 46, who is among those set to be released, told The Independent on Thursday that the family’s “biggest fear has been the uncertainty”.
Iair suffers from diabetes, and his relatives have been “terrified” that he is not getting the medical attention he needs in captivity, especially since the release of the hostages last Saturday, who appeared emaciated and sick.
“We all knew that they were being starved and tortured, but seeing Ohad [Ben-Ami], Or [Levi], and Eli [Sharabi] was shocking. It made us understand that every second is a second of hell for them.”
Iair was seized from Nir Oz along with his brother Eitan. But Eitan, 38, who suffers from a serious skin condition, is not on the list of hostages to be released in the first round, piling further heartache on the family.
“It’s been impossible because we’re fighting for my two brothers-in-law, but only one of them is included in phase one. The second is in phase two.”
“My husband has been destroyed since October 7. He’s literally sick, unhealthy, and unable to work because he’s fighting for his two siblings,” she added in desperation.
“But we are committed. I promised everyone that I’m going to be on the streets [fighting for the releases] to make sure that the last hostage comes back home.”
Erdogan: No sign of ceasefire in Gaza despite truce agreement
Friday 14 February 2025 13:20 , Alex CroftTurkish president Tayyip Erdogan has said there is no sign of a ceasefire in Gaza despite the truce agreement.
He told reporters the Trump administration was making the “wrong calculations” in regard to the Middle East and that heeding “Zionist lies” would only exacerbate conflict.
Turkey has rejected Trump’s plan to forcible displace millions of Palestinians from the Gaza strip before the US assumes control over it.
"Unfortunately, the United States is making a wrong calculation about our region. One should not be engaged in an approach that disregards the region's history, values, and accumulation," he told reporters on a return flight from a trip to, Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan.
Erdogan said he expected Trump to fulfill his election promises of taking steps for peace.
Pictured: The three hostages to be released on Saturday
Friday 14 February 2025 12:18 , Alex Croft
Three Israeli hostages set for release are named
Friday 14 February 2025 11:52 , Alex CroftIair Horn is the third of three Israeli hostages due to be released from captivity in Gaza on Saturday.
A Hamas official previously said US-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen would be released, while Russian-Israeli Sasha (Alexander) Trufanov will be released by Islamic Jihad.
Breaking: Hamas confirms three hostages to be released on Saturday
Friday 14 February 2025 11:33 , Alex RossPalestinian militant groups in Gaza will release three hostages on Saturday, in accordance with the terms of the ceasefire, including U.S.-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, a Hamas official said.
Separately, the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad group said it would release Russian-Israeli Alexandre Sasha Troufanov as part of the deal.
Israel says rocket fired from Gaza - but landed inside the territory
Friday 14 February 2025 06:01 , Alex RossThe Israeli military said a rocket was fired from Gaza on Thursday evening, but landed inside the territory, as the fragile truce between Israel and Hamas appeared to hold.
This appeared to be the first rocket fired from Gaza since the ceasefire began January 19. Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group did not immediately comment on the Israeli military report.
The military didn't say where the rocket was fired from inside Gaza. Although Hamas militants were once firing volleys of rockets each day out of Gaza, that dwindled to nearly zero over the course of the 15-month war.
Since the ceasefire went into effect, Israeli fire has killed at least 92 Palestinians and wounded more than 800 others, said Munir al-Bursh, director general of the Health Ministry, on Tuesday.
The Israeli military says it has fired on people who approach its forces or enter certain areas in violation of the truce.
Families of Israeli hostages share frustration over handover process
Friday 14 February 2025 05:00 , Alex RossAs we’ve been reporting, Hamas has now said a hostage release will go ahead on Saturday.
It is part of the first stage of the fragile truce. The second stage is aimed at seeing all hostages released.
Ilay David, brother of Evyatar David, said: "The second stage of this deal cannot wait. The lives and honour of 76 people are hanging in the balance, and we must ensure that we keep moving forward.
“Every day that passes makes their suffering worse, and our determination to bring them home must only grow stronger.”
Gal Gilboa-Dalal, survivor of the NOVA music festival, brother of Guy Gilboa-Dalal, said: "While Guy is subjected to physical and sexual abuse, we are also psychologically tortured by Hamas' sick game.
“Our hearts break at the sight of the recently released hostages. The horror they endured is evident, and no words can convey the urgency of freeing all hostages more powerfully than the images themselves."
'We can build new ones' - Iran president responds to reports of potential attacks on country's nuclear sites
Friday 14 February 2025 02:00 , Alex RossIranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday Tehran's enemies may be able to strike the country's nuclear centres but cannot deprive it or its ability to build new ones.
He made his comments after the Washington Post reported that US intelligence believes Israel is likely to launch a pre-emptive attack on Iran's nuclear program by mid-year.
Turkey's Erdogan makes rare criticism of Trump
Friday 14 February 2025 00:01 , Alex RossIn a rare rebuke of the US president, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke out against what he called Donald Trump's "challenges" to the world - including a proposal to expel Palestinians from Gaza - saying his actions pose a threat to global peace.
Erdogan and Trump had formed a close personal relationship during Trump's first term and referred to each other as friends, despite the often-strained ties between the two NATO countries.
"To btell the truth, I do not find Mr. Trump's behaviour in the past period and his current statements and challenges to many countries in the world to be right, and I do not see these as a positive development," Erdogan said.
The Turkish president was in Jakarta on Wednesday and was interviewed by Indonesian television anchor Najwa Shihab, which aired on YouTube on Thursday.
Israeli military says more than 90 militants arrested over the past week in the West Bank
More hostages to be released on Saturday - how many have been released so far
Thursday 13 February 2025 23:01 , Alex RossAs we’ve been reporting, the Hamas militant group said Thursday it would release the next three Israeli hostages as planned this weekend in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
There was no immediate comment from Israel on Hamas' announcement. Israel had threatened to renew its offensive if hostages were not freed on Saturday as scheduled.
The sides have carried out five swaps since January 19, freeing 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners so far during the first phase of the ceasefire.
Yemen's Houthis say they will attack if US, Israel try to displace Gazans
Thursday 13 February 2025 22:00 , Alex RossYemen's Houthis will immediately take military action if the US and Israel try to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza, the Iran-backed group's leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said in a televised speech on Thursday.
An Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza's devastating 15-month-old war took effect on January 19 but has appeared close to collapse his week amid mutual accusations of violations.
US President Donald Trump has infuriated the Arab world in presenting a plan to permanently displace Palestinians from Gaza and take over the enclave to turn it into a beach resort.
Houthi said his group would intervene with missiles and drones and attack vessels in the Red Sea if the United States and Israel tried to remove Palestinians from Gaza by force.
"I call on all the armed forces to be ready for military intervention if the criminal Trump carries out his threat," Houthi said.
The Houthis have carried out more than 100 attacks on ships off the shores of Yemen since November 2023 in support of Gaza Palestinian militants fighting Israel, disrupting global shipping trade and causing route changes and losses.
Truce remains fragile ahead of challenges in coming weeks
Thursday 13 February 2025 21:16 , Alex RossThe truce faces a much bigger challenge in the coming weeks.
The first phase is set to conclude at the beginning of March, and there have not yet been substantive negotiations over the second phase, in which Hamas would release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an end to the war.
Trump's proposal to remove some 2 million Palestinians from Gaza and settle them in other countries has thrown the truce's future into further doubt. The plan has been welcomed by Israel but vehemently rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries, which have refused to accept any influx of refugees. Human rights groups say it could amount to a war crime under international law.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right allies are already calling for a resumption of the war after the first phase with the goal of implementing Trump's plan and annihilating Hamas, which remains in control of the territory after surviving one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history.
Hamas spokesman confirms three hostages to be released on SAturday
Thursday 13 February 2025 20:00 , Alex RossAfter the announcement earlier that Hamas would release hostages on Saturday, questions were initially asked on how many.
US president Donald Trump had demanded all remaining hostages to be released. 73 have not yet been freed, around half of whom are believed to be dead.
Shortly after the announcement, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou confirmed to The Associated Press by phone that three hostages will be released on Saturday.
Hamas says hostage release to go ahead - full report
Thursday 13 February 2025 19:00 , Alex RossAs we’ve been reporting, Hamas has now said a hostage release will go ahead on Saturday.
Mediators had scrambled to salvage the floundering truce ahead of the deadline this weekend when the next round of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees were slated to be released.
On Thursday Hamas said Egyptian and Qatari mediators affirmed that they would work to "remove all hurdles", and that the group would implement the ceasefire deal.
The statement indicated three more Israeli hostages would be freed on Saturday, adding “the talks were characterised by a positive spirit”.
Read the full report here:
Hamas says hostage release to go ahead amid fears fragile ceasefire will collapse
ICYMI: Israeli could strike Iran early as mid-year - report
Thursday 13 February 2025 18:08 , Alex CroftEarlier, we reported that Israel was considering strikes on Iranian nuclear sites this year, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US intelligence agencies.
The Washington Post has reported that this attack could take place by the middle of this year.
It would set back Iran’s nuclear programme by weeks or months but would risk a wider conflict, US intelligence reports found.
The White House, Israeli government, CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence all declined to comment.
US secretary of state to visit Middle East
Thursday 13 February 2025 17:33 , Alex CroftUS secretary of state Marco Rubio will visit Europe and the Middle East, the state department announced on Wednesday.
In a crucial moment for peace in the Middle East, Mr Rubio will visit Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Watch: UN chief warns against 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza following Trump comments
Thursday 13 February 2025 17:00 , Alex CroftI walked 11 hours to finally return to my home in Gaza – finding my town destroyed and my house without walls
Thursday 13 February 2025 16:29 , Alex CroftI spent 11 hours walking the road to north Gaza, the long road home. It was a journey I had been dreaming of for a year and four months.
The hike was long and hard: the road destroyed by tanks, bulldozers, and bombing. I saw an old man die along the way – his children crowded around him, trying to give him artificial respiration, calling for help from the air. There was a pregnant woman in tears, she said she had gone into premature labour from the pressure of the walk.
Seven kilometres in, people ran out of drinking water. Some parents had lost their children and other family members in the huge crowds. There was no means of communication, as the area had no mobile signal and transportation on this road was not permitted. After the elderly man died, a second appeared to slip into a coma from extreme fatigue. There were no ambulances working.
Palestinian journalist Nedal Hamdouna writes:
I walked 11 hours to return to my home in Gaza – to find my house without walls
Father-of-12 Elon Musk admits ‘we all make mistakes’ on condoms
Thursday 13 February 2025 16:02 , Alex CroftElon Musk admitted “we all make mistakes” when he was pressed about claims made on X and by the White House about condoms being sent to Gaza.
The father-of-12 made his comments in front of his young son X, who joined him in the Oval Office alongside president Donald Trump.
Musk told reporters: “Well, first of all, some of the things that I say will be incorrect and should be corrected. So nobody’s going to bat a thousand. I mean, any, you know, we will make mistakes but will act quickly to correct any mistakes.”
Watch here:
Father-of-12 Elon Musk admits ‘we all make mistakes’ on condoms
Yemen's Houthis: We will take military action if Gaza attack resumes
Thursday 13 February 2025 15:41 , Alex CroftYemen's Houthis said they will take military action if the US and Israel attack Gaza, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the group’s leader, said in a televised speech on Thursday.
Trump previously said he would cancel the Gaza ceasefire deal and "let all hell break loose" if all Israeli hostages were not released by Hamas on Saturday.
Jesse Watters sparks outrage for saying ‘uneducated’ Palestinians are a ‘threat’ because of ‘explosive’ birthrate
Thursday 13 February 2025 15:14 , Alex CroftFox News star Jesse Watters applauded Donald Trump’s insistence that the United States has the authority to “take” Gaza and forcibly displace 2 million Palestinians from their land, claiming “uneducated” Palestine represents a demographic “threat” because “their birthrate is explosive.”
These latest remarks from the Trump-boosting host, who has repeatedly come under fire for commentary that’s been described as bigoted, racist and misogynistic, prompted accusations from progressives and liberals that Watters was peddling “Nazi-level sh*t” and “white supremacy.”
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday while meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan, Trump doubled down on his previous declaration that the U.S. would take ownership of Gaza and redevelop the strip as a vacation resort while forcing out the Palestinian population. He added that the Palestinians wouldn’t be allowed to stay or return, claiming they would instead be resettled in “beautiful homes” in an unknown location.
Justin Baragona reports:
Jesse Watters sparks outrage for saying ‘uneducated’ Palestinians are a ‘threat’
Trump's Gaza plan is 'major threat' to world peace - Erdogan
Thursday 13 February 2025 14:50 , Alex CroftTurkish president Tayyip Erdogan has described US president Donald Trump’s plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza as a “major threat to world peace”.
Speaking on Indonesian broadcaster Narasi, Mr Erdogan said: "I view Trump's decision to make such an agreement with a murderer like [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his threats as a major threat to world peace.”
"At the moment, nobody can take Gaza away from Palestinians, from Gazans. Daring to do something like is, firstly, a very different threat to world peace."
Mr Erdogan said he doesn’t find Mr Trump’s statements, which he described as “challenges to many countries in the world”, to be right.
"My hope is that such mistakes are reversed as soon as possible, and for a global giant like the United States to rapidly turn back from these errors so that global peace can find a way to come out," he said.
We will rebuild if Israel hits nuclear sites - Iranian president
Thursday 13 February 2025 14:27 , Alex CroftIranian president Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed the country will rebuild its nuclear centres if they are struck by Israel.
It comes after the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal reported that Israel was planning an attack on Iran’s nuclear programme this year.
"They threaten us that they will hit nuclear facilities... If you (the enemy) strike a hundred of those we will build a thousand other ones... You can hit the buildings and the places but you cannot hit those who build it," Pezeshkian said according to state media.
Hamid Vahedi, the the commander of Iran's conventional air force, said: "We tell all countries, friends and foes alike, that our country's doctrine is defensive but we will respond with force against any enemy attack."
US president Donald Trump said he would prefer for Israel not to strike Iran.
Speaking on Monday, he said: "Everyone thinks Israel, with our help or our approval, will go in and bomb the hell out of them. I would prefer that not to happen.”
‘It’s so ridiculous’: Experts say Trump’s plan to ‘take’ Gaza will never work
Thursday 13 February 2025 14:05 , Alex CroftDonald Trump continued to push his plan for MAGA-fied peace in the Middle East on Tuesday: the illegal removal of more than two million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, an act that would likely be considered ethnic cleansing under international law.
But outside of the meeting rooms and cocktail lounges where the Trumpworld elite now congregate in Washington D.C., some experts seemed to think it would not actually even be seriously attempted.
On Tuesday, the US president insisted that Palestinians in Gaza no longer wanted to live there and claimed that the “civilization” had been completely wiped out in the region by Israel’s year-long assault.
“I’ve watched it so long, all the death and destruction of Gaza. A civilization’s been wiped out in Gaza,” Trump said on Tuesday.
John Bowden reports:
‘It’s so ridiculous’: Experts say Trump’s plan to ‘take’ Gaza will never work
