12:33 pm Today
Sociologist Kevin Levin explained what differentiates this peace agreement in Gaza from previous negotiations.
Negotiations over the future of the Gaza Strip are moving faster than expected, according to sociologist and Middle Eastern Studies graduate Kevin Levin in an interview with Infobae LIVE. For Levin, the active participation of the United States, along with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, has helped speed up the talks, thanks in part to international pressure and domestic demands from Israeli society.
For the expert, the terms of the agreement announced so far represent a significant change compared to previous negotiations and mark a possible beginning of the end of the current phase of the conflict in the Gaza Strip. He noted that the release of prisoners and the beginning of the Israeli military withdrawal are key steps agreed upon in the first phase of the agreement, the implementation of which now depends on institutional approval within Israel. In addition, Levin asserted that the increase in humanitarian aid and the proposal for a temporary government show that international pressure and the mediation of regional actors, such as Qatar and Egypt, seek immediate humanitarian relief and the creation of political conditions to transform the reality in Gaza, shifting the focus towards reconstruction and the discussion of a more stable political future.
Levin sees the future of the Strip as a result of further negotiations and sweeping reforms within the Palestinian National Authority, as the region sees a reordering of priorities driven by international pressure and a drive to end the violence.
12:00 PM Today
Humanitarian aid and the deployment of a peacekeeping force will be central topics at the Paris summit on the Gaza deal.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, using social media X, stressed the urgency of “humanitarian and medical aid reaching Gaza quickly; the people need the prospect of reconstruction.” In this context, Wadephul announced that international partners will discuss in Paris the deployment of peacekeeping troops, the development of a legal framework, and the definition of mechanisms to ensure that Hamas no longer poses a danger to the region.
According to statements attributed to Wadephul on Thursday, these three elements are"necessary in the future as part of a plan for the Gaza Strip." Furthermore, the German official insisted that the international community must address the situation comprehensively, combining immediate assistance with a long-term stability and reconstruction strategy. All of the statements were shared through his account on the social media platform X.
11:27 AM Today
Two Israeli soldiers were injured during an attack in Gaza.
Two IDF soldiers suffered minor injuries when a military vehicle was hit by an explosive device during overnight operations in the northern Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said. The soldiers were taken to a hospital for treatment and their families have been notified, the statement said.
The incident occurred as an agreement to end the war in Gaza was being announced, the military said. The exact circumstances of the attack have not been detailed, but authorities are continuing the operation in the area despite the announcement of the agreement.
11:01 AM Today
Israel clarified that there will be no ceasefire with Hamas terrorists until the cabinet approves the agreement.
The final decision on the prisoner exchange and the cessation of hostilities rests with a fragile coalition. The future of the region is at stake at a key meeting in Jerusalem this afternoon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced Thursday that the agreement to release the Gaza hostages will only take effect after being approved by his cabinet, which is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. local time in Jerusalem. According to a statement released by Netanyahu’s office, the 72-hour countdown to the agreed exchange will not begin until the cabinet approves the deal.
10:45 AM Today
Arab and European foreign ministers meet in France on the"day after" in Gaza
France is hosting Arab and European foreign ministers on Thursday for talks on how to help Palestinians once the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas terrorists ends, hours after the two sides reached a ceasefire agreement.
Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas reached an agreement on Thursday for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, following US President Donald Trump's plan to end two years of war in Gaza.
In parallel, the foreign ministers of France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Canada, Turkey and the European Union had already planned to address the"day after" the conflict in Paris.
The meeting begins at 5:00 PM local time. French President Emmanuel Macron, who will speak at the beginning, has already praised the"enormous hope" generated by the agreement and hopes it will allow for "a political solution" for two states: Israeli and Palestinian.
10:03 AM Today
The Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel called for continued prayer until the return of the Hamas hostages.
Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef urged those attending the Sukkot ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City to continue their prayers for the Israeli hostages. “I ask everyone here to continue praying for the hostages until the last one returns home. They are still in danger at the hands of the enemy,” Yosef said, referring to the agreement to release the captives and the recent news.
The rally mobilized tens of thousands of Israelis, including survivors of captivity and relatives of the victims. Among those present were Sasha Trufanov and Yulia Trufanova, as well as Julie Kuperstein, mother of Bar Kuperstein, who remains held in Gaza, and relatives of Omer Neutra, who was killed on October 7, 2023, and whose body remains in the hands of the terrorist group Hamas.
As part of the Sukkot holiday, the ceremony included the traditional priestly blessing that brought the community together in an act of solidarity and hope, reflecting the persistent concern for the fate of those who have not yet returned to their homes.
09:38 AM Today
Egypt welcomed the historic agreement between Israel and Hamas, which"opens the door to hope."
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed the announcement of an agreement on Thursday “to establish a ceasefire and end the war in Gaza after two years of suffering and hardship.”
The president said on his Facebook page that the agreement reached after several days of indirect negotiations between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group in Egypt marks a “historic moment” that “not only turns the page on the war, but also opens the door to hope for the peoples of the region for a future defined by justice and stability.”
09:04 AM Today
The Israeli government will meet in the afternoon to discuss a plan for the release of hostages.
Israel's cabinet will meet at 6 p.m. local time (3 p.m. GMT) on Thursday to discuss a plan to secure the release of all hostages held in Gaza, an official government statement said.
The cabinet meeting's agenda will focus on approving the plan to ensure the safe release of Israeli captives, according to a statement published on the government's official website.
08:50 AM Today
Israel prepares its health system to receive hostages released by Hamas.
Israel’s Health Ministry said its health system is ready to receive approximately 20 hostages returning from captivity by the Hamas terrorist group. The preparations, led by Dr. Hagar Mizrahi, head of the Medical Division, are based on “lessons learned from previous releases and rescue operations,” the ministry said.
Hospitals designated to receive returnees include Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov), and Beilinson Medical Center in Petah Tikva.
If urgent medical attention is required, the hostages may be transferred to the Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba or the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, located closer to Gaza.
Meanwhile, the National Center for Forensic Medicine (Abu Kabir) is finalizing preparations to receive the bodies of the deceased, confirming their identities as in previous operations.
Hospitals received detailed guidelines tailored to the hostages' expected health status. Each returnee will be treated in a private room within a separate, secure area of the hospital, accompanied by their family members. The ministry emphasizes that the prolonged period of captivity increases the risk of severe malnutrition, which requires precise medical and nutritional supervision.
08:42 AM Today
The WHO announced it will help address the dire health needs in Gaza.
The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas as “a major step towards lasting peace” and said the agency is prepared to intensify its health response in Gaza.
“WHO stands ready to step up its work to address the critical health needs of patients across Gaza and support the rehabilitation of the broken health system,” Tedros said in X.
