Middle East

NICOLA SMITH: It’s not good enough that Anthony Albanese repeatedly refused to comment on Donald Trump’s shock Gaza plan. We don’t have the luxury of sitting in isolation on this one.

The US President’s audacious proposal followed his suggestion that Palestinians displaced from the enclave should be permanently resettled outside the war-torn territory.

Three more Israeli hostages are due to be handed over by Hamas, with 90 Palestinian prisoners to be returned to Gaza in exchange.

Eight Israeli hostages, including five Thai nationals, have been freed by terrorist organisation Hamas in a tense exchange that delayed the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners. 

Israeli officials say five Thai citizens and three Israelis abducted during Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack are the next hostages set to be released.

Israel has confirmed that eight hostages who were due to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement have been confirmed dead, killed by Hamas.

BREN CARLILL: Gaza’s next chapter depends on whether the international community is willing to act decisively. If not, this ceasefire could be remembered as a brief pause before the next war.

Hamas is preparing to release six Israeli hostages after what the Israeli Government has called ‘vigorous and determined negotiations’ that have resulted in the terrorist organisation backtracking.

President Donald Trump said he wants Jordan and Egypt to take in more Palestinian refugees as part of a plan to “clean out” Gaza, a controversial proposal previously advocated by voices on Israel’s far right.

Four female Israeli soldiers were released by Hamas in Gaza City and 200 Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel, the start of a second week of a planned six-week ceasefire and hostage release deal.

The four female Israeli soldiers to be next released by Hamas are reportedly not those previously agreed, but it is unclear if that will have an impact.

President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy will return to Gaza to join an ‘inspection team’ as the US and other negotiators attempt to pull the ceasefire agreement to it’s second phase.

Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi said he plans to resign in March, in the highest-level departure to date of a military or security official over the Hamas-led attacks in 2023.

The world has had a chilling reminder that a tentative ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, although welcomed, is not the only battle for Israel as they launched a major attack on the West Bank.

British-Israeli Emily Damari was held in squalid conditions after being taken captive by Hamas terrorists. Now, she’s finally free.