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A brutal attack on the only operational hospital in El Fasher, a besieged city in Sudan's Darfur region, has claimed around 70 lives, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the death toll in a post on X, describing the assault on the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital as "appalling." The attack, which left 19 others injured, occurred as the hospital was crowded with patients, said Ghebreyesus. He also reported another assault on a health facility in Al Malha. Local officials attributed the attack to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in a civil war with Sudan's military. Israel, Hamas to swap hostages, prisoners amid ceasefire test The RSF has been blamed for numerous atrocities during the conflict, including a siege on El Fasher since May 2024. Civilians in the city, now home to over one million displaced people, have endured months of violence and deprivation. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has resulted in over 28,000 deaths and forced millions to flee their homes. Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes, with reports of ethnic African groups being targeted. Bittersweet feeling for Palestinians freed from Israeli prisons Despite international mediation and sanctions, the fighting continues. WHO and other global organizations have called for an end to violence against healthcare facilities and civilians, emphasizing that Sudan urgently needs peace.

President Donald Trump said Saturday he’d like to see Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations increase the number of Palestinian refugees they are accepting from the Gaza Strip — potentially moving out enough of the population to “just clean out” the war-torn area to create a virtual clean slate. During a 20-minute question-and-answer session with reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump also said he's ended his predecessor’s hold on sending 2,000-pound bombs to Israel. That lifts a pressure point that had been meant to reduce civilian casualties during Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza that is now halted by a tenuous ceasefire. “We released them today," Trump said of the bombs. “They’ve been waiting for them for a long time." Asked why he lifted the ban on those bombs, Trump responded, “Because they bought them.” Trump has built his political career around being unapologetically pro-Israel. On his larger vision for Gaza, Trump said he had call earlier in the day with King Abdullah II of Jordan and would speak Sunday with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt. “I’d like Egypt to take people,” Trump said. “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say, ‘You know, it’s over.’” Trump said he complimented Jordan for having successfully accepted Palestinian refugees and that he told the king, “I’d love for you to take on more, cause I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess. It’s a real mess.” Read: Hamas releases 4 Israeli soldiers in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners Such a drastic displacement of people would openly contradict Palestinian identity and deep connection to Gaza. Still, Trump said the part of the world that encompasses Gaza, has “had many, many conflicts” over centuries. He said resettling “could be temporary or long term.” “Something has to happen," Trump said. “But it’s literally a demolition site right now. Almost everything’s demolished, and people are dying there.” He added: “So, I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations, and build housing in a different location, where they can maybe live in peace for a change.” There was no immediate comment from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. Trump has offered non-traditional views on the future of Gaza in the past. He suggested after he was inaugurated on Monday that Gaza has “really got to be rebuilt in a different way." The new president added then, ”Gaza is interesting. It’s a phenomenal location, on the sea. The best weather, you know, everything is good. It’s like, some beautiful things could be done with it, but it’s very interesting." His resuming delivery of large bombs, meanwhile, is a break with then-President Joe Biden, who halted their delivery in May as part of an effort to keep Israel from launching an all-out assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah. A month later, Israel did take control of the city, but after the vast majority of the 1 million civilians that had been living or sheltering in Rafah had fled. “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers,” Biden told CNN in May when he held up the weapons. “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah ... I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, that deal with that problem.” Read more: Israel, Hamas to swap hostages, prisoners amid ceasefire test The Biden pause had also held up 1,700 500-pound bombs that had been packaged in the same shipment to Israel, but weeks later those bombs were delivered. Trump's action comes as he has celebrated the first phase of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel that has paused the fighting and seen the release of some hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Negotiations have yet to begin in earnest on the more difficult second phase of the deal that would eventually see the release of all hostages held by Hamas and an enduring halt to the fighting. The Israeli government has threatened to resume its war against Hamas — which launched a massive assault against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 — if the remaining hostages are not released.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have unilataraly released 153 war detainees, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), reports AP. This action, announced on Saturday, is part of several recent efforts to ease tensions following the ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Yemen's Houthi rebels release crew of commercial vessel seized in Red Sea in November 2023 Earlier prisoner releases were seen as a step towards negotiations aimed at ending Yemen’s decade-long war, which started when the Houthis took over the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. However, this release coincides with the Houthis’ detention of seven Yemeni U.N. workers, prompting condemnation from the U.N. The detainees, who had previously been visited and assisted by Red Cross staff in Sanaa, underwent medical checks before their release. The ICRC welcomed the move, calling it a positive step towards reviving talks. Christine Cipolla, the ICRC’s head of delegation in Yemen, noted that the release brought relief to families awaiting their loved ones and expressed hope for similar initiatives in the future. Abdul Qader al-Murtada, head of the Houthis' Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs, stated that those released included individuals who were sick, wounded, or elderly, describing the move as a trust-building measure to establish serious and honest relations. Gas explosion kills 15 in central Yemen The Red Cross has previously overseen major prisoner exchanges, including a 1,000-prisoner swap in 2020, an 800-prisoner exchange in 2023, and another release in 2024. Earlier this week, the Houthis had pledged to reduce attacks on Red Sea shipping and released the crew of a ship seized in November 2023. The Yemeni conflict has caused over 150,000 deaths and created one of the worst humanitarian crises globally. While the Houthis have drawn attention to regional issues with shipping attacks during the Israel-Hamas war, they have also faced pressure from U.S.-led and Israeli strikes. Simultaneously, Yemen’s faltering economy has increased pressure for a negotiated peace. Despite a largely holding ceasefire, the Houthis have detained U.N. workers and others associated with international organisations. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has demanded the immediate release of detained U.N. staff, warning that such actions hinder aid efforts in Yemen. The U.N.’s work in Yemen, which delivers vital aid, has been suspended. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to reinstate a terrorism designation for the Houthis, which had been revoked by President Joe Biden, adds further complexity. Analysts suggest the recent detentions may be linked to this decision, though the Houthis have not officially commented. The group has been airing televised claims about individuals they accuse of collaborating with Western intelligence or Israel.

Hamas has released four female Israeli soldiers it had held for 15 months, as part of a deal for the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners in Israel. This swap is the second exchange following a ceasefire agreement that started last weekend, aiming to pause the conflict for at least six weeks. The previous exchange occurred a few days ago, with the release of three Israeli hostages and 90 Palestinian prisoners. Israel, Hamas to swap hostages, prisoners amid ceasefire test The list of 200 Palestinian prisoners includes individuals convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis, with 120 militants serving life sentences. Some prisoners will be required to live in exile, and there are concerns over where they will be sent. The exchange process is part of a broader ceasefire that also allows more aid to reach Gaza. Despite these developments, tensions remain high, and the conflict continues to take a devastating toll on both sides.  

Israel and Hamas were expected to swap more hostages for Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, the second such exchange since a ceasefire began in the Gaza Strip last weekend and another test for the deal. The truce is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and the militant group. The fragile deal has so far held, quieting airstrikes and rockets and allowing for increased aid to flow into the tiny coastal territory. When the ceasefire started Sunday, three hostages held by the militants were released in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. On Saturday, four hostages are expected to be freed for 200 prisoners, including 120 who are serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis. They will likely be released into Gaza or sent abroad. The four Israeli soldiers, Karina Ariev, 20; Daniella Gilboa, 20; Naama Levy, 20; and Liri Albag, 19, were captured in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack that ignited the war. Syria's economic struggles persist despite Assad's ousting They were taken from Nahal Oz base near the border with Gaza when Palestinian militants overran it, killing more than 60 soldiers there. The female abductees had all served in a unit of lookouts charged with monitoring threats along the border. A fifth female soldier in their unit, Agam Berger, 20, was abducted with them but not included in the list. After the swap, Israel is expected to begin pulling back from the Netzarim corridor — an east-west road dividing Gaza in two — and allowing displaced Palestinians in the south to return to their former homes in the north for the first time since the beginning of the war. Palestinians will only be allowed to move north on foot, with vehicular traffic restricted until later in the ceasefire. What happens after the deal’s initial six-week phase is uncertain, but many hope it will lead to the end of a war that has leveled wide swaths of Gaza, displaced the vast majority of its population, and left hundreds of thousands of people at risk of famine. The conflict began with a cross-border attack led by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 others hostage. Bittersweet feeling for Palestinians freed from Israeli prisons More than 100 hostages were freed in a weeklong truce the following month. But dozens have remained in captivity for over a year with no contact with the outside world. Israel believes at least a third of the more than 90 captives still inside Gaza were killed in the initial attack or died in captivity. Israel's air and ground war, one of the deadliest and most destructive in decades, has killed over 47,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were militants. They say women and children make up more than half the fatalities.

Samir al-Baghdadi, a mechanic, is attempting to rebuild his family home in Qaboun, a district near Damascus, using his own hands. His house, once a gathering place for family, is now reduced to rubble from years of civil war, reports AP. Al-Baghdadi cannot afford workers or machinery to clear the debris and repair the house, earning just enough to feed his family. However, with the high cost of rent in a nearby apartment, he is determined to rebuild gradually. Italy’s foreign minister visits Syria to promote a peaceful transition after Assad’s regime Though Assad was ousted last month in a swift uprising, the country’s severe economic conditions that sparked protests remain unchanged. Years of civil war, corruption, and mismanagement, compounded by international sanctions, have decimated the economy, with inflation causing about 90% of the population to fall into poverty. The U.N. World Food Program reports that more than 12 million people are uncertain where their next meal will come from. Even though international sanctions have not been fully lifted and potential investors remain cautious, the hopes for Syria's new rulers may be short-lived. Qaboun and other areas of eastern Damascus became rebel strongholds in 2012, during the protests against Assad. The neighbourhood suffered heavy bombardment, including from the Islamic State group. Although government forces regained control in 2017, al-Baghdadi was banned from returning until Assad's ousting. Despite the challenges, al-Baghdadi hoped the political change would lead to better times. However, issues such as power outages and fuel shortages persist. Families have relied on humanitarian aid and remittances from abroad, while the country’s infrastructure—electricity, water, and roads—needs extensive rebuilding. Experts estimate that reconstruction could cost up to $400 billion, far more than the $250 billion predicted in 2017. Although Gulf nations have pledged to work with Syria’s interim rulers, and the U.S. has relaxed some restrictions, many Syrians believe these measures are insufficient to revive the economy. Economic researcher Sinan Hatahet criticises U.S. actions as inadequate, pointing out that restrictions on trade and reconstruction hinder the private sector's ability to recover. The lack of jobs, investment, and financial aid is putting enormous pressure on Syrian families. The World Food Program’s executive director, Cindy McCain, warned that the ongoing food and economic crises are also a matter of security. In Damascus, markets may appear lively, but the economy tells a different story. Merchants, like Walid Naoura, note that despite the celebratory atmosphere, high prices have deterred customers. In a nearby workshop, carpenter Abou Samir works by hand, unable to power his equipment due to frequent electricity cuts. His sons send him money from abroad, but he refuses to stop his trade. First international commercial flight since Assad's ouster lands in Syria's capital Back in Qaboun, al-Baghdadi reflects on his modest progress—connecting a single lightbulb to electricity but still lacking running water. Despite these challenges, he hopes to move back into his home before summer, even though it's far from complete, believing that living in his own home is preferable to any luxury elsewhere.

Freedom carries a bittersweet feeling for Palestinians released from Israeli prisons. When Dania Hanatsheh was freed this week from an Israeli jail and welcomed by jubilant crowds in Ramallah, it brought back uneasy memories for her. After nearly five months of detention, it marked her second release as part of an agreement between Israel and Hamas for a pause in the Gaza conflict, reports AP. 2 killed in an Israeli strike in the West Bank, Palestinians say While Hanatsheh was overjoyed to be free again, she expressed sadness about the ongoing destruction in Gaza and uncertainty about her future, with many in her community sharing her fears of future detentions. “Palestinian families are ready for arrest at any time,” she explained. “It feels helpless, like there’s nothing you can do to protect yourself.” Hanatsheh was one of 90 women and girls freed by Israel in the first phase of the ceasefire deal. The deal involves the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, halting fighting for six weeks, freeing 33 hostages from Gaza, and increasing aid to the region. Some prisoners are held for minor acts like throwing stones, while others are convicted of killing Israelis. Hanatsheh was initially arrested in November 2023, shortly after the war began, and released briefly during a ceasefire in exchange for hostages. She was arrested again in August when Israeli forces raided her home with explosives. Despite being detained twice, she was never told the reasons for her arrests. Israel’s justice ministry claims she was detained for “supporting terror,” but she was neither charged nor given a trial and is not affiliated with any militant group. Her experience is common among Palestinians, where nearly every family across Gaza, the West Bank, and east Jerusalem has a relative who has spent time in an Israeli jail. The ongoing conflict has caused significant family trauma, with many children growing up without one or both parents. Since the war began 15 months ago, the number of Palestinians in Israeli prisons has risen to over 10,000. Palestinians navigate rubble to return home as Gaza ceasefire takes effect The Israeli practice of “administrative detention” allows authorities to imprison individuals based on secret evidence without charges or trials. This has been a source of frustration for many, including Amjad Abu Asab, head of the Detainees’ Parents Committee in Jerusalem, who highlighted the lack of transparency in the process. The terms of the ceasefire stipulate that the released prisoners cannot be re-arrested for the same charges or returned to jail to complete sentences for past offenses. No documents are signed upon release. Conditions for prisoners deteriorated severely after the war in Gaza began. Israel’s then-national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, vowed that prisons would no longer be “summer camps.” Released prisoners reported inadequate food, medical care, and overcrowded conditions. Prisoners, both male and female, have been subjected to beatings, pepper spray, and deprivation of family visits or even clean clothes. One of the most prominent prisoners released was Khalida Jarrar, 62, a leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a leftist faction involved in armed resistance. Human Rights Watch condemned her repeated arrests as part of Israel’s unjust crackdown on non-violent political opposition. While some families celebrated the release, others expressed concern that the ceasefire wouldn’t last long enough to see the return of their relatives. Negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire will aim to release all remaining hostages and secure long-term peace, but uncertainty remains. For Yassar Saadat, the release of his mother, Abla Abdelrasoul, who had been in “administrative detention,” was a bittersweet moment. His father, Ahmad Saadat, a high-profile leader of the Popular Front, remains imprisoned, and it’s uncertain whether he will be released. The release of some prisoners convicted of killing Israelis has sparked controversy, particularly among families who have lost loved ones to such attacks. Micah Avni, whose father was murdered by a Hamas member in 2015, expressed his belief that such prisoner exchanges might not lead to lasting peace. Despite the controversy, some Palestinians see the prisoner exchanges as justified due to Israel’s arbitrary detention policies. Others, like Amal Shujaeiah, focus on the personal toll of lost time with their families. Shujaeiah, who spent over seven months in prison, was accused by Israel of participating in pro-Palestinian activities and hosting a podcast on the Gaza conflict. She expressed immense joy at being reunited with her family. “Today I am with my family and loved ones. It’s an indescribable joy, a moment of freedom that helps you forget the sorrow,” Shujaeiah said.

Yemen's Houthi rebels said Wednesday they released the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier seized in November 2023 at the start of their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. The move by the Iranian-backed Houthis marks their latest effort to de-escalate their attacks following a ceasefire in Gaza. It comes as the White House announced U.S. President Donald Trump was reinstating a terrorism designation he made on the group late in his first term that had been revoked by President Joe Biden. Trump issued an executive order on Wednesday that sets in motion a process for reestablishing the foreign terrorist organization designation. Biden lifted the designation early in his term, citing the humanitarian threat that the sanctions posed to ordinary Yemenis. The rebels said they released the sailors after mediation by Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula that's long been an interlocutor with the Houthis. Oman did not immediately acknowledge the release, though an Omani Royal Air Force jet took a flight to Yemen earlier Wednesday and took off again about an hour after the Houthi announcement. The Houthis also said Hamas separately requested the release of the ship's crew of 25, who included mariners from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Mexico. “This step comes in support of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza,” the Houthis said in a statement on rebel-controlled SABA news agency. In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed the release of 17 Filipino crewmembers, who were among those taken hostage aboard the Galaxy Leader. The Filipinos, who were in the custody of the Philippine embassy in Muscat, Oman, would be flown home soon, Marcos said. “It is with utmost joy that, after more than a year of captivity in Yemen, I announce the safe release of all seventeen Filipino seafarers, together with the rest of the crewmembers of M/V Galaxy Leader,” Marcos said in a statement, thanking the Sultan of Oman and his government “for their successful mediation." Hans Grundberg, the United Nations’ special envoy to Yemen, called the crew’s release “heartwarming news that puts an end to the arbitrary detention and separation that they and their families endured for more than a year.” “This is a step in the right direction, and I urge Ansar Allah to continue these positive steps on all fronts, including ending all maritime attacks,” he added, using another name for the Houthis. Read:A missile fired by Houthi rebels targets central Israel as airstrikes hit displaced area in Gaza Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the release of the multinational crew, including two Bulgarians identified by officials as the ship’s captain, Lyubomir Chanev, and assistant captain, Danail Veselinov. A government jet was on the way to Oman to bring the Bulgarians home, the ministry said. Vessel's link to Israeli billionaire The Houthi rebels said they hijacked the Galaxy Leader over its connection to Israel. They then had a campaign targeting ships in international waters, which only stopped with the recent ceasefire in Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. A representative for the Galaxy Leader's owners had no immediate comment on Wednesday. The Bahamas-flagged vessel is affiliated with an Israeli billionaire, Abraham “Rami” Ungar, who is known as one of the richest men in Israel. The Houthi attack on the Galaxy Leader saw the rebels launch a helicopter-borne raid. Propaganda footage of the raid has been played constantly by the Houthis, who even shot a music video aboard the ship at one point. On Monday, the Houthis signaled they now will limit their attacks in the Red Sea corridor to only Israeli-affiliated ships after a ceasefire began in the Gaza Strip, but warned wider assaults could resume if needed. However, it likely won’t be enough to encourage global firms to reenter the route that’s crucial for cargo and energy shipments moving between Asia and Europe. Their attacks have halved traffic through the region, cutting deeply into revenues for Egypt, which runs the Suez Canal linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. The release of the vessel's crew now may be an effort to curry favor with the U.S., though the ship still remains moored off the Yemeni port city of Hodeida. Read more: Israeli announces new strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital and ports “This gesture by the Houthis may be intended as a goodwill measure towards the new Trump administration, potentially aiming to delay their designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization,” said Yemen expert Mohammed al-Basha, of the Basha Report risk advisory firm. Houthi attacks targeted over 100 commercial ships The Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip started in October 2023, after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage. The Houthis have seized one vessel and sunk two in a campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by separate U.S.- and European-led coalitions in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have also included Western military vessels. The rebels had maintained that they only targeted ships linked to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K. However, many of the ships attacked had little or no connection, including some bound for Iran. The tempo of Houthi attacks has slowed in recent weeks, particularly involving ships at sea. That may be due in part to the U.S. airstrike campaign. The U.S. and its partners alone have struck the Houthis over 260 times, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants but say women and children make up more than half the fatalities.

Israel's top general resigned Tuesday, taking responsibility for security failures tied to Hamas' surprise attack that triggered the war in Gaza and adding to pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has delayed any public inquiry that could potentially implicate his leadership. While a fragile new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip held, Israel launched a large operation in the occupied West Bank, killing at least nine people and injuring 40, Palestinian officials said. Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi is the most senior Israeli figure to resign over the security and intelligence breakdown on Oct. 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led militants carried out a land, sea and air assault into southern Israel, rampaging through army bases and nearby communities. The attack — the single deadliest on Israel in its history — killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the militants abducted another 250. More than 90 captives are still in Gaza, around a third believed to be dead. Halevi's resignation came days into the ceasefire with Hamas that could lead to an end to the 15-month war and the return of remaining captives. Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of Israel's Southern Command, which oversees operations in Gaza, also resigned. Their resignations will likely add to calls for a public inquiry into the Oct. 7 failures, something Netanyahu has said must wait until the war is over. Halevi had appeared to be at odds with Israel's new defense minister, Israel Katz, over the direction of the war. He said Israel had accomplished most of its goals, while Katz echoed Netanyahu's vow to keep fighting until “total victory” over Hamas. Katz replaced the popular Yoav Gallant, who Netanyahu dismissed in a surprise announcement in November after growing disagreements over the war. Halevi's resignation letter said the military, under his command, had “failed in its mission to defend the State of Israel" and noted that the military's investigations into those failures were “currently in their final stages.” He said his resignation would go into effect March 6. Another major operation in the West Bank The ceasefire that started Sunday does not apply to the West Bank, where Israel announced a “significant and broad military operation” against Palestinian militants in Jenin, without details. The city has seen repeated Israeli incursions and gunbattles with militants in recent years. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek an independent state encompassing all three territories. The West Bank has seen a surge of violence during the war in Gaza. Israeli troops have carried out near-daily raids that often ignite gunbattles. There has also been a rise in attacks on Palestinians by Jewish extremists — including a rampage in two Palestinian villages overnight Monday — and Palestinian attacks on Israelis. Hamas condemned the Israeli operation in Jenin, calling on Palestinians in the West Bank to step up attacks. The smaller and more radical Islamic Jihad militant group called it a “desperate attempt” by Netanyahu to save his governing coalition. Netanyahu faces domestic criticism over ceasefire In addition to pressure over the military resignations, Netanyahu faces criticism from far-right allies over the ceasefire. The deal requires Israeli troops to pull back from populated areas in Gaza and envisions the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including militants convicted of involvement in deadly attacks on Israelis. Read: 2 killed in an Israeli strike in the West Bank, Palestinians say The ceasefire's first phase is to last for six weeks, with 33 hostages gradually released. Three hostages and 90 prisoners were released on Sunday, when it took effect. The next release is Saturday. Talks on the far more difficult second phase begin in two weeks. Hamas has already returned to the streets, showing that it remains in control of the territory despite the war killing tens of thousands of Palestinians — including some Hamas leaders — and causing widespread devastation. One of Netanyahu's erstwhile partners, Itamar Ben-Gvir, quit the government the day the ceasefire went into effect, weakening the coalition but still leaving Netanyahu with a parliamentary majority. Another, far-right leader, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has threatened to leave if Israel does not resume the war after the ceasefire's first phase. Inside Gaza With the calm of the ceasefire, emergency responders looked through rubble for bodies they had been unable to reach before. “We retrieved 120 decomposed bodies over the past two days,” civil defense worker Haitham Hams told The Associated Press in the southern city of Rafah, as colleagues unearthed a thigh bone and a pair of pants. Israel’s military campaign has killed over 47,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health authorities, who say women and children make up more than half of the fatalities but do not say how many of the dead were fighters. Israel says it killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. Gaza's Health Ministry said 72 bodies had been taken to hospitals in the past 24 hours, almost all of them recovered from attacks before the ceasefire. An unknown number of bodies remain unreachable because they are in northern Gaza, where access remains restricted, or in buffer zones where Israeli forces are. Read more: Gaza ceasefire won't begin until Hamas provides hostage list: Netanyahu Over 900 trucks of aid entered Gaza on the second day of the ceasefire Monday, the United Nations said — significantly higher than the 600 trucks called for in the deal — in a rush to supply food, medicines and other needs it has described as “staggering" for the population of over 2 million people. “Most importantly, we want things that will warm us in winter,” one of the many displaced Palestinians, Mounir Abu Seiam, said Tuesday as people gathered in the southern city of Khan Younis to receive food.

An Israeli strike on a built-up refugee camp in the occupied West Bank has killed two people, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Tuesday, as a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip entered a third day. The Israeli military said in a statement that “forces have initiated a counterterrorism operation” in the area. The identity of those killed in the Jenin refugee camp, where militants are active, was not immediately clear, AP reports. Gaza ceasefire won't begin until Hamas provides hostage list: Netanyahu Throughout the 15-month Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Jenin has been a focus of Israeli raids into the occupied territory. The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, launched its own raid into the area late last year, hoping to position itself as a serious player in governing postwar Gaza. Violence in the West Bank has surged during the war in Gaza, with Israel saying it is operating to stamp out militancy. The Palestinian Health Ministry says more than 800 people have been killed in Israeli raids since the war began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks.