The Pentagon has developed plans to transfer long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, pending approval from President Trump. The 2,500 text{ km} range missiles would be a "game-changer" to pressure Russia but face hurdles regarding launch platforms and major escalation risks.
Hamas handed over four more caskets containing the remains of deceased hostages to the Red Cross in northern Gaza, bringing the total returned to eight. This leaves at least 20 other bodies missing, with Hamas citing the war’s massive destruction as the reason for the delay in completing the Phase One agreement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the White House on Friday to meet the U.S. President, aiming to leverage the Gaza ceasefire success to push for a peace deal in Ukraine. The agenda will focus on bolstering Ukraine's air defense, long-range capabilities, and the potential supply of Tomahawk missiles.
The US, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt formally signed the Gaza ceasefire deal into effect at an international summit in Egypt. This guarantees the Phase One terms, including the release of all hostages and a partial Israeli withdrawal, activating the ceasefire and major aid surge.
Hamas has released the names of 20 Israeli hostages set to be freed from Gaza today, marking the critical first step in the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal.
President Trump is scheduled to deliver an Oval Office address at 5:00 PM ET today. The highly anticipated speech is expected to focus on the historic Gaza ceasefire deal, which was formally approved by the Israeli Cabinet, and may coincide with the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize.
The U.S. is deploying 200 troops to Israel to establish a Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) to oversee the Gaza ceasefire. The center will facilitate aid, logistics, and security, and monitor the transition to a civilian government. U.S. officials emphasized that no American troops will enter Gaza.
The two-year Middle East war ended with a paradoxical result: Israel achieved military dominance and destroyed much of Gaza, but suffered a devastating loss in global public opinion, with skepticism surging worldwide and international bodies finding its actions amounted to genocide. Hamas survived to force a major political concession.
Hamas has confirmed the end of the two-year Gaza war through the Phase One ceasefire deal but vows to remain committed to armed "resistance," rejecting disarmament. The critical issue of dismantling Hamas's military wing has been postponed to Phase Two negotiations.
The two-year war in Gaza ends with a historic ceasefire, but the territory is devastated: over 67,000 Palestinians killed, 91.8% of schools damaged, unemployment at 80%, and $$$50B in investments wiped out, leaving a monumental reconstruction effort ahead.
The two-year war in Gaza officially ended after Israel’s Cabinet approved the first phase of a U.S.-brokered deal. Terms include the release of all remaining Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a partial IDF withdrawal; unresolved issues are Hamas disarmament and Gaza’s future governance.
Combat units of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip have received orders to prepare for redeployment to an "agreed upon line" as part of the Phase One ceasefire deal. This initial, partial withdrawal is expected to take place within 24 hours of the Israeli government's formal approval of the agreement.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal in Egypt, requiring Israel's partial withdrawal from Gaza and Hamas's release of all remaining hostages. However, the critical issues of disarming Hamas and the future governance of the Gaza Strip remain unresolved and are subject to future negotiations.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has formally invited President Donald Trump to attend the signing ceremony for a potential Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal in Egypt, underscoring the U.S. President’s central role in driving the peace plan forward.
Optimism is high in Sharm el-Sheikh with mediators believing a Gaza hostage and ceasefire agreement could be reached by Friday. Israeli and U.S. officials report "good progress," aiming to announce the deal this week and begin hostage releases next week.
