"hamas"

Trump implemented what he calls a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran since taking office in January, including tougher sanctions on oil exports and threats of military action, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The Prime Minister issued an instruction for the continuation of the steps to advance the release of our hostages," the office said on Wednesday in a statement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the strikes because of a lack of progress in talks to extend the ceasefire. Officials said the operation was open-ended and was expected to expand

The Department said that Ranjani Srinivasan “was involved in activities supporting Hamas, a terrorist organisation” and left the US on March 11 after her student visa was revoked by the State Department

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Information Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the US retreat is an "encouraging step" and in the "right direction," hoping it would lead to a political process based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative

Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanou said that Egyptian and Qatari mediators have been working to complete the ceasefire agreement and move forward with the second phase of negotiations

"Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you," Trump warned

Israel is seeking to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement for an additional 42 days, while Hamas rejects this and wants to move forward with negotiations for the second phase.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is delusional if he thinks he can achieve his goals through the starvation war imposed on the Gaza Strip: Mahmoud Mardawi

The extension of the first phase as proposed by the occupation is unacceptable to us, and the mediators and guarantor countries are required to oblige the occupation to abide by the agreement in its various stages: Qassem

The Hamas-linked Prisoners' Information Office said that the seventh and eighth batches of prisoner releases were merged, bringing the total number to 642, Xinhua news agency reported

There were no immediate reports of casualties. However, eyewitnesses reported hearing explosions as flames and smoke rose from one targeted site. They added ambulances had rushed to the scene, Xinhua news agency reported.

The release of 620 Palestinian prisoners had been delayed for several hours and was meant to occur just after six Israeli hostages were released on Saturday. It was meant to be the largest one-day prisoner release in the Gaza ceasefire’s first phase

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend a fragile Gaza ceasefire beyond the first phase, even as US President Donald Trump repeated his pledge that the US would take control of the Palestinian enclave

The five returnees -- Sathien Suwannakham from Nong Bua Lam Phu, Pongsak Thaenna from Buri Ram, Watchara Sriaoun from Udon Thani, Surasak Rumnao from Udon Thani, and Bannawat Saethao from Nan -- were welcomed with tearful embraces, marking the end of their harrowing ordeal

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the hostages were transferred from central Gaza to the IDF and the Israel Security Agency before crossing into Israel.

Trump's executive order said the ICC's recent actions "set a dangerous precedent" that endangered Americans by exposing them to "harassment, abuse and possible arrest"

Hamas declared the Gaza Strip a "disaster zone", warning of an unprecedented catastrophe that threatens the lives of its over 2.4 million people, as widespread destruction continues and essential resources run out

The list of the three people intended for release, sent to Israel on Friday, includes 54-year-old Israeli-French citizen Ofer Calderon, 65-year-old Israeli-American citizen Keith Siegel, and 35-year-old Israeli civilian Yarden Bibas.

This will be third such release since a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took hold earlier this month