May 01 'The time is now': Blinken urges Israel and Hamas to move ahead with a cease-fire deal By Matthew Lee, Samy Magdy, Sam Mednick, Associated Press The current round of talks appears to be serious, but the sides remain far apart on one key issue — whether the war should end as part of an emerging deal. Continue reading
Apr 29 Watch 5:04 Israeli barrage on Gaza continues as cease-fire, hostage release negotiations resume By Amna Nawaz, Solveig Rennan Fraught negotiations continue nearly seven months into the war in Gaza. A Hamas delegation left Cairo and is expected to return with a response to the latest cease-fire proposal. Secretary of State Blinken pressed not just for a cease-fire and… Continue watching
Apr 29 Israeli officials concerned about possible ICC arrest warrants against country's leaders By Josef Federman, Samy Magdy, Associated Press The probe is also looking at Israel's construction of settlements in occupied territory the Palestinians want for a future state. Continue reading
Apr 29 Blinken says Israel must still work to boost humanitarian aid to ease catastrophe in Gaza By Matthew Lee, Associated Press Blinken said the best way to ease the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza would be to conclude an elusive cease-fire agreement that would release hostages held by Hamas. Continue reading
Apr 28 Watch 3:05 News Wrap: Hamas releases video of two hostages, including Israeli-American In our news wrap Sunday, Hamas released video of two hostages as efforts around a cease-fire deal with Israel intensify, protestors rallied against the Israel-Hamas war outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, tornadoes killed at least four people in Oklahoma,… Continue watching
Apr 28 Qatar urges Israel and Hamas to do more to reach cease-fire deal, calls both sides 'entrenched' By Tia Goldenberg, Jon Gambrell, Samy Magdy, Associated Press A senior Qatari official has urged Israel and Hamas to show “more commitment and more seriousness” in cease-fire negotiations in interviews with Israeli media, as pressure builds to reach a deal that would free some Israeli hostages and bring a cease-fire in… Continue reading
Apr 27 Hamas reviews Israeli proposal for cease-fire in Gaza as planned Rafah assault looms By Samy Magdy, David Rising, Associated Press There is growing international pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach an agreement on a cease-fire and avert a possible Israeli attack on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have sought refuge after fleeing fighting elsewhere… Continue reading
Apr 26 Watch 6:37 Israelis mark Passover amid conflict, loss and trauma By Ali Rogin, Karl Bostic, Zeba Warsi This week, Jews around the world are observing Passover, the festival of liberation that marks the historic exodus from ancient Egypt. But this year, joy is tempered with loss and trauma. More than 160,000 Israelis will mark the holiday while… Continue watching
Apr 25 Top Hamas official says group would agree to truce if independent Palestinian state established along pre-1967 borders By Abby Sewell, Associated Press A top Hamas political official has told The Associated Press the Islamic militant group is willing to agree to a five-year truce with Israel and that it will lay down its weapons and convert into a political party if an… Continue reading
Apr 18 Israelis struggle to celebrate Passover, a holiday about freedom, while many remain captive in Gaza By Sam Mednick, Associated Press For many Jews, no matter how observant, Passover is a time to unite with family to eat and drink around what's known as a Seder table, remembering how the Jews persevered through harsh times. But this year, when Passover begins… Continue reading