Gaza | Israel news feed

GAZA: Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander released from Hamas captivity; Israeli strikes kill 29 people in Gaza, wound 94 ■ CEASE-FIRE: U.S. hopes Alexander's release 'marks the beginning of the end' of the war; Israeli delegation will arrive in Doha for negotiations ■ IRAN: "Very good things" are happening in talks regarding Iran's nuclear program, Trump said

Hours after reports of direct U.S. talks, Hamas said it plans to release Alexander to signal its willingness to end the war. The White House said it requested the return of the bodies of four other American-Israeli hostages still in Gaza

President Trump is frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent policies in Gaza, NBC reported. Netanyahu has taken issue with the new Houthi deal and public statements on Iran's nuclear program

Huckabee said that Israel's role in distributing the aid in Gaza is in 'helping provide security, but they're not operating the distribution' ■ Aim is to allow entry of aid 'in such a way as to not let Hamas control it'

A nurse who volunteers with hostage families says that the fight to return their loved ones from Gaza has exacted a heavy personal price in all aspects of their lives, affecting them emotionally and financially – and leading to chronic illnesses. 'They're in a terrible state,' she says

Per a document obtained by Haaretz, Israeli soldiers would secure aid hubs in the south and center of Gaza, and all recipients would have to go through screenings. The UN rejected any participation in the plan, saying it fails 'to meet Israel's obligations under international law'

Three civil society groups claim that Israel's Channel 14 News aired hundreds of statements like 'it really needs to be total annihilation' in Gaza and 'there are no innocents' – while Israeli authorities refused to act against the channel

This week at Ben-Gurion Airport: A Gaza war veteran finds relief in sharing his story, and a mother and daughter release tension through martial arts

ISRAEL: Israel's defense minister threatens strikes in Iran if Houthis continue firing at Israel; Israeli source says there is serious concern for the lives of three hostages held in Gaza ■ GAZA: At least 106 killed, 367 wounded brought to Gaza hospitals in last 24 hours ■ LEBANON: At least one killed, 8 wounded in Israeli airstrikes in south Lebanon, health ministry says

Operational orders presented to army commanders listed 'defeating Hamas' as top priority for the expanded Gaza operation, with returning the hostages as last – contrary to assurances by the chief of staff and army spokesperson. Defense sources say the priorities were set by political leadership

At least nine children and four women were killed in the Israeli attack on a school housing displaced persons in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Palestinian reports

The cost of expanding the military campaign in the Gaza Strip is liable to amount to 25 billion shekels in three months – not including the damage to the economy ■ If additional spending is approved, the defense budget will climb to about 160 billion shekels this year, the state budget will be reopened and the deficit could increase ■ Long-term control of Gaza will cost billions more

Trump loves Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE – they're rich, under U.S. influence, and led by regimes he finds easy to handle. But if it's deals we're talking, maybe it's the Saudi crown prince we should speak to about trading a Gaza cease-fire for a multi-billion-dollar pact with Trump

Israel's expanded assault on Gaza is setting it up for a prolonged and costly occupation that the economy cannot afford

Humanitarian organizations in Gaza reject the army's plan, saying it will harm the population's security. The Washington Post reported that Israel will allow 60 aid trucks to enter Gaza daily and that residents may collect food and household products at six hubs

A Gaza resident tells Haaretz about how his family is coping with the lack of food in the Strip: 'We agreed: one meal a day, no bread. We rely on water trucks for drinking water'

For Netanyahu's government, the Gaza war is still 'existential' and protesting its surging cost is a matter of disloyalty to the cause. Perhaps it's fitting that it's teachers, with their duty to Israel's next generation but their salaries slashed, are now on strike

Ahead of his death in April, Pope Francis directed the Catholic relief organization Caritas to turn the vehicle into a medical clinic used to treat Palestinian children.

The Israeli Air Force is aware of at least 3,000 unexploded bombs in Gaza. After tens of thousands of airstrikes, the IDF ran low on reliable fuses and turned to outdated ones – some decades old. 'Tens of tons of explosives are lying in Gaza, waiting for Hamas,' said one officer

ISRAEL: Smotrich says 'Gaza will be destroyed,' civilians to emigrate after Israeli victory declared in coming months ■ GAZA: 37 people killed in Israeli strikes since Tuesday morning, Gazan medical sources say ■ YEMEN: IDF struck Sanaa Int'l Airport, causing shutdown; U.S. and Houthis announce cease-fire ■ EGYPT: Source says Egypt has received new U.S. proposal for Gaza cease-fire ahead of Trump visit