CAIRO -- Egypt announced on Saturday that Israel will release more than 1,890 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) releasing 33 Israeli detainees during the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

This agreement, reached through Egyptian mediation with regional and international partners, is scheduled to commence at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) Sunday, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement. (Egypt-Gaza Ceasefire-Prisoner Release)

- - - -

CAIRO -- An Egyptian security source told Xinhua on Saturday that the Rafah crossing, the only channel linking the Gaza Strip with Egypt, will be reopened on Sunday.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that about 600 aid trucks are expected to enter Gaza via the crossing on Sunday, as per the ceasefire-for-hostage release deal. (Egypt-Rafah-Reopening)

- - - -

JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday evening that "if we have to return to war, we will do so in new ways and with great force."

In a video statement on the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, set to take effect Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT), Netanyahu noted that both outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden and incoming President Donald Trump have given full backing to Israel's right to return to fighting if negotiations on the second phase of the agreement are "futile." (Israel-Gaza War-Return)

- - - -

JERUSALEM -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Saturday that it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen toward southeastern Israel.

Sirens were activated in the southernmost Red Sea city of Eilat and the Arava Valley following the missile launch. According to the IDF, the missile was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory, and no casualties were reported. (Israel-Yemeni Missile Attack-Interception) Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)