Emotional crowds gather to watch as first three hostages are released in deal, but worry over fate of those still held in Gaza clouds joy

Police thwart attack at Kalandiya crossing in West Bank • Israeli public split on war achievements • Israeli government approves hostage deal

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, plans to be a near-constant presence in the region in an attempt to prevent the deal from unraveling.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip has been reached, after his office

Thousands of Israelis gathered on Saturday night across the country, on the eve of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, to demand from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he not resume the war until the last of the 98 kidnapped individuals who remain captive is back home.

Qatari and Hamas officials say a ceasefire has been reached to pause Israel's war in Gaza and release dozens of hostages.

Israeli police said that an assailant stabbed and seriously wounded a person in the centre of commercial hub Tel Aviv on Saturday, before being shot and "neutralised" by a civilian. "An armed civilian nearby shot and neutralised" the attacker.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The first three hostages released from Gaza have arrived in Israel, the military announced Sunday, hours after the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold. Their mothers were waiting to meet them.

By The Associated Press A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took effect on Sunday following an almost three-hour delay after Hamas was late to name the three hostage it plans to release. The

The ceasefire was delayed after Israel said Hamas had failed to produce the names of the first three hostages expected to be released on Sunday under the truce.

The first stage of a truce between Israel and Hamas prompted celebrations in Gaza and hope for an end to the 15-month war. Three Israeli hostages were expected to be freed on Sunday, along with dozens of Palestinian prisoners.