Oil prices jumped on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, raising fears of crude supply disruption from two of the biggest suppliers to the U.S., but the prospect of lower fuel demand capped gains.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $73.97 a barrel, up $1.44, or 2%, by 0042 GMT, after hitting more than a week's high at $75.18 a barrel earlier in the session.

Brent crude futures rose 62 cents, or 0.8%, to $76.29 a barrel, after touching a high of $77.34.

Trump on Saturday ordered sweeping tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China, kicking off a trade war that could dent global growth and reignite inflation.

Energy products from Canada will have only a 10% duty, but Mexican energy imports will be charged the full 25%, White House officials said.

"The relatively soft stance on Canadian energy imports is likely rooted in caution," Barclays analyst Amarpreet Singh said in a note.

"Tariffs on Canadian energy imports would likely be more disruptive for domestic energy markets than those on Mexican imports and might even be counterproductive to one of the president's key objectives - lowering energy costs."

Canada and Mexico are the top sources of U.S. crude imports, together accounting for about a quarter of the oil U.S. refiners process into fuels such as gasoline and heating oil, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The tariffs will raise costs for the heavier crude grades U.S. refineries need for optimum production, industry sources said, cutting their profitability and potentially forcing production cuts.

U.S. gasoline futures jumped 2.6% to $2.1128 a gallon after hitting $2.162 earlier, the highest since Jan. 16.

The tariffs are bullish for near-term oil prices due to supply disruption risks, especially for heavier grades, said Saul Kavonic, an energy analyst at MST Marquee.

However, oil prices may fall beyond the next quarter as tariffs cause the demand outlook to deteriorate further and as OPEC+ has come under more pressure from Trump to unwind production cuts, he added.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, a group known as OPEC+, is unlikely to alter existing plans to raise output gradually when it meets on Monday, delegates from the producer group told Reuters, despite the pressure from Trump.

Reuters

President Donald Trump has ordered new tariffs on imports from key trading partners, triggering contrasting responses from Canada and China. The measures include 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and 10% on Chinese goods, set to take effect Tuesday.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced swift retaliation, unveiling countermeasures worth C$155 billion ($107 billion) on U.S. imports. C$30 billion in tariffs will be implemented immediately, matching Trump's timeline, with the remaining C$125 billion following in three weeks. The Canadian tariffs target American products including beer, wine, bourbon, fruits, and orange juice from Florida, along with clothing, sports equipment, and household appliances.

"From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of the Korean Peninsula, we have fought and died alongside you during your darkest hours," said a somber Trudeau, flanked by his ministers. "We didn't ask for this but we will not back down." He encouraged Canadians to buy domestic products and vacation locally rather than in the U.S.

In contrast, China's response has been more measured. While denouncing the tariffs as a "serious violation" of international trade rules, Beijing has opted for a diplomatic approach, filing a symbolic challenge at the World Trade Organization while leaving the door open for negotiations. This measured tone marks a departure from the heated exchanges that characterized previous trade disputes with Trump.

Trump cited fentanyl trafficking as justification for the Chinese tariffs, prompting pushback from Beijing. "Fentanyl is America's problem," China's foreign ministry stated, asserting that they had already achieved "remarkable results" in anti-narcotics cooperation with the United States.

The trade tensions come at a challenging time for Canada, as Trudeau plans to step down amid low approval ratings once a new Liberal Party leader is chosen. The U.S.-Canada relationship is particularly crucial, with the 9,000-km border facilitating over $2.5 billion in daily trade. Canadian exports to the U.S. account for roughly 17.8% of Canada's GDP and more than 2.4 million jobs.

China, dealing with its own economic challenges despite meeting its 5% growth target last year, has been preparing for these tariffs by strengthening allied relationships and focusing on technological self-reliance. The country's massive trade surplus of nearly $1 trillion remains a point of vulnerability, leading analysts to expect China might seek an early deal with Trump to minimize economic impact.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of 10 people in an attack on the Amegu Nkalaha community in Ishielu Local Government Area. The assault, which occurred on Sunday morning, was reportedly carried out by armed men, believed to be acting in reprisal over the killing of their cattle.

During the attack, several houses were set ablaze, and many residents sustained injuries. According to Joshua Ukandu, the police spokesperson in Ebonyi, 10 bodies were recovered from the scene, while the assailants appeared to have targeted specific homes for destruction.

Ukandu stated that security personnel have been deployed to the area, restoring normalcy. However, he noted that the motive behind the attack remains unclear, and an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The situation is now calm. We received reports of an attack on the community and immediately dispatched police operatives to the scene,” Ukandu said.

“On arrival, we found that houses had been selectively burnt, and we recovered 10 corpses. Our personnel remain on the ground, ensuring stability in the area. As of now, we cannot confirm the exact cause of the attack, but investigations are ongoing.”

Hezbollah chief says slain predecessor Nasrallah to be buried Feb. 23

The head of Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah said on Sunday that his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, would be laid to rest on Feb. 23, nearly five months after he was killed in an Israeli air attack on Beirut's southern suburbs.

Nasrallah, who had served as Hezbollah's secretary general for more than 30 years, was killed on Sept. 27 as Israel ramped up its air attacks on Hezbollah targets and just days before Israeli troops began ground incursions into southern Lebanon.

His successor Naim Qassem said in a televised address on Sunday that Nasrallah was killed "at a time when circumstances were difficult," forcing the group to conduct a temporary burial for him according to religious tradition.

Qassem said the group had now decided to hold "a grand funeral procession with a large public presence" for both Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, another top Hezbollah official killed in an Israeli strike nearly a week after Nasrallah.

Qassem confirmed on Sunday for the first time that Safieddine had been elected as Nasrallah's successor but was killed before the announcement was made. He said Safieddine would also be buried with the title of secretary general.

The killings of both Nasrallah and Safieddine - as well as many of the group's top military commanders - threw Hezbollah into disarray. The group announced on Oct. 29 that Qassem, the group's deputy leader, had been elected as its head.

A ceasefire agreed in late November ended hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and set a 60-day deadline for Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon, Hezbollah to remove its fighters and arms from the area and Lebanese troops to deploy there.

That deadline was extended last month until Feb. 18. Israel has continued to carry out some airstrikes on parts of Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of violating the terms of the ceasefire.

Hezbollah says Israel is responsible for the breaches and says the Lebanese state and the deal's foreign sponsors - the U.S. and France - should prevent Israel's violations. But it has not threatened to resume fighting.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine drone attack sparks fire, forces flight suspensions at several Russian airports

Ukraine's overnight drone attack targeted fuel and energy facilities in Russia, sparking a fire in the Astrakhan region and forcing the suspension of flights at several airports, Russian officials and media said on Monday.

"Ukrainian armed forces attempted a drone attack on objects located in the region, including fuel and energy facilities," Igor Babushkin, governor of the Astrakhan region in southern Russia, said on the Telegram messaging app.

"Falling drone sparked a fire. There were no casualties."

Babushkin did not say what was on fire. Baza, a Russian news Telegram channel that is close to Russia's security services, said that Ukraine attacked a gas processing plant near Astrakhan.

Russia's aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said that it was suspending flights from the airports of Astrakhan as well as from four others, in Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, Saratov and Ulyanovsk to ensure air safety.

Earlier, Rosaviatsia temporarily suspended flights from the Volgograd airport in southern Russia, but flights there have since been restored, it said on Telegram.

There were no official reports on any attack on Volgograd, but Baza, and other Russian news Telegram channels reported a large coordinated drone attack that reportedly targeted an oil refinery.

Reuters could not independently verify the Baza reports. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

Kyiv has said previously that its attacks inside Russia are aimed at destroying energy, transport and military infrastructure that is key to Moscow's war efforts.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said they are also a response to Russia's continued bombing of Ukraine since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russian army destroys Ukrainian military aerodromes, fuel storage facilities — top brass

The Russian army’s units have destroyed the infrastructure of military aerodromes and fuel storage facilities used in the interests of the Ukrainian armed forces, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"Operational-tactical aviation, combat unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces’ group of forces inflicted damage on infrastructure of military airfields, fuel storage facilities used in the interests of the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as troops and equipment of the Ukrainian armed groups in 153 areas," the report said.

Battlegroup Center

Ukraine’s armed forces lost up to 515 troops, a tank and six armored fighting vehicles, in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Center in 24 hours, the ministry said.

"Units of Battlegroup Center continued active advance actions. Damage was inflicted on troops and equipment of two mechanized, two jaeger brigades, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army, and an assault brigade Lyut of Ukraine’s National police near settlements of Dzerzhinsk, Druzhba, Lysovka, Nadezhdinka, Shevchenko, Uspenovka, Andreyevka, and Kotlino of the Donetsk People’s Republic. The enemy lost up to 515 troops, a tank, six armored fighting vehicles, ten cars, and six field branch artillery weapons, one of them produced by a NATO country," the report said.

Battlegroup West

Ukraine’s armed forces lost up to 295 troops and three armored fighting vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup West in 24 hours.

"Damage was inflicted on troops and equipment of five mechanized and a tank brigades of the Ukrainian army near settlements of Kondrashovka, Kolodeznoye, Kislovka, Monachinovka of the Kharkov Region and Makeyevka of the Lugansk People’s Republic. The enemy lost up to 295 troops, three armored fighting vehicles, 11 cars, a multiple-launch rocket system, four field branch artillery weapons. Two ammunition depots and an electronic warfare station were eliminated," the ministry said.

Battlegroup South

Ukraine’s armed forces lost up to 200 troops in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup South in 24 hours.

"The units of Battlegroup South took more favorable positions. Damage was inflicted on formations of two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army and two territorial defense brigades near settlements of Ulakly, Belogorovka, Verkhnekamenskoye and Chasov Yar of the Donetsk People’s Republic. The Ukrainian army lost up to 200 troops, two cars, a multiple-launch rocket system, and seven field branch artillery weapons, two of which were produced by NATO countries. Four ammunition depots were destroyed," the report said.

Battlegroupы Dnepr, North

The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr and Battlegroup North reached up to 80 troops, the ministry added.

"The units of Battlegroup North in the Kharkov area inflicted damage on formations of Ukraine’s infantry and air assault brigades near settlements of Liptsy and Volchansk of the Kharkov Region. The enemy lost up to 20 troops, two cars, and four field branch artillery weapons," according to the report.

Units of Battlegroup Dnepr inflicted damage on troops and equipment of Ukraine’s mechanized brigade and two coastal defense brigades near settlements of Rabotino, Primorskoye of the Zaporozhye Region, and Antonovka of the Kherson Region. The enemy lost up to 60 troops, three cars, three field branch artillery weapons, and two electronic warfare stations, the ministry said, adding that an ammunition depot was destroyed.

Battlegroup East

Moreover, Ukraine’s armed forces lost a tank and 140 troops in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup East in 24 hours.

Russia’s air defense downed a HIMARS system and 44 unmanned aerial vehicles of the Ukrainian armed forces in 24 hours, the Defense Ministry said.

"Air defense systems downed a US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and 44 drones," the ministry said.

In all, the Russian forces have destroyed 652 Ukrainian warplanes, 283 helicopters, 42,139 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 20,997 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,513 multiple rocket launchers, 21,129 field artillery guns and mortars, and 31,127 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, the ministry added.

Reuters/Tass

In the aftermath of the announcement on 28 January 2024 by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic denouncing the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and leaving the regional bloc “without delay”, reactions spanned the spectrum from hubris to hyperbole. From Nigeria, the regional anchor and chair of the Community, the predominant sentiment was: “the three countries would have more to lose.”

Outside the continent, some described the situation as “West Africa’s ‘Brexit’ moment” or Sahelexit, likening it to Britain’s decision in 2016 to quit the European Union. Reinforcing the comparison, the finalization this past week of the exit of the three countries from ECOWAS coincided with the fifth anniversary of the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU. The temptation to read too much into this coincidence should be resisted.

It is significant that the announcement by the three ECOWAS frontier states in 2024 was made shortly after the arrival in France of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu for what was said to be a “private visit”. All three countries have been involved in a plurinational dispute involving both Nigeria and France and connected with military rule and transitions to elected government.

In reality, however, the disputes have been more about historical legacies of French colonial rule, the complex insecurity in the Sahel, and Nigeria’s regional role. In reference to this, the joint statement by the three countries accused ECOWAS of being “under the influence of foreign powers and betraying its founding principles.”

These were not allegations to be treated lightly. There was also significance to the fact that the announcement came on the eve of ECOWAS’ golden jubilee year and represented the latest escalation in what is in fact a debate about how to calibrate inter-state relations in an increasingly complex regional environment.

It did not have to end this way. As a matter of law and notwithstanding the peremptory language deployed, the departure declaration by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in 2024 denouncing the ECOWAS Treaty was not immediate. Article 91(1) of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty requires departing countries to “give to the Executive Secretary one year’s notice in writing” and their departure can only take effect at the end of the period.

ECOWAS had every opportunity during this period to exert itself to show it desired a different outcome. In the end, the Community appeared manifestly incapable of sustaining two contradictory ideas. One is the strategic importance of good neighbourliness within ECOWAS as a regional community of sovereign peers; the other is the commitment to government founded on democratic legitimacy.

The fact that ECOWAS finds itself in the current predicament ostensibly over the fate elective government in the region is somewhat perverse acknowledgement of how far it has advanced since its origins.

Of the 15 heads of state and government present at the adoption of the Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States in May 1975, seven were military rulers and another six were succeeded by soldiers. Felix Houphöuet-Boigny of Côte d’Ivoire was the only president as such among the original signatories who was neither a soldier nor directly succeeded by one but his successor was toppled by the military in December 1999. Abdou Diouf, who represented Senegal at the adoption of the treaty was then Prime Minister to President Leopold Senghor, whom he later succeeded as president on 1 April, 1981.

Cape Verde and Senegal are, therefore, the only ECOWAS countries to have been spared the experience of military rule. This fact should ordinarily have equipped the Community and its member states with adequate skills in reacting to military coups. However, it would be a mistake to suppose this denouement is the result of an argument over coups alone or mostly.

ECOWAS began life in the middle of the global energy crisis of the 1970s, founded by rulers who declared it as their goal to “foster and accelerate the economic and social development of our States in order to improve the living standards of our peoples.” A combination of misrule and debt overhang miscarried this objective even before the ink was dry on the parchment on which it was written.

In the wake of instability that followed, the community adjusted its mission in 1981 to include mutual defence and security, importing an implicit obligation of regional solidarity. When the Mano River countries, first Liberia and then Sierra Leone, descended into war from 1989, Nigeria, then led by military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, launched a regional intervention known as ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in 1990.

A review of the original ECOWAS Treaty followed in 1993, chaired by Nigeria’s former military ruler, Yakubu Gowon, himself the prime mover behind the original ECOWAS vision. The Revised ECOWAS Treaty again enhanced the obligations of mutual solidarity among the countries of the sub-region.

As the anchor country in ECOWAS, Nigeria was naturally expected to bear much of the burden of financing this obligation. But a straitened economy at the end of decades of misrule have frustrated that capability on the part of Nigeria at precisely the time that the countries of the Sahel needed its presence the most in response to Islamist insurgencies.

The resulting vacuum has been filled by external actors. The French proved to be their own worst enemies in their attempt to fill this vacuum, providing the soldiers who have seized power in these countries with a common foil. French departure in November 2022 and regional isolation by ECOWAS have proved to be a boon to Russia which has quickly built up assets and relations with the regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

Notionally, the departure of these three countries will cost ECOWAS 54.35 per cent of its landmass, 20 per cent of its sovereign membership, 16.5 per cent of its population and seven per cent of its GDP. The actual costs are incalculable. First, Mali and Niger have been historic buffers between the violence of the Sahel and the Maghreb on the one hand and the coastal states of the Gulf of Guinea on the other. Their departure could create new security exposures.

Second, the informal economies of West Africa depend significantly on these countries. Trade, migration and pilgrimage routes traverse through them and the impact on the poor and the excluded who rely on these informal routes could either prove to be prohibitive or prove that our inter-state borders are hollow in legitimacy and meaning in the lives of ordinary people.

Third, these countries are important for civil aviation in West Africa for overflights. If they were to deny these, ticketing and routing into their southern neighbours could also become prohibitive.

The upshot is that, in a region defined by notoriously porous borders and transnational communities, severing ties could be easier said than done. Even now, there is still reason not to give up hope: Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger retain their membership of the CFA Franc Zone in the UEMOA, five of whose members remain in the ECOWAS.

ECOWAS has put a brave face on its diminution, claiming that its institutional doors remain open to these countries but their Alliance of Sahel States (AES) is up and running. The feeling remains inescapable that this outcome was not foregone and that it has been enabled by high-level ineptitude among the leadership of ECOWAS.

Ghana’s new president, John Mahama, has in a practical manner made it a priority to advance rapprochement with the AES countries, appointing a personal envoy to lead this process. The Community should fully support him.

It is impossible not to contemplate what might have been. Over the past year while the imminence of these losses escalated, Nigeria’s President and Chairperson of ECOWAS, Bola Tinubu, has been to France on numerous occasions. Consider what might have been if he found time to engage and personally visit these West African neighbours? Surely, that was a mission fit for a new presidential jet.

** Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a professor of law, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Leading generative artificial intelligence company OpenAI unveiled a new AI tool on Sunday named "Deep Research," designed to perform multi-step online research for complex tasks. The tool leverages a specialized version of OpenAI's upcoming o3 model, tailored for web browsing and data analysis. Users can input a prompt, and OpenAI's ChatGPT will search, analyze, and synthesize various online sources—including text, images, and PDFs—to generate a detailed report comparable to the work of a research analyst.

OpenAI highlighted the tool's efficiency, stating, "It accomplishes in tens of minutes what would take a human many hours." However, the company also noted that Deep Research is still in its early stages and has certain limitations. For instance, it may struggle to differentiate authoritative information from rumors and currently has challenges with confidence calibration, often failing to accurately convey uncertainty.

Deep Research is now available on the web version of ChatGPT and is expected to be rolled out to mobile and desktop apps by the end of February.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in its ex-depot petrol price from N950 to N890 per litre. The price cut was revealed in a statement issued on Saturday by Anthony Chiejina, the group's chief branding and communications officer.

The company attributed the price adjustment to favorable conditions in global energy markets, particularly noting the recent decline in Brent crude oil prices from $81 to $77.48 per barrel between early January and Friday.

"This price revision directly responds to positive trends in global energy markets," the refinery stated. The company expressed confidence that the N60 reduction would help lower nationwide fuel costs and subsequently reduce prices of goods and services across various economic sectors.

The refinery emphasized its commitment to transparency in pricing and has called for cooperation from oil marketers to ensure consumers benefit from the price reduction. This adjustment follows the company's previous price modification announced on January 19th.

The Trump administration has announced new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify the move.

In an executive order signed on Saturday, President Donald Trump authorized the tariffs, which take effect on Tuesday. The order imposes an additional 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on imports from China. However, energy resources from Canada will be subject to a lower 10% tariff.

According to the White House, the measure is a response to what the administration calls an “extraordinary threat” from illegal immigration and drug trafficking, including the spread of fentanyl. The executive order states that these issues constitute a national emergency and claims that criminal organizations are exploiting U.S. borders.

“This challenge threatens the fabric of our society,” the order reads. It specifically criticizes Canada, alleging that the country has not done enough to curb the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.

A fact sheet released by the White House says the tariffs aim to hold Canada, Mexico, and China accountable for their commitments to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

International Backlash

The announcement was met with swift condemnation from leaders of the affected countries. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded on X, saying, “We did not want this, but Canada is prepared.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected the U.S. accusations, calling them “slander” and denying any government ties to criminal organizations. She emphasized Mexico’s commitment to fighting drug trafficking but insisted that cooperation must be based on “shared responsibility, mutual trust, and respect for sovereignty.”

Economic Implications

The move had been widely anticipated after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Friday that tariffs would be announced over the weekend.

That same day, Trump hinted at potential tariff hikes on imports from the European Union, claiming such measures would strengthen the U.S. economy.

On Saturday, Trump defended the tariffs in a Truth Social post, stating, “We need to protect Americans, and it is my duty as President to ensure the safety of all.” He also reiterated his campaign promise to “stop the flood of illegal aliens and drugs”, saying that Americans overwhelmingly voted for it.

Israeli hostages, Palestinian prisoners released in latest Gaza exchange

Palestinian militant group Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages on Saturday, and dozens of Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released in exchange, in the latest stage of a truce aimed at ending the 15-month war in Gaza.

Ofer Kalderon, a French-Israeli dual national, and Yarden Bibas were handed over to Red Cross officials in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis before being transferred to Israel. Israeli-American Keith Siegel was separately handed over at the Gaza City seaport.

Hours later, 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released in the exchange. Among them, 150 arrived in Gaza while 32 got off a bus in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, where they were greeted by large crowds. One freed prisoner will be exiled to Egypt, according to the Hamas prisoners' media office.

"I feel joy despite the journey of pain and hardship that we lived," said Ali Al-Barghouti, who was serving two life sentences in an Israeli jail.

"The life sentence was broken and the occupation will one day be broken," added Barghouti, as the crowd around him in Ramallah chanted "Allah Akbar (God is the most great)."

At the newly reopened Rafah crossing on the southern border, children suffering from cancer and heart conditions were among the first Palestinian patients to be allowed to leave Gaza for medical treatment in Egypt.

Mohammad Zaqout, a senior official in Gaza's health ministry, however, criticised the limited number of patients allowed to travel for treatment, saying that around 18,000 people needed better healthcare.

In Israel, crowds gathered at the location in Tel Aviv known as Hostage Square to watch the release in the morning of the Israeli hostages on giant outdoor screens, mixing cheers and applause with tears as the three men appeared.

Kalderon, whose two children Erez and Sahar were released in the first hostage exchange in November 2023, and Bibas both briefly mounted a stage in Khan Younis, in front of a poster of Hamas figures including Mohammad Deif, the former military commander whose death was confirmed by Hamas this week, before being handed over to the Red Cross officials.

"Ofer Kalderon is free! We share the immense relief and joy of his loved ones after 483 days of unimaginable hell," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement.

Saturday's handover saw none of the chaotic scenes that overshadowed an earlier transfer on Thursday, when Hamas guards struggled to shield hostages from a surging crowd in Gaza.

But it was once again an occasion for a show of force by uniformed Hamas fighters who paraded in the area where the handovers took place in a sign of their re-established dominance in Gaza despite the heavy losses suffered in the war.

NEGOTIATIONS ON RELEASE OF REMAINING HOSTAGES

The total number of hostages freed so far is 18, including five Thais who were part of an unscheduled release on Thursday.

After Saturday's exchange, Israel will have released 583 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including militants serving life sentences for deadly attacks as well as some detained during the war but not charged.

As the fighting has abated, diplomatic efforts to build a wider settlement have stepped up.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday with the ceasefire in Gaza, and a possible normalisation of relations with Saudi Arabia as part of a postwar deal likely to be a focus.

During the first phase of the ceasefire, 33 children, women and older male hostages as well as sick and injured, were due to be released, with more than 60 men of military age left for a second phase which must still be worked out.

Negotiations are due to start by Tuesday on agreements for the release of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza in a second phase of the deal, which is intended to lead to a final end of the war in Gaza.

The initial six-week truce, agreed with Egyptian and Qatari mediators and backed by the United States, has mostly remained intact despite incidents that have led both sides to accuse the other of violating the deal.

Netanyahu's government, which has hardliners who opposed the ceasefire deal, and Hamas say they are committed to reaching an agreement in the second phase.

But prospects for a durable settlement remain unclear. The war started with a Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, and saw more than 250 taken as hostages. The Israeli military campaign has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians. Gaza is in ruins and a deep legacy of bitterness and mistrust remains.

Israeli leaders continue to insist that Hamas cannot remain in Gaza, but the movement has taken every opportunity to demonstrate the control it continues to exert despite the loss of much of its former leadership and thousands of fighters during the war.

Reuters