Hamas set to release three Israeli hostages as Gaza ceasefire holds

Palestinian militant group Hamas is set to hand over three Israeli hostages on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian detainees and prisoners in the latest stage of a ceasefire deal aimed at opening the way to ending the 15-month war in Gaza.

Ohad Ben Ami and Eli Sharabi, both taken hostage from Kibbutz Be'eri during the cross-border Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, and Or Levy, abducted that day from the Nova music festival, will be handed over on Saturday, Hamas said.

In exchange, Israel will release 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including 18 serving life sentences, 54 serving long sentences and 111 detained in Gaza during the war, Hamas media office said.

The exchange is the latest in a series of swaps that have so far returned 13 Israeli hostages as well as five Thai workers abducted during the Hamas attack and 583 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Despite hiccups, a 42-day ceasefire and hostage-for-prisoner exchange worked out with U.S. backing and mediation by Egypt and Qatar has held up since it took effect nearly three weeks ago.

But fears the deal might collapse before all the hostages are free have grown since U.S. President Donald Trump's surprise call for Palestinians to be moved from Gaza and for the enclave to be handed to the United States and developed into the "Riviera of the Middle East."

Arab states and Palestinian groups have rejected the proposal, which critics said would amount to ethnic cleansing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, welcomed Trump's intervention and his defence minister ordered the military to make plans to allow Palestinians who wished to leave Gaza to do so.

Under the deal, 33 Israeli children, women and older men are to be released during an initial phase in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Negotiations on a second phase began this week aimed at returning the remaining hostages and agreeing a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza in preparation for a final end to the war.

Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 as hostages.

In response, Israel launched an air and ground war in Gaza that has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and devastated the narrow enclave.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine sees marked improvement in accuracy of Russia's North Korean missiles

North Korean ballistic missiles fired at Ukraine by Russian forces since late December have been far more precise than salvos of the weapons launched over the past year, two senior Ukrainian sources told Reuters.

At a time when Moscow's burgeoning ties with Pyongyang are causing alarm from Washington to Seoul, the increase in accuracy - to within 50-100m of the intended target - suggests North Korea is successfully using the battlefield to test its missile technology, the sources said.

A military source, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive information, described a marked improvement in the precision in all the more than 20 North Korean ballistic missiles that hit Ukraine over the past several weeks. A second source, a senior government official familiar with the issue, confirmed the findings when asked by Reuters.

Yang Uk, a weapons expert at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said such improvements in North Korean missile capabilities have troubling implications for its potential to threaten South Korea, Japan and the United States or sell upgraded weapons to "failed" states or armed groups.

"That can have a major impact on stability in the region and the world," he said, in response to questions for this story.

North Korea's military programmes have developed rapidly in recent years, including short- and intermediate-range missiles that Pyongyang says can be tipped with nuclear warheads. However, until its involvement in Ukraine, the long-isolated nation had never tested the new weapons in combat.

Ukraine's defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Ukraine does not usually disclose the outcome of Russian missile and drone strikes on military targets.

The defence ministries in Russia and South Korea, as well as South Korea's National Intelligence Service, did not respond to Reuters questions.

The North Korean embassy in London did not answer calls seeking comment or respond to a voicemail. The country's mission at the U.N. did not respond to questions. North Korea and Russia have denied any arms deals though their leaders pledged closer military cooperation when they met in September in Russia's far east.

The U.S. Pentagon and U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment.

'CUSTOMER FEEDBACK'

Military expert Yang said his security contacts in Ukraine had also independently reported improvements in the latest batches of North Korean missiles.

"As they are making missiles and getting feedback from the customers – the Russian army - then they have more experience making more reliable missiles," he said.

The sources and Yang said it was not clear what modifications North Korea had made.

The military source said forensic analysis conducted on debris had not identified changes to the design of the missiles, although there had been very little debris left to analyse.

Two possible explanations were the missiles being fitted with better navigation systems or with a steering mechanism to help manoeuvring, the source said.

According to Yang, other factors that could improve accuracy include better targeting information for crews, new guidance system components provided by Russia and improvements based on the data and experience North Korean scientists have gathered in the war.

Earlier in the war, the missiles had an accuracy of 1-3 kilometres, but the most recent had an accuracy of between 50 and 100 metres, the military source said in an interview in Kyiv on Jan. 27, disclosing a previously unreported assessment for the first time.

The source declined to publicly disclose what had been targeted, where the missiles were fired from or the dates of the attacks, citing military secrecy.

Russia began firing North Korean K-23, K-23A and K-24 short-range ballistic missiles at Ukraine towards the end of 2023 and has since fired around 100, the source said. Kyiv says Russia has also received millions of artillery shells and thousands of troops from Pyongyang to help its war effort.

North Korea is expanding a complex that manufactures K-23 missiles, Reuters reported in November.

In February 2024, Ukraine's top prosecutor cast doubt on the reliability of North Korea's little-known weaponry, saying that only two out of 24 missiles that had been fired up to that point had been "relatively accurate."

The advance in the weapons' precision appeared suddenly, the source said, after months of inaccurate launches. The new assessment was based on where the missiles - identified as North Korean through examinations at blast sites - fell in relation to the presumed target in the vicinity, the source said.

Reuters could not independently verify the sources' assessment.

BIGGER PAYLOAD

Though North Korean ballistic missiles account for only a small portion of Russia's missile strikes they carry a large warhead of up to one tonne and have a range of up to 800 km, the military source said. The Iskander-M, an equivalent Russian missile, carries a smaller payload and has a shorter range of 500 km.

Moscow and Pyongyang have rapidly grown closer since 2023 when Russia's then-defence minister visited North Korea. The two powers signed a treaty on "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" last year.

When then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Seoul in November, he warned that Pyongyang's deepening ties with Moscow were a threat to global non-proliferation regimes.

South Korea's national security adviser Shin Won-sik said in November that Russia had provided North Korea with anti-air missiles and air defence equipment in return for troops and weapons supplies.

Moscow may also be assisting North Korea with missile parts and financial support, as well as space technology, South Korea's intelligence agency has said.

"North Korea is getting something," Yang said.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Raging battle for key Donbass town

The Russian Defense Ministry has released a compilation video on Saturday, highlighting moments from the five months-long battle for the town of Dzerzhinsk.

The town (known as Toretsk in Ukraine) in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) was liberated by Russian troops on Friday.

The video gives a glimpse of the urban warfare in the heavily battered town, depicting intensive use of assorted drones.

The footage features excerpts from various videos taken by surveillance, bomber and first person view (FPV) drones during the battle. It shows the targeting of Ukrainian logistics and personnel, as well as strikes against firing positions set up by the Ukrainian troops in high-rise buildings.

Kiev deployed some 40,000 soldiers to defend the town, which had been turned into a heavily fortified stronghold, the Russian military has said. The Ukrainian force stationed in Dzerzhinsk lost around 70% of its personnel in the battle, roughly 26,000 troops, the military added, noting that its garrison included the most motivated hardline-nationalist units at Kiev’s disposal.

“Almost every building was turned into a well-equipped and protected long-term firing position. The waste heaps and shafts located in the northern and western parts of the town were used for defense as well,” the Defense Ministry in Moscow stated.

Apart from the liberation of Dzerzhinsk, Moscow announced the capture of two villages adjacent to the town, Druzhba and Krymskoye, with the development apparently signalling that the Russian forces had already established a solid defensive zone around it.

The control over Dzerzhinsk is expected to alleviate the hardships long-endured by the DPR city of Gorlovka, located a short distance to the southeast of the town. Apart from serving as an important fortified position for the Ukrainian troops, the town also served as a key staging point for indiscriminate artillery, missile and drone attacks, endured by Gorlovka on an almost daily basis.

The liberation of Dzerzhinsk now opens the way to Konstantinovka and potentially gives the Russian military room to flank Ukrainian forces concentrated inside and near Kramatorsk, a major city located in the northwest of the DPR.

Reuters/RT

The mayor of Berezovsky shockingly lost the recent local elections to a “puppet candidate” who happens to be his subordinate and the wife of his personal driver.

Russian media has been reporting on the surprising outcome of the mayoral race in Berezovsky, a satellite city of Yekaterinburg, in Russia’s Sverdlovsk region. The reelection of Yevgeny Pistsov, who was trying to secure a fourth consecutive term as mayor, seemed little more than a formality, as he was running against a fellow member of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia political party who also happened to be a subordinate of his and the wife of his personal driver. No one expected Yulia Maslakova to win, she even told reporters that she ran as a “sparring partner” for Pistov, but the impossible happened and now she is doing everything in her power to avoid being sworn in as mayor.

In Berezovsky, like in many other cities, the mayor is not elected directly by the people, but by deputies on the proposal of a selection committee. The deputies are usually representatives of various local and regional authorities. This year, the deputies had reportedly asked the selection committee to allow more alternative candidates to choose from, but they were ultimately presented with only two options, Mayor Pistsov and Yulia Maslakova, the head of the investment development department of the Berezovsky administration and wife of Yevgeny Pistsov’s personal driver.

Russian newspaper Kommersant recently reported that during the recent local elections, out of the 23 deputies, 17 voted for Maslakova and only six for Pitsov. It is believed that the vote was in direct retaliation to the current mayor not allowing the deputies to elect “their candidate” by preventing them from running.

When the result of the elections in Berezovsky was announced, no one was more shocked than the winner. Maslakova reportedly tried to withdraw from the race but was told that it was impossible because she had already competed and won. She now has two weeks to take the oath as mayor, but she apparently has no plans to do so. A source in the Sverdlovsk region government told Kommersant that Maslakova “has refused the position” of mayor because she doesn’t want to work in “an atmosphere of conflict”.

If Yulia Maslakova doesn’t show up to be sworn in as mayor in 15 days, new local elections will be held, but political analysts in Russia doubt that Yevgeny Pistsov will secure a new term, because of the embarrassing result of this first election.

“It is an illusion to think that since the mayor is supported by the regional authorities, this will save him from falling into political oblivion,” local political scientist Alexander Belousov explained. “No one needs weak mayors.”

We’re just speculating, but could Yulia Maslakova’s refusal to accept the seat of mayor of Berezovsky have anything to do with the fact that her husband would become her personal driver?

Oddity Central

PRESS RELEASE

It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of His Royal Highness, Oba Idowu Adeleke Basibo, the Alaperu of Iperu-Akesan-Land, who transitioned to join his ancestors on the 6th of February, 2025. The news of his departure has left a deep void in the hearts of the Basibo family, the Iperu-Akesan-Land in Council, the Ruling Houses, and the entire community of Iperu-Akesan-Land.

Oba Basibo was not just a monarch; he was a beacon of hope, a unifying force, and a tireless advocate for the progress and development of Iperu-Akesan-Land. His reign was marked by unwavering dedication to the welfare of his people, both at home and in the diaspora. Kabiyesi’s life was a testament to the virtues of integrity, compassion, and selfless service, leaving an indelible mark on the sands of time.

Though his passing is a stark reminder of the transient nature of our existence, we take solace in the enduring legacy he leaves behind. Oba Basibo’s leadership was characterized by wisdom, grace, and an unyielding commitment to the advancement of his kingdom. His efforts to foster unity, promote education, and uplift the less privileged will forever be remembered and cherished.

As we mourn the loss of our beloved Royal Father, we also celebrate the gift of his life—a life well-lived in service to humanity and the Fatherland. We give thanks to the Almighty for the privilege of sharing in his journey and for the countless lives he touched with his kindness and vision.

In this moment of grief, we extend our deepest condolences to the Basibo family, the Iperu-Akesan-Land in Council, the Ruling Houses, and all sons and daughters of Iperu-Akesan-Land. May the soul of Oba Idowu Adeleke Basibo find eternal rest in the bosom of the Almighty, free from all earthly troubles. May his legacy continue to inspire generations to come.

To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.

Rest in peace, Kabiyesi. Amen.

Signed:

Sir Dr. Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu, CFR, KJW, FISM, FGPS, FNIJ, FAmedS.*

The Pillar of Methodism in Nigeria, Baba-Oba of Iperu-Akesan-Land, and Odole-Oodua of The Source.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced a 15% increase in its tariffs. The move, approved by relevant authorities, aims to address aging infrastructure, obsolete equipment, and slow port capacity expansion.

Abubakar Dantsoho, the NPA Managing Director, disclosed this during a maritime stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, as reported in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

Dantsoho, represented by Olalekan Badmus, Executive Director of Marine and Operations, emphasized that the tariff hike is necessary to fund critical upgrades, including infrastructure maintenance, dredging, automation, and the deployment of modern marine crafts. He also highlighted the need for Nigeria to regain its competitive edge in cargo handling amid global economic shifts and regional competition.

Stakeholders at the meeting supported the increase, citing the erosion of tariff value due to Nigeria’s soaring inflation rate, currently around 35%. Joshua Asanga, a former NPA General Manager, noted that operational costs, including wages and fuel, have risen significantly, while NPA charges have remained stagnant for over three decades. Demian Ukagu, another stakeholder, stressed the importance of investing in outer port facilities and jetties to ensure sustainable trade and a minimum return on investment.

The NPA warned that maintaining outdated tariffs would lead to poor services, inadequate infrastructure, and declining port efficiency, underscoring the urgency of the adjustment.

The NPA’s tariff increase comes just a day after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced a new 4% levy on the free-on-board (FOB) value of imported goods. The NCS explained that the levy, mandated by the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, is essential for funding its operations and ensuring effective service delivery. The customs levy, combined with the NPA’s tariff hike, is expected to significantly increase the cost of imported goods.

Implications for Import Costs and Inflation

The simultaneous rate increases by the NPA and NCS are likely to exacerbate the already high cost of imported goods in Nigeria. With inflation at a record 35% and a cost-of-living crisis gripping the nation, these adjustments could further strain consumers and businesses. Importers will face higher expenses due to the 4% FOB levy and the 15% NPA tariff, which may be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for goods.

The combined impact of these measures could also hinder trade competitiveness, as neighboring countries with lower port charges and customs levies may attract more cargo traffic. While the NPA and NCS argue that the increases are necessary to improve infrastructure and service delivery, the timing raises concerns about their potential to worsen Nigeria’s economic challenges.

In conclusion, while the tariff and levy adjustments aim to modernize Nigeria’s ports and customs operations, their immediate effect on import costs and inflation could deepen the economic hardship faced by Nigerians. Policymakers must balance the need for revenue generation with the broader goal of stabilizing the economy and alleviating the cost-of-living crisis.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has instructed all affected police officers to disregard the recent directive from the Police Service Commission (PSC) mandating their immediate retirement.

The PSC had ordered officers who have completed 35 years of service or reached the age of 60 to retire without delay. However, a wireless message from the Force Secretary’s office stated that the IGP “strongly directs all officers affected by the PSC’s directive to stay action, pending further instruction.” Officers were instructed to comply strictly with this order.

Last week, PSC spokesman Ikechukwu Ani explained that the directive resulted from a review of the commission’s 24th plenary meeting in September 2017, which had previously allowed officers to use their enlistment date rather than their initial appointment date for service calculations. The PSC argued that this approach conflicted with Public Service Rule No. 020908, which mandates retirement after 35 years of service or upon reaching 60 years of age.

However, the PSC clarified that it does not have the constitutional authority to determine the appointment or retirement of the Inspector General of Police.

Maharazu Tsiga, retired Brigadier General, has been reportedly abducted in Tsiga village, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Tsiga, a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was said to have been abducted alongside nine other residents.

Although details surrounding the abduction are still sketchy, sources told our correspondent that the incident occurred around midnight on Wednesday.

Residents, who spoke anonymously, said the former NYSC DG was among those taken by the bandits.

There are reports that two people were killed during the incident but Daily Trust hasn’t independently verified this.

Police Public Relations Officer in Katsina, Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, had not responded to inquiries sent to him regarding the incident as of the time this report was filed. Katsina is one of the North West States affected by banditry.

Daily Trust

President Donald Trump announced at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Thursday that he will sign an executive order instructing the Justice Department to create a new task force to "eradicate anti-Christian bias." 

Trump praised new Attorney General Pam Bondi as a "great person," saying she would lead the new task force. 

"About time, right? Anti-Christian bias. Yeah, I never heard of that one before, right? But there is," Trump said. "The mission of this task force will be to immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ, which was absolutely terrible. The IRS, the FBI, terrible, and other agencies." 

The president said the task force will also "work to fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide." 

"While I'm in the White House, we will protect Christians in our schools, in our military, in our government, in our workplaces, hospitals and in our public squares, and we will bring our country back together as one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all," Trump said. "Throughout history, those who have sought control and domination over others have always tried to cut the people off from the connection to their creator. At the same time, every nation with big dreams and great ambition has recognized that there is no recourse more precious than the faith in the hearts of our people. It's the thing that makes our nation great and makes other nations great. When you don't have it, you don't see great nations. Without God, we are isolated and alone, but with God, the Scripture tells us, all things are possible," Trump said. 

Fox News Digital is told that Trump will sign the executive order Thursday afternoon to "end the war on Christians" and protect Americans’ "fundamental right to religious freedom." 

The White House said what will be known as the "Task Force to End the War on Christians" will be comprised of members of the president’s Cabinet and key government agencies, and the order seeks to "end the anti-Christian weaponization of government." 

The White House told Fox News Digital that the task force will review activities of all departments and agencies to "identify and eliminate anti-Christian policies, practices, or conduct." The task force will also gather input from various stakeholders to ensure "broad perspectives are considered," including faith-based organizations and Americans affected by "anti-Christian conduct."

The task force is also directed to identify and address gaps in law enforcement that have "contributed" to that conduct.

The executive order will also ensure that federal law enforcement remedy any "failures" to fully enforce the law against acts of anti-Christian hostility, vandalism and violence.

"The previous administration engaged in an egregious pattern of targeting peaceful Christians while ignoring violent, anti-Christian offenses," the White House said.

"President Trump will not tolerate this abuse of government and is taking action to ensure that any unlawful and improper anti-Christian conduct, policies or practices are identified, terminated, and rectified."

The executive order comes after nearly two dozen pro-life Christians were charged and sentenced for demonstrating outside abortion facilities during the Biden administration.

It also comes after an FBI memo asserted that traditional Catholics were domestic-terrorism threats and suggested infiltrating Catholic churches as "threat mitigation." The House Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government first discovered and investigated that memo.

Speaking at the Washington Hilton Hotel, Trump invoked his own faith in discussing the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. 

"Well, look at me. I'm standing before you today. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be here. A lot of people said I shouldn't have been here," Trump said. 

"It was God that saved me," Trump added, garnering applause. 

Earlier, the president spoke at another prayer breakfast Thursday at the U.S. Capitol, where he announced that he would sign an executive order to create a new national park called the "National Garden of American Heroes." 

"The stories of legends like Washington, Winthrop, and Williams remind us that without faith in God, there would be no American story," Trump said. "Every citizen should be proud of this exceptional heritage. We have an unbuilt, livable heritage, and we have to use that and make life better for everyone." 

As the United States approached the 250th anniversary of its founding next year, Trump said he would sign an executive order to "resume the process of creating a new national park full of statues of the greatest Americans who ever lived." 

"We're going to be honoring our heroes, honoring the greatest people from our country," Trump said. "We're not going to be tearing down. We're going to be building up." 

Trump also remembered the 67 lives lost during the fatal midair collisionbetween a Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet landing at Reagan airport in D.C. last week. The president said he would be speaking with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to come together on a "single bill" to upgrade U.S. air traffic control systems in the wake of the disaster.

"It would have just never happened if we had the right equipment," Trump said. "When I land in my plane privately, I use a system from another country because my captain tells me – I'm landing in New York and I'm using a system. I won't tell you what country, but I use a system from another country – because the captain says, 'This thing is so bad, it's so obsolete,' and we can't have that. So we're going to have the best system."

Fox News

Trump says Israel would hand over Gaza after fighting is over, no US troops needed

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday Israel would hand over Gaza to the United States after fighting was over and the enclave's population was already resettled elsewhere, which he said meant no U.S. troops would be needed on the ground.

A day after worldwide condemnation of Trump's announcement that he aimed to take over and develop the Gaza Strip into the "Riviera of the Middle East", Israel ordered its army to prepare to allow the "voluntary departure" of Gaza Palestinians.

Trump, who had previously declined to rule out deploying U.S. troops to the small coastal territory, clarified his idea in comments on his Truth Social web platform.

"The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting," he said. Palestinians "would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region." He added: "No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed!"

Earlier, amid a tide of support in Israel for what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump's "remarkable" proposal, Defence Minister Israel Katz said he had ordered the army to prepare a plan to allow Gaza residents who wished to leave to exit the enclave voluntarily.

"I welcome President Trump's bold plan. Gaza residents should be allowed the freedom to leave and emigrate, as is the norm around the world," Katz said on X.

He said his plan would include exit options via land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air.

Trump, a real-estate-developer-turned-politician, sparked anger around the Middle East with his unexpected announcement on Tuesday, just as Israel and Hamas were expected to begin talks in Doha on the second stage of a ceasefire deal for Gaza, intended to open the way for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, a further release of hostages and an end to a nearly 16-month-old war.

Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia rebuffed the proposal outright and Jordan's King Abdullah, who will meet Trump at the White House next week, said on Wednesday he rejected any attempts to annex land and displace Palestinians.

Egypt also weighed in, saying it would not be part of any proposal to displace Palestinians from neighbouring Gaza, where residents reacted with fury to the suggestion.

"We will not sell our land for you, real estate developer. We are hungry, homeless, and desperate but we are not collaborators," said Abdel Ghani, a father of four living with his family in the ruins of their Gaza City home. "If (Trump) wants to help, let him come and rebuild for us here."

It was unclear whether Trump would go ahead with his proposal or, in keeping with his self-image as a shrewd dealmaker, has simply laid out an extreme position as a bargaining tactic. His first term in 2017-21 was replete with what critics said were over-the-top foreign policy pronouncements, many of which were never implemented.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Thursday that people would have to live elsewhere while Gaza was rebuilt. He did not say whether they would be able to return under Trump's plan to develop the enclave, home to more than 2 million Palestinians.

Axios reported Rubio planned to visit the Middle East in mid-February with an itinerary that includes Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

DISPLACEMENT

What effect Trump's shock proposal may have on the ceasefire talks remains unclear. Only 13 of a group of 33 Israeli hostages due for release in the first phase have so far been returned, with three more due to come out on Saturday. Five Thai hostages have also been released.

Hamas official Basem Naim accused Israel's defence minister of trying to cover up "for a state that has failed to achieve any of its objectives in the war on Gaza", and said Palestinians are too attached to their land to ever leave.

Displacement of Palestinians has been one of the most sensitive issues in the Middle East for decades. Forced or coerced displacement of a population under military occupation is a war crime, banned under the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Details of how any such plan might work have been vague. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said different thinking was needed on Gaza's future but that any departures would have to be voluntary and states would have to be willing to take them.

"We don't have details yet, but we can talk about principles," Saar told a press conference with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani. "Everything must be based on the free will of (the) individual and, on the other hand, of a will of a state that is ready to absorb," he said.

A number of far-right Israeli politicians have openly called for Palestinians to be moved from Gaza and there was strong support for Trump's push among both security hawks and the Jewish settler movement, which wants to reclaim land in Gaza used for Jewish settlements until 2005.

Giora Eiland, an Israeli former general who attracted wide attention in an earlier stage of the war with his "Generals' Plan" for a forced displacement of people from northern Gaza, said Trump's plan was logical and aid should not be allowed to reach displaced people returning to northern Gaza.

Israel's military campaign has killed tens of thousands of people since Hamas' October 7, 2023, cross-border attack on Israel touched off the war, and has forced Palestinians to repeatedly move around within Gaza in search of safety.

But many say they will never leave the enclave because they fear permanent displacement, like the "Nakba", or catastrophe, when hundreds of thousands were dispossessed from homes in the war at the birth of the state of Israel in 1948.

Katz said countries that have opposed Israel's military operations in Gaza should take in the Palestinians.

"Countries like Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others, which have levelled accusations and false claims against Israel over its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow any Gaza resident to enter their territories," he said.

Reuters

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Temporary Ukraine ceasefire unacceptable – Moscow

Russia will not accept a “temporary ceasefire”as a solution for the Ukraine conflict, since it will only be used by the collective West to reinforce the “Kiev regime” and its military before the hostilities break out again, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

Moscow is seeking only a lasting solution to end the ongoing crisis for good, Zakharova said on Thursday during a regular press briefing.

“A temporary ceasefire or, as many say, freezing the conflict, is unacceptable,” she stressed. “We need reliable, legally binding agreements and mechanisms that would guarantee that the crisis will not recur.”

Putting the hostilities on hold, one way or another, will only enable the “Kiev regime” to rearm and get ready to resume the conflict at a later date, Zakharova warned. The pause in the fighting “will be used by the West—the collective West as a whole or its individual representatives - to strengthen the military potential of the Kiev regime and, of course, to attempt an armed revanche,” she warned.

Moscow maintains a reserved position on the repeated pledges by the new US administration to bring the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to its end, Zakharova signaled. Thus far, US President Donald Trump and his team made a lot of statements, yet took little to no practical steps, she said.

“Everything will depend on specific actions and on the plans of the new administration, embodied in these very actions. Right now there are a lot of words, a lot of statements. There is no clarity or precision regarding the steps being taken,” Zakharova explained.

Earlier this week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said engagement with Washington has increased since Trump took office. There have been contacts between “certain departments”of the two countries, he said without providing any further detail.

Last Friday, Trump said that communication is ongoing between his administration and the Russian government and reiterated his goal of putting a swift end to the nearly three years-long hostilities.

Moscow has repeatedly signaled its willingness to settle the conflict through diplomacy, rather than on the battlefield, stating the potential negotiations must accept the “reality on the ground.” Russia’s readiness for “tough”negotiations with the US was reaffirmed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, who said the first step should be taken by Washington.

“The first step toward normalizing bilateral relations – based on the principles of mutual respect and equality – should be taken by the United States,” Ryabkov said, adding that the plans hatched by the administration of previous US President Joe Biden to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia have been foiled.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Trump's Ukraine, Russia envoy meets Ukrainian ambassador

U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, had a "thorough discussion" with Ukraine's ambassador to Washington in their first official meeting on Thursday, the ambassador said.

Ambassador Oksana Markarova, writing on Facebook, said this was her first meeting with Kellogg since his appointment, though the two had met before.

"We held a thorough discussion with the special envoy and his team and my colleagues," Markarova wrote.

Ukraine has been trying to establish close relations with the new administration under Trump, who has said he wants to bring a quick end to the nearly three-year-old war with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said this week his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, had spoken with Trump's National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and that his team had spoken to Kellogg.

Zelenskiy said working dates for the visit of a U.S. delegation to Ukraine had already been established.

Trump has said little about how he will seek to settle the war in Ukraine.

Kellogg told Reuters last week that the United States wanted Ukraine to hold elections, potentially by the end of the year, especially if Kyiv and Moscow can agree on a truce.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has questioned Zelenskiy's legitimacy as a negotiator on grounds he has remained in power beyond his mandate. Zelenskiy dismisses that notion, saying no election can be held while martial law remains in place.

A senior Russian parliamentarian, Leonid Slutsky, was quoted by Russian state news agency RIA as saying preparations for a meeting between Putin and Trump were at an "advanced stage".

Slutsky, head of the State Duma's international affairs committee, was quoted as saying the meeting could take place in February or March.

RT/Reuters