Hamas is set to free three more Israeli hostages as well as five Thai captives, and Israel is to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners, in the third such exchange since a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took hold earlier this month.

Wealthy Arab nations consider bankrolling Gaza’s reconstruction, but they want assurances Palestinians will lead in the postwar period.

Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians began returning home to northern Gaza on Monday, bracing for what awaits them in a region that has been reduced to rubble by months of brutal bombardment and fighting.

Hamas released four Israeli hostages in Gaza early Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners to be released later in the day. It was the second release to occur as part of the ceasefire agreement that began last weekend. Israel followed with the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners.

Three years of war with Russia and the threat of U.S. support dwindling has many Ukrainians ready for a ceasefire, but they want some guarantees.

Much of the beleagured city of Goma was calm early Wednesday morning, after a day during which thousands of fleeing people hunkered down by roadsides as missiles flew and injured people streamed to overwhelmed hospitals.

Displaced Palestinians with their belongings gather near a roadblock on Salah al-Din Street, as they wait to return to their homes in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, days after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas came into effect.

Israel is set to release 110 Palestinian prisoners as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement with Hamas, including 30 children and renowned resistance leader Zakaria Zubeidi. This release is part of a larger prisoner exchange initiative aimed at easing tensions between Israel and Palestinian factions.

The fragility of the truce between Israel and Hamas was laid bare on Saturday, after Israel accused Hamas of withholding a hostage, prompting a halt in the movement of Gazan civilians back to their homes in the north.

Qatar mediated an agreement between Israel and Hamas to release Israeli hostage Arbel Yehoud and allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. The exchange is set for Thursday.View on euronews