Middle East crisis

Ceasefire
Meeting sons for the first time – after 23 years in prison

When 55-year-old Ata Adelghani got off a bus in Gaza on Saturday after 23 years of captivity in Israel, he was greeted by two sons he had never met before. AFP reports.

“It’s hard to put into words. I have to try to control myself, keep my nerves in check and absorb this overwhelming moment,” Adelghani says.

His two sons – twins – were born after his sperm was smuggled out of prison ten years ago.

Ata Adelghani has served a life sentence for murder, among other things. Critics say that trials of Palestinians in Israel are often unfair.

Israel demands mediators for information about Biba's family

Israel demands information from mediators about the fate of the Biba family after the father Yarden Bibas was released from Hamas, which it labels a terrorist group, today, writes AFP.

- The Bibas family has lived in constant fear for their lives for a long time ... We continue to demand information about their condition from the mediators, says Israel's hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch in a statement.

Hamas has previously stated that Shiri Bibas and sons Ariel, 5, and Kfir, 2, died in an Israeli strike in November 2023. But this has not been confirmed by Israel. Last week, however, the Israeli military stated that it was "deeply concerned" about them.

Gaza war
Arab countries reject Trump's proposal on Gaza residents

Several Arab countries reject US President Donald Trump's plan to transfer all Gaza residents to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan, writes AP.

In a joint statement, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League said they do not support any proposals to relocate people from Gaza or the West Bank.

“We look forward to working with Trump to achieve peace under the two-state solution,” it said.

It is unclear whether Trump meant in his statement, which came at the end of January, that they would be relocated permanently or temporarily. 

Trump wants to force neighboring countries to accept Gazans: “They will do it”

US allies Egypt and Jordan have said no to President Donald Trump’s idea to forcibly relocate Gazans there. When asked by a journalist if he could force them, he replied according to the AP:

– We do a lot of things for them and they will do it.

The mass relocation of 1.5 million people could be temporary during a reconstruction phase or long-term, Trump has previously said.

The idea is rejected by Palestinian leaders and most of the international community except Israel, writes Al Jazeera.

– We oppose any plans that lead to forced displacement or ethnic cleansing, says UN spokesman Stephane Dujarri.