Palestinian prisoners released by Israel, Hamas confirms Deif’s death
- After a delay, Israel has released 110 Palestinian prisoners. This follows the confirmation by the Israeli military of the release of three Israelis, one male and two female, and five Thai nationals from captivity in the Gaza Strip.
- Hamas has confirmed the killing of military commander Mohammed Deif. Israel says he was killed in July.
2,500 children should be evacuated from Gaza for treatment: UN secretary-general
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has demanded that 2,500 children be immediately evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment.
Guterres made the comment in a social media post after meeting with American doctors who worked in Gaza. He added that there should be guarantees that the children would be able to return to their families and communities after treatment.
Israeli army raids Silwad in West Bank during prisoner’s release
The Israeli army has conducted a military raid on the town of Silwad, east of Ramallah, as former prisoner Moamen Mahmoud Hamed was being reunited with his family after his release as part of the Gaza ceasefire.
The Palestinian Wafa news agency also reported that clashes broke out in Kobar, northwest of Ramallah. Two Palestinians were injured after being shot in the leg by Israeli live bullets, and a 13-year-old was arrested.
Rebuilding Gaza will take 10 to 15 years: Trump’s envoy
Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said that rebuilding Gaza after 15 months of Israel’s war will take at least a decade.
Witkoff made a rare visit by a US official to Gaza this week as part of an “inspection team“.
“People are moving north to get back to their homes and see what happened and turn around and leave,” he claimed. “There is no water and no electricity. It is stunning just how much damage occurred there.”
He added that completing demolitions and removing the debris alone would take up to five years.
“There is almost nothing left of Gaza,” Witkoff told the news site Axios.
“There has been this perception we can get to a solid plan for Gaza in five years,” Witkoff, a real estate developer, added. “But its impossible. This is a 10- to 15-year rebuilding plan.”
