Middle East

Caroline HawleyDiplomatic correspondent BBC Alaa Abdel Fattah spoke via video link to the BBC’s Today programme “I’m learning how to get back into life,” says freed British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, as he recovers from more than a decade in jail in Egypt. “I’m doing much better than I …

BBC A ceasefire deal has taken effect in Gaza that should see Hamas release all the 48 Israeli and foreign hostages it is still holding after two years of war, 20 of whom are assumed to be alive. All but one were among the 251 people abducted during the Palestinian …

“There is a sense of happiness” in Gaza, says BBC correspondent US President Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of his Gaza peace plan, in a major step towards a permanent end to their war. It comes two years and two days after the …

Alice Cuddyin Jerusalem, Helen Sullivan and James Chater Getty Images “Matan is coming home!” Mother of hostage Einav Zangauker (right) said while celebrating in Tel Aviv World leaders have welcomed the news that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a Gaza peace plan. The deal paves …

Hugo BachegaMiddle East correspondent, Jerusalem Watch: Palestinians react to Gaza peace deal announcement The ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, announced after intense negotiations in Egypt, is a long-awaited breakthrough that brings them closer to ending the two-year-old war in Gaza. But, despite the momentum, there is no …

The committee which organised Syria’s first parliamentary elections since the fall of Bashar al-Assad has acknowledged “significant shortcomings”, after results showed only 13% of the seats contested were won by female and minority candidates. Observers said six women and 10 members of religious and ethnic minorities were among the 119 …

Rushdi AbualoufGaza correspondent, Istanbul EPA Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled an Israeli offensive in Gaza City in recent months “In these two years, I lost so much,” says Emaan al-Wahidi. She is living in a rented garage, struggling each day to find food and clean water, and has …

Jeremy Bowen International editor, Jerusalem Anadolu via Getty Images Israel’s devastating military response to the 7 October attacks has destroyed most of Gaza After two years of war, there is a chance of a deal that will end the killing and destruction in Gaza and return the Israeli hostages, living …

President Trump this week signed an executive order vowing to use all measures – including the US military – to defend the Gulf state of Qatar. The text says Washington will view any armed attack on the tiny energy-rich nation as a threat to the Unites States itself and will …

The BBC’s Middle East Correspondent Yolande Knell and Gaza Correspondent Rushdi Abualouf talk about their memories of 7 October. BBC News

Israel says it has deported 171 more foreign activists, including Swedish climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg, who were detained when Israeli forces intercepted a flotilla trying to breach its naval blockade of Gaza to deliver aid last week. The Israeli foreign ministry said the activists were flown to Greece and …

Getty Images Negotiators from Israel and Hamas are heading to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to start indirect talks over an end to the Israel-Gaza war. It is the closest both sides have come to a deal since the war began two years ago But Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan – which …

Families of Israelis held hostage in Gaza have told the BBC they are hopeful that US President Donald Trump’s plan for ending the war will bring their loved ones home. Vicky Cohen, whose son Nimrod is among 20 hostages held in Gaza who are still believed to be alive, said …

Hamas agreeing to release the remaining hostages, albeit subject to negotiations and certain conditions being met, will give real hope to the family members in Israel who have been desperate for this kind of news for a very long time. In its statement responding to the US peace proposal, the …

Noor NanjiCulture reporter Getty Images Dave Chappelle is one of the A-listers performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival “There were sex jokes, and trans jokes. It’s really unusual to see this kind of comedy here in Saudi Arabia.” That’s how one ex-pat summed up the performances she’s seen, at the …

The southern Gaza city of Khan Younis has witnessed one of the fiercest internal confrontations since the war began, between a Hamas security force and gunmen from the al-Mujaida clan – one of the largest families in the south. According to Hamas, its forces raided the neighbourhood to detain individuals …

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Images of ancient Egyptian workers (above) survive, as do many written documents which give insight into their lives – and illnesses About 3,500 years ago, a craftsman called Panebu was recorded as off work – because he had been bitten. The note about his absence …

Lucy ManningSpecial correspondent BBC Eli Sharabi has fears for the new proposed peace deal – but is hopeful for the future A former Israeli hostage whose British-Israeli wife and children were killed by Hamas in the 7 October attacks, says he is “very worried” the latest peace plan to end …

The BBC understands that mediators have made contact with the head of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza, who indicated he does not agree to new US ceasefire plan. Izz al-Din al-Haddad is thought to believe the plan was designed to finish Hamas, whether the group accepts it or not, and …

Reuters A school sheltering for displaced people in southern Gaza City was struck by Israeli forces overnight Israel’s defence minister has said its forces are “tightening the siege” around Gaza City by extending its control of a military corridor across the territory towards the coast. Isael Katz also issued a …