Hamas attack on Israel

Scuffles between Israeli police and protesters erupted in Tel Aviv late on May 25 after thousands gathered to demonstrate against the government and demand that it brings back the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.

Israel qualified for this weekend's Eurovision song contest grand finale as thousands of demonstrators marched through Sweden's Malmo on Thursday to protest its participation over the Gaza war.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that Washington was working "intensively" with its partners "to bridge the remaining gaps" for a deal to free hostages held by Hamas and secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant praised a successful rescue mission in Gaza, where two hostages were freed from Hamas captivity amid ongoing airstrikes, according to the Times of Israel. The operation, which unfolded overnight, marked the second such rescue since October 7.

A deal to allow the delivery of medicines to hostages in Gaza and aid into the territory has been agreed following mediation by Doha and Paris, Qatar and Israel announced on Tuesday.

Israel has announced that it has resumed fighting against Hamas in the Gaza Strip after a ceasefire was violated and the Palestinian Islamist group opened fire on Israeli territory.

Earlier this morning, explosions and gunfire were reported in Gaza and an air alert in areas surrounding the enclave. The sirens were activated for the first time since the ceasefire began on November 24.

Mediators were scrambling to extend an Israel-Hamas truce set to expire after daybreak Friday, as the two sides appeared to be struggling to agree on how to continue the daily exchanges of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel that have sustained the week-long pause in fighting.

Truce between Israel and Hamas enters its sixth day Wednesday after additional hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, with mediators pushing for a more "sustainable" ceasefire.

After a 48-hour extension of an initial four-day truce, a new group of 12 hostages was freed from Gaza on Tuesday, with 30 Palestinians released by Israel.

"If Israel has a serious intention to release its soldiers who are captured, then we are ready to conclude a comprehensive agreement," Hamad told Al Jazeera, RIA reports.
About 200 Israelis captured during the October 7 attack on Israel are still in the Gaza Strip.

The second phase of the release of Hamas hostages has been successfully completed after some delays due to disagreements over the admission of aid trucks into the northern Gaza Strip.