The Israel-Hamas war, now nearing a potential ceasefire, has devastated the Gaza Strip. Satellite photos offer some sense of the destruction in the territory, which has been largely sealed off to journalists and others.

The dispute is over the identities of several prisoners that Hamas is demanding to be released. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Of around 250 people taken into the Gaza Strip as hostages on Oct. 7, 2023, about 100, living and dead, are believed to still be held.

In May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the agreement, saying Israel would continue its military offensive in Gaza until it meets its objectives. But a lot has changed in the region since.

For more than a year, Alaydi, a Palestinian American teacher living in California, has been working nonstop with an attorney in a heartrending, uphill battle to evacuate nearly two dozen of Alaydi's family members - including small children - who've been trapped in Gaza during Israel's immensely brutal war.

The deal, mediated by the United States, offered a glimmer of hope in a conflict that has taken an immense human toll.

We’re tying up that loose end as we speak,’ Anthony Blinken said. Meanwhile, some of the most intense Israeli bombardment of Gaza for months continued.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to stop the war for six weeks, but now the hard part begins for all sides.

DOHA, January 18. /TASS/. A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will come into force at 8:30 a.m. local time (6:30 a.m. GMT) on January 19, Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesman Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari said.

US officials confirmed that a ceasefire has been reached between Israel and Hamas that would pause the war in Gaza and release dozens of hostages

Under the deal, approved by Israel’s government, 33 Israeli hostages will be exchanged for more than 730 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.