Blinken will return to Israel as the US hopes to see further extensions of the Gaza cease-fire

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return this week to the Middle East as the U.S. hopes to find a way to extend a cease-fire in Gaza and get more hostages released, the State Department said Monday. It will be his third trip to the region since Israel's war with Hamas began last month, AP reports.

More hostages, prisoners freed as truce extended between Israel and Hamas

A truce between Israel and Hamas will be extended by two days, mediator Qatar said hours before the pause was due to end Tuesday. The extension came as 11 more hostages were freed from Gaza, and as another 33 Palestinian prisoners were released – the last exchange under the first deal, AFP reports.

Ukraine will become a Nato member subject to reforms after the war, says secretary general

Ukraine will become a member of Nato subject to reforms after the war, the military alliance’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, has said, The Guardian reports.

Arab states, EU agree on need for 2-state solution

Without a Palestinian state, there will be “no peace or security for Israel,” the EU foreign policy chief said on Monday. Josep Borrell made the remarks in Barcelona for the eighth ministerial forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), which began on Monday, and is being attended by representatives from around 40 nations to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and lay the groundwork for future peace, Anadolu Agency reports.

Israel-Hamas truce extended by two days, Qatar says

Qatar said mediators had secured an agreement to prolong the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas by two days to allow the release of more hostages held in Gaza, Financial Times reports.

UN chief pushes for Gaza truce to become full humanitarian ceasefire

United Nations Secretry-General Antonio Guterres pushed on Monday for a full humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas instead of a temporary truce, as the "humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is getting worse by the day", Reuters reports.

Israel-Hamas truce enters fourth day, talks for extension

The truce between Israel and Hamas, which led to the release of hostages, prisoners and emergency aid in the Gaza Strip, is entering its fourth and final day, amid discussions for its extension, reports News.ro.

Russia says it thwarted major Ukrainian drone attack

Russian air defence shot down 20 Ukrainian drones over Russia, including over the Moscow region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

Critical supplies reach Gaza: Ongoing efforts on day two of truce

Seventy trucks carrying food, water, fuel, and medical supplies entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing on the second day of the temporary ceasefire, as announced by a spokesperson at the border crossing, according to CNN.

Swiss president visits Ukraine to discuss food security and support

Swiss President Alain Berset travelled to Ukraine to attend the international summit on food security and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reports Unian.

Biden's warning to Hamas: Trust built on pressure, not words

According to the agreement announced earlier this week, Hamas is expected to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, all of whom are women and adolescents. This marks the beginning of a challenging road ahead, as stated by President Joe Biden, quoted by Politico.

Zelensky: Russian attack on Kyiv a 'voluntary terror'

Ukraine's capital Kyiv was hit by what officials said was the largest Russian drone attack of the war on Saturday, wounding five people as the sound of air defences and explosions woke residents early in the morning.