The Islamist group Hamas said Monday that eight of 33 hostages to be released from the Gaza Strip in the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Israel are dead.

David Barnea, the Mossad director, played a crucial role in determining when to show tactical flexibility to seal the deal with Hamas. While many remain unaware of the exact details of his actions.

Mossad Chief draws parallels between Palestinian resistance and Vietnam, as Islamic Jihad leader vows to continue the fight.

Israel, Hamas, the US, and Qatar have officially signed the hostage deal and Gaza ceasefire in Doha, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office confirmed on Friday morning. The deal will now be presented before the security cabinet for a vote, which, however, will not occur until Saturday.

Sunday night’s ceremony was led by the synagogue’s rabbi, Benjamin Goldschmidt, and was also attended by the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon; Israel’s consul-general in New York, Ofir Akunis, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Jewish community leaders.

President Joe Biden and his top diplomats, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had sought closure during his term.

The world must not stand idly by. Now is the time to envision and work toward a future where the shadow of Hamas no longer looms over the Middle East.

The Israel Police said in a statement on Monday that it had arrested two 21-year-old Israeli reserve soldiers on suspicion of security offenses related to Iran, in collaboration with the Israel Security Agency.

The Islamist group Hamas has said that eight of 33 hostages to be released in the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Israel are dead. Twenty-five of them are still alive, a member of the Palestinian militant group told dpa.

According to Hamas, eight of 33 hostages scheduled for release in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement with Israel are dead. 25 of them are still alive, a member of the Islamist organization told the German Press Agency.

Jerusalem announced early Monday that six hostages will be released in two stages this week as part of a ceasefire deal with Hamas Among those to be freed