Palestinians walk back to destroyed homes in northern Gaza after 15 months - amid backlash over Trump remarks:
Thousands of Palestinians are making their way back to their homes in northern Gaza after a deal was brokered between Israel and Hamas. The agreement marks a significant shift in the ongoing conflict and provides a pathway for residents to return to their neighborhoods. This development comes at a time of heightened tension, following controversial remarks made by Donald Trump, who suggested that Palestinians should be removed from Gaza, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation from various global leaders and organizations.
Jordanian royal hits out over Trump hint at forced removal of Palestinians from Gaza
A member of Jordan’s royal family has strongly condemned any attempts to force the migration of Palestinians, following remarks made by US President Donald Trump. Trump had suggested that Jordan should take in Gazans to "clean out that whole thing," referring to the territory of Gaza, which he described as a "demolition site" after 15 months of war.
Prince Feisal Al Hussein, the younger brother of King Abdullah II of Jordan, expressed his opposition to such proposals, emphasizing that decisions a
bout the future of Palestinians should be made by the Palestinian people themselves. "It should be what the Palestinians people want, not what the rest of us want. We should not be in a position to take decisions on behalf of other people," Prince Feisal told Sky News.
He further reaffirmed Jordan’s stance against the forced moveme
nt or migration of any people from their territories, a principle Jordan firmly upholds.
Prince Feisal, who has held key military positions and uses sport as a tool for peace, expressed hope that the current situation could mark the beginning of a movement toward peace. "Peace is not created by stopping wars or having ceasefires," he said during an interview in London. "It's created by building hope, a sense of justice, a sense of fairness. These are all critical elements that need to be there in order for peace to really exist."
Israel kills two and wounds 17 in southern Lebanon, health ministry says
Israeli forces have killed two people and injured 17 others in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry. This follows a deadly attack the day before, where Israel killed 22 people in the region after a deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers had passed. Thousands of people attempted to return to their homes in defiance of Israeli military orders, Lebanese authorities reported.
On Friday, Israel stated that the terms of the ceasefire deal, which had ended its war with Hezbollah, had not been fully enforced by the Lebanese government. As a result, Israeli troops announced they would remain in the area beyond Sunday, though they did not specify how long they would stay. Israel blamed the delay on the Lebanese army’s failure to deploy to the region, while the Lebanese army accused Israel of stalling its withdrawal, which has complicated its deployment.
In response, Lebanon later agreed to extend the deadline for Israeli withdrawal to 18 February.
Weapon checks taking place on Palestinians heading north
Tens of thousands of Palestinians have surged back north within Gaza, a movement made possible by the recently agreed ceasefire. However, the displaced crowds are being carefully checked for weapons and explosives as they make their way through the region.
The Palestinians pass through checkpoints in a central area of the Gaza enclave, where scanners are used to detect any concealed weapons in vehicles. The checks are conducted by Egyptian contractors, assisted by a US private security firm, though there have been no reports of US citizens present on the ground.
Armed Egyptian security personnel, some wearing black jackets marked "Egyptian-Qatari Committee," are also involved in the process. As vehicles approach the checkpoints, all passengers are required to exit, leaving only the driver inside. The vehicle is then driven to an inspection point where it und
ergoes scanning. Witnesses report that the entire process typically takes only a few minutes.
People run for cover from Israeli fire in Gaza Strip
Images have captured the moment Palestinians fled for cover from Israeli fire in the central Gaza Strip, as they were among the crowds heading north during the ongoing ceasefire. While no deaths have been reported in the immediate incident, the photos show people, including children, running past destroyed buildings.
Israel has confirmed earlier reports that eight of the hostages due to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire are dead. This aligns with statements made by Hamas officials, as previously reported at 11:54 am. This means that 18 more living hostages are set to be released in the initial phase of the ceasefire, along with the bodies of those who have died.
In a press conference, Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer confirmed that Israel had received a list from Hamas detailing the status of all 33 hostages scheduled for release in this first stage. Mencer stated that the list from Hamas matches Israeli intelligence, revealing that 25 hostages are alive while eight have been killed by Hamas.
Trump's idea to 'clean out' Gaza threatens Jordan, Egypt: analysts.