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Israel's war on Gaza has dominated headlines for more than a year, sending shockwaves throughout the Middle East and the world. It's also sparked calls for change and account-ability—at the highest levels. More than 46,700 Palestinians have been killed and more than a hundred thousand injured.

Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari has told us that both Israel and Hamas agreed for the ceasefire deal to take effect on Sunday, January 19. “Both parties agreed to the timeline according to a lot of details for the preparation of the ceasefire,” al-Ansari said. Asked whether the mediators were confident that the ceasefire would hold, the spokesperson said that many of the disagreements had been ironed out in the course of the negotiations and that the deal included monitoring procedures to ensure its effectiveness. “We are hopeful that the deal will hold,” al-Ansari said.

'700 days of failure and one day success', said President Joe Biden after a ceasefire deal be-tween Hamas and Israel was announced. Biden says the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal is the agreement the United States introduced in spring of 2024.

Qatar, Egypt and the United States have announced that mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza have succeeded. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani made the announcement, saying that the deal will lead to the release of Israeli captives and surging humanitarian aid to Gaza.

After 15 months of Israel's war on Gaza, negotiators have now reached a ceasefire agreement, according to media reports. Celebrations are taking place right across Gaza.

The Associated Press news agency has leaked details of the potential ceasefire deal, which will reportedly be implemented in three stages. In stage one, Hamas will release 33 Israeli captives. That'll include female civilians, soldiers, children, and civilians above 50 years old. In return, Israel will free 50 Palestinian prisoners for each female soldier and 30 for each civilian hostage. As part of this phase, Israel will also halt fighting and pull its forces back to the edges of Gaza. Displaced Palestinians will return to their homes, and additional aid will flow into the Strip. The second phase will begin 42 days into the ceasefire with a declaration of “sustainable calm.” Hamas will then release all remaining male captives, while Israel will negotiate the release of more Palestinian prisoners and withdraw all its troops from Gaza. The final stage will focus on long-term arrangements, including the return of bodies of Israeli captives and Palestinian fighters, implementing Gaza’s reconstruction plan, and reopening border crossings.

Relations between Russia and Iran have strengthened since the start of the war in Ukraine. Tehran has supplied the Russian military with drones and short-range missiles. Now, the two countries are cementing their alliance with a 20-year strategic partnership agreement. The wide-ranging arrangment is expected to enhance cooperation in defence, trade and technology. So, what's bringing the two countries closer? And how will it affect the global order?

Impeachment proceedings against suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol are in full swing. Authorities have made a second attempt to detain him over his brief martial law declaration, but he remains holed up in his fortified residence, backed by supporters waving US flags and “Stop the Steal” banners. So, what lies ahead for South Korea?

The Associated Press news agency has leaked details of the potential ceasefire deal, which will reportedly be implemented in three stages. In stage one, Hamas will release 33 Israeli captives. That'll include female civilians, soldiers, children, and civilians above 50 years old. In return, Israel will free 50 Palestinian prisoners for each female soldier and 30 for each civilian hostage. As part of this phase, Israel will also halt fighting and pull its forces back to the edges of Gaza. Displaced Palestinians will return to their homes, and additional aid will flow into the Strip. The second phase will begin 42 days into the ceasefire with a declaration of “sustainable calm.” Hamas will then release all remaining male captives, while Israel will negotiate the release of more Palestinian prisoners and withdraw all its troops from Gaza. The final stage will focus on long-term arrangements, including the return of bodies of Israeli captives and Palestinian fighters, implementing Gaza’s reconstruction plan, and reopening border crossings. Martin Griffiths is the former UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and he talked about the issue of humanitarian aid that needs to be addressed in the ceasefire negotiations.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, has visited Syria's notorious Sednaya prison. The facility was recently re-opened after the fall of the Assad regime. Thousands of prisoners were held there during his rule and many detainees, were tortured or killed. He also held talks with Syria's leadership calling for an inclusive administration.