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GAZA CAN NEVER BE DEFEATED AND HER PEOPLE CAN NEVER BE MOVED TO EGYPT AND JORDAN!

By Chief Femi Fani-Kayode A friend sent the following to me last night. He wrote, “No to the evacuation of Palestinians. They will never be allowed to return once they vacate Gaza. That’s what happened to their grandparents, expelled forcibly from Jaffa, Tel Aviv and over 700 other Palestinian towns, villages and settlements. Any Palestinian leader who even thinks in this manner of collaboration with the United States, the greatest facilitator of Israeli atrocities, would need to have his head examined. Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniye and other martyrs didn’t give their lives for the Palestinians to be evacuated to Egypt or Jordan”. My friend got it right. The suggestion that the people of Gaza should be relocated to Jordan and Egypt in order to “clean the place up” is asinine, absurd and unacceptable and thankfully both the Egyptians and the Jordanians have formally rejected it. The Lord did not save Trump’s life and make him President of the most powerful nation on earth for him to indulge in ethnic cleansing and take the lives of others. As Believers in God we are called to help and support the persecuted, the poor, the weak, the vulnerable and the brokenhearted. We are not called to kill and displace them or to join hands with their violent and savage oppressors. Biden and Harris have suffered humiliation and the judgement of God due to the shedding of the blood of the women and children of Gaza. President Donald Trump, a man who I have tremendous respect and affection for and who I believe was called by God, should not make the same mistake lest he suffers an even worse fate. He was lifted by God to bring peace, liberty, light and justice to the world and not to bring war, destruction, bloodshed, misery, injustice and darkness. He was lifted to save lives and not to destroy them. He was lifted to crush the genocidal maniacs and barbarians that call themselves Zionists and not to assist them. He was lifted to deliver and liberate nations and not to conquer and divide them. He was lifted to save the women and children of Gaza and not to eat their flesh and drink their blood. Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK) is a former Minister of Aviation, Activist and writer

TRUMP FLOATS PLAN TO “CLEAN OUT” GAZA, SEEKING PALESTINIAN RESETTLEMENT

US President Donald Trump has proposed a controversial plan to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, describing the territory as a “demolition site” after the Israel-Hamas war. Trump suggested that Egypt and Jordan could take in the Palestinians, estimating that around 1.5 million people would be relocated. “I’d like Egypt to take people. And I’d like Jordan to take people,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “You’re talking about probably a million and half people, and we just clean out that whole thing.” Trump emphasized that the relocation could be temporary or long-term, stating that “it’s literally a demolition site right now, almost everything is demolished and people are dying there.” The proposal has sparked concerns among Palestinians, who fear that any attempt to move them from Gaza would evoke memories of the mass displacement during Israel’s creation 75 years ago, known as the “Nakba” or catastrophe. Israel has denied plans to force Gazans to move, but some extreme-right members of the Israeli government have expressed support for the idea. Trump’s plan comes as a fragile truce and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas enters its second week. The US president has claimed credit for the deal, which was signed on the last day of former President Joe Biden’s administration. Trump’s administration has promised “unwavering support” for Israel, but details of its Middle East policy remain unclear. In a related development, Trump confirmed that he had ordered the Pentagon to release a shipment of 2,000-lb bombs for Israel, which was blocked by his predecessor Biden. “We released them. We released them today,” Trump said. “They paid for them and they’ve been waiting for them for a long time.”

HAMAS NAMES FOUR HOSTAGES TO BE RELEASED UNDER GAZA CEASEFIRE DEAL

Hamas has announced the names of four hostages to be released on Saturday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal. The hostages, all Israeli soldiers, are Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag. They will be freed in exchange for 180 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. This will be the second hostage exchange since the ceasefire came into effect last Sunday. The first exchange saw three hostages and 90 prisoners released. The ceasefire halted the war that began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the capture of 251 hostages. Hamas is expected to provide information about the remaining 26 hostages due to be released over the next five weeks. The prisoners to be released in the current exchange are of a more serious category than those freed in the first exchange, including those who have killed and are serving sentences of over 15 years. Israel has insisted that no one involved in the October 7 attacks will be freed. The four hostages to be released were seized at the Nahal Oz military base, which was overrun by Hamas gunmen.

HAMAS HANDS OVER THREE ISRAELI CAPTIVES TO RED CROSS UNDER CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT

In a significant development, Hamas has handed over three Israeli captives to the Red Cross, marking the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. The captives, identified as Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher, were handed over by Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, at Saraya Square in central Gaza City. The Israeli army confirmed that it was notified by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that the three captives had been handed over. The military said that the three female captives are now in the hands of its forces in Gaza after they were handed over by the Red Cross. According to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, the three freed captives are in good health. A large number of Qassam members and their vehicles gathered in central Gaza City during the handover process. The Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect at 11:15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday, after a few hours’ delay due to Israeli accusations that Hamas was delaying the release of a list of captives set to be released. The agreement was originally scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. local time. The conflict in Gaza has resulted in devastating consequences, with nearly 47,000 people killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured since October 7, 2023, according to local health authorities. The Israeli war has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

NIGERIA COMMENDS ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT

The Federal Government of Nigeria has welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, expressing optimism that the deal will bring an end to the widespread civilian suffering in Gaza. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria commended the efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, whose tireless negotiations ensured the success of the ceasefire. “The Federal Government of Nigeria welcomes the agreement of a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas,” the statement read in part. “Nigeria also welcomes the supply of much-needed aid and relief materials that the peace deal facilitates.” Nigeria urged all stakeholders to maintain the momentum of peace and ensure the successful execution of subsequent phases of the agreement. The government also reiterated its commitment to a two-state solution as the pathway to lasting peace in the region. The ceasefire agreement, reached after 15 months of conflict, provides relief for families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons. Nigeria expressed optimism that the deal would halt the tragic loss of civilian lives and provide relief to affected families. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, signed the press release, which emphasized the importance of sustaining progress and prioritizing the implementation of the remaining phases of the agreement.

ISRAELI SECURITY CABINET APPROVES GAZA CEASEFIRE AND HOSTAGE DEAL

Israel’s security cabinet has voted to approve a ceasefire deal to end the fighting in Gaza, just two days after mediators Qatar and the United States announced an agreement had been reached with Israel and Hamas. The 11 voting members of the security cabinet approved the deal with a simple majority vote, and the full 33-member Israeli cabinet will meet later Friday to consider the deal. “After examining all political, security, and humanitarian aspects, and understanding that the proposed deal supports achieving the war objectives,” the security cabinet recommends the government approve the ceasefire deal, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The agreement foresees a six-week ceasefire, with a first phase to include the staggered release of 33 hostages held in Gaza and the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees held in Israel. It also includes a partial Israeli military withdrawal and a surge in humanitarian aid going into the besieged coastal enclave. During the first phase, the sides would begin talks to find a permanent end to the war that began on October 7, 2023, with a surprise attack on southern Israel by Hamas-led militants based in Gaza. That attack killed some 1,200 people and saw 250 taken captive, according to Israeli officials. Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, has called the agreement the “right move” and urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to proceed with it. However, far-right ministers have voiced opposition to the deal, and one has threatened to quit if it goes ahead. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that he still expects the ceasefire to take effect on Sunday. If approved by the full Israeli cabinet, the deal would pave the way for its implementation, including the release of the first hostages by Hamas on Sunday. SOURCE: CNN, NPR

GAZA CEASEFIRE DEAL YET TO BE FINALIZED, NETANYAHU’S OFFICE SAYS

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is yet to be finalized, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. This comes after multiple mediators claimed that both parties had agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages after over 15 months of war. Netanyahu’s office stated that the final details are still being sorted out, with hopes that the details would be worked out Wednesday night. The plan, which still needs approval from Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet and then his full Cabinet, proposes a three-phased agreement. The first phase involves the release of 33 women, children, older adults, and wounded civilians in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian women and children imprisoned by Israel. Soldiers and other male captives would be released in the second phase. According to humanitarian organization CARE, the ceasefire would bring much-needed relief to the hard-hit Gaza Strip, where Israel’s offensive has displaced around 90% of the population of 2.3 million, many at risk of famine. CARE’s Global Humanitarian Director, Deepmala Mahla, emphasized the need for humanitarian access, saying, “Conditions must be created right now to allow humanitarian organisations to safely carry out their work, quickly reach people wherever they are in Gaza, and massively scale up their operations so we can stem the overwhelming tide of suffering.” The Qatari prime minister has stated that the deal is expected to take effect on Sunday, but Israel says the details are still in flux. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community remains hopeful for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

ISRAELI FORCES RECOVER BODY OF HOSTAGE HELD IN GAZA, RAISING CONCERNS OVER FATE OF OTHER CAPTIVES

Israeli forces have recovered the body of Yosef AlZayadni, a 53-year-old hostage held in Gaza, from an underground tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The military expressed “serious concerns” for the life of AlZayadni’s son Hamzah, who was also taken captive on October 7, 2023, suggesting he may have died in captivity. The recovery of AlZayadni’s body comes as Israel and Hamas are considering a ceasefire deal that would free the hostages and halt the fighting in Gaza. Israel believes at least a third of the remaining 100 hostages are dead. However, Yosef and Hamzah AlZayadni were believed to still be alive before Wednesday’s announcement, and news about their fate could ramp up pressure on Israel to move ahead on a deal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow, saying he had “hoped and worked to bring back the four members of the family from Hamas captivity.” Many families of hostages have demanded that Israel reach a deal with Hamas to free their loved ones, citing the risk to their lives posed by the ongoing war in Gaza. AlZayadni, a member of Israel’s Bedouin minority, had 19 children and worked at a dairy in southern Israel for 17 years. He was kidnapped along with three of his children, including Hamzah, during Hamas’ attack on southern Israel in October 2023. Two of his teenage children, Bilal and Aisha, were released in a weeklong ceasefire deal in November. SOURCE: AP News

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES KILL 14 PALESTINIANS IN GAZA AS CEASEFIRE EFFORTS INTENSIFY

Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Sunday killed at least 14 Palestinians, bringing the weekend death toll to 102, according to Palestinian medics. The airstrikes targeted various locations, including a house in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, where five people were killed, and a police station in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, where another five people lost their lives. In another airstrike, four people were killed in Jabalia in the northern edge of the enclave, where Israeli forces have been operating for three months. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on Sunday’s strikes. The health ministry of Hamas-run Gaza reported that Israeli strikes across the territory had killed at least 88 Palestinians and wounded more than 200 others in the past 24 hours. Relatives and neighbors rushed to the Zuhd family’s house in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, which was struck by an Israeli airstrike late on Saturday, killing seven people. “We retrieved this cousin of mine. Another cousin has been martyred and is now in the hospital. Approximately 11 people have been martyred here,” said Ammar Zuhd, a relative. The search continued on Sunday morning for four others believed to be trapped under the rubble. The Israeli military said its forces had attacked more than 100 targets across Gaza over the weekend, killing dozens of Hamas militants. It also destroyed rocket launching sites used to wage rocket attacks on Israel in recent days. As the violence continues, a renewed push is underway to reach a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. Israeli negotiators were dispatched on Friday to resume talks in Doha brokered by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. The US President Joe Biden’s administration, which is helping to mediate, urged Hamas to agree to a deal. Hamas said it was committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible. The conflict began in response to an October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants on communities in southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel’s military campaign has leveled swathes of the enclave, driving most people from their homes, and has killed 45,805 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry.

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