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Arab World

Hamas Keen to Reach Deal, Begin Prisoner Exchange 'Immediately'

Palestinian prisoners are greeted after being released from Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday, February 27. © Nasser Nasser, AP
Palestinian prisoners are greeted after being released from Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday, February 27. © Nasser Nasser, AP
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Hamas Keen to Reach Deal, Begin Prisoner Exchange 'Immediately'

Palestinian prisoners are greeted after being released from Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday, February 27. © Nasser Nasser, AP
Palestinian prisoners are greeted after being released from Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday, February 27. © Nasser Nasser, AP

A senior Hamas official on Sunday said the Palestinian militant group is eager to reach an agreement to end the war and implement a prisoner swap with Israel, as negotiators converge in Egypt for talks.

Israeli and Hamas negotiators are set to iron out details during talks in Egypt in a bid to end nearly two years of war in Gaza, after Hamas approved a peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.

Hamas negotiators travelling from Doha are expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday before heading to Sharm el-Sheikh to participate in indirect negotiations with the Israeli delegation, the official said on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorized to speak on the matter, according to AFP.

"Hamas is very keen to reach an agreement to end the war and immediately begin the prisoner exchange process in accordance with the field conditions," he said.

"The occupation must not obstruct the implementation of President Trump's plan. If the occupation has genuine intentions to reach an agreement, Hamas is ready."

A Palestinian source close to Hamas told AFP that the two delegations would be in the same building but away from media coverage.

"The negotiations aim to discuss the timeline for preparing field conditions for the transfer of captives held in Gaza, as a prelude to launching the prisoner exchange process," he added.

"During communications with mediators, Hamas insisted that it is essential for Israel to halt military operations across all areas of the Gaza Strip, cease all air, reconnaissance, and drone activity, and withdraw from inside Gaza City," the source said.

"In parallel with the cessation of Israeli military activity, Hamas and the resistance factions will also halt their military operations and actions," he added.

The talks are also expected to include discussions of maps to be provided by Israel showing withdrawal routes and timelines, which will coincide with the prisoner exchange process, the source said.

The Hamas delegation will also present lists of Palestinian prisoners who must be released by Israel in return for the Israeli captives, he said.

According to Trump's plan, Israel is expected to release 250 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences and more than 1,700 detainees from the Gaza Strip who were arrested after October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, triggering the ongoing war.

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Arab World

Israeli Settlers Smash Cars and Set Fires in Attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank

Israeli settlers gesture during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
Israeli settlers gesture during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
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Israeli Settlers Smash Cars and Set Fires in Attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank

Israeli settlers gesture during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
Israeli settlers gesture during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma

Israeli settlers rampaged through multiple Palestinian villages overnight Saturday and into Sunday, smashing cars, setting fires and wounding several men in the latest flare-up of violence in the occupied West Bank.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported attacks in at least six communities on Sunday. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said at least three Palestinians in the village of Jalud suffered head wounds from beatings and were hospitalized after confronting settlers, who were also reported injured.

The violence came as Israel’s government presses ahead with new settlements in the occupied West Bank. Attacks by settlers have intensified alongside a broader surge in violence since the Iran war started, said The Associated Press.

Israel’s military said it responded to Israeli civilians carrying out “arson against structures and property, as well as engaging in disturbances in the area,” but did not report any arrests or indicate whether investigations were opened.

WAFA reported attacks in the villages of Silat al Dahr and Fandaqumiya, both near Jenin; in Jalud and Salfit, both south of Nablus; and in the agricultural regions Masafer Yatta and the Jordan Valley. Homes and cars were set ablaze, Palestinians were pepper-sprayed and at least five people were wounded in the overnight assaults, which took place during the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the agency said.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported 25 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers and soldiers this year as of March 15. The Palestinian Authority has also documented a series of arson attacks, including on mosques, across the territory.

Arab World

Israeli Military Instructed to Accelerate Demolition of More Bridges, Lebanese Homes in 'Frontline Villages'

Israeli tanks are deployed along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, 21 March 2026. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Israeli tanks are deployed along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, 21 March 2026. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
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Israeli Military Instructed to Accelerate Demolition of More Bridges, Lebanese Homes in 'Frontline Villages'

Israeli tanks are deployed along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, 21 March 2026. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Israeli tanks are deployed along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, 21 March 2026. EPA/ATEF SAFADI

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that he and the Prime Minister had instructed ‌the ⁠military to accelerate ⁠the demolition of Lebanese homes in frontline villages to ⁠end threats to ‌Israeli ‌communities.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I instructed the IDF to immediately destroy all the bridges over the Litani River that are used for terrorist activity, in order to prevent Hezbollah terrorists and weapons from moving south," Katz said in a statement.

He said the military was also instructed to "accelerate the demolition of Lebanese houses in the contact villages in order to thwart threats to Israeli communities."

Earlier,  Israel said rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person as Hezbollah said it attacked soldiers in northern Israel, the first fatality there in fire from Lebanon since the latest war erupted.

Arab World

Rocket Fire from Lebanon Kills One in North Israel, Hezbollah Claims Attacks

A damaged vehicle is seen in a residential area after impact amid escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, in northern Israel, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
A damaged vehicle is seen in a residential area after impact amid escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, in northern Israel, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
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Rocket Fire from Lebanon Kills One in North Israel, Hezbollah Claims Attacks

A damaged vehicle is seen in a residential area after impact amid escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, in northern Israel, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
A damaged vehicle is seen in a residential area after impact amid escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, in northern Israel, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Israel said rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person on Sunday as Hezbollah said it attacked soldiers in northern Israel, the first fatality there in fire from Lebanon since the latest war erupted.

Israel's ZAKA 360 emergency response unit said a person was pronounced dead after a strike on their vehicle "carried out by a rocket fired from Lebanon".

Local firefighters said flames had engulfed two vehicles after a "direct hit" in the northern Israeli kibbutz community of Misgav Am.

"We arrived at the scene and saw two vehicles on fire. During the firefighters' extinguishing operations, we identified a man in the driver's seat," paramedics from Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said, adding that he was later pronounced dead.

Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters targeted "a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers" in Misgav Am "with a rocket barrage".

It was among a series of attacks the group claimed on Sunday, mainly against Israeli troops in northern Israel and in southern Lebanon, where Israeli soldiers have been carrying out ground incursions.

The Israeli army had earlier announced it had detected "a launch from Lebanon toward a community along the northern border".

Lebanese authorities have said more than 1,000 people have been killed in the country and more than one million others displaced in three weeks of conflict.

On Sunday, Hezbollah said its fighters repeatedly targeted Israeli soldiers and vehicles in or near the border town of Taybeh, as well as in or near Khiam, a strategic town where the group has repeatedly said it has targeted Israeli forces in recent days.

On Saturday, Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli forces in Khiam and in the coastal town of Naqoura.

The group also claimed attacks on northern Israel on Saturday, including targeting an air defense system in Maalot-Tarshiha, where Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11 reported three people were lightly wounded.