Steve Witkoff said the U.S. expects Hamas to immediately return the final deceased hostage as part of its obligations under the deal.

A senior figure in the armed wing of Hamas was among seven people killed on Thursday in a pair of Israeli airstrikes in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, a Hamas source said. The Israeli military and Hamas did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident.

By pressing on with the second phase of the ceasefire, Washington and its mediator partners will need to tackle the vexing challenges of disarming Hamas, further Israeli withdrawal tied to the disarmament and deploying an international peacekeeping force.

Hospital officials in Gaza say an Israeli drone strike has killed three Palestinians who crossed the ceasefire line.

The Israeli military has drawn up plans for a new ground operation inside Gaza, the Wall Street Journal is reporting, citing people briefed on the matter.

The United States said Wednesday that it is moving into the next phase of a Gaza ceasefire plan that involves disarming Hamas, rebuilding the war-ravaged territory and establishing the group of

Astal, leader of the Gazan "Counterterrorism Service," claimed responsibility for killing a Hamas police chief, warning those working with the group of imminent death. Housam al-Astal, leader of the anti-Hamas Gazan "Counterterrorism Service" militia,

The election process, which includes a secret ballot by Hamas' Shoura Council, has begun amid ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip, sources said. | World News