DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel and Hamas moved ahead on a key first step of the tenuous Gaza ceasefire agreement on Monday by freeing hostages and prisoners, raising hopes that the U.S.-brokered deal might lead to a permanent end to the two-year war that ravaged the Palestinian territory.

US CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper has ordered Hamas to end its violent civilian crackdown on Wednesday following graphic videos of public executions in the middle of Gaza City.

Hamas has deployed hundreds of police and clashed with armed groups in Gaza in what the militant group says is an attempt to restore law and order in areas where Israeli troops have withdrawn for the U.

According to the terms of a cease-fire brokered by international mediators last week, Israel and Hamas would stop fighting and the militant group would return all the hostages it held — both living captives and the bodies of those who had died, totaling 48 people — in exchange for the freeing of Palestinians held by Israel, among other provisions.

Hamas appeared to renege on key demands of President Trump’s cease-fire deal just hours after the world celebrated the end of the Gaza war

Hamas is carrying out a wave of retribution executions and asserting its control in areas of the Gaza Strip where Israel has withdrawn, highlighting the challenge facing President Trump to get the

Hamas's operation in Gaza City over the weekend killed 32 people, targeting a rival clan. Despite the ceasefire with Israel, tensions remain high with multiple skirmishes reported over the past 10 days.

As the ceasefire began, Israel released more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages freed by Hamas. Amid the rubble in Gaza, families begin to find their way home.

According to Gazan reports, Aljafarawi — one of the most prominent pro-Hamas voices online in the Gaza Strip — was found shot in the head. Saleh Aljafarawi, a well-known social media influencer affiliated with Hamas known as "Mr.

The Palestinian militant group, which must disarm and end its rule of Gaza under Trump's proposal for ending the war, has deployed internal security forces in parts of the Gaza Strip since a ceasefire came into effect on Friday,