GAZA CITY: Hamas will forgo its usual handover ceremony when it returns the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Wednesday night, with Israel expected to free more than 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange, the militant group said.
The swap will be the final one under the first phase of a fragile Gaza ceasefire deal that went into effect on Jan. 19.
Hamas’s armed wing said Wednesday that under the “framework of the deal, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades have decided to hand over the bodies of four hostages tonight.”
A Hamas official told AFP that in return, Israel would release 625 Palestinian prisoners.
The official also said the return of the four bodies would take place in private “to prevent the occupation from finding any pretext for delay or obstruction.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the handover was set for Wednesday night, “without Hamas ceremonies.”
Hamas has conducted past handovers in public spaces, with hostages paraded on stage, given certificates and gift bags, and often made to speak in front of crowds.
The spectacles — particularly one in which coffins carrying the remains of dead hostages were displayed — have drawn outrage in Israel, which halted the planned release of prisoners during last week’s exchange to protest what it called the “humiliating ceremonies.”
A second Hamas official familiar with the exchange told AFP that the Palestinian prisoners whose releases were delayed would be freed as soon as the bodies were returned on Wednesday.
“Hamas will hand over the bodies of the four Israeli prisoners by midnight, and in return, Israeli authorities will release the Palestinian detainees and prisoners from the seventh batch simultaneously,” he told AFP.
Another, smaller group of Palestinian women and minors due to be freed in return for the bodies would be released after Israeli authorities had verified the dead hostages’ identities, he added.
“This arrangement was made based on a proposal presented by the mediators, which Hamas agreed to,” the official said.
The Israel Prison Service said Wednesday that it was “making preparations for... releasing imprisoned terrorists in accordance with the agreement for the return of the hostages.”
It did not, however, give any indication of the timing of the releases.
The ceasefire has largely halted the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, and seen 25 hostages released alive so far in exchange for more than 1,100 prisoners.
There have been sporadic incidents of violence, however.
The Israeli military said it carried out air strikes on several launch sites inside Gaza after a projectile was fired from there on Wednesday, though the munition fell short inside the Palestinian territory.
In Washington, President Donald Trump’s top envoy to the Middle East said Israeli representatives were en route to talks on the next phase of the ceasefire.
“We’re making a lot of progress. Israel is sending a team right now as we speak,” Steve Witkoff told an event for the American Jewish Committee.
“It’s either going to be in Doha or in Cairo, where negotiations will begin again with the Egyptians and the Qataris.”
The first phase of the deal is supposed to end on Saturday, but negotiations for the next stage — which were due to begin in early February — have not yet started.
Hamas has said it is ready to release all the remaining hostages “in one go” during the second phase.
On Sunday, the group had accused Israel of endangering the Gaza truce by delaying the release of Palestinian prisoners.
On Wednesday, thousands gathered in Israel for the funeral of Shiri Bibas and her sons, who were killed in captivity in Gaza and had become symbols of the country’s hostage ordeal.
The Israeli parliament held a minute of silence to mourn their deaths, as well as those of other victims of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
“Yesterday, the funeral of Oded Lifshitz took place; today, the funeral of Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas is taking place. We remember all the victims of October 7. We remember, and we will not forget,” said speaker Amir Ohana.
Hamas and its allies took 251 hostages that day, with 62 still held in Gaza, 35 of whom are dead.
Israel vowed to destroy Hamas after the attack, the deadliest in the country’s history and has made bringing back all the hostages a central war aim.
The attack resulted in the deaths of more than 1,215 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliation in Gaza has killed more than 48,348 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures that the United Nations considers credible.
At Bibas family funeral on Wednesday, father Yarden Bibas, who was abducted separately on October 7 and released alive in a previous exchange, apologized to his late wife and sons.
“Shiri, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you all,” he said in his eulogy, his voice cracking.
The Israeli national anthem was played as the funeral convoy passed through a crowd of mourners in the central city of Rishon LeZion, where the remains of the three hostages had been prepared for burial.
“The Bibas family, I think, is like the symbol of everything that happened to us since October 7,” said retired teacher Ayala Schlesinger Avidov, 72, visibly emotional as she spoke to AFP.
“The two babies and the mother that did nothing to the world and were murdered in cold blood.”
Hamas says to hand over four Israeli hostages’ bodies in private
https://arab.news/nvxbv
Hamas says to hand over four Israeli hostages’ bodies in private
- The swap will be the final one under the first phase of a fragile Gaza ceasefire deal that went into effect on Jan. 19
- Hamas’s armed wing said Wednesday that under the “framework of the deal, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades have decided to hand over the bodies of four hostages tonight“
Pakistan’s central moon sighting committee to meet today to sight Eid crescent
- Dates for Ramadan, Eid are confirmed by committee via visual observations, testimonies
- Ramadan in Pakistan began on Mar. 2, a day later than in most other Muslim countries
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central moon sighting committee will meet in the country’s capital today, Sunday, to sight the Shawwal moon and announce the date for Eid Al-Fitr, state-run media reported.
In Pakistan, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is tasked with sighting the moon for new Islamic months. Dates for Ramadan and Eid festivals are confirmed by the committee through visual observations and based on testimonies received of the crescent being sighted from several parts of the country.
The sighting of the new moon, or the Shawwal crescent, signifies the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid Al-Fitr and its festivities.
“The meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will be held this evening to sight the Moon of Shawwal,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
It said RHC Chairman Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad will preside over the meeting, which will be held at the rooftop of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony in Islamabad.
The state broadcaster said zonal meetings of the committee to sight the moon will simultaneously be held in Pakistan’s provincial capitals.
Ramadan in Pakistan began on Mar. 2, a day later than in most other Muslim countries, and Eid is thus widely expected to fall on Mar. 31.
The Shawwal moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, marking the end of the month of Ramadan. Eid Al-Fitr is being celebrated in the Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern countries today.
The science behind the powerful earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand
- Myanmar lies on boundary between two tectonic plates, is one of world’s most seismically active countries
- Friday’s event was “probably the biggest” to hit Myanmar’s mainland in three quarters of a century, experts said
SINGAPORE: A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.7 centered in the Sagaing region near the Myanmar city of Mandalay caused extensive damage in that country and also shook neighboring Thailand on Friday.
How vulnerable is Myanmar to earthquakes?
Myanmar lies on the boundary between two tectonic plates and is one of the world’s most seismically active countries, although large and destructive earthquakes have been relatively rare in the Sagaing region.
“The plate boundary between the India Plate and Eurasia Plate runs approximately north-south, cutting through the middle of the country,” said Joanna Faure Walker, a professor and earthquake expert at University College London.
She said the plates move past each other horizontally at different speeds. While this causes “strike slip” quakes that are normally less powerful than those seen in “subduction zones” like Sumatra, where one plate slides under another, they can still reach magnitudes of 7 to 8.
Why was Friday’s quake so damaging?
Sagaing has been hit by several quakes in recent years, with a 6.8 magnitude event causing at least 26 deaths and dozens of injuries in late 2012.
But Friday’s event was “probably the biggest” to hit Myanmar’s mainland in three quarters of a century, said Bill McGuire, another earthquake expert at UCL.
Roger Musson, honorary research fellow at the British Geological Survey, told Reuters that the shallow depth of the quake meant the damage would be more severe. The quake’s epicenter was at a depth of just 10 km (6.2 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey.
“This is very damaging because it has occurred at a shallow depth, so the shockwaves are not dissipated as they go from the focus of the earthquake up to the surface. The buildings received the full force of the shaking.”
“It’s important not to be focused on epicenters because the seismic waves don’t radiate out from the epicenter — they radiate out from the whole line of the fault,” he added.
How prepared was Myanmar?
The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program said on Friday that fatalities could be between 10,000 and 100,000 people, and the economic impact could be as high as 70 percent of Myanmar’s GDP.
Musson said such forecasts are based on data from past earthquakes and on Myanmar’s size, location and overall quake readiness.
The relative rarity of large seismic events in the Sagaing region — which is close to heavily populated Mandalay — means that infrastructure had not been built to withstand them. That means the damage could end up being far worse.
Musson said that the last major quake to hit the region was in 1956, and homes are unlikely to have been built to withstand seismic forces as powerful as those that hit on Friday.
“Most of the seismicity in Myanmar is further to the west whereas this is running down the center of the country,” he said.
US woman released by Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hall was detained in Feb. along with Peter and Barbie Reynolds, in their 70s
- Group was traveling to British couple’s home in central Bamiyan province
WASHINGTON: An American woman has been freed by the Taliban in Afghanistan after she, two Britons and their Afghan translator were detained earlier this year, Washington’s former envoy to Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Saturday.
“American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home,” Khalilzad, who has been part of a US delegation working on Taliban hostage releases, wrote on X.
While at the Qatari embassy in Kabul, Hall “has been confirmed in good health after undergoing a series of medical checks,” said a source with knowledge of the release.
She was released on Thursday following a court order and with logistical support from Qatar, the source added.
Hall, who has been identified by the Taliban’s interior ministry as Chinese-American, was detained in February along with Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who are in their 70s, as they traveled to the British couple’s home in central Bamiyan province.
Their Afghan translator was additionally arrested.
Taliban officials have refused to detail the reasons for their arrest, but one report said Hall had been detained on charges of using a drone without authorization.
In his announcement, Khalilzad posted a picture of Hall smiling with Qatar representatives ahead of her departure from Afghanistan.
Khalilzad had been in the Afghan capital earlier this month on a rare visit by US officials to meet Taliban authorities, accompanying US hostage envoy Adam Boehler.
Following their visit, the Taliban government announced the release of US citizen George Glezmann after more than two years of detention, in a deal brokered by Qatar.
He and Hall are among several Americans to be released from Taliban custody this year.
In January, two Americans detained in Afghanistan — Ryan Corbett and William McKenty — were freed in exchange for an Afghan fighter, Khan Mohammed, who was convicted of narco-terrorism in the United States.
At least one other US citizen, Mahmood Habibi, is still held in Afghanistan.
The British couple detained with Hall remain in Taliban custody.
Their daughter has expressed grave fears for her father’s health and appealed to the Taliban authorities to free them.
The Reynolds, who married in Kabul in 1970, have run school training programs in the country for 18 years.
They remained in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021 when the British embassy withdrew its staff.
The government in Kabul is not recognized by any country, but several, including Russia, China and Turkiye, have kept their embassies open in the Afghan capital.
Qatar, too, has maintained diplomatic channels with the Taliban and has facilitated negotiations for the release of US hostages.
Since US President Donald Trump’s reelection, the Kabul government has expressed hopes for a “new chapter” with Washington.
In Pakistan’s southwest, Eid shoppers go out to buy the perfect snack: nimco
- Nimco, popular on Eid, is typically a mix of fried ingredients like lentils, chickpeas, potatoes, nuts and spices
- While many Pakistanis celebrate Eid with sweets like vermicelli and rice puddings, nimco is the go-to snack in Quetta
QUETTA: Wearing hair nets and face masks, shopkeepers carefully packed fried lentils, chickpeas, potato chips and other nimco snacks into plastic bags for hoards of eager Eid Al-Fitr shoppers earlier this week.
The scene is from a shop on Quetta’s famous Masjid Road, where hundreds of customers have been arriving daily ahead of the Eid holiday to buy nimco, a popular traditional Pakistani snack, typically a mix of fried ingredients like lentils, chickpeas, potatoes, nuts, and spices. Nimco is characterized by its crispy texture and spicy flavor, making it a popular snack for social gatherings and special occasions.
While many Pakistanis celebrate the Eid festival with sweets like vermicelli, rice puddings and jalebi funnel cakes, in Quetta, nimco is the go-to snack.
“This bazaar is called Masjid Road and its specialty is that it is known as the Nimco Bazaar,” said Waled Sabir, a customer. “All the nimco varieties available in Pakista can be found here.”
Safiullah Khan, the owner of a 35-year-old nimco store on Masjid Road, said he was at his shop all day long in the days before Eid to cater to holiday revelers.
“Fried potato chips, lentils and mixed nimco are the basic and most in-demand items on Eid,” he said.
Apart from the appeal of its salty and crunchy flavor, nimco was also popular because of its affordability, Khan said.
“Nimco is an important and affordable item for many Pakistanis during Eid and not as expensive as other dried fruits,” he said.
Syed Akram Shah, 52, agreed that nimco was a popular alternative to expensive dried fruits.
“Dry fruits are not accessible to poor masses but nimco is an affordable refreshment for us on Eid,” he said as he shopped earlier this month on Masjid Road for fried lentils, his favorite type of nimco.
“There is no Eid without nimco because we serve these crunchy snacks to our relatives and friends with a cup of tea when they come over for Eid,” Shah, who had tracelled from Mastung city located around 50 kilometers from Quetta, said. “It is a tradition in Balochistan.”
Waleed Sabir, who lives in Quetta, said he had come to Masjid Road because he knew he would find all kinds of nimco there to buy for the Eid holiday.
“People of Balochistan are very hospitable and every dining table in every house will be decorated with refreshment items and nimco during the three days of Eid.”
Though Balochistan has seen rise in militant attacks in recent months, which have dampened Eid shopping, many shoppers and sellers said nimco was still a hot favorite.
“Compared to the past [Eids], activities [in markets] have declined a bit due to the law and order and the prevailing situation,” said Khan the nimco seller, “but overall things are still fine.”
Saudi Arabia welcomes formation of new Syrian Government
- Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa announced a transitional government on Saturday, appointing 23 ministers
RIYADH – The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcome the announcement of the formation of a new Syrian government, expressing hope that it will fulfill the aspirations of the Syrian people, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
In a statement, the ministry emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to cooperating with the new Syrian government, strengthening the historical and fraternal ties between the two nations, and enhancing relations across all sectors.
The ministry also extended its best wishes to the Syrian government in achieving security, stability, and prosperity for Syria.
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa announced a transitional government on Saturday, appointing 23 ministers in a broadened cabinet seen as a key milestone in the transition from decades of Assad family rule and to improving Syria’s ties with the West.
