President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he&#8217;s not pushing for regime change in Iran after bombing three of the country&#8217;s nuclear facilities over the weekend before working out a ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel.
Asked by a reporter on Air Force One if he wants a regime change, Trump replied, &#8220;No. If there was, there was. But no, I don&#8217;t want it.&#8221; The president&#8217;s comments come shortly after he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and asked him <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-holds-ceasefire-after-israel-refrains-from-major-retaliation-for-irans-strike-on-civilians?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Holds+Ceasefire+After+Israel+Refrains+From+Major+Retaliation+For+Iran%E2%80%99s+Strike+On+Civilians">to hold off</a> on a retaliatory strike on Iran Tuesday morning following a ceasefire agreement.
&#8220;I&#8217;d like to see everything calm down as quickly as possible,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;Regime change takes chaos, and ideally, we don&#8217;t want to see so much chaos. &#8230; You know, the Iranians are very good traders, very good business people, and they&#8217;ve got a lot of oil. They should be fine. They should be able to rebuild and do a good job.&#8221;
&#8220;They&#8217;re never going to have nuclear, but other than that, they should do a great job,&#8221; he continued.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on Iran: &quot;Regime change takes chaos — and ideally, we don&#39;t want to see so much chaos.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Tr56V91gRM">pic.twitter.com/Tr56V91gRM</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1937521250886385893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Trump appears to be using these policy pronouncements as part of his negotiations with Iran. On Sunday, as Trump was working to get Iran to the negotiating table, he floated regime change in Iran, writing on Truth Social, “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘regime change,’ but if the current Iranian regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a regime change?”
His statement against regime change now comes as he&#8217;s working to ensure Iran sticks to the ceasefire.
Shortly before a ceasefire between Israel and Iran went into effect Tuesday morning, however, Israel launched a massive attack on Iran, taking out &#8220;hundreds of Basij members and Iranian security personnel,&#8221; according to Netanyahu&#8217;s office. Iran then fired missiles at civilians in Beersheva, Israel, taking out a large apartment building and killing at least four people. The Ayatollah then violated the ceasefire by firing two rockets toward northern Israel, which were shot down.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-holds-ceasefire-after-israel-refrains-from-major-retaliation-for-irans-strike-on-civilians?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Holds+Ceasefire+After+Israel+Refrains+From+Major+Retaliation+For+Iran%E2%80%99s+Strike+On+Civilians">told</a> reporters at the White House, “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing.” He also accused both Iran and Israel of violating the “complete and total ceasefire” that was agreed to on Monday. Trump later called Netanyahu and gave him a “firm and clear” message, urging him to back down from a retaliatory strike on Iran.
Trump said that Israel’s planes would only conduct a “friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!”
“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home …” Trump added.
Israel’s “friendly plane wave” appeared to be an airstrike on a small target north of Tehran. Israeli officials said that their pilots struck a radar installation in Iran, according to Israeli journalist Amit Segal.
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The target that was hit was a radar installation <a href="https://t.co/6T54ORXuwm">https://t.co/6T54ORXuwm</a>
&mdash; Amit Segal (@AmitSegal) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitSegal/status/1937476246742663414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Donald Trump/Iran

Trump Walks Back Regime Change Talk: ‘Don’t Want To See So Much Chaos’

Ceasefire

Donald Trump

Executive

Global Politics

Iran

Israel

Middle East

Politics

President Donald Trump announced Monday that there will be a “complete and total ceasefire” between Israel and Iran implemented in less than 24 hours.
“CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE,” Trump wrote on TRUTH Social. “During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL.”
Trump congratulated both countries for “having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR.’”
“This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will,” he posted. “God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”
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BREAKING: Ceasefire between Israel and Iran according to POTUS! <a href="https://t.co/0faz4EvDuv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/0faz4EvDuv</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1937271901765959732?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The ceasefire comes after 12 days of conflict between Israel and Iran, which started with Israel targeting Iranian nuclear facilities to prevent the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The United States entered the conflict on Saturday night, bombing key Iranian nuclear sites with Tomahawk missiles and 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs.
Iran retaliated in a coordinated strike on the United States’ Al Udeid Air Base today in Qatar with 14 missiles, 13 of which were intercepted and one that hit an unimportant area.
Following the attack, Trump posted that Iran had “gotten it out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE.”
He also thanked Iran for providing &#8220;early notice&#8221; of the attack.
“Perhaps Iran can now proceed to peace and harmony in the region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same,” he added.
As of Saturday, 24 people were killed by Iranian missile attacks in Israel and another 1,272 were injured, with 14 in serious condition, according to the Israeli government.
This is a developing story, please refresh this page for updates.

US-VOTE-TRUMP

Trump Announces ‘Complete And Total Ceasefire’ Between Israel and Iran

President Donald Trump said Tuesday morning that he has not reached out to Iran for peace talks, denying earlier reports. 
Trump made the comments on Truth Social after it was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-to-leave-g7-early-over-whats-going-on-in-the-middle-east-white-house-says?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Leaves+G7+Early+Over+‘What’s+Going+On+In+The+Middle+East%2C’+White+House+Says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that he was leaving the Group of Seven Summit in Canada early to return to the White House because of the conflict in the Middle East. In an earlier post, Trump said he was not working on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but something “much bigger.” 
“I have not reached out to Iran for ‘Peace Talks’ in any way, shape, or form. This is just more HIGHLY FABRICATED, FAKE NEWS! If they want to talk, they know how to reach me,” Trump posted. “They should have taken the deal that was on the table — Would have saved a lot of lives!!!”
Trump had imposed a 60-day deadline for Iran to negotiate a nuclear agreement with the United States that had elapsed before Israel launched its attack last week. 
Trump went on to criticize French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday morning for suggesting that he was returning to Washington, D.C., to work out a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. 
“Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a ‘cease fire’ between Israel and Iran,” Trump wrote. “Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!”
When asked on board Air Force One what he meant by promising something more than a ceasefire, Trump said he wanted, &#8220;An end. A real end. Not a ceasefire.” He added that “giving up entirely” would also be an option. 
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REPORTER: &#8220;What are you looking for here?&#8221;<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &#8220;An end. A real end. Not a ceasefire — an end.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/EESQ7zzhw1">pic.twitter.com/EESQ7zzhw1</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1934917749391687794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I told them to do the deal. They should&#8217;ve done the deal. Their cities have been blown to pieces and they&#8217;ve lost a lot of people. They should&#8217;ve done the deal,” Trump told reporters. 
On Monday night, Trump administration spokespeople denied reports that the United States was directly attacking Iran amid widespread speculation online. 
“This is not true. American forces are maintaining their defensive posture, and that has not changed. We will defend American interests,” Principal Deputy Communications Director Alex Pfeiffer said. 
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This is not true. American forces are maintaining their defensive posture, and that has not changed. We will defend American interests. <a href="https://t.co/XqWbDvzif0">https://t.co/XqWbDvzif0</a>
— Alex Pfeiffer (@Pfeiffer47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pfeiffer47/status/1934767323333714181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell <a href="https://x.com/SeanParnellATSD/status/1934768120549286184" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made</a> a similar statement. 
“American Forces are maintaining their defensive posture &amp; that has not changed,” he said. “We will protect American troops &amp; our interests.”

G7 Leaders’ Summit

Trump Says He Has Not Reached Out To Iran For Peace Talks In ‘Any Way, Shape, Or Form’

Emmanuel Macron

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Tuesday that Russia bombed civilian infrastructure in Ukraine following a phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that had reportedly resulted in a limited ceasefire agreement.
Last week, Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire and the phone call between Trump and Putin on Tuesday elicited that there would be an “energy and infrastructure ceasefire.”
“The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace,” the White House <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5202186-zelensky-ukraine-civilian-infrastructure-hit-russia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>. “These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East.”
“Right now, in many regions, you can literally hear what Russia truly needs,” Zelensky posted Tuesday evening on X. “Around 40 ‘Shahed’ drones are in our skies, and air defense is active. Unfortunately, there have been hits, specifically on civilian infrastructure. A direct hit by a ‘Shahed’ drone on a hospital in Sumy, strikes on cities in the Donetsk region, and attack drones currently in the skies over the Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy regions.”
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Right now, in many regions, you can literally hear what Russia truly needs. Around 40 &#8220;Shahed&#8221; drones are in our skies, and air defense is active.
Unfortunately, there have been hits, specifically on civilian infrastructure. A direct hit by a &#8220;Shahed&#8221; drone on a hospital in… <a href="https://t.co/TKTeB9gaZy">pic.twitter.com/TKTeB9gaZy</a>
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1902120683699626108?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“It is these types of nighttime attacks by Russia that destroy our energy sector, our infrastructure, and the normal life of Ukrainians,” he continued. “And the fact that this night is no exception shows that the pressure on Russia must continue for the sake of peace. Today, Putin effectively rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire. It would be right for the world to respond by rejecting any attempts by Putin to prolong the war. Sanctions against Russia. Assistance to Ukraine. Strengthening allies in the free world and working toward security guarantees. And only a real cessation of strikes on civilian infrastructure by Russia, as proof of its willingness to end this war, can bring peace closer.”
According to the Kremlin, Putin declared his “key condition” for reaching peace with Ukraine is a complete halt to military and intelligence support for Ukraine from other countries, the New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/world/europe/trump-putin-call-russia-ukraine-war.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.

President Of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Visits Turkey

Zelensky Says ‘Civilian Infrastructure’ Hit By Russian Drones After Trump-Putin Call

Russia

Ukraine-Russia War

Vladimir Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukraine agreed to accept a 30-day ceasefire today following negotiations with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia today. Russia has not yet agreed to the deal.
Rubio, who announced the deal upon the conclusion of negotiations, said the ceasefire is a first step to larger negotiations to create an enduring peace.
“Today we made an offer that the Ukrainians accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations to end this conflict in a way that is enduring and sustainable and accounts for their interests, their stability, and their ability to prosper as a nation,” Rubio said.
In a joint statement by the United States and Ukraine, leaders called the negotiations “steps toward restoring durable peace for Ukraine.”
Ukraine agreed to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire which could be extended by mutual agreement, pending Russian approval and implementation.
“Representatives of both nations praised the bravery of the Ukrainian people in defense of their nation and agreed that now is the time to begin a process toward lasting peace,” the <a href="https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/spilna-zayava-za-pidsumkami-zustrichi-delegacij-ukrayini-ta-96553">statement</a> read. “The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace.”
Rubio said the ball is now in Russia’s court.
“We hope that they will say yes to peace,” Rubio said. “The ball is now in their court.”
Following the talks, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told reporters that Trump made the conversation switch from “if the war would end to now how the war is going to end.”
The statement also added that the United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine.
Topics of discussion during the talks also included humanitarian relief efforts, including the exchange of prisoners of war, release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.
“The Ukrainian delegation reiterated the Ukrainian people’s strong gratitude to President Trump, the U.S. Congress, and the people of the United States for making possible meaningful progress toward peace,” the statement added.
Both delegations are set to name their negotiation teams and begin negotiations for an enduring peace. The Ukrainian delegation insisted that European partners should be involved in the peace process, according to the statement.
The statement also said that the United States and Ukraine will conclude its mineral deal that was set to be signed last month until President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-and-vance-clash-with-zelensky-in-fiery-white-house-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clashed</a> with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a broadcast White House meeting last month that ended with the Ukrainian leader being asked to leave.
“He has literally moved the entire global conversation,” Waltz said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Daily Wire White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan on Tuesday that Zelensky apologized to Trump in a letter.
Leavitt added that Rubio’s meeting with the Ukrainians was “positive.”
On Tuesday, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ukraine-drone-russia-saudi-arabia?topStoryPosition=undefined" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine launched</a> its largest drone attack on the area of Moscow during which 343 drones were downed over Russia, three employees of a meat warehouse were killed and 17 other people were injured, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-launches-drone-attacks-targeting-moscow-russia-says-2025-03-11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Russia attacked Ukraine on Tuesday with a ballistic missile and 126 drones over various parts of the country, injuring two people, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-air-force-says-it-downed-russian-ballistic-missile-79-drones-2025-03-11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
The ballistic Iskander-M missile and 79 of the drones were shot down, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The attack reportedly set a fuel storage facility, a private home, and a storage site for children’s toys, on fire in Odesa, according to Reuters.

SAUDI-UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT-US

Ukraine Agrees To 30-Day Ceasefire, Pending Russian Approval

Marco Rubio

Ukraine

Hamas released the names of the final six living hostages set to be released from Gaza on Saturday under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
The list includes Israeli citizens Omer Shem Tov, 22, Omer Wenkert, 23, Eliya Cohen, 27, and Tal Shoham, 30, all of whom were captured by terrorists on October 7 and have been in captivity for 505 days. Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, and Avraham (Avera) Mengisto, 39, who have both been hostages in Gaza for about a decade, will also be released.
Shem Tov was kidnapped from the Nova Festival along with his siblings Itay and Maya Regev, who were released as part of the November 2023 hostage deal. His family was able to track his location through his phone as he was being forcibly driven to Gaza. According to his mother, Shem Tov has been observing the Jewish Sabbath in captivity.
&#8220;I never stopped believing that the moment would come and you would return to us, and it will happen so soon,” Maya wrote on her Instagram upon news her brother was being released.
Wenkert, who was also taken from the Nova Festival, suffers from an autoimmune disease that requires medication. One of his last messages to his parents on October 7 was “I’m dying from fear.” Wenkert was hiding in a shelter where terrorists threw eight grenades. Hamas later released a photo of Wenkert handcuffed in his underwear.
Cohen was at the Nova Festival with his fiancée, Ziv Abud, her nephew, Amit, and Amit’s girlfriend, Karin. Ziv survived the attack in a shelter by hiding under Amit and Karin’s bodies. Cohen planned to propose to Ziv and has already purchased a ring, <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1mp7eg91e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YNet reported.</a> According to recently-released hostages, Cohen is unaware Ziv is still alive.
Shoham, who holds Israeli, Austrian, and Italian citizenship, was in kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7 attack. He was kidnapped alongside his wife Adi, their children Nave, 8, and Yahel, 3, his mother-in-law Dr. Shoshan Haran, Adi&#8217;s aunt, Sharon Avigdori, and her daughter Noam, 12, all of whom were released during the November 2023 hostage deal. Three other family members were murdered.
Al-Sayed, an Arab-Israeli who suffers from severe mental health issues, wandered into Gaza on April 20, 2015, where he was kidnapped by Hamas. According to his family and Israeli officials, he had crossed the border multiple times before.
“In Islam, people with mental illnesses are not held accountable under religious law. Even God does not judge them,” his father Shaabam said, according to YNet.
Mengistu, who was born in Ethiopia, crossed into Gaza on September 7, 2014, near Zikim Beach when he was taken hostage. For nine years, his family was left in the dark about his condition until Hamas released a video of him in January 2023.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum celebrated the return of the group, stating there is “profound relief.”
“As we embrace our returning family members, we must emphasize &#8211; Many hostages remain in captivity, and time is of the essence,” the forum wrote. “We call upon President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to do everything in their power to advance the second phase of negotiations immediately. Every day matters for those still held captive.”
The forum contrasted that feeling to the sad news that the remains of four hostages will be returned to Israel on Thursday. According to Hamas, the bodies of their two youngest hostages, Ariel and Kfir Bibas — who were four years old and nine months old at the time of their abduction — will be returned.
So far, 19 of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/these-are-the-33-hostages-set-to-be-released-in-first-phase-of-israeli-hamas-hostage-deal">33 hostages</a> have been released during the first phase of the ceasefire, along with five Thai hostages who were released as part of a separate deal. Seventy-three hostages remain in captivity, all of but two of whom were abducted on October 7. The fate of those not slated for the first phase will be negotiated in later phases.
Negotiations for phase two of the ceasefire agreement are expected to begin in the coming days.

Untitled design (5)

Hamas Reveals The Last Living Hostages To Be Released In Ceasefire Phase One 

Gaza

Hamas

Hostages

President Donald Trump said Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas should be cancelled if the terror group does not release “all the Gaza hostages” by noon on Saturday.
&#8220;If all the Gaza hostages aren&#8217;t returned by Saturday at 12 p.m., I would say cancel the ceasefire,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “Let all hell break out. Israel can override it.”
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Trump said that he meant “all the hostages,” a departure from the ceasefire agreement, under which a few hostages were released each week.
“Not in dribs and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two,” he said “Saturday at 12 o’clock, and after that I would say, all hell is going to break out.”
He noted that he was speaking for himself, and that the decision ultimately falls on Israel.
Trump’s comments come after Hamas announced it suspended the release of hostages slated for Saturday until further notice after accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement.
“The handover of the Zionist prisoners who were scheduled to be released next Saturday, February 15, 2025, will be postponed until further notice and until the occupation commits to and compensates for the entitlements of the past weeks retroactively,” Hamas wrote on its Telegram, per <a href="https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-841505" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Jerusalem Post</a>.
Hamas accused Israel of delaying the return of Gazans to northern Israel, shelling them with gunfire, and blocking humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip.
“During the past three weeks, the resistance leadership has monitored the enemy’s violations and failure to abide by the terms of the agreement,” Hamas said.
In response, The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called on the mediating countries to help save and restore the deal.
“Recent evidence from those released, as well as the shocking conditions of the hostages released last Saturday, leaves no room for doubt,” the group said. “Time is of the essence, and all hostages must be urgently rescued from this horrific situation.”
On Saturday, Trump said he is losing patience with Hamas following the return of three Israeli hostages who were in dangerously poor health.
“I watched the hostages return today, and they looked like Holocaust survivors,” Trump said. “They were in horrible condition, emaciated. It looked like many years ago, the Holocaust survivors. I don’t know how much longer we can take that.”
“At some point, we are going to lose our patience,” Trump added. “When I see that scene that I saw today of people coming out of helicopters and airplanes that are emaciated, that look like they haven’t had a meal in a month, there’s no reason for that, and I don’t know how much longer we can take it.”

Pam Bondi Sworn In As Attorney General

Trump Says Israel Should Let ‘All Hell Break Out’ If Hamas Does Not Release All Hostages By Saturday

Hamas suspended the release of hostages slated for Saturday until further notice after accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement.
&#8220;The handover of the Zionist prisoners who were scheduled to be released next Saturday, February 15, 2025, will be postponed until further notice and until the occupation commits to and compensates for the entitlements of the past weeks retroactively,” Hamas wrote on its Telegram, per <a href="https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-841505">The Jerusalem Post</a>.
Hamas accused Israel of delaying the return of Gazans to northern Israel, shelling them with gunfire, and blocking humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip.
“During the past three weeks, the resistance leadership has monitored the enemy’s violations and failure to abide by the terms of the agreement,&#8221; Hamas said.
In response, The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called on the mediating countries to help save and restore the deal.
“Recent evidence from those released, as well as the shocking conditions of the hostages released last Saturday, leaves no room for doubt,” the group said, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hostage-release-delay-ceasefire-violations-76d6fd9162160f9554fec37041342714">according</a> to The Associated Press. “Time is of the essence, and all hostages must be urgently rescued from this horrific situation.”
On Saturday, President Donald Trump said he is losing patience with Hamas following the return of three Israeli hostages who were in dangerously poor health.
“I watched the hostages return today, and they looked like Holocaust survivors,” Trump said. “They were in horrible condition, emaciated. It looked like many years ago, the Holocaust survivors. I don’t know how much longer we can take that.&#8221;
“At some point, we are going to lose our patience,” Trump added. “When I see that scene that I saw today of people coming out of helicopters and airplanes that are emaciated that look like they haven’t had a meal in a month, there’s no reason for that and I don’t know how much longer we can take it.”
Hamas has been concerned about Trump’s plan for the Gazans to be relocated and for the United States to take over and develop the strip.
The terrorist organization that raped, murdered, and kidnapped over a thousand Israeli civilians on October 7, called Trump’s proposal a “crime against humanity.”
“What President Trump stated about his intention to displace the residents of the Gaza Strip outside it and the United States’ control over the Strip by force is a crime against humanity,” a senior Hamas official told Fox News.
The official called Trump’s actions an “interference in a topic which should not be of his concern.”

Hamas activists are seen during a military demonstration

Hamas Accuses Israel Of Violating Ceasefire, Suspends Hostage Releases ‘Until Further Notice’

Keith Seigel, the first American to be released in the latest phase of the hostage deal is set to return home on Saturday.
Thirty-five-year-old Yarden Bibas and 54-year-old French-Israel citizen Ofer Kalderon will also be released. Bibas’s wife, Shiri, 33, and two children, Ariel 5 and Kfir 2, are on the list of hostages, though Hamas claims they have been killed.
Only men over the age of 50 or in poor health will be released in the first phase of the deal.
An American citizen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, is also expected to be released during the first phase of the deal. The fate of the remaining hostages, including five Americans, will be determined later in following phases
Seigel, 65, is a dual Israel-U.S. citizen who moved from North Carolina to Israel in 1980 was abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where Hamas murdered, burned, and kidnapped Israeli civilians. 
Siegel had his ribs broken during the attack, according to the <a href="https://www.ajc.org/news/meet-the-seven-american-hostages-still-held-by-hamas">American Jewish Committee</a> (AJC). Emily Damari, who was released earlier this month offered to switch places with Siegel because of his poor health, <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-840134">reported The Jerusalem Post.</a>
Siegel and his wife, Aviva, were abducted by terrorists who drove them to Gaza in their own car. Aviva was freed during the previous ceasefire in November 2023 after 51 days. <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-823992">The couple’s niece</a> previously said that Hamas reassured Aviva her husband would be released a day or two after her.
The father of four and grandfather of five appeared in a Hamas propaganda video in April where he cried and said he missed his family and told them not to worry. 
Siegel, an occupational therapist, is interested in nature, yoga and meditation, according to his niece. A vegetarian, his family describes him as a calm man and peacemaker. He reportedly learned Arabic to communicate with the Arab workers at his kibbutz.
Siegel was unable to say goodbye to his mother, Gladys, who passed away last year in North Carolina at age 97. The family chose to shield her of the news of her son’s captivity before she died, according to AJC.
“My grandmother passed away yesterday morning,” Siegel&#8217;s daughter wrote on social media in December. “My father’s mother is gone, and he couldn’t say goodbye to her because he’s been held captive by Hamas for over a year. Dad won’t be able to stand with us at the cemetery tomorrow or say goodbye to the woman who raised and loved him his entire life.”
The hostages that have been released so far in the first phase of the deal include Israelis Arbel Yehoud, Gadi Mozes, Agam Berger, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, Liri Albag, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari and Thai citizens: Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakham, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat, and Rumnao Surasak.
Each hostage was exchanged for multiple Palestinian prisoners, including those convicted of terrorism.

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American Hostage To Be Released Tomorrow From Gaza, Six Remain In Captivity

Hamas released the names of four female hostages it plans to release on Sunday as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement  — but Israel says the list does not comply with the deal.
20-year-old Karina Ariev, 20-year-old Daniella Gilboa, 20-year-old Naama Levy, and 19-year-old Liri Albag are set to be released. All four of the women are Israeli Defense Force soldiers who were abducted from the Nahal-Oz base on October 7.
The women were seen in a video from their abduction that sparked outrage in May, showing the terrorists calling the bloodied women “so beautiful” and “sabaya,” which <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-838040" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can be translated</a> to “sex slave” or “young woman,” depending on the pronunciation.
Each woman will be exchanged for as many as 50 Palestinian prisoners, according to the agreement. The prisoners will include terrorists serving life sentences. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s Office said Hamas’s list with Ariev, Gilboa, Levy, and Albag does not comply with the agreement, citing the deal stating that one of the hostages should be a civilian.
Under the first phase of the deal, an additional 26 hostages will be released, in addition to Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, the women who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-3-israeli-hostages-freed-after-nearly-500-days" target="_blank" rel="noopener">were released</a> last week in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas is also expected to release a list with the status of the remaining 26 hostages. The list will contain two Americans: Keith Siegel, 65, and Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36.
The fate of the remaining 64 hostages in Gaza will be addressed in the later phases of the agreement.
<a href="https://store.dailywire.com/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-862665" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-1024x391.png" alt="" width="1024" height="391" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-1024x391.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-300x115.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-768x293.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-1536x587.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-2048x782.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
Levy was seen in a viral video from the attack that showed her in bloodied sweatpants being shoved into a vehicle. The footage raised concerns she had been sexually assaulted, though her brother said that in at least the first 50 days of her captivity, she was not a victim of sexual violence, <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-838040" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Jerusalem Post reported</a>. Levy previously volunteered for the United Nations, Red Cross, and Hands of Peace—a group that promised coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.
Jerusalamite Ariev, known for her love of cooking, singing, dancing, and writing, was able to speak to her parents twice in the moments before she was abducted. Her sister told the Daily Mail that she was instructed to “keep our parents safe and to be strong and not to wallow in sorrow but to continue living.”
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Gilboa, who was seen in a July Hamas propaganda video, is deeply missed by her boyfriend who reportedly asked her parents for a blessing to propose to her.
&#8220;My son asked her parents for her hand in marriage, to which they answered yes, even though they are only 19-20 years old. Right after that, he shouted to the sky &#8211; &#8216;I&#8217;m going to propose to you!&#8217;” the boyfriend&#8217;s father reportedly said. &#8220;He prays that she will come back soon and be reunited with him and her family.&#8221;
Albag, who was abducted only a day after she started her work as an observer at  Nahal-Oz base, was seen in a Hamas propaganda video in January where she said she and the others are “living in a nightmare.” Albag was held as a domestic slave together with rescued hostage Noa Argamani.

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Hamas Releases Names Of Four Female Hostages It Plans To Release On Sunday

The Israeli government approved the hostage and ceasefire deal between the Jewish state and Hamas after seven hours of negotiations.
The government approved the deal just after 1:00 a.m. on Saturday in Israel, the Jerusalem Post <a href="https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-838033" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Twenty-four ministers voted in favor of the deal, and eight voted against it. Among the latter camp was National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who earlier threatened to quit the government if the deal was approved, calling it “the end of the war before Hamas is beaten.”
The deal comes after over a year of negotiations that failed to take hold until president-elect Donald Trump included his envoys in the talks after threatening that there would be “all hell to pay” if the hostages were not released by the time he takes office on January 20.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly invoked Trump’s imminent inauguration during discussions Friday, telling ministers that the president-elect would fully support Israel and unfreeze weapons shipments to the Jewish state. Netanyahu also blamed Hamas for any holdup in the ceasefire negotiations up to this point.
“There was no deal on the table because Hamas opposed any deal,” Netanyahu said. “However, the situation changed because of the heroism of our fighters and because of our actions in the region, including our severe blow to the Iranian axis. Hamas remained isolated in this theater, and as a result, it folded and agreed to this deal.&#8221;
Under the deal’s first phase, 33 hostages will be exchanged for about 1,000 Palestinian terrorists from Israeli jails. The Israel Defense Forces will also pull back from certain areas of the Gaza Strip.
The fate of the remaining 65 hostages in Gaza will be addressed in the later phases of the agreement.
One of the hostages included in the first set of releases is 38-year-old Avera Mengistu, who was taken hostage in 2014 when the man, suffering from mental illness, crossed into the Gaza strip, <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-838031" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported the Jerusalem Post</a>.
The list of names of the 33 hostages includes two Americans: Keith Siegel, 65, and Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36. While the exact number of living hostages is uncertain, it is believed that only 22 of the 33 to be released are still alive.
The release of the first three hostages could occur as soon as Sunday.
The deal passed with the support of the government’s Haredi ministers, who cited scripture in defense of their votes. The Orthodox Haredi, who had to exit negotiations at the beginning of the Sabbath, left instructions on how to vote.
Joining Ben-Gvir in voting no was Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also threatened to leave the government should the deal pass. In response to those threats earlier this week, Netanyahu’s Likud Party said that “Anyone who dissolves the right-wing government will be remembered as an eternal disgrace.”
The Israeli Justice Ministry released a list of names of 95 Palestinians set to be released, some of whom have been arrested for murder and are accused of being affiliated with Hamas, <a href="https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-838028" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported the Jerusalem Post</a>.
The Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen announced they would cease their attacks on Israel following the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
This is a breaking story; please check back for more updates.
Tim Rice contributed to this report.

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BREAKING: Israeli Government Approves Hostage And Ceasefire Deal After Seven Hours Of Negotiations

Benjamin Netanyahu

A hostage and ceasefire deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.
According to <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/2025-01-13/live-updates-837303?page=2">The Jerusalem Post</a>, the deal will unfold in three phases. The first phase will include the release of 33 hostages — some of whom may be dead — and the Israeli Defense Forces withdrawing to an undefined security perimeter. Israel will reportedly release “many hundreds” of Palestinian prisoners, including terrorists who have killed Israelis.
Humanitarian aid will be increased and Palestinian civilians are also expected to be allowed to return to the northern part of the Gaza Strip with “security arrangements” in place, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/14/middleeast/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire-hostage-deal-explainer-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported CNN</a>.
The Israeli cabinet will meet Thursday morning to approve the deal. The first phase is expected to last 42 days, with negotiations for the subsequent stages set to begin on the 16th day.
The IDF has <a href="https://x.com/IDF/status/1879592341272727778">christened</a> the hostage return operation &#8220;Wings of Freedom.&#8221;
The 33 released hostages are expected to be women, children, wounded people, and men over 50. Five female Israeli soldiers are expected to be released, each of whom will be exchanged for 50 Palestinians, 30 of whom are serving life sentences, according to the Associated Press. Palestinian prisoners will reportedly be released abroad or to the Gaza Strip instead of the West Bank.
During the final hours of the negotiations, Hamas made extra demands regarding the Philadelphi Corridor, reported The Jerusalem Post. The corridor has been seen as a strategic value to Israel by ensuring more weapons are not smuggled into Gaza from Egypt.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s office  noted that &#8220;Hamas folded on its last-minute demand to change the deployment of IDF forces in the Philadelphi Corridor. However, several items in the framework have yet to be finalized; we hope that the details will be finalized tonight.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Statement from Netanyahu’s office:
“Due to the strong insistence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas folded on its last-minute demand to change the deployment of IDF forces in the Philadelphi Corridor. However, several items in the framework have yet to be finalized; we…
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1879601485626892722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
About half of the hostages in Gaza — a mix of Israelis, Americans, elderly, women, children, and soldiers — are believed to be alive. Seven American hostages are still in Gaza, including Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judi Weinstein Haggai, Omer Neutra, and Keith Siegel.
President Trump <a href="https://x.com/KassyAkiva/status/1879578597046067663" target="_blank" rel="noopener">touted</a> the deal on social media on Wednesday, writing that the hostages would &#8220;be released shortly.&#8221; Trump has aggressively pushed for Hamas to release the hostages, saying there would be &#8220;all hell to pay&#8221; if they did not do so before he returned to office.
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