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Hamas Agrees to IDF Presence in Philadelphi Corridor During Ceasefire: Report
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands before a map of the Gaza Strip, telling viewers that Israel must retain control over the “Philadelphi corridor,” a strategic area along the territory’s border with Egypt, during a news conference in Jerusalem, Sept. 2, 2024. Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg/Pool via REUTERS
i24 News — Arab mediators told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday that Hamas had conceded on two main points of contention that Israel is insisting on regarding the potential ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Gaza Strip.
The report said raises hopes that an agreement could be reached and release hostages within days, although previous negotiations have collapsed time and time again over the past year.
For the first time, Hamas indicated that they would agree Israeli forces remaining in Gaza temporarily, even when the fighting stops. At the same time, Hamas transferred a list of hostages, including American citizens, whom they would release as the first part of a ceasefire agreement. A list has not been transferred at any stage since the first ceasefire during the conflict last year.
The new plan, proposed by Cairo and backed by the United States, seeks to seize momentum following the ceasefire in Lebanon achieved in November, which held up despite Israel and Hezbollah blaming each other for violations.
As part of the latest proposal, Israel and Hamas are considering a 60-day ceasefire, during which up to 30 detainees held in Gaza, including American citizens, will be released, according to the mediators. In exchange, Israel will release Palestinian prisoners and allow for larger humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza, they said.
The negotiations gained momentum this week, when an Israeli delegation visited Cairo on Tuesday, just a few days after senior Hamas members were in the Egyptian capital. It was also noted that White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is expected to travel this week to Israel, Egypt, and Qatar to promote a deal, the mediators said.
According to the mediators, Hamas accepts the fact that Israeli forces will temporarily remain in the Philadelphi Corridor, along the Gaza-Egypt border, and the Erez Crossing in the northern part of the enclave. The terror organization also agreed that it will not operate and will not be present on the Palestinian side of the Rafah Crossing between Egypt and Gaza.
In addition, Hamas submitted on Sunday to mediators in Cairo a list of hostages that includes American citizens, women, elderly, and prisoners suffering from medical problems, said Arab mediators. The organization has also compiled a list of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons, whom Hamas has demanded their release as part of the deal.
The hostages may be released a short time after the deal is signed, and additional time will be given to Hamas to determine the names of the remaining hostages, their whereabouts and their health status, the mediators said.
The post Hamas Agrees to IDF Presence in Philadelphi Corridor During Ceasefire: Report first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Israeli Strike on Tehran Kills Bodyguard of Slain Hezbollah Chief
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi lays a wreath as he visits the burial site of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, on the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon, June 3, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A member of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah was killed in an Israeli air strike on Tehran alongside a member of an Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group, a senior Lebanese security source told Reuters and the Iraqi group said on Saturday.
The source identified the Hezbollah member as Abu Ali Khalil, who had served as a bodyguard for Hezbollah’s slain chief Hassan Nasrallah. The source said Khalil had been on a religious pilgrimage to Iraq when he met up with a member of the Kataeb Sayyed Al-Shuhada group.
They traveled together to Tehran and were both killed in an Israeli strike there, along with Khalil’s son, the senior security source said. Hezbollah has not joined in Iran’s air strikes against Israel from Lebanon.
Kataeb Sayyed Al-Shuhada published a statement confirming that both the head of its security unit and Khalil had been killed in an Israeli strike.
Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli aerial attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs in September.
Israel and Iran have been trading strikes for nine consecutive days since Israel launched attacks on Iran, saying Tehran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Iran has said it does not seek nuclear weapons.
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Hamas Financial Officer and Commander Eliminated by IDF in the Gaza Strip
Israeli soldiers operate during a ground operation in the southern Gaza Strip, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, July 3, 2024. Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg/Pool via REUTERS
i24 News – The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), in cooperation with the General Security Service (Shin Bet), announced on Friday the killing of Ibrahim Abu Shamala, a senior financial official in Hamas’ military wing.
The operation took place on June 17th in the central Gaza Strip.
Abu Shamala held several key positions, including financial officer for Hamas’ military wing and assistant to Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of Hamas’ military wing until his elimination in March 2024.
He was responsible for managing all the financial resources of Hamas’ military wing in Gaza, overseeing the planning and execution of the group’s war budget. This involved handling and smuggling millions of dollars into the Gaza Strip to fund Hamas’ military operations.
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Report: Wary of Assassination by Israel, Khamenei Names 3 Potential Successors
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, May 20, 2025. Photo: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS
i24 News – Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei named three senior clerics as candidates to succeed him should he be killed, the New York Times reported on Saturday citing unnamed Iranian officials. It is understood the Ayatollah fears he could be assassinated in the coming days.
Khamenei reportedly mostly speaks with his commanders through a trusted aide now, suspending electronic communications.
Khamenei has designated three senior religious figures as candidates to replace him as well as choosing successors in the military chain of command in the likely event that additional senior officials be eliminated.
Earlier on Saturday Israel confirmed the elimination of Saeed Izadi and Bhanam Shahriari.
Shahriari, head of Iran’s Quds Force Weapons Transfer Unit, responsible for arming Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, was killed in an Israeli airstrike over 1,000 km from Israel in western Iran.
The post Report: Wary of Assassination by Israel, Khamenei Names 3 Potential Successors first appeared on Algemeiner.com.