US special envoy says Hamas should unilaterally release captives
President Trump’s special envoy for hostage negotiations, Adam Boehler, says a “comprehensive” ceasefire deal in Gaza will be possible only once the Israeli captives are released.
“What’s very important now is to retain and bring back all hostages, all innocent hostages, and then we can talk about the makings of the deal,” Boehler told Al Jazeera.
Appearing to contradict earlier statements from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who said Israel plans to retain a military presence in Gaza regardless of any agreement, Boehler said he didn’t think “Israel is interested in staying for the long-term”.
“Hamas needs to release the hostages. It’s very hard to create a deal if Hamas is holding hostages. They should release the hostages,” he said.
Trump has said “nothing goes forward until all hostages are released”, Boehler added.
“So that’s how we’re following: Step one is all hostages released. Step two is let’s figure out this day after.”
Trump has called for Palestinians to be forced out of Gaza in order to turn the enclave into the “Riviera of the Middle East” – a push rejected by Palestinians and that rights groups say would amount to ethnic cleansing.
There will be no deal at all without hostages, that's one thing that Hamas is fully convinced of. And tbh, without the hostages the situation would be even worse for Gaza. Only the few hostages left are seen as people in Gaza, not even foreign aid workers get that status.
Calls for Israel arms embargo, help for Gaza ahead of Canada election debate
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) advocacy group is calling on Canada’s main political parties to take action on Gaza ahead of the first of two leadership debates in Canada’s election race.
In a statement, NCCM urged the leaders – who will go head-to-head today in Montreal – to commit to imposing a two-way arms embargo on Israel amid Israel’s war on Gaza.
The group also urged the parties to do more to bolster a special visa programme for Palestinians with relatives in Canada that has been plagued by delays and inefficiencies.
“Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are still waiting to have their applications processed by the Gaza Special Measures program to reunite with family in Canada. This is unacceptable. All leaders must commit to streamlining this process and save lives,” NCCM said.
MSF warns Palestinians in South Hebron Hills face forcible transfer
The warning from Doctors Without Borders (known by its French acronym, MSF) comes just weeks after Israeli settlers and soldiers attacked the Palestinian village of Jinba in the south of the occupied West Bank.
Five Palestinians were hospitalised, including a child who ended up in intensive care, while an MSF clinic was destroyed in the attack on March 28 and 29.
“People in the community of Jinba described it as the most terrifying hours of their lives,” said Rasha Hashlamoun, MSF’s social work supervisor.
The group warned that Jinba faces the risk of forcible transfer.
“We are horrified by this attack on civilians and destruction of civilian infrastructure, and call on Israeli forces to protect health facilities and stop attacks on civilians,” MSF said.
On 28 and 29 March, settlers and Israeli forces stormed and attacked the Jinba community in Masafer Yatta, West Bank, Palestine. Five Palestinians were hospitalised — two in intensive care, including a child.
Our clinic was destroyed during the attack by Israeli forces and…
— MSF International (@MSF) April 16, 2025
