Journalist Asks UN for Reaction as Reporters Berate Blinken Over US’s Gaza Policy

During a recent press briefing, a journalist asked UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq for the UN's reaction to the incident involving reporters questioning U.S. Secretary of State Blinken over the U.S.'s Gaza policy.

The Case of Marwan Barghouti: How Israel Imprisoned Palestine’s Most Popular Leader

Who is Marwan Barghouti? Why is he nicknamed “Palestine’s Mandela”? And why does Israel see him as such a big threat, even behind bars, that it is adamantly refusing to release him as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal?

In this episode of ‘Mehdi Unfiltered,’ Mehdi Hasan goes on a deep dive into Barghouti’s life, his activism, and most importantly, all the red flags around his trial and imprisonment by Israel. Mehdi details what went wrong in Barghouti’s trial, from international law violations to a judge with a grudge.

Mehdi also interviews Marwan’s son, Arab Barghouthi, to discuss his father’s conditions, his treatment by Israel, and the chances of freeing him in the future.

Barghouti’s story, like that of most Palestinians, is a mix of struggle and hope. The former Fatah official, the political party currently led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, is the most popular leader among Palestinians today. And while 89-year-old Abbas sets a low bar for competition, Mehdi explains what makes Barghouti still so popular after decades of imprisonment - and such a threat to both Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas.

Chaos In London: Police Brutally Assault, Arrest Pro-Palestine Protesters

UK police assaulted the pro-Palestine protesters in the Gaza rally, while arrested them.

The 3 Israeli hostages are now back in Israel

The three Israeli hostages released by Hamas on Sunday are now back in Israel, according to a statement from the Israeli military.

Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari are being reunited with their mothers, who traveled to Re’im in southern Israel, to meet them.

“The released hostages are currently on their way to an initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment,” the military said.

They will then be transferred to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv.

Earlier, the Red Cross transferred the hostages to the Israeli military in Gaza, the military said in a statement.

Biden says "guns in Gaza have gone silent" as Hamas hands over 3 hostages

US President Joe Biden said Sunday that the “guns in Gaza have gone silent” as Hamas handed over three hostages, the first of 33 to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire that took effect Sunday.

“The deal that I first put forward last May for the Middle East has finally come to fruition. The ceasefire has gone into effect in Gaza, and today, we’re seeing hostages being released, three Israeli women held against (their) will in the dark tunnels for 470 days,” Biden said.

“After so much pain, destruction, loss of life, today, the guns in Gaza have gone silent,” he added.

Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much needed supplies have crossed into the enclave.

“We can breathe a little more again.” Israelis rejoice at release of hostages

Israelis were elated following the release of three hostages from Gaza on Sunday, saying it almost feels unreal after so many months of waiting.

“It’s a very emotional moment,” Tania Coen-Uzzielli, director of Tel Aviv Museum of Art, told CNN from Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square. “We were waiting for this moment since the last release which was more than one year ago.”

Coen-Uzzielli said she could feel “the pulse” of the plaza every day, as it is located right next to her museum. Hostages Square saw many Israelis gather in solidarity with the hostages held in Gaza every day.

“Everybody is crying,” she said.

Mai, another woman, who declined to give a second name, said, “We can breathe a little more again” after months of waiting. “And we are going to be here until the very last one comes back.”

However, Mai cautioned, “We don’t know what it means about what they went through and how they are physically and mentally,” adding that “they are three incredibly strong women.”

Coen-Uzzielli, the museum director, hopes this can be “the start of a new period,” which may one day end the war with Hamas.

“I really hope that an international force will influence the ultimate decision to continue the release of the hostages and to stop this tragic war,” she said.

Large crowd in Tel Aviv seeks to welcome captives

Video from the ground in Israel, verified by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking unit, shows a gathering of people in what has come to be known as Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.

They are there to support the three captives who have just been released by Hamas into the custody of the Israeli army.

‘We are finally in our home’

Rana Mohsen, 43, who was displaced from northern Jabalia to Gaza City, says she didn’t wait for the official start of the ceasefire to return to where her home once stood.

“We’ve been waiting for this moment for 16 months,” said the mother of three. “My joy is indescribable. We are finally in our home. There is no home left, just rubble, but it’s our home. We are lucky because part of the roof is still intact.

“The extent of the destruction is unimaginable. Buildings and landmarks have completely disappeared, as if it were a ghost town or abandoned cities.”


_{The aftermath of Israeli air attacks on Jabalia}

Philadelphi Corridor remains hurdle in ceasefire deal

As people in Gaza celebrate the ceasefire, there is uncertainty about whether the second phase of the deal will come to fruition.

In his speech on Saturday, Netanyahu said the Israeli military will retain control of the narrow area of land along Gaza’s border with Egypt, which is not what is stipulated in the deal.

“Netanyahu in the second phase is likely to insist on maintaining the control of the Philadelphi Corridor and then we’re going to start having some problems,” Al Jazeera senior political analyst Marwan Bishara said.

“The presence of the Israeli military in the Philadelphi Corridor has nothing to do with Hamas,” he added. “Maybe there will be a symbolic presence in one or two points of the Philadelphi Corridor, but no Israeli presence.”