What's happened
The US has paused a weapons shipment to Israel amid the conflict in Gaza, where Hamas has agreed to a three-phase ceasefire deal following Israel's order to evacuate parts of Rafah. Talks between Israel and Hamas have seen ups and downs, with hopes for a truce rising and falling. The situation remains tense as both sides navigate negotiations and military actions.
Why it matters
The conflict in Gaza, with the US pausing weapons shipments to Israel and Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire deal, highlights the delicate balance of power and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The outcome of negotiations could determine the immediate future for civilians caught in the crossfire and have broader implications for regional stability.
What the papers say
The New York Times reports on the back-and-forth nature of the ceasefire negotiations, with hopes raised and dashed repeatedly. SBS provides insight into the three-phase ceasefire deal agreed upon by Hamas, while The Independent focuses on the US decision to pause a weapons shipment to Israel amid the conflict.
How we got here
The conflict in Gaza has been ongoing, with Palestinians facing Israeli airstrikes and a humanitarian crisis since October. Efforts to reach a truce have been complicated by Hamas' demands for a permanent end to the conflict and Israel's insistence on a temporary pause. The US has played a mediation role in the talks, along with Qatar and Egypt.
Common question
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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Rafah is a Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. It is the district capital of the Rafah Governorate, located 30 kilometers south of Gaza City. Rafah's population of 152,950 is overwhelmingly made up of former Palestinian refugees.