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Hamas says open to Gaza truce but stops short of accepting Trump-backed proposal

Hamas suggested Wednesday that it was open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel, but stopped short of accepting a U.S.-backed proposal announced by President Donald Trump hours earlier, insisting on its longstanding position that any deal bring an end to the war in Gaza.

Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The U.S. leader has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire, and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war.

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Israeli FM urges seizing opportunity as Trump pushes for Gaza ceasefire

Israel's top diplomat called on Wednesday not to miss any chance to free hostages held in Gaza, after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Palestinian group Hamas to agree to a 60-day ceasefire that he said had Israel's backing.

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Palestinians say Israeli army killed two in West Bank, including one teen

The Palestinian health ministry said Tuesday that the Israeli army killed two individuals including a 15-year-old boy in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank.

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Rockets fired at Iraq airport, wound two

Two rockets struck the military section of Kirkuk airport in northern Iraq late on Monday, slightly wounding two security personnel, a senior security official told AFP.

Another rocket hit a house in the city of Kirkuk, causing material damage.

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International charities, NGOs call for end to controversial Israeli-backed Gaza aid group

Dozens of international charities and non-governmental organizations, including Oxfam, Save the Children and Amnesty, called Tuesday for an Israeli and U.S.-backed aid mechanism for Gaza to disband over repeated incidents of chaos and deadly violence against Palestinians heading toward its sites.

At least seven Palestinians were killed seeking aid in southern and central Gaza between late Monday and early Tuesday.

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Israel army says reviewing deadly strike on seafront Gaza cafe

The Israeli army said Tuesday that it launched a review into a strike on a seafront Gaza cafe it says targeted militants, but which rescuers said killed 24 people.

In a statement to AFP regarding the incident, the army said it had struck "several Hamas terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip".

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Israel steps up attacks in Gaza ahead of Netanyahu's US visit

Israel's military said Tuesday that it had expanded its operations in Gaza, where residents reported fierce gunfire and shelling days ahead of a planned trip to Washington by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Iraq's top court to resume work after president retires amid controversy

Iraq's top court was set to resume work Monday after nine judges who had tendered their resignations in recent weeks returned to work following the retirement of the court's president and the appointment of a successor.

Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council announced Sunday the retirement of the head of the Federal Supreme Court, Judge Jassim Mohammed Abboud Al-Amiri, citing "health reasons." The Council nominated Judge Mundher Ibrahim Hussein, deputy president of the Federal Court of Cassation, to assume the position, and Hussein was appointed by presidential decree on Monday.

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Trump dismantles Syria sanctions program as Israel ties eyed

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday ending many U.S. economic sanctions on Syria, following through on a promise he made to the country's new interim leader.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the move was designed to "promote and support the country's path to stability and peace."

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Iran voices 'serious doubts' over Israel commitment to ceasefire

Iran has warned that it had little faith in Israel's commitment to a fragile ceasefire that ended the most intense and destructive confrontation between the two foes to date.

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