Gaza Strip

This news report details an invitation from US President Donald Trump to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the 'Board of Peace' for Gaza. The international body, established to oversee the reconstruction, governance, and demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, was reportedly formalized at the World Economic Forum. During the announcement, Donald Trump stated, 'Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do and we'll do it in conjunction with the United Nations'. The board requires permanent members to contribute 1 billion dollars toward a 67 billion dollar rebuilding fund. While leaders from nations like Canada and Russia have been invited, India is currently evaluating its position. The report highlights India's long-standing support for a two-state solution and its strategic neutrality as key reasons for the invitation. Although PM Modi previously welcomed the initial phases of the peace plan, the Indian government is yet to clarify if he will formally join the board.

On this Special Report, the focus is on Donald Trump’s launch of the 'Board of Peace' during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The organization, endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution, is initially tasked with cementing the Gaza ceasefire and overseeing reconstruction. Donald Trump, who chairs the board, stated, 'I'm a big fan of the UN potential, but it has never lived up to its potential,' suggesting the new body might eventually tackle global conflicts and potentially rival the United Nations. The board includes high-profile members such as Jared Kushner, Steve Whitkoff, and former British PM Tony Blair. While nations like Saudi Arabia and Turkey have joined, France has declined, citing conflicts with the UN Charter. Jared Kushner highlighted that the next phase involves working with Hamas on demilitarization and securing investments for Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian factions have reportedly endorsed the plan, which includes a transitional committee to administer the Gaza Strip under board oversight.

This special report focuses on the release of 20 Israeli hostages, marking a pause in the two-year Israel-Hamas war, and the ensuing diplomatic developments involving India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the breakthrough, stating, 'Their freedom stands as a tribute to the courage of their families, the unwavering peace efforts of President Trump and the strong resolve of Prime Minister Netanyahu.' The release is part of a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States. Following the event, US President Donald Trump is in Israel and will co-chair a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with over 20 world leaders. India is being represented at the high-level dialogue by Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardan Singh, signaling New Delhi's engagement in the peace process.

This special report focuses on the Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, where India's diplomatic role is highlighted by the invitation extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and US President Donald Trump. According to reports, the 'summit aims to end the war in the Gaza Strip, strengthen efforts to establish peace and stability in the Middle East, and open a new page of regional security and stability'. While Prime Minister Modi is set to skip the signing due to prior engagements, Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, will represent India, affirming the nation's consistent push for peace and its position as a prominent voice of the Global South. The summit, to be attended by over 20 world leaders, seeks to finalise a truce deal and secure the release of remaining Israeli hostages, marking a significant moment in the long-running conflict.

Israel's cabinet has approved a peace agreement to stop the war in Gaza and secure the release of remaining hostages, marking a significant development after a conflict of over two years. The United States is sending approximately 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor the ceasefire deal. The truce has been hailed as a breakthrough, with one figure involved stating, "This is a great plan. This is a great peace plan. This is a plan that was Supported by everybody." However, concerns about the deal's longevity persist, referencing a previous 42-day ceasefire. The current agreement is a 20-point plan, and its success depends on building trust and ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. The deal also surfaces amid discussions of a Nobel Peace Prize, for which Donald Trump has been nominated.

Hamas has responded to Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, a development Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed as a "very significant step." After approximately 720 days of conflict, Hamas stated its appreciation for the efforts and its readiness to immediately negotiate the release of hostages. The group has also reportedly agreed to lay down arms and hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a technical committee, offering hope for a lasting peace and a potential two-state solution. Prime Minister Modi affirmed that India strongly supports all efforts towards durable and just peace. Donald Trump thanked nations including Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt for their assistance, stating, "Everybody was unified in wanting this war to end and seeing peace in the Middle East." This marks decisive progress in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

At the UN, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said his speech was streamed to Gazans’ phones and blasted via border loudspeakers.

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Australia, Canada, the UK, and Portugal join the growing list of countries recognising Palestine as a state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended the war cabinet's decision to authorise the movement of the Israeli army back into the Gaza Strip.

Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, discusses India's  precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas.

Bahadur Khan Suri, an Indian national and postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, has been detained by US federal immigration authorities. His visa has been revoked over alleged support for Hamas.

Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, said that if Hamas rejects diplomatic proposals, then Israel may take control of the entire Gaza Strip, including humanitarian aid distribution.

Israel's Ambassador to India Reuven Azar said that Israel doesn't have any interest in controlling the Gaza Strip.

Trump imposes new steel and aluminium tariffs, reigniting trade tensions. His Gaza plan meets Erdogan's resistance.

US President-elect Donald Trump stated that there would be "hell to pay" in the Middle East if the hostages held in the Gaza Strip were not freed before his January 20 inauguration.

Israel has not fulfilled US demands to enhance humanitarian access to Gaza, where conditions have deteriorated during the ongoing conflict.

Iranian Ambassador to India Iraj Elahi on Friday said Iran's recent missile strike at Israel was to "deter the illegitimate regime of Israel". In a detailed interview with India Today TV, Dr Elahi said Israel only understands the "language of force" and castigated the Benjamin Netanyahu-regime for ignoring human principles and ethics while bombarding the Gaza Strip during its war with Hamas.

The Israeli military rescued a 52-year-old hostage from a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. The hostage, Qaid Farhan al-Qadi, worked as a guard at a packing factory in Kibbutz Magen before he was abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7 last year.

Join Manish Adhikary on First Things Fast as we delve into a very significant event that just unfolded along the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt.