As Israel and Hamas move closer to a ceasefire agreement, Israel says it wants to maintain troops in a southern corridor of the Gaza Strip — a condition that could derail the talks.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday hosted African leaders at the White House for lunch.As the administration continues its tariff negotiations with international trading partners, the president on Monday signed an executive order again extending the pause on many of those duties.

Gaza health authorities reported 105 Palestinians were killed and and 530 wounded in the latest 24-hour period by Israeli strikes. The overall death toll since October now stands at 57,680.

Trump met Netanyahu on Tuesday for the second time in two days to discuss the situation in Gaza, with the president's Middle East envoy indicating that Israel and Hamas were nearing an agreement on a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal after 21 months of war.

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have said they believe a ceasefire with Hamas is "very close" to being secured.

Cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas stall amid hostage disputes, political tensions, and aid access issues.

As talks for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip resume, Palestinians in the battered enclave say they are desperate for deal to end the war between Israel and Hamas.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced Francesca Albanese, a special rapporteur, for investigating Americans and Israelis over the war in the enclave.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a controversial U.S.-backed aid distribution initiative supported by Israel, is currently the primary method for Palestinians in devastated Gaza to access supplies in designated spots after Israel lifted its aid blockade in mid-May.

Evidence shows Hamas used sexual violence systematically during October 7 attack, with a report urging international community to recognize these acts as weapons of war.