The departures are common when a transition takes place, but it is now happening more quickly and on a larger scale than under previous administrations, a U.S. official said.

Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Thursday denied a report published by Milan daily Corriere della Sera claiming US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had protested against the release on Sunday by Italian authorities of Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi,

"A Hamas state will not only not solve the conflict, but will deteriorate security, peace and stability of the region," stated Gideon Sa'ar.

During his speech on Tuesday (14 January), Blinken made a last-minute case for a plan for the post-war reconstruction and governance of Gaza as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears tantalizingly close to completion.

The Gaza ceasefire clinched Wednesday was a bittersweet victory for US President Joe Biden days before he hands over the White House to Donald Trump, who claimed credit -- and,

Netanyahu’s office denies reports Hamas has agreed to truce and hostage deal - Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip whilst Israel insists details are still being fina

At least 80 people have been killed by Israeli air strikes on Gaza, it has been reported. A ceasefire and hostage return deal was reached on Wednesday, but has yet to be ratified by the Israeli parliament. According to authorities in Gaza, 81 people have been killed in the last 24 hours and 188 have been injured.

Israeli media channels had reported that, following the green light from Hamas, the deal would be formally announced on Thursday and would come into effect on Sunday. Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has d

France said on Thursday it had summoned a senior Venezuelan diplomat in Paris to protest against Caracas' decision to limit the number of French diplomatic personnel in the Latin American country.

Key mediator Qatar said negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release deal were in their "final stages" on Tuesday, expressing hope an agreement could be reached "very soon".

The Israeli cabinet still has to ratify the deal, and some details remained unresolved. President Biden said hostages were to be released over 42 days.

March 23, 2022 - In a statement, Blinken announces the US government has formally declared that members of the Russian armed forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine. April 24, 2022 - Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin make an unannounced trip to Kyiv and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.