Free Republic

Hostages expected to be released in the first phase are those who fall under the humanitarian category, such as women, children, elderly or wounded. Hamas confirmed on Sunday that 28-year-old Emily Damari, 23-year-old Romi Gonen, and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher would be released on the first day of phase one of the hostage-ceasefire deal. The deal will see 33 hostages released in the first phase in exchange for the release of security prisoners, humanitarian aid, and an IDF withdrawal from some areas in Gaza. Israel will release 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage and 50 Palestinian detainees for every Israeli...

Incoming Trump administration officials reportedly are developing a sanctions strategy that they hope will expedite a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war. -snip- Bloomberg reported that incoming Trump administration officials are considering two main options in regard to sanctions. If they believe a resolution to the Ukraine war is relatively close, good-faith measures to benefit sanctioned Russian oil producers could help bring about a peace deal, sources told the outlet. Another option would build on the current sanctions in an attempt to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to end the conflict.