Israel’s government approved a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas, paving the way for the agreement to take effect Sunday and potentially signalling a new chapter in a bloody 15-month conflict that has enflamed the Middle East.

JERUSALEM - The Israeli government on Saturday approved a ceasefire agreement aimed at the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, following a lengthy cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister's Office said. At the meeting, 24 ministers voted in favor and eight against. The agreement is expected to take effect on Sunday, it said in a statement.

China welcomed on Thursday a Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal between Israel and Hamas. China hopes that the agreement can be effectively implemented to achieve a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Foreign Minister spokesman Guo Jiakun told a daily news briefing.

JERUSALEM - Israel Prime Minister's Office said Thursday morning Hamas has reneged on parts of the agreement reached with the mediators and Israel "in an effort to extort last-minute concessions".

Hamas and Israel reportedly ironed out a final stumbling block in negotiations relating to Palestinian prisoners

China welcomes the Gaza ceasefire agreement and hopes that this agreement will be implemented effectively and that there will be a full and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

China has never provided weapons or components for relevant parties of the conflict,' the embassy in Israel said

"Many people think the United States saves Israel, but the truth is that today Israel's role is to save the United States from itself," this surprising statement by Dr. Michael Doran, an American expert on the Middle East,

Agreement outlines temporary halt to 15 months of bloodshed that has left 46,000 Palestinians dead and return of hostages to families

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Donald Trump's former primary opponent Sen. Marco Rubio is meeting with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday as the president-elect's secretary of state nominee.

A critical element of any rapprochement, however, would be Iran’s stance toward Israel. China officially defines its relationship with Israel as an ‘innovative comprehensive partnership’ and ...