Updates: Hamas-Israel ceasefire holds

Israel has emerged as the world’s third‑worst jailer of journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) annual prison census. 

The report found that 29 media workers were behind bars in Israel as of December 1, 2025, accounting for nearly 9% of the global total of 330 imprisoned journalists.

“For the fifth year in a row, more than 300 journalists were imprisoned worldwide as of the end of 2025,” CPJ noted, describing conditions as “a cemetery of the living,” quoting a freed Palestinian prisoner.

“Israel, the only country on the worst jailers’ list that is traditionally considered a democracy, began imprisoning Palestinian journalists rapidly following the start of the war,” CPJ said.

The watchdog highlighted that many journalists are held without charge or on undisclosed accusations, in what it described as arbitrary detention “in contravention of international law.” 

More than 90 journalists were arrested during the course of the conflict.

While China and Myanmar topped the list with 50 and 30 imprisoned journalists respectively, CPJ stressed that Israel’s record is particularly striking given its democratic status. 

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Hamas would give up weapons, a step the Palestinian group has not confirmed, in what would be a major step forward in a fragile ceasefire with Israel.

"A lot of people said they'll never disarm. It looks like they're going to disarm," Trump told a cabinet meeting.

Trump hailed cooperation with Hamas.

"They did help us with those bodies, getting them back, and that family is so grateful," Trump said.

Trump had asked for an update on the Middle East from his roving special envoy Steve Witkoff, sitting in the side of the room as cabinet members and media listened.

An upbeat Witkoff voiced high confidence at Hamas following through.

"We've got the terrorists out of there and they're going to demilitarise. They will because they have no choice," Witkoff said.

"They're going to give it up. They're going to give up the AK-47s," he told Trump.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Hamas was a big factor in the return of hostages from Gaza, adding that it looked liked Hamas would disarm.

US envoy Steve Witkoff, speaking to reporters at a cabinet meeting, said that the second phase of the US plan to end the Gaza war was underway.

Israeli fire killed at least two Palestinians in Gaza on Thursday, health officials said, in the latest violence rattling a fragile ceasefire as Hamas and Israel looked to implement the second phase of the US-brokered Gaza peace plan.

Medics said two men were killed by Israeli forces in eastern Khan Younis, in an area adjacent to where the army operates. The Israeli military told Reuters it wasn't aware of any casualties as a result of Israeli fire on Thursday.

Egypt is ready to receive wounded people from Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid once the Rafah border crossing reopens, TRT World reported.

North Sinai Governor Major General Khaled Mujawir told Egyptian state television on Wednesday that the Egyptian side of the crossing is prepared for developments on the ground.

“The crisis management centre is working on possible scenarios, including the delivery of aid, if developments allow, in preparation for the reopening of the crossing,” he said.

Mujawir said prior preparations had been made and that coordination was ongoing with the crisis centre in Cairo and other state institutions. “We are 100% ready for the entry of aid and for receiving the wounded from Gaza,” he added.

Israel’s state broadcaster KAN reported that the Rafah crossing is expected to reopen in both directions on February 1.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has urged the United Nations Security Council to take urgent steps to uphold international law, ensure accountability and advance Palestine’s admission as a full UN member, citing continued Israeli violations despite the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Delivering the statement on behalf of the OIC, Türkiye’s UN envoy Ahmet Yildiz described the October 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as “a critical turning point” but warned that its implementation remains fragile, according to Turkish media.

He noted that while the truce has reduced large-scale violence and improved humanitarian access, recurrent Israeli attacks and restrictions continue to obstruct aid delivery and undermine progress.

Yildiz welcomed international efforts to sustain the ceasefire, including those led by US President Donald Trump, but stressed that Israel’s actions against Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem threaten the agreement’s credibility. 

He reiterated the OIC’s call for swift Security Council action on Palestine’s full UN membership, describing it as essential for lasting peace and the integrity of the multilateral system.

The OIC also expressed support for political developments linked to the ceasefire, including the formation of a Palestinian committee to administer Gaza as a transitional body.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad expressed deep concern over Israel's repeated violations of the ceasefire in Gaza, highlighting unacceptable levels of deaths, forced displacement, and destruction in the region.

Addressing the UN Security Council's Open Debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, he condemned the Israeli attacks on UN installations, including Unrwa facilities.

Referring to UN Security Council Resolution 2803, Iftikhar stressed that the Gaza peace plan's implementation is essential to consolidate a permanent ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian aid, enable reconstruction, and support the political process for Palestinian self-determination and statehood.

He further reiterated that a sovereign Palestinian state should be established on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

The envoy called on Israel to immediately halt all illegal actions in Syria and Lebanon, urging the international community to support peace and stability in the region.