France issues new arrest warrant for Syria’s Assad: source

Two French investigating magistrates have issued an arrest warrant against ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad for suspected complicity in war crimes, the second such move by France’s judicial authorities, a source said on Tuesday.Assad, who was ousted late last year in a lightning offensive by Islamist forces, is held responsible in the warrant issued on Monday as “commander-in-chief of the armed forces” for a bombing in the Syrian city of Deraa in 2017 that killed a civilian, a source close to the case, asking not to be named, told AFP.This mandate was issued as part of an investigation into the case of Salah Abou Nabout, a 59-year-old Franco-Syrian national and former French teacher, who was killed on June 7, 2017 following the bombing of his home by Syrian army helicopters. The French judiciary considers that Assad ordered and provided the means for this attack, according to the source.Six senior Syrian army officials are already the target of French arrest warrants over the case in an investigation that began in 2018. “This case represents the culmination of a long fight for justice, in which I and my family believed from the start,” said Omar Abou Nabout, the victim’s son, in a statement.He expressed hope that “a trial will take place and that the perpetrators will be arrested and judged, wherever they are”. – Lost immunity -French authorities in November 2023 issued a first arrest warrant against Assad over chemical attacks in 2013 where more than a thousand people, according to American intelligence, were killed by sarin gas.While considering Assad’s participation in these attacks “likely”, public prosecutors last year issued an appeal against the warrant on the grounds that Assad should have immunity as a head of state.However, his ouster has now changed his status and potential immunity. Assad and his family fled to Russia after his fall, according to Russian authorities.In all, the French justice system has issued 14 arrest warrants for Syrian officials, according to an AFP tally.Since beginning in 2011 with the brutal crackdown of anti-Assad protests, Syria’s war has killed more than half a million people and ravaged the country’s economy.Tens of thousands of people were detained and tortured in the country’s jails, while Assad has been accused of using chemical weapons, including the banned sarin gas, against his own people.On Friday the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan met the leader of Syria’s new administration Ahmed al-Sharaa.That visit sparked hopes of justice and accountability for the abuses committed during Assad’s rule.

Final tally confirms Chad military ruler’s party as poll winnerTue, 21 Jan 2025 19:59:23 GMT

Chad’s Constitutional Council on Tuesday confirmed the MPS party of military ruler President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno as the winner of December general elections which were boycotted by opposition parties, citing a final vote tally.Council president Jean-Bernard Padare found Deby’s party had won a solid majority in the first legislative elections held in the country …

Final tally confirms Chad military ruler’s party as poll winnerTue, 21 Jan 2025 19:59:23 GMT Read More »

Bishop lectures stony-faced Trump in church

Donald Trump was forced Tuesday to sit through a sermon by a bishop begging him to have “mercy” on gays and poor immigrants as the Republican celebrated the start to his second term as US president.Trump scowled as the Washington National Cathedral’s Mariann Edgar Budde pleaded the case from the pulpit for LGBT people and illegal migrants — two groups that Trump targeted with executive orders within hours of being sworn in on Monday.Trump had gone to the traditional presidential service to commemorate his inauguration and was clearly not expecting the criticism.”I ask you to have mercy, Mr President,” the bishop said softly, evoking the “fear” that she said is felt across the country.”There are gay and lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families,” she said.”The people who pick our farms and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals — they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation,” she said.”But the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.”An unsmiling Trump, who sat in the first pew, looked back at Budde and sometimes away. His family and Vice President JD Vance seemed similarly surprised and displeased at the intervention.Asked later by a reporter for his reaction, Trump said: “I didn’t think it was a good service.””They could do much better.”Among scores of executive orders signed late Monday were measures to suspend the arrival of asylum seekers and expel migrants in the country illegally.Trump also decreed that only two sexes — male and female, but not transgender — will be recognized.

Turquie: colère et deuil après la mort de 76 vacanciers dans un hôtel d’altitude

La colère gronde en Turquie et dans la station de ski de Kartalkaya (centre) où l’incendie d’un hôtel de luxe apparemment dépourvu de systèmes de sécurité a fait mardi au moins 76 morts, selon le dernier bilan disponible en soirée.Selon le ministre de l’Intérieur Ali Yerlikaya qui avait également précédemment évoqué le nombre de 51 blessés, le travail d’identification se poursuivait dans la nuit à l’hôpital de Bolu, la capitale régionale où ont été transportées les victimes.Suite à ce drame, le président turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a annoncé une journée de deuil national mercredi.Le feu s’est déclenché pour une raison encore inconnue en pleine nuit, à 3H27 (0H27 GMT) du matin selon les autorités, dans l’hôtel Grand Kartal de Kartalkaya, un établissement de douze étages situé à plus de 2.000 m d’altitude, qui accueillait 238 clients en pleines vacances d’hiver en Turquie.”Les gens hurlaient, ils ont suspendu des draps pour tenter de sortir, certains ont sauté par les fenêtres mais d’autres avaient des enfants, des amis… Il n’y avait pas d’issue de secours”, a dénoncé Atakan Yelkovan, un trentenaire qui logeait au troisième étage avec son épouse et a pu descendre rapidement.- “pas de pompiers” -“Il n’y avait pas de pompiers dans les parages. Il a fallu environ une heure à une heure et demie pour qu’ils arrivent”, a-t-il assuré à l’agence turque IHA.Parti des étages supérieurs, le sinistre s’est rapidement propagé au reste du bâtiment en raison du bardage extérieur en bois, laissant peu d’échappatoires aux vacanciers endormis.Une vidéo d’IHA montre des clients aux fenêtres dans la nuit, appelant à l’aide: “Où sont les pompiers ? Aidez nous !”Alors que d’immenses flammes ravageaient la bâtisse, les employés de l’hôtel ont aidé à évacuer les clients.”J’ai vu un père avec son bébé dans ses bras réclamant des oreillers pour jeter son fils, heureusement il a attendu les secours qui les ont sauvés. Mais au dernier étage, deux femmes se sont jetées dans le vide sous mes yeux, elles ont été tuées sur le coup”, a-t-il rapporté, en état de choc, à IHA.”Les gens appelaient à l’aide, ils demandaient des couvertures pour pouvoir sortir par les fenêtres”, a témoigné Baris Salgur, employé d’un hôtel voisin.”On leur a apporté ce qu’on trouvait, des cordes, des oreillers, et même un canapé… Quand les flammes se sont approchées d’eux, certains se sont jetés dans le vide”.Selon la chaîne de télévision privée NTV, trois personnes au moins ont trouvé la mort en sautant par les fenêtres.”Les ultimes recherches seront conduites demain (mercredi) matin par les équipes de l’Afad” l’agence de secours turque, a assuré le ministre Yerlikaya faisant valoir la nuit qui gêne les travaux, peu après 22h00 (19H00 GMT).- conformité -Il a promis que “toutes les mesures seront prises si l’enquête montre qu’il y a eu négligence ou que des fautes ont été commises”.Mais la colère s’est emparée des médias et des réseaux sociaux, chacun s’interrogeant, une fois de plus après de tels drames, sur les mesures de sécurité et surtout sur la conformité de l’établissement.Le ministre du Tourisme, Bakan Ersoy, a assuré sur X que l’hôtel avait été inspecté et certifié par les pompiers en 2021 et 2024.Mais plusieurs témoins ont dénoncé l’absence de système d’alerte et d’évacuation.”Aucune alarme ne s’est déclenchée, aucun détecteur de fumée ni escalier de secours alors qu’il y avait de la fumée jusqu’au dixième étage”, a affirmé sur les télévisions un quinquagénaire en pleurs, qui séjournait en famille depuis dimanche dans l’établissement.Les images prises par drone témoignent des ravages dans la toiture et dans les étages supérieurs de l’hôtel, installé au sommet d’une falaise pour disposer d’une vue panoramique, ce qui a compliqué l’intervention des 428 pompiers mobilisés, a précisé le ministre de l’Intérieur, venu sur place avec plusieurs membres du gouvernement.Quatre personnes ont été arrêtées mardi, dont le propriétaire de l’hôtel, et placées en garde à vue, a annoncé le ministre de la Justice, Yilmaz Tunc.Une enquête a été confiée à “six procureurs”, appuyés par un comité d’experts, a-t-il précisé.Mardi soir, les familles étaient rassemblées devant l’hôpital de Bolu dont la morgue accueille les corps des victimes et dix-neuf blessés, dont une dans un état grave.Devant son parti AKP, réuni en congrès, M. Erdogan a également assuré que “tout sera mis en œuvre pour faire la lumière sur tous les aspects du drame et pour demander des comptes aux responsables”.De nombreux pays, dont l’Allemagne, la Grèce voisine, l’Ukraine, le Pakistan, l’Azerbaïdjan, les responsables de l’Union européenne et le président russe Vladimir Poutine ont adressé leurs condoléances et exprimé leur solidarité après ce drame.

Turquie: colère et deuil après la mort de 76 vacanciers dans un hôtel d’altitude

La colère gronde en Turquie et dans la station de ski de Kartalkaya (centre) où l’incendie d’un hôtel de luxe apparemment dépourvu de systèmes de sécurité a fait mardi au moins 76 morts, selon le dernier bilan disponible en soirée.Selon le ministre de l’Intérieur Ali Yerlikaya qui avait également précédemment évoqué le nombre de 51 blessés, le travail d’identification se poursuivait dans la nuit à l’hôpital de Bolu, la capitale régionale où ont été transportées les victimes.Suite à ce drame, le président turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a annoncé une journée de deuil national mercredi.Le feu s’est déclenché pour une raison encore inconnue en pleine nuit, à 3H27 (0H27 GMT) du matin selon les autorités, dans l’hôtel Grand Kartal de Kartalkaya, un établissement de douze étages situé à plus de 2.000 m d’altitude, qui accueillait 238 clients en pleines vacances d’hiver en Turquie.”Les gens hurlaient, ils ont suspendu des draps pour tenter de sortir, certains ont sauté par les fenêtres mais d’autres avaient des enfants, des amis… Il n’y avait pas d’issue de secours”, a dénoncé Atakan Yelkovan, un trentenaire qui logeait au troisième étage avec son épouse et a pu descendre rapidement.- “pas de pompiers” -“Il n’y avait pas de pompiers dans les parages. Il a fallu environ une heure à une heure et demie pour qu’ils arrivent”, a-t-il assuré à l’agence turque IHA.Parti des étages supérieurs, le sinistre s’est rapidement propagé au reste du bâtiment en raison du bardage extérieur en bois, laissant peu d’échappatoires aux vacanciers endormis.Une vidéo d’IHA montre des clients aux fenêtres dans la nuit, appelant à l’aide: “Où sont les pompiers ? Aidez nous !”Alors que d’immenses flammes ravageaient la bâtisse, les employés de l’hôtel ont aidé à évacuer les clients.”J’ai vu un père avec son bébé dans ses bras réclamant des oreillers pour jeter son fils, heureusement il a attendu les secours qui les ont sauvés. Mais au dernier étage, deux femmes se sont jetées dans le vide sous mes yeux, elles ont été tuées sur le coup”, a-t-il rapporté, en état de choc, à IHA.”Les gens appelaient à l’aide, ils demandaient des couvertures pour pouvoir sortir par les fenêtres”, a témoigné Baris Salgur, employé d’un hôtel voisin.”On leur a apporté ce qu’on trouvait, des cordes, des oreillers, et même un canapé… Quand les flammes se sont approchées d’eux, certains se sont jetés dans le vide”.Selon la chaîne de télévision privée NTV, trois personnes au moins ont trouvé la mort en sautant par les fenêtres.”Les ultimes recherches seront conduites demain (mercredi) matin par les équipes de l’Afad” l’agence de secours turque, a assuré le ministre Yerlikaya faisant valoir la nuit qui gêne les travaux, peu après 22h00 (19H00 GMT).- conformité -Il a promis que “toutes les mesures seront prises si l’enquête montre qu’il y a eu négligence ou que des fautes ont été commises”.Mais la colère s’est emparée des médias et des réseaux sociaux, chacun s’interrogeant, une fois de plus après de tels drames, sur les mesures de sécurité et surtout sur la conformité de l’établissement.Le ministre du Tourisme, Bakan Ersoy, a assuré sur X que l’hôtel avait été inspecté et certifié par les pompiers en 2021 et 2024.Mais plusieurs témoins ont dénoncé l’absence de système d’alerte et d’évacuation.”Aucune alarme ne s’est déclenchée, aucun détecteur de fumée ni escalier de secours alors qu’il y avait de la fumée jusqu’au dixième étage”, a affirmé sur les télévisions un quinquagénaire en pleurs, qui séjournait en famille depuis dimanche dans l’établissement.Les images prises par drone témoignent des ravages dans la toiture et dans les étages supérieurs de l’hôtel, installé au sommet d’une falaise pour disposer d’une vue panoramique, ce qui a compliqué l’intervention des 428 pompiers mobilisés, a précisé le ministre de l’Intérieur, venu sur place avec plusieurs membres du gouvernement.Quatre personnes ont été arrêtées mardi, dont le propriétaire de l’hôtel, et placées en garde à vue, a annoncé le ministre de la Justice, Yilmaz Tunc.Une enquête a été confiée à “six procureurs”, appuyés par un comité d’experts, a-t-il précisé.Mardi soir, les familles étaient rassemblées devant l’hôpital de Bolu dont la morgue accueille les corps des victimes et dix-neuf blessés, dont une dans un état grave.Devant son parti AKP, réuni en congrès, M. Erdogan a également assuré que “tout sera mis en œuvre pour faire la lumière sur tous les aspects du drame et pour demander des comptes aux responsables”.De nombreux pays, dont l’Allemagne, la Grèce voisine, l’Ukraine, le Pakistan, l’Azerbaïdjan, les responsables de l’Union européenne et le président russe Vladimir Poutine ont adressé leurs condoléances et exprimé leur solidarité après ce drame.

Trump’s blizzard of orders faces stormy ride

Donald Trump has claimed a mandate from God to reshape America — but the earthly powers of the US courts, a super-thin majority in Congress and foreign capitals may have other ideas.The Republican president unleashed a “shock and awe” blitz of executive orders in his first 24 hours back in power that overturned many of his predecessor Joe Biden’s policies.The question now is how many of the 78-year-old’s sweeping directives — on everything from immigration to gender, climate and the TikTok video app — will actually succeed.”The storm of executive orders from Trump — particularly those aimed at immigration and birthright citizenship — are probably going to end up as big constitutional losers,” veteran political strategist Mike Fahey told AFP.Many of Trump’s orders focused on immigration — including the declaration of a national emergency on the US southern border with Mexico.But the one ending the automatic right to citizenship for anyone born in the United States could cause him the most problems. The right is enshrined in the US Constitution, and has also been upheld by the US Supreme Court.Rights groups have already filed lawsuits against the move.”You could be right. You’ll find out,” Trump said Monday during an Oval Office signing ceremony when asked whether his birthright citizenship plans could be derailed.Another early target for lawsuits is the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, a cost-cutting agency headed by billionaire Elon Musk.- ‘Edges of executive power’ -Trump is far from the first US president to issue a flurry of orders to show policy wins from day one.And for America’s greatest political showman, the visuals may be as important as the substance. His pardons for more than 1,500 of the pro-Trump rioters who attacked the US Capitol in 2021 will also appeal to his supporters.”These types of changes are red meat for his base,” said Nicholas Jacobs, associate professor of government at Maine’s liberal arts Colby College.”While much of it is symbolic and will face legal challenges, it is exactly the type of dramatic action his supporters want to see.”But Trump’s blizzard of orders was exceptional and genuinely tests the limits of presidential power.Trump is feeling so emboldened by his election win that he even declared in his inaugural address that he was “saved by God to make America great again” after surviving an assassin’s bullet at a July campaign rally.”The basic nature and the sheer number of Trump’s Day One actions suggest a presidency that will press hard on the edges of executive power,” said Fahey.Trump will also try to get some of his executive orders enshrined by Congress to prevent a future president doing exactly what he has done to many of Biden’s prized achievements.But Trump’s tiny majority in the House of Representatives means passing any legislation will be a struggle.- ‘Biggest obstacle’ -The courts could be a still bigger problem, even if the US Supreme Court is now conservative-dominated thanks to Trump’s three appointments to the nine-member bench in his first term.”The biggest obstacle Trump faces in implementing his wide-ranging agenda is the legal system,” said political analyst Gerard Filitti, senior counsel at legal think tank The Lawfare Project.On the world stage, Trump is counting that a return of his disruptive style will force other countries to make deals — but that depends on whether they are ready to play the game.Trump said he would impose 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada, “take back” the Panama Canal and get Denmark to sell Greenland to the United States.On TikTok, he has ordered a 75-day pause on enforcing a law effectively banning TikTok in the US, as he floated an idea of partnering with the app’s Chinese owner.”I may do the deal or I may not do the deal,” Trump said.On his order to declare drug cartels as terrorist organizations, he said that “Mexico probably doesn’t want that but we have to do it.”Trump has even made out-of-this world promises, claiming it was America’s “manifest destiny” to “plant the Stars and Stripes” on the planet Mars.

Trump’s UN pick blasts ‘anti-Semitic rot’ in world body

Donald Trump’s nominee to represent Washington at the United Nations railed against “anti-Semitic rot” in the global organization as she was grilled by senators at her confirmation hearing on Tuesday.New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik noted that America contributes more to the UN than any other country and called for reform to ensure its tax dollars were not “propping up entities that are counter to American interests, anti-Semitic, or engaging in fraud, corruption or terrorism.”A right-wing firebrand who was considered a moderate before the Trump era, Stefanik is seen as one of the most vocal supporters in Congress of both Israel and US Jewish causes.”It’s one of the reasons why, in my conversation with President Trump, I was interested in this position — because if you look at the anti-Semitic rot within the United Nations, there are more resolutions targeting Israel than any other country, any other crisis, combined,” Stefanik told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.Stefanik, 40, made the same criticism of the US higher education system as she touted her record of holding the feet of college administrators to the fire during aggressive questioning last year over anti-Semitism on campuses. “My oversight work led to the most viewed testimony in the history of Congress,” she said.”This hearing with university presidents was heard around the world and viewed billions of times, because it exposed the anti-Semitic rot in colleges and universities and was a watershed moment in American higher education.”Stefanik was pushed on her views on the war in Gaza, and noted that she voted to defund UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Former president Joe Biden halted its US funding over allegations that members were possibly involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks. Stefanik also revealed that she agreed with far-right Israeli ministers who believe Israel has a “biblical right to the entire West Bank” — but avoided being pinned down on whether she supported Palestinian self-determination.Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman is the only Democrat to have pledged his support for Stefanik, but others have indicated they may wave her through and she is expected to be confirmed with little drama in a vote of the full Senate. “If confirmed, I will work to ensure that our mission to the United Nations serves the interest of the American people, and represents American President Trump’s America First, peace-through-strength foreign policy,” she said.

Trump’s UN pick blasts ‘anti-Semitic rot’ in world body

Donald Trump’s nominee to represent Washington at the United Nations railed against “anti-Semitic rot” in the global organization as she was grilled by senators at her confirmation hearing on Tuesday.New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik noted that America contributes more to the UN than any other country and called for reform to ensure its tax dollars were not “propping up entities that are counter to American interests, anti-Semitic, or engaging in fraud, corruption or terrorism.”A right-wing firebrand who was considered a moderate before the Trump era, Stefanik is seen as one of the most vocal supporters in Congress of both Israel and US Jewish causes.”It’s one of the reasons why, in my conversation with President Trump, I was interested in this position — because if you look at the anti-Semitic rot within the United Nations, there are more resolutions targeting Israel than any other country, any other crisis, combined,” Stefanik told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.Stefanik, 40, made the same criticism of the US higher education system as she touted her record of holding the feet of college administrators to the fire during aggressive questioning last year over anti-Semitism on campuses. “My oversight work led to the most viewed testimony in the history of Congress,” she said.”This hearing with university presidents was heard around the world and viewed billions of times, because it exposed the anti-Semitic rot in colleges and universities and was a watershed moment in American higher education.”Stefanik was pushed on her views on the war in Gaza, and noted that she voted to defund UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Former president Joe Biden halted its US funding over allegations that members were possibly involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks. Stefanik also revealed that she agreed with far-right Israeli ministers who believe Israel has a “biblical right to the entire West Bank” — but avoided being pinned down on whether she supported Palestinian self-determination.Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman is the only Democrat to have pledged his support for Stefanik, but others have indicated they may wave her through and she is expected to be confirmed with little drama in a vote of the full Senate. “If confirmed, I will work to ensure that our mission to the United Nations serves the interest of the American people, and represents American President Trump’s America First, peace-through-strength foreign policy,” she said.

Israel army chief resigns over October 7 ‘failure’

The head of Israel’s military resigned on Tuesday, taking responsibility for its “failure” to stop Hamas’s October 7 attack, days after a fragile truce took effect following 15 months of war in the Gaza Strip.In his resignation letter, released by the army, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said he was stepping down “due to my acknowledgement of responsibility for the (military’s) failure on October 7”, but added that he was leaving at a time of “significant successes”.He acknowledged, however, that the goals of the Gaza war “have not all been achieved”, adding the army would “continue to fight to further dismantle Hamas”, bring back the hostages and enable Israelis displaced by militant attacks to return home.Shortly after his announcement, Major General Yaron Finkelman also resigned. Finkelman headed Israel’s southern military command, which is responsible for Gaza.Hamas’s attack, the deadliest in Israeli history, resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.It sparked a war that has levelled much of Gaza and, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, killed 47,107, a majority of them civilians, figures the United Nations has said are reliable.In a televised address hours after announcing his resignation, Halevi said Israel’s campaign had killed “nearly 20,000 Hamas operatives”.The October 7 attack, which also saw 251 people taken hostage, traumatised Israelis and created an unprecedented crisis for the country’s top leadership.Ninety-one hostages remain in captivity, 34 of whom the military says are dead.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed early in the war to crush Hamas and to bring home all the hostages.Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid on Tuesday called on Netanyahu to follow Halevi’s example.Saying he saluted the military chief for stepping down, Lapid added: “Now, it is time for them to take responsibility and resign -– the prime minister and his entire catastrophic government.”- ‘Maintain this calm’ -After months of fruitless negotiations, mediators Qatar and the United States announced a ceasefire that took effect Sunday, on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president. Trump, who claimed credit for the agreement, said he doubted the deal would hold as he took office for a historic second term.”That’s not our war; it’s their war. But I’m not confident,” he said.However, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told the World Economic Forum on Tuesday that if Israel and Hamas acted “in good faith, this will last and hopefully… will lead to a permanent ceasefire”.Since the truce took effect, desperately needed humanitarian aid has begun to flow into Gaza, and Palestinians displaced by the war have headed back to their homes in devastated areas of the territory, hopeful the agreement would last.Displaced Gazan Ghadeer Abdul Rabbo, 30, told AFP she hoped that “with or without Trump”, the ceasefire would hold and world governments would help “maintain this calm, because we are afraid”.The truce has so far seen Israel and Hamas conduct one exchange of hostages for prisoners.Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP that another four Israeli women hostages would be freed on Saturday in exchange for a second group of Palestinian prisoners.- ‘We will rebuild’ -If all goes to plan, a total of 33 hostages will be returned from Gaza in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinians during the 42-day first phase of the truce.Over those six weeks, the parties are meant to negotiate a permanent ceasefire.In the final phase, militants would return the bodies of dead hostages, while the reconstruction of Gaza would get under way.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Netanyahu by phone about the ceasefire on Tuesday, with both agreeing “that we must work towards a permanent and peaceful solution that guarantees Israel’s security”, according to a British readout of the conversation.Starmer also told Netanyahu that Britain was “ready to do everything it can to support a political process, which should also lead to a viable and sovereign Palestinian state”.The first day of the truce saw three Israeli hostages, all women, reunited with their families after more than 15 months in captivity. One of them, Emily Damari, was a British-Israeli dual national.Hours later, 90 Palestinian prisoners were released from an Israeli jail.The war has devastated much of the Gaza Strip and displaced the vast majority of its population of 2.4 million.More than 900 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Monday, the United Nations said.In Rafah in southern Gaza, Ismail Madi said that “we have endured immense hardships, but we will stay here. We will rebuild this place.”While there was quiet in Gaza, violence flared in the occupied West Bank, with the Israeli military launching a deadly operation in the area of Jenin, a bastion of Palestinian militancy.The Palestinian health ministry, based in Ramallah, said the operation had killed 10 people.burs-ser/smw/jsa