Israel-Hamas war

Israel’s government ratified what the White House called the “first phase” of a ceasefire deal, as President Donald Trump indicated he planned to visit the region.

In his own post, Netanyahu said only, “With God’s help we will bring them all home,” an apparent reference to the hostages.

“I am deeply struck and saddened by the images of these people held prisoner in tunnels, starved,” the cardinal said. “We cannot and must not forget them.”

“Much still needs to be defined. We must not delude ourselves, but we are pleased that something new and positive is on the horizon.”

The federal government shutdown stretched into its third day with indications it would continue after lawmakers once again failed to pass a spending bill. 

President Donald Trump on Oct. 3 called on Israel to stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to the release of its Israeli hostages, pending negotiation of the details. 

Inon and his siblings issued a joint statement rejecting revenge in the name of their parents and spoke out about the deaths of civilians in Gaza.

President Trump released a peace plan to end the Israel-Hamas war which was met with cautious optimism from some world leaders and skepticism from others.

Christian leaders in the Holy Land are pushing back against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Sept. 26 speech at the United Nations

As some member countries have recognized a Palestinian state, Trump argued doing so would “encourage continued conflict.”