Jerusalem, Feb 4: Israel is preparing to send a delegation to Qatar for talks on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Israel is preparing for the working-echelon delegation to leave for Doha at the end of this week in order to discuss technical details related to the continued implementation of the agreement,” the statement said.

Next week, the Security Cabinet is expected to convene to discuss Israel’s overall position regarding the second stage of the deal, which according to the office, “will guide the continuation of the negotiations.”

The announcement followed Netanyahu’s meetings in Washington with US National Security Advisor (NSA) Mike Waltz and President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. Netanyahu is set to meet Trump later Tuesday.

Netanyahu’s office said discussions would focus on the fragile truce and efforts to end the war in Gaza. The prime minister also hinted at discussions on efforts to advance a possible normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The Gaza deal includes a 42-day initial phase of truce, during which a total of 33 hostages and hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails are to be released. Talks on implementing the second phase were due to begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire, which fell on Monday.

However, Netanyahu said on Saturday that he would send a negotiation team to Doha only after he meets with Witkoff and Waltz in Washington.

The ceasefire took effect on January 19, putting a pause on 15 months of Israeli military operations in Gaza that left the Palestinian enclave devastated and killed around 62,000 people, including more than 17,000 children, according to the health authorities in Gaza.

New Delhi, Feb 4: United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Philemon Yang is set to embark on an official visit to India from February 4 to February 8 at the invitation of the Government of India.

His visit aims to enhance bilateral relations and deepen multilateral cooperation on global issues such as international peace, security, and the ‘Pact for the Future’.

Yang is scheduled to visit New Delhi and Bengaluru, with the latter often referred to as the Silicon Valley of India.

During his stay, Yang will engage in high-level discussions, including a courtesy call on President Droupadi Murmu and meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

His schedule also includes interactions with the UN Country Team in India, led by UN Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp.

In addition to diplomatic engagements, President Yang will visit a public health facility in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.

In Bengaluru, he is expected to tour key institutions, including the Infosys campus and the Indian Institute of Science, along with other important sites in both cities.

Before his India visit, President Yang concluded an official tour of Japan from January 31 to February 4.

In Tokyo, he met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and JICA President Akihiko Tanaka.

He also paid tribute to the victims of the Hiroshima atomic bombing by laying a wreath at the cenotaph.

Born in the Republic of Cameroon, Philemon Yang previously served as the country’s Prime Minister.

In June 2024, he was elected as the President of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. His tenure, which began in September 2024, will continue until September 2025.

His visit to India is expected to further strengthen India’s collaboration with the UN and reinforce global efforts on pressing international issues.

Ramallah, Feb 4: A Palestinian official announced that 60 Palestinian prisoners, released by Israel as part of a ceasefire deal and currently in Egypt, will be deported to Turkiye, Qatar, Malaysia, and Pakistan.

Abdullah Zaghari, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, said each of the four countries would host 15 Palestinian prisoners, adding that there are currently 70 Palestinian prisoners staying in a hotel in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt, pending deportation.

Zaghari mentioned that discussions are ongoing with other countries to secure hosting for the remaining prisoners, and talks are also in progress with Cairo to accommodate some of those who may be released in future batches.

Egypt, Qatar, and the US, acting as mediators, announced in a joint statement on January 15 that Hamas and Israel had reached a ceasefire agreement that includes the exchange of prisoners and hostages, aiming for sustained calm and a permanent ceasefire between the two sides.

Since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, Hamas has released 18 hostages in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinians from its prisons.

According to a recent report, Israel demanded that Palestinians convicted of the most serious crimes not be released to the Gaza Strip or the West Bank. Egypt agreed to temporarily host these individuals.

Earlier on Saturday Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners in the fourth prisoner-for-hostage swap under the ongoing truce deal with Hamas, according to Palestinian sources.

Abdullah Zaghari, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, told Media that Israeli authorities handed the released prisoners over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Of the freed prisoners, 150 were from the Gaza Strip, 32 from the West Bank, and the remaining one, who holds Egyptian citizenship, will be returned to Egypt.