Israel will start negotiations on a second phase of the ceasefire with Hamas as early as this week, aiming for the complete dismantling of the Palestinian group in Gaza.

Hamas said it will release Israeli hostages as initially planned after holding “positive” talks with mediators, according to a statement by the militant group on Thursday.

The IDF withdrew from border villages but stayed put in five locations that violates the ceasefire, Lebanon's top officials said.

Israeli forces have withdrawn from border villages in southern Lebanon under a deadline spelled out in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war

Israeli forces have pulled out from towns and villages in southern Lebanon but remain in five locations along the border in what the Lebanese government describes as a violation of a ceasefire deal. Tuesday marked the end of the deadline for the Israeli withdrawal from the country,