The ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas stretched into a fifth day on Thursday. Humanitarian aid groups are working to surge food and supplies to the war-ravaged territory as Palestinians scour through mountains of rubble looking for bodies of those killed by Israeli bombardments during the 15-month war.

Were it just about any other country than Israel committing such a genocide, Washington would have cut off arms shipments months ago.

There are concerns in Jerusalem about whether Lebanese forces can uphold their part of the 60-day ceasefire deal.

Israeli troops have pulled back to the edges of Gaza, the first hostages have been released and many Palestinians have returned to what remains of their homes in the first few days of the Israel-Hamas

Israel’s enemies across the region have been badly weakened during 15 months of war. Israeli hostages have begun to come home from captivity in Gaza, and Netanyahu’s good friend, Donald Trump , is back in the White House.

The newly appointed U.S. secretary of state, Marco Rubio, reiterated Washington's 'unwavering support' for Israel, days into a fragile cease-fire

During the visit, the delegation held a series of meetings with senior officials from the new administration and members of Congress.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to reiterate Washington's support for its ally, and the two also discussed Iran and Israeli hostages in Gaza,

JERUSALEM: The United States' new top diplomat Marco Rubio reaffirmed the country's "unwavering support" for Israel, days into a fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a large-scale raid in the occupied West Bank.

For his second and last term, Trump has appointed an ambassador in Mike Huckabee, who believes there is no such thing as a Palestinian, a defence secretary in Pete Hegseth, who said a Third Temple should be built on the ruins of Al Aqsa mosque, and a peace envoy in Steve Witkoff who wants to "relocate Gazans to Indonesia".

President Donald Trump said the ceasefire deal is "epic." It isn't. At best, it's a painful, and hopefully fleeting, surrender.

China is responding to Trump's energy-centric executive actions with a global diplomatic blitz. China courts the Middle East without push back from Washington.