President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal. Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations concluded.
On Sunday, Trump announced that the U.S. and Iran had reached a "great deal." The memorandum of understanding was read to reporters on Wednesday, and the U.S. and Iranian presidents signed it that day, a White House official said.
Death toll rises to 16 in new Israeli strikes on Lebanon
The Lebanese Civil Defense said Saturday morning that at least 16 people have been killed in a mixture of airstrikes, drone strikes and artillery shelling that has been hitting Lebanon, with at least 12 more injured.
"Civil defense elements continue to carry out their humanitarian and relief missions in response to the calls of citizens, despite difficult field conditions and challenges," Lebanese authorities said.
The Lebanese Civil Defense added that at least 47 others were evacuated from the area.
The IDF has not yet commented on the alleged strikes.
-ABC News' Rashid Haddou
New Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill at least 5 in spite of ceasefire
In spite of Friday's ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese Civil Defense said that at least five people have been killed on Saturday morning in a mixture of airstrikes, drone strikes and artillery shelling that has been hitting Lebanon.
The Lebanese Army also confirmed that a member of the military killed.
"Israeli brutal attacks on Lebanon continue after the latest escalation reached wide areas in the south all the way to the Bekaa Valley, resulting in more martyrs and wounded, and causing extensive destruction to properties," the Lebanese Army said in a post on social media.
"It has become clear that the continuation of these Israeli brutal attacks aims to obstruct any solution that would allow the restoration of stability in Lebanon," the statement continued.
ABC News has reached out to the IDF for a comment on the latest alleged attacks.
-ABC News' Rashid
Witkoff en route to Switzerland: US official
Trump administration Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is en route to Switzerland, where Jared Kushner is expected to join him, a U.S. official said.
The travel comes after talks between the U.S. and Iran, originally set to begin Friday, were initially postponed.
Vance tells Israel 'you can’t just kill your way out' of every national problem in interview
Vice President JD Vance claimed that Israel was getting some misinformation about the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, in an interview recorded before his trip to Switzerland was canceled.
"It’s clear that large segments of the Israeli political system and population are very sensitive about this deal. But I also think they’re picking up on some misinformation about the deal and running with it and sort of panicking about it,” Vance told the New York Times in a interview.
"I fundamentally believe this deal will be good for the entire region and for the world. That includes, of course, the Israelis," he said.
The Washington Post reported on Friday that the U.S. intelligence agencies have warned the Trump administration that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to take steps that will undermine Trump’s effort to reach a peace deal with Iran.
Vance also made some pointed comments directed at Israel.
"I don’t think Bibi himself has actually criticized the deal. Because I think he’s maybe a little bit more familiar with the details of what’s in it. But you’ve seen people in their system, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who’ve attacked the deal," Vance said.
"And I guess my response to them would be: What is your exact proposal? You’re a country of nine million people. You can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have," Vance said.
Newcastle were on verge of closing the agreement for Spain and Osasuna winger but Liverpool ๐๐๐๐๐๐ the move ๐คฏ๐ช๐ธ
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฟ๐งจ See less
๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐! Barcelona agree deal to sign Ecuadorian 18 year old talent Josuรฉ Caicedo ๐ต๐ด๐ช๐จ
Initial loan with option to buy clause that can turn obligation around €2.5m package — LDU Quito accepted the proposal.
Caicedo will sign at Barรงa soon, talented 2007 born winger accepted to join Barcelona B squad and develop there ๐ซฑ๐ป๐ซฒ๐พ
๐๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐ ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ. ๐⭐️ See less
Fresh off helping lead the New York Knicks to an NBA championship, OG Anunoby is using his platform to help some furry New Yorkers find homes. Partnering with Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), Royal Canin, and VCA Animal Hospitals, Anunoby has launched "OG's Starting Five," a campaign highlighting five adoptable shelter cats currently waiting for families in New York City's largest shelter system.
To encourage adoptions, anyone who adopts one of the featured cats will receive a year of free cat food and veterinary care, including exams and emergency visits if needed. Royal Canin is also donating $300,000 worth of pet food to animal shelters across the United States in support of the initiative. Animal advocates hope the campaign will shine a spotlight on shelter cats and inspire more people to consider adoption.
The effort may already be making a difference — one of the featured cats, Penne, is reportedly no longer available for adoption. It's a wonderful reminder that when public figures use their spotlight to help animals in need, lives can be changed both on and off the court. ๐ฑ❤️
50 Cent sat down with the people of Shreveport after the ground break ceremony that took place yesterday in downtown Shreveport.
50 spent some of his time for a Q&A with the fans and revealed his investment in building the G-Dome didn’t really concern him much given his investments in AI:
“My AI portfolio did so good I just invested $11 million like nothing”
What are the top 5 best entrepreneurs in Hip-Hop history? See less
Jalen Brunson passed on $113 million to win an NBA title with his friends.
When Brunson was eligible for a 5-year $269 million extension in 2024, he turned it down so that the Knicks could build a deeper roster.
Which at that point, they didn't really need to do.
The Knicks were already a contender in the east that just lost in 7 to the Indiana Pacers in the semis.
A series the Knicks could've easily won if it weren't for injuries.
Instead, Brunson signed a 4-year $156.5M extension.
That same offseason, the Knicks returned the favor by adding KAT and Mikal Bridges.
By taking less money, the Knicks stayed under the 2nd apron allowing them to re-sign Anunoby and Bridges to long term deals too.
Two years later, Brunson is an NBA champion and the hero that ended the Knicks 53-year title drought.
Even if the Knicks didn't win, Brunson said the journey and grind alone to try and win a title was already worth more than $113 million.
“Even if we didn’t achieve this, I feel like being able to do that and grind and go on a journey to try and achieve it would have been worth it, as well."
New York got themselves the perfect franchise player. See less
It was a photo shared on social media that captured the attention of millions: a Palestinian doctor in northern Gaza walking toward an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tank, seemingly unfazed by the surrounding rubble and decimated buildings.
The doctor, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, ultimately climbed into the armored vehicle. It was one of the last images taken of him.
Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, has been held in Israel for more than 500 days. No f
ormal charges have been filed against him and no trial has been held."Hussam Abu Safiya was apprehended for suspected involvement in terrorist activities, and for holding a rank in the Hamas terror organization, while hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists were hiding inside the Kamal Adwan Hospital under his management," the IDF told ABC News in a statement.
The doctor, his family and advocates have denied he is a member of Hamas or that he has engaged in terrorist activities.The IDF has repeatedlyclaimed that Hamas has turned hospitals into "hubs of terror" and that Kamal Adwan was used as a "major terrorist stronghold." Gaza's Ministry of Health and Hamas have denied these allegations.
On Tuesday, Israel's Supreme Court rejected an appeal to release Abu Safiya.
Human rights groups have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Abu Safiya amid reports that he has been denied food and proper medical care and has been subjected to abuse. The Israel Prison Service called the allegations "false" and said it "rejects allegations of abuse, starvation, or denial of medical treatment."At least 15 Palestinian healthcare workers, including Abu Safiya, are currently being held inside Israel, according to Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI), a nonprofit human rights organization partly representing Abu Safiya. Some human rights experts have said that detaining such a high-ranking and high-profile doctor has left a chilling effect.
"His case, I think, represents the challenges that Palestinian healthcare workers face," Omar Shakir, executive director of DAWN, a nonprofit organization that advocates for democracy and human rights in the Middle East, told ABC News. "So, every aspect of his case, from the way that he was detained while doing his job to the due process violations ... to his mistreatment to being held without trial or charge under this abuse of law, I think embodies both the mistreatment and unjust detention of healthcare workers." The Israel-Hamas war began when Hamas launched a surprise terrorist attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel responded by declaring war.
Over 14 months, Safiya -- a pediatrician by training -- became one of the most prominent voices in Gaza, speaking out on social media about the strip's collapsing healthcare system. He documented the struggle to keep his hospital open despite multiple sieges. By March 2024, Kamal Adwan was the only pediatrics hospital in the north of Gaza, according to the World Health Organization.
In early October 2024, Abu Safiya spoke to ABC News about the services being offered and patients being served at Kamal Adwan. At the time, the hospital was one of three in northern Gaza that was reportedly being ordered to evacuate by Israeli forces, putting medical staff and patients at risk, Abu Saifya said.His son, 28-year-old Elyas, recently spoke to ABC News and said his father believed it was important to raise awareness about the conditions inside Gaza.
"My father is not just a doctor, but he was a citizen journalist and knew how important journalism was to show the truth and what is really going on inside Kamal Adwan Hospital," Elyas told ABC News in Arabic.
He went on, "My father believed that international pressure was the only hope left ... he thought [posting on social media] was the only way he could get the help he needed for the innocent children at Kamal Adwan Hospital."During the war, Elyas said his father would be in the hospital working when a missile or projectile would strike nearby. After the impact, the doctor would go out and try to find children trapped under the rubble, according to Elyas.
Elyas said his father suffered his own hardships during the war. In October 2024, his 15-year-old son, Ibrahim -- Elyas' brother -- was killed in an Israeli drone strike at the entrance of Kamal Adwan, according to the family."Because we were sending a humanitarian message, our children were killed and I buried my son in the hospital yard," Abu Safiya said in a video posted on social media a couple of days later.
Then, in November 2024, Abu Safiya was reportedly injured in his office during an Israeli quadcopter strike, resulting in shrapnel injuries to his thigh and back that caused serious bleeding, according to the humanitarian NGO MedGlobal.
Abu Safiya, however, continued to treat patients, according to Elyas, calling his father a "hero." Then came the doctor's arrest.
"In one moment, everything changed," Elyas said. "The imprisonment of my father wasn't a fleeting moment, it was a shock and it destroyed our lives. Our lives have become hell. Our life without my father has become hell."
Arrest, transfer to different prisons
Naji Abbas, director of the prisoners and detainees department at PHRI, the group that is part of Abu Safiya's legal representation, told ABC News that the doctor was arrested on Dec. 27, 2024.
After the arrest, Abu Safiya's whereabouts were unknown and the group tried to track him down.
"We reached out a day or two after his arrest to the Israeli army demanding to locate him, to know where he's being held," Abbas said. "And the surprising, ridiculous answer that we got [is], 'No indication that Dr. Hussam was arrested.' That was an official response we got.Abbas said that after 10 days, Israeli forces revealed Abu Safiya was being held in a detention facility inside Israel.
Abbas said Abu Safiya was first held in Sde Teiman detention center, in the Negev desert and then in Ofer Prison in the West Bank.
In February 2026, Abu Safiya was moved to Nafha Prison in the Negev desert, according to Abbas, then Ktzi'ot Prison. PHRI said earlier this month it received reports that Abu Safiya had been transferred to Ramon Prison, also in the Negev desert, and placed in solitary confinement.
In the last nearly 16 months, no formal charges have been filed and no formal trial has taken place, according to PHRI.
The IDF did not tell ABC News whether any formal charges have been filed.
'When am I going home?'
Abbas said that Abu Safiya has lost 20 kilograms (44 pounds) and was denied access to high blood pressure medication for at least two months until PHRI and his private attorney appealed.
Elyas said his father did not have high blood pressure before his detainment and developed the condition while imprisoned. "
