Unrest, Conflict and War

His brother in law Nadav and niece Yam were among those murdered on October the seventh and his sister and her three surviving children were taken hostage.

Dr Izzat Abdulhadi Head of the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia says the ceasefire will give his people some breathing space.

The Foreign Minister commends the efforts of the deal brokers being the US, Qatar and Egypt and says the hostage and ceasefire deal is an important step.

Francesca Albanese says the deal is a good step but life can never go back to normal in the besieged enclave.

Oxfam says the lack of clean drinking water, food and fuel in Gaza mean conditions are deteriorating fast.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day ceasefire in their war in exchange for the release of 50 women and children held in Gaza. Here's what we know about the deal and what may unfold next.

Former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma says the overwhelming majority of Israelis support the ceasefire deal, even though it may be challenged by the ultra-right in the country.

Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus says the hostage swap is a 'good deal' and the IDF will use the ceasefire to prepare for future operations.

Global Affairs Editor John Lyons takes us through the details of the limited ceasefire, including the release of some Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

An "unprecedented" surprise offensive launched by a coalition of ethnic-based armies and pro-democracy fighters in Myanmar's north has some observers convinced the country's ruling junta is likely to be defeated.

The parents of the Palestinian teen in an Israeli prison is hoping for the release of their son in a hostage-prisoner swap deal.

Head of Programs with Médecins sans Frontières Simon Eccleshall has called for a durable ceasefire as two of its doctors were killed in a strike on Al Awda Hospital in northern Gaza.

The ABC's John Lyons says the potential deal will be one of the 'most complicated' hostage exchanges in Gaza history.

Former hostage negotiator Oliver McTernan discusses the likelihood of a successful deal and the 'torturous' political hurdles in its way.

About 400 pro-Palestinian activists last night gathered at the port to protest against the unloading of an Israeli-owned shipping company vessel. 

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says 67 Australians, permanent residents and their families crossed through the Rafah border crossing overnight. Follow live.

The US president says 'things are looking good' as the US works with Israel and Qatar to hammer out a deal with Hamas to release more Israeli hostages.

Israel's government has voted to back a deal to secure the release of some of the hostages held in Gaza over four days where there will be a "pause in fighting".

The Iranian-backed group has released dramatic vision that shows the moment its helicopter dropped armed rebels onto a cargo ship in the Red Sea, taking its 25 crew members hostage.

Footage released by the Yemen group shows several gunmen being dropped from a helicopter onto the cargo ship, with officials saying the ship's 25 crew members have been taken hostage.

It's understood the truce would last up to five days and involve the release of up to 100 hostages currently being held by Hamas.

Premature babies have been evacuated from Gaza hospitals and are transferred into Egypt at the Rafah Border crossing.

The organisation's Dr Richard Brennan describes the process of negotiating and planning the operation as 'very complicated'.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller says there are more than 1,200 Americans stranded in Gaza, and confirmed a total of six American citizens have died since the start of the conflict. 

WHO Regional Emergency Director Dr Richard Brennan says around 1,000 patients need to be evacuated from Gaza.