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Israeli troops re-imposed a blockade of the northern capital of Gaza City on Thursday, less than a day after once again deploying troops into the Gaza Strip.

Israel continued with its bombardment of Gaza as well, killing 85 Palestinians from Wednesday into Thursday, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Israel maintained the blockade of Gaza City for much of the war prior to the January ceasefire, which collapsed earlier this week.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) warned residents not to use the main road to travel north into Gaza City.

The IDF is also conducting further ground operations in the northern town of Beit Lahiya. Most of the Palestinian deaths over the past 24 hours have centered on the town.

ISRAEL SHOOTS DOWN HOUTHI BALLISTIC MISSILE AFTER CEASEFIRE COLLAPSES

Hamas launched a handful of rockets into Israel on Thursday, resulting in no casualties.

The total death toll in Gaza since Tuesday has risen to 592, according to the health ministry. The death toll has not been independently verified.

REMAINS OF SHIRI BIBAS, MOM OF TWO KILLED, ALLEGEDLY RETURNED TO ISRAEL FOLLOWING HAMAS' BROKEN PROMISE

In addition to the blockade at Gaza City, IDF troops are also deployed to the Netzarim corridor, a key section of Gaza that essentially cuts the strip in half. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that Israel will continue its military operations until every hostage has been returned from Hamas custody.

"Hamas refused offer after offer to release our hostages. In the past two weeks, Israel did not initiate any military action, in the hope that Hamas would change course. Well, that didn't happen. While Israel accepted the offer of President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, Hamas flatly refused to do so," Netanyahu said in a video shared to X on Tuesday. "This is why I authorized yesterday, the renewal of military action against Hamas."

CEASEFIRE OVER AS ISRAEL STRIKES GAZA AFTER HAMAS REFUSED TO RELEASE HOSTAGES, OFFICIALS SAY

"Israel does not target Palestinian civilians. We target Hamas terrorists," he declared. "And when these terrorists embed themselves in civilian areas, when they use civilians as human shields, they're the ones who are responsible for all unintended casualties."

A U.K.-France-led "coalition of the willing" is bringing together senior military officers from across the globe to devise a plan for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine. 

France and the U.K. are the only two countries in the coalition that have said they would be willing to send troops, but Canada, Australia, Finland and other European nations are said to be open to being involved, according to the Associated Press (AP). However, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this week that the coalition is entering its "operational phase."

As of now, it is not clear exactly how many troops will be on the ground, but according to the AP, officials say it will be between 10,000 and 30,000.

​TRUMP, PUTIN AGREE TO BEGIN CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS IN MIDDLE EAST, WHITE HOUSE SAYS

President Donald Trump had separate conversations this week with Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. 

"He reiterated that all must work together to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to secure a just and lasting peace," a spokesperson for Starmer told Reuters in reference to the call with Trump. 

TRUMP HOLDS 'VERY GOOD' CALL WITH ZELENSKYY FOLLOWING DEAL WITH PUTIN

Macron also said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who the French leader says "demonstrated courage" in his acceptance of the U.S. deal. 

"We must now move forward with all our partners to present a concrete peace plan. A peace plan that provides strong security guarantees for Ukraine. A peace plan that ensures lasting peace in Ukraine and Europe. A peace plan that prevents Russia from attacking again," Macron wrote in a post on X.

Russia has rejected the idea of troops from NATO nations being based in Ukraine as part of this deal, according to the AP. 

Throughout the war, the Kremlin has made clear its stance against Ukraine joining NATO. Earlier this week, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko reiterated this stance with a Russian paper. Reuters reported that Grushko said the Kremlin demanded an "ironclad" guarantee that Ukraine would not be in NATO. 

Trump, who has promised to end the three-year war, also spoke with Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin this week. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said his call with Zelenskyy was "very good," and added that the two discussed his call with Putin.

"Much of the discussion was based on the call made yesterday with President Putin in order to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs," Trump wrote.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt detailed Trump and Putin’s call in a statement. She said that the two agreed the war "needs to end with a lasting peace." Trump and Putin also apparently discussed the need for improved U.S.-Russian relations.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says she agrees with recent comments from Vice President JD Vance that mass migration into Europe is a major problem.

Frederiksen made the comment during an interview with Politico published Thursday, saying it is critical that Europe begin stemming the flow of foreign migrants.

"I consider this mass migration into Europe as a threat to the daily life in Europe," Frederiksen said in a throwback to Vance's Feb. 14 speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

Frederiksen has backed up her rhetoric with policy as well, with her administration building on anti-migrant policies. Denmark now confiscates valuables from migrants to refund the cost of housing them, and the country's "No Ghetto" laws ensure no neighborhood has an outsized concentration of migrants, Politico reported.

MD GOV DEFENDS $190K TRUMP-CENTRIC IRISH CONSULTANT CONTRACT AS POTUS MOVES IN NEXT DOOR

"I totally believe in equal opportunities and a Scandinavian welfare model with a tax-paid education, social benefits and health care. But for me that’s only one traditional pillar of being a social democrat," she argued to Politico.

"Being in control of migration is the second pillar," she added.

LAWMAKERS FROM STATE WITH MOST FEDERAL WORKERS PER CAPITA WARN AGAINST TRUMP BUYOUT BID

Vance's speech in Munich served as a general wake-up call to Europe from President Donald Trump's administration, admonishing leaders across the continent for straying from traditional values and quashing dissent.

"The threat that I worry the most about vis-à-vis Europe is not Russia, it's not China. It's not any other external actor," Vance said at the time. "What I worry about is the threat from within the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America."

Vance went on to reference efforts in Romania and Germany to prevent anti-migrant movements from gaining power.

"The crisis this continent faces right now, the crisis I believe we all face together, is one of our own making. If you're running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you," Vance said.

Malaysia’s government gave final approval for a Texas-based company to resume the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 more than a decade after the airplane’s disappearance. 

Terms and conditions of a "no-find, no fee" contract have been agreed upon with Ocean Infinity to launch a seabed search operation at a new 5,800-square-mile site, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke. The company will be paid $70 million only if wreckage is discovered. 

"The government is committed to continuing the search operation and providing closure for the families of the passengers of flight MH370," Loke said in a statement. 

The 2014 disappearance remains one of the most vexing mysteries in aviation. The Boeing 777 took off from Kuala Lumpur headed to Beijing on March 8, 2014, and disappeared around 90 seconds after leaving Malaysian airspace with all 239 of its passengers seemingly gone without a trace. Satellite data showed the plane turned from its flight path and headed south to the far-southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed. 

NEW CLUES 10 YEARS AFTER THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MH370 

Ocean Infinity declined comment when reached by Fox News Digital Thursday morning. It told Fox News last year that it hoped "to narrow the search area down to one in which success becomes potentially achievable." 

An expensive multinational search failed to turn up any clues to MH370’s location, although debris washed ashore on the east African coast and Indian Ocean islands. A private search in 2018 by Ocean Infinity also found nothing, although CEO Oliver Punkett earlier this year reportedly said the company had improved its technology since then. 

NEW THEORY ON THE VANISHED MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT 

Loke said his ministry will ink a contract with Ocean Infinity soon but didn’t provide details on the terms. The firm reportedly sent a search vessel to the site and indicated in December that January-April is the best period for the search. 

"While the next of kin of the passengers and crew on board attempt to rebuild our lives, the threat to global aviation safety remains a live issue," Voice370, a group of relatives of passengers from MH370, previously said in a statement. 

"As long as we remain in the dark about what happened to MH370, we will never be able to prevent a similar tragedy. Accordingly, we believe that it is a matter of paramount importance that the search for MH370 is carried out to its completion." 

Fox News’ Greg Palkot, Peter Aitken and the Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Hamas has claimed responsibility for rockets fired at Israel on Thursday.

"This launch is the resistance's first response to the zionist entity's violation of the ceasefire, which resulted over 710 martyrs in the last three days. It also comes after the IOF's renewed ground invasion into Beit Lahia this morning, and the failure of the mediators and the world to curb the IOF's aggression," according to reports.

Strikes launched by Israel killed at least 58 Palestinians throughout the Gaza Strip overnight and into Thursday, according to hospitals via the Associated Press.

The Jewish State resumed attacks across Gaza earlier this week, breaking a ceasefire, which reportedly killed over 400 Palestinians – mostly women and children – on Tuesday, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

Israel's military indicated that it intercepted a missile fired by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels early Thursday before it entered Israel's airspace, the AP reported.

ISRAEL LAUNCHES NEW GROUND OPERATION IN GAZA

"Hamas refused offer after offer to release our hostages. In the past two weeks, Israel did not initiate any military action, in the hope that Hamas would change course. Well, that didn't happen. While Israel accepted the offer of President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, Hamas flatly refused to do so," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video shared to X on Tuesday. "This is why I authorized yesterday, the renewal of military action against Hamas."

"Israel does not target Palestinian civilians. We target Hamas terrorists," he declared. "And when these terrorists embed themselves in civilian areas, when they use civilians as human shields, they're the ones who are responsible for all unintended casualties."

Israel launched its war on Hamas in response to the terrorist group's heinous attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

CEASEFIRE OVER AS ISRAEL STRIKES GAZA AFTER HAMAS REFUSED TO RELEASE HOSTAGES, OFFICIALS SAY 

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., a staunch supporter of Israel, continued to express his support while visiting the foreign nation this week.

"Hamas does not want peace. I unapologetically, 100% stand with Israel, and demand the release of all remaining hostages. Sending this from Israel," Fetterman said on X on Tuesday.

NETANYAHU GIFTS FETTERMAN A SILVER-PLATED BEEPER AFTER HE PRAISED ISRAEL'S LEBANON PAGER OPERATION 

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Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., said on X on Wednesday, "Hamas could end this war right now if it released the hostages held in Gaza. It could’ve done so months ago, but instead it’s brought devastation by prolonging this conflict. America must lead the world in pressuring Hamas to end this war and bring the hostages home."

Strikes launched by Israel killed at least 58 Palestinians throughout the Gaza Strip overnight and into Thursday, according to hospitals via The Associated Press.

The Jewish State resumed attacks across Gaza earlier this week, breaking a ceasefire, which reportedly killed over 400 Palestinians – mostly women and children – on Tuesday, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

Israel's military indicated that it intercepted a missile fired by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels early Thursday before it entered Israel's airspace, The AP reported.

ISRAEL LAUNCHES NEW GROUND OPERATION IN GAZA

"Hamas refused offer after offer to release our hostages. In the past two weeks, Israel did not initiate any military action, in the hope that Hamas would change course. Well, that didn't happen. While Israel accepted the offer of President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, Hamas flatly refused to do so," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video shared to X on Tuesday. "This is why I authorized yesterday, the renewal of military action against Hamas."

"Israel does not target Palestinian civilians. We target Hamas terrorists," he declared. "And when these terrorists embed themselves in civilian areas, when they use civilians as human shields, they're the ones who are responsible for all unintended casualties."

Israel launched its war on Hamas in response to the terrorist group's heinous attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

CEASEFIRE OVER AS ISRAEL STRIKES GAZA AFTER HAMAS REFUSED TO RELEASE HOSTAGES, OFFICIALS SAY 

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., a staunch supporter of Israel, continued to express his support while visiting the foreign nation this week.

"Hamas does not want peace. I unapologetically, 100% stand with Israel, and demand the release of all remaining hostages. Sending this from Israel," Fetterman said on X on Tuesday.

NETANYAHU GIFTS FETTERMAN A SILVER-PLATED BEEPER AFTER HE PRAISED ISRAEL'S LEBANON PAGER OPERATION 

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Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., said on X on Wednesday, "Hamas could end this war right now if it released the hostages held in Gaza. It could’ve done so months ago, but instead it’s brought devastation by prolonging this conflict. America must lead the world in pressuring Hamas to end this war and bring the hostages home."

FIRST ON FOX: Following a year of significant setbacks in the Middle East for Iran with its proxy forces flagging in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria, Tehran is leaning on its influence over the Houthi terrorist group in Yemen to carry out its offensive aims. 

According to findings obtained by sources embedded in Tehran who are affiliated with the Iranian resistance group called the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, not only are some of Iran’s most senior military officials in its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) involved in Houthi decision-making, but Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has his thumb on the deadly group. 

President Donald Trump’s recent threats against Tehran over its sponsorship of the Houthis are supported in the report, which claims well-placed sources have confirmed that one of the most senior commanders in the IRGC’s Quds Force – the elite branch of the Iranian military – is "directly commanding Houthi activities."

IRAN TRYING TO BOLSTER ITS 'BATTERED DETERRENCE' WITH RESPONSE TO TRUMP THREATS AGAINST HOUTHIS, EXPERT SAYS

Khamenei, according to the report compiled by the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and first obtained by Fox News Digital, personally supervises all Houthi "political and military affairs" that are first approved by his regime.

"According to reports received from within the IRGC, Khamenei has personally emphasized the importance of Houthi attacks and the necessity of sending weapons and equipment for the Houthis to IRGC commanders and regime officials," the report said. 

The weakening of Iran’s "Axis of Resistance" amid the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria has increasingly pushed Tehran to lean on its proxies in Iraq and Yemen.

More than 100 attacks on commercial shipping vessels have been committed by Houthi forces since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, which sparked responses from surrounding terrorist networks, including Hezbollah.

The exchange of missile and drone fire by both the Houthis and U.S. forces escalated this week when the terrorist network threatened to renew strikes on Israeli vessels after Jerusalem cut off humanitarian aid headed for the Gaza Strip this month.

President Trump responded by vowing "overwhelming lethal force" until the Houthi attacks ceased and warned Iran that it would be held "fully accountable" for any attacks.

TRUMP'S SIGHTS SET ON IRAN AFTER US AIRSTRIKES DECIMATE MORE THAN 30 HOUTHI TARGETS

"[IRGC Brig. Gen. Abdolreza] Shahlai is in charge of all military, political, and economic matters related to the regime’s intervention in Yemen, including all Houthi operations and attacks," the report said, noting his close ties to the former commander of the Quds Force who was killed by then-President Trump's order in Iraq in 2020, Qassem Soleimani. Soleimani had the blood of hundreds of American soldiers on his hands. 

The report also found that the Iranian Embassy in Yemen is currently under "full control" of the Quds Force.

While it is not necessarily unheard of for intelligence operatives to work out of embassies abroad, the report said it could find no evidence that any personnel from Iran’s Foreign Ministry were in its embassy in Yemen.

The Iranian Embassy in Sana'a, Yemen, did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions. 

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"The mullahs' regime is the root cause of war and instability in the region, sustained through repression at home and the export of terrorism and conflict abroad," Ali Safavi, a member of the NCRI's Foreign Affairs Committee, told Fox News Digital. "The only viable solution to the Iranian crisis is the regime’s overthrow by the Iranian people."

"A decisive international policy toward Iran must recognize and support the legitimacy of the Iranian resistance, proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist entity, activate the U.N. Security Council snapback mechanism and endorse the Resistance Units’ fight against the regime," he added. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is facing criticism over what critics say is a crackdown on opposition political figures after police detained his main rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, on charges of corruption and links to terrorism.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued detention orders for İmamoğlu and 106 other prominent political figures. The suspects are alleged to have committed offenses including bribery, embezzlement, bid rigging, aggravated fraud and unlawful acquisition of personal data.

İmamoğlu was accused of collaborating with the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, a Kurdish nationalist group that has led an insurgency against the Turkish state and is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.

BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION SEEKS TO REIN IN ERDOĞAN'S TURKEY OVER TIES TO US FOES

Critics remain suspicious of the arrest of a prominent opposition figure, especially at a time when Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development (AKP) party has suffered losses in local elections in the past year.

"İmamoğlu's arrest is no coincidence. He is Erdoğan’s political nemesis, and his likely candidacy to run against him for the presidency has been weighing on Erdoğan’s mind," Sinan Ciddi, nonresident senior fellow on Turkey at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.

Ciddi warned that the detention of political adversaries represents the end point of Turkey as a democracy, claiming that free and fair elections as well as peaceful transfer of power are no longer possible.

Turkish officials pushed back on accusations that the wave of arrests was politically motivated.

TURKEY'S CONFRONTATIONAL FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES GREECE, EUROPEAN UNION AMID RISING MARITIME TENSIONS

A spokesperson from the Turkish Embassy in Washington referred Fox News Digital to a statement from the Justice Ministry.

"Attempting to associate judicial investigations and cases with our President is, to say the least, an act of audacity and irresponsibility," wrote Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç.

"In our country, the separation of powers—legislative, executive, and judicial—is a fundamental principle. The judiciary does not take orders from anyone," the statement added.

İmamoğlu thanked global leaders and members of the European Parliament in a post on X and vowed to continue fighting for Turkey’s democracy.

"I stand resolute, entrusting myself not only to the 16 million residents of Istanbul but to the 86 million citizens of Türkiye and all who uphold democracy and justice worldwide. I stand firm in my fight for the fundamental rights and freedoms."

İmamoğlu, member of the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), was elected mayor of Istanbul in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. In both elections, he defeated Erdoğan-backed AKP opponents. He was seen as the likely nominee of the CHP to face Erdoğan in the next presidential election scheduled for 2028, or sooner if elections are called early.

Authorities placed a ban on public demonstrations for four days in an attempt to quell any growing backlash to the arrests. Özgür Özel, chair of the CHP, Turkey’s main opposition party, addressed large demonstrations gathered in Istanbul and called for mass protest to oppose what the opposition sees as a flagrant violation of democratic norms.

In response to the arrest, Istanbul University annulled İmamoğlu's diploma, a move that would bar him from running for president, according to Turkish law, which requires the president to have a university degree. İmamoğlu said the act was beyond the university’s authority and a troubling sign of political interference in academia.

Soner Cagaptay, senior fellow at the Washington Institute, said in a post on X that Erdoğan was originally catapulted into political stardom as then-mayor of Istanbul in 1999 when he was imprisoned on charges of inciting religious hatred, only to see his popularity rise and become leader of Turkey since 2003.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday made comparisons between challenges being made by left-wing lawmakers to his power and efforts by officials to thwart President Donald Trump's agenda, saying the  "leftist Deep State" has weaponized the justice system against both of them. 

"In America and in Israel, when a strong right wing leader wins an election, the leftist Deep State weaponizes the justice system to thwart the people's will," Netanyahu's office wrote on X. "They won't win in either place!
We stand strong together."

WHO IS JAMES BOASBERG, THE US JUDGE AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP'S DEPORTATION EFFORTS?

The post appears to refer to a coalition of protestors and officials who are accusing the Israeli leader of continuing the war against Hamas for political reasons. Thousands demonstrated on Tuesday night and more protests were taking place on Wednesday after Netanyahu announced that he had lost confidence in Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet internal intelligence agency, and had decided to dismiss him, Reuters reported. 

Netanyahu also faced opposition before the war when he tried to fire then-Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over his opposition to a planned judicial overhaul.

Meanwhile, Trump is facing dozens of lawsuits over his plans to continue the mass deportation of illegal immigrant criminals and other initiatives, including a ban on transgender people serving in the military and a ban on birthright citizenship. 

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS NOON DEADLINE TO DISCLOSE DEPORTATION FLIGHT DETAILS AFTER JUDGE'S ORDER

Last week, federal Judge James E. Boasberg sought to temporarily block the removal of illegal alien Venezeulan citizens who belong to Tren de Aragua, which the administration previously designated as a foreign terrorist organization, under a wartime authority.

Trump and the White House have harshly criticized judges who have ruled against the administration.

"This Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge, a troublemaker and agitator who was sadly appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, was not elected President - He didn’t WIN the popular VOTE (by a lot!), he didn’t WIN ALL SEVEN SWING STATES, he didn’t WIN 2,750 to 525 Counties, HE DIDN’T WIN ANYTHING! I WON FOR MANY REASONS, IN AN OVERWHELMING MANDATE, BUT FIGHTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MAY HAVE BEEN THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR THIS HISTORIC VICTORY," Trump declared in a Truth Social post on Tuesday. 

A Republican lawmaker introduced articles of impeachment against Boasberg, who is accused of abusing his power from the bench.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt scolded the federal judges during a news briefing. 

"They are trying to block, delay and impede. This is lawfare," she told Fox News' Jacqui Heinrich on Wednesday. "These partisan activists in the judicial branch didn't get the memo on Nov. 5 when the American people overwhelmingly re-elected this president to continue with mass deportations."

Pope Francis’s condition continued to improve Wednesday and he hasn't needed to use the noninvasive mechanical ventilation to help him breathe at night, the Vatican said.

The 88-year-old pontiff is also reducing his reliance on high-flow supplemental oxygen during the day, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin. His double pneumonia infection, while not completely eliminated, is under control, the Holy See press office said.

Francis celebrated Mass on Wednesday, which is an important feast day for the Catholic Church and is the anniversary of his installation as pope 12 years ago.

KING CHARLES III TO MEET POPE FRANCIS DURING VISIT TO VATICAN NEXT MONTH

Francis has been at Rome’s Gemelli hospital since Feb. 14 for a complex lung infection that turned into pneumonia in both lungs.

For two nights in a row, he hasn't needed to use the mechanical ventilation mask, and doctors said its use had been "suspended."

The Vatican is also again reducing its medical updates as Francis slowly continues his recovery, with the next one not expected before Monday.

A British man was convicted on Tuesday of stealing an 18-carat golden toilet that had been on display as an artwork in an exhibit at Winston Churchill's birthplace.

The fully functioning toilet, a work titled "America" by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen from the Churchill family seat of Blenheim Palace in southern England, a major tourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Prosecutor Julian Christopher told jurors at the start of the trial last month that a group of five men drove two stolen vehicles through locked wooden gates into the palace grounds before dawn on September 14, 2019.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, OCTOBER 29, 1964, GEMS ARE STOLEN DURING THE 'JEWEL HEIST OF THE CENTURY'

They broke in through a window, smashed down a wooden door, ripped the toilet from the wall and left after five minutes in the building.

The toilet weighing 98 kilos was insured for $6 million. Prosecutors say it was probably divided into smaller amounts of gold to sell it off.

Michael Jones, 39, was found guilty of burglary at Oxford Crown Court, having pleaded not guilty.

Fred Doe, 36, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to convert or transfer criminal property, namely the gold, while 41-year-old Bora Guccuk was acquitted of that charge.

James Sheen, 39, had pleaded guilty before trial to burglary, conspiring to convert or transfer the gold and converting or transferring the gold.

Shan Saunders of the Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement: "This was an audacious raid which had been carefully planned and executed – but those responsible were not careful enough, leaving a trail of evidence in the form of forensics, CCTV footage and phone data."

Saunders added that "while none of the gold was ever recovered ... we are confident this prosecution has played a part in disrupting a wider crime and money laundering network".

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) deployed troops to Gaza for the first time since the collapse of Israel's ceasefire agreement with Hamas on Wednesday.

The IDF troops are deployed to the Netzarim corridor, a key section of Gaza that essentially cuts the strip in half. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continued to vow that Israel will maintain is military operations until every hostage has been returned from Hamas custody.

The IDF described Wednesday's deployment as a "limited ground operation," but has not said whether it will remain limited to the Netzarim corridor.

The move follows a multi-day wave of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza that killed over 400 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

ISRAEL SHOOTS DOWN HOUTHI BALLISTIC MISSILE AFTER CEASEFIRE COLLAPSES

The IDF says its strikes on Monday and Tuesday eliminated a number of mid- and high-level Hamas officials. Among them was Essam al-Da'alis, head of the Hamas government and "the most senior figure of authority in the Gaza Strip."

REMAINS OF SHIRI BIBAS, MOM OF TWO KILLED, ALLEGEDLY RETURNED TO ISRAEL FOLLOWING HAMAS' BROKEN PROMISE

The IDF and ISA also determined with "high probability" that Israeli strikes eliminated Mahmoud Marzouk Ahmed Abu-Watfa, the Minister of Internal Affairs in charge of Hamas' Internal Security Forces; Bahajat Hassan Mohammed Abu-Sultan, who served as Head of Hamas' Internal Security Forces; and Ahmed Amar Abdullah Alhata, who served as Hamas' Minister of Justice.

Israel on Wednesday also said it eliminated Yasser Muhammad Harb Musa, who was responsible for security affairs in Hamas' political bureau, in addition to Muhammad Al-Jamasi, Head of the Hamas Emergency Committee.

President Donald Trump's administration backed Israel's move to end the ceasefire in a statement on Monday.

HOW ISRAEL'S WAR AGAINST HAMAS TERRORISTS WILL BE DIFFERENT UNDER TRUMP

"Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war," National Security Council (NSC) spokesman Brian Hughes told Fox News.

The White House has not responded to the deployment of Troops in Gaza on Wednesday.

Israel will intensify its military actions against Hamas moving forward, authorities said.

"Under the direction of the political echelon, the IDF and Shin Bet are widely attacking terrorist targets of the Hamas terrorist organization throughout the Gaza Strip, more details below," the IDF and ISA said. 

This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump held a "very good" phone call on Wednesday, during which the pair discussed the preliminary agreement reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin one day prior.

"Just completed a very good telephone call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine," Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social just moments after the hourlong call wrapped. "Much of the discussion was based on the call made yesterday with President Putin in order to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs. 

"We are very much on track," Trump added. 

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE RUSSIA, UKRAINE CEASEFIRE TALKS?

Putin on Tuesday agreed to stop hitting Ukraine's energy infrastructure for 30 days, though the ceasefire did not extend to the frontlines or civilian populations as the Trump administration had originally hoped. 

Despite skepticism from Ukraine and European leaders, special envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday said he believes a full ceasefire can be achieved in a couple of weeks. 

He also said an official meeting between Trump and Putin is "likely to happen," as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security advisor Mike Waltz plan to return to Saudi Arabia on Sunday to discuss the details of the Tuesday agreement. 

It is unclear at this time if a Ukrainian delegation will also be returning to Saudi Arabia to begin discussions with Russian counterparts. 

EVEN IF TRUMP SECURES UKRAINE-RUSSIA PEACE DEAL, CAN PUTIN BE TRUSTED?

Putin also agreed to exchange 175 prisoners as well as the return of 23 "seriously wounded" Ukrainians as a "gesture of goodwill."

Just moments after his call with Trump was intended to take place, Zelenskyy said in a post on X that "one of the largest POW exchanges" had taken place and showed a picture of men with Ukrainian flags draped over them returning from Russian captivity. 

Zelenskyy confirmed that 175 soldiers and 22 "defenders" had been released. 

"We are also grateful to all our partners, especially the United Arab Emirates, for making today’s exchange possible," he added, though he did not mention U.S. efforts in the negotiations. 

International leaders voiced frustration that the deal Ukraine agreed to last week was not accepted by Putin during Trump's discussions with him, though Trump on Tuesday told Fox News' Laura Ingraham on the "Ingraham Angle" that pushing Putin further into a ceasefire would have been tough. "Russia has the advantage."

Zelenskyy’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions following the Trump-Putin call, but in a message posted to X, the Ukrainian president argued that "Putin effectively rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire."

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"It would be right for the world to respond by rejecting any attempts by Putin to prolong the war," he continued, highlighting Russia's continued attacks on Ukrainian civilians, including a Tuesday night Shahed drone strike on a hospital in Ukraine's Sumy region.

"Sanctions against Russia. Assistance to Ukraine. Strengthening allies in the free world and working toward security guarantees," Zelenskyy listed as steps the Western world should take to counter Putin. "Only a real cessation of strikes on civilian infrastructure by Russia, as proof of its willingness to end this war, can bring peace closer."

The Italian Coast Guard recovered six bodies and was searching for up to 40 migrants missing after a rubber dinghy that departed from Tunisia sank in the central Mediterranean, the U.N. refugee agency said Wednesday.

Another 10 people, including four women, were rescued Tuesday and brought to Italy’s southernmost island of Lampedusa. The Red Cross said they were in good condition and were receiving psychological care.

Aircraft from the European border agency Frontex, the Italian coast guard and others were assisting in the search due to difficult sea conditions, the coast guard said.

TURKS AND CAICOS TRAVEL WARNING ISSUED AS MIGRANTS DESCEND ON POPULAR VACATION SPOT IN DROVES

Survivors said some 56 people were in the dinghy when it departed from the Tunisian port of Sfax on Monday, UNHCR said.

The boat started to deflate a few hours later. The people on board were from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Mali, the UNHCR said.

The U.N. Missing Migrant Project puts the number of dead and missing in the perilous central Mediterranean at over 24,506 from 2014 to 2024, many of them lost at sea. The project says the number may be greater as many deaths go unrecorded.

So far this year, 8,963 migrants have arrived in Italy, according to Interior Ministry figures updated Wednesday, a 4% increase over the same period last year.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni's center-right government has pushed for economic agreements with northern African countries aimed at preventing departures. Speaking to lawmakers this week, Meloni credited the deals with a nearly 60% drop in migrant arrivals in Italy last year to 66,317 from 157,651 in 2023.

She said 1,695 people were dead or missing at sea in 2024, compared with 2,526 a year earlier.

"What do these numbers mean? They tell us that reducing the departures, and curbing the traffickers' business, is the only way to reduce the number of migrants who lose their lives trying to reach Italy and Europe,'' she said.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian rescue group Emergency rescued 35 people in the Libyan search-and-rescue area on Monday and was ordered to bring them to the northern city of La Spezia to disembark, in keeping with the Meloni government practice of assigning ports far from the rescue area.

"This means three days more to arrive, and above all it means to increase the suffering of the shipwrecked people,'' said Anabel Montes Mier, who was running the mission.

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire ended on Monday when Israel announced it was resuming airstrikes in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on its X account that it was "conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip." Israel pointed to Hamas’ repeated refusal to accept a hostage release and ceasefire extension as the reason for the return to war.

"Israel said, ‘Yes, we're willing to extend ceasefire and to have more hostages released,’ but Hamas said ‘no.’ Very clearly, twice Hamas said ‘no’ to the option of releasing more hostages and extending the ceasefire. So, basically, we are left with no choice, with no other option to release our hostages," Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Oren Marmorstein told Fox News Digital.

As of now, according to Marmorstein, Israel’s "war objectives" include securing the hostages’ release, destroying Hamas infrastructure and ensuring there "is no more threat of another October 7th."

ISRAEL SHOOTS DOWN HOUTHI BALLISTIC MISSILE AFTER CEASEFIRE COLLAPSES

Marmorstein acknowledged that Palestinians were suffering, but placed the blame on Hamas for using Gaza civilians as "human shields." Israel has often pointed to Hamas’ use of civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, in its terror operations.

Prior to the airstrikes, IDF Spokesperson for Arabic Media Col. Avichay Adraee issued a warning to Gazans in Arabic. In the past, Israel has also used Arabic pamphlets and other methods to warn Palestinians ahead of its operations.

The IDF’s translation of part of Adraee’s message reads, "For your own safety, move away to the known shelters in western Gaza City and in the city of Khan Yunis. Staying in the area marked in red may endanger you and your family."

When asked about the Hostages and Missing Families Forum’s statement calling for an immediate return to the ceasefire, Marmorstein insisted that resuming war operations would secure the hostages’ release.

"If you want to have the hostages’ release, you needed to go into this operation because Hamas was very adamant in their decision not to accept any offer, any offer to extend the ceasefire," Marmorstein said.

HOW ISRAEL'S WAR AGAINST HAMAS TERRORISTS WILL BE DIFFERENT UNDER TRUMP

Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, was trying to make a "corridor" between phases one and two of the ceasefire plan, which would have seen the release of more hostages, according to Marmorstein. The Israeli official said that the Jewish state accepted more than one U.S. proposal, while Hamas rejected them.

Marmorstein also said that Hamas "rhetoric" on the war "has nothing to do with reality," adding that statements from the U.S. indicate a "clear understanding that Hamas" is at fault. Additionally, Marmorstein told Fox News Digital that Israel consulted with the Americans, something that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told "Hannity" earlier this week.

"The Trump administration and the White House were consulted by the Israelis on their attacks in Gaza tonight," Leavitt told "Hannity" on Monday night.

When speaking to Fox News Digital, Marmorstein offered high praise for the Trump administration, saying that Israel "cannot hope for a better friend in the U.S."  Marmorstein told Fox News Digital that the relationship between the U.S. and Israel reached "new peaks" with President Donald Trump. He also said that Israel was "grateful" for the U.S. and Trump’s support during the war.

Marmorstein expressed confidence in Israel’s ability to defeat Hamas and echoed the message of former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, who said that Israel’s "secret weapon" was that the Jews had no other place to go.

"This is the fight that we were forced to fight and will win it. And I can tell you, I know we'll win it because of simple reason, we'll win this fight against Hamas and against Houthis and against any other terrorist organization, because we have no other choice," Marmorstein told Fox News Digital.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he needs more details about peace proposals following President Donald Trump’s call with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, warning that "For us, the red line is the recognition of the Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories as Russian." 

Zelenskyy announced he plans to speak with Trump Wednesday after the president told Fox News’ "The Ingraham Angle" that he spent nearly two hours on the phone Tuesday with Putin. 

"We will discuss the details of the next steps with him," Zelenskyy said. "For us, the red line is the recognition of the Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories as Russian. We will not go for it." 

Zelenskyy added that attacks continue to strike Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, despite U.S. and Russia saying Tuesday that Trump and Putin agreed to a ceasefire against those targets. Russia launched a series of drone strikes that struck civilian areas overnight and damaged a hospital in Ukraine. 

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE RUSSIA, UKRAINE CEASEFIRE TALKS? 

"We will support any proposals that lead to a sustainable, just peace. But for this we must understand what is at stake. What are the details? And I hope to God that we know all these details, so that the partners talk to us. Because there are two sides in this war – Russia and Ukraine. Trying to negotiate without Ukraine, in my view, will not be productive," Zelenskyy said Tuesday. 

"We support all steps toward ending the war. We will give support, but in order to support something we need to understand what specifically it is," he added. 

Trump described his call with Putin as "very good and productive" on Truth Social. 

"Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end," Trump wrote. "That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!" 

RUSSIA ORDERS PARTIAL CEASEFIRE AFTER CALL WITH TRUMP BUT NOT THE ONE HOPED FOR 

The White House said in a statement following the call that "The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace.  

"These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East," it added. 

During the call, Putin also said a complete cessation of military aid to Ukraine was a key condition for ending the war, Russia's state-run TASS news agency reported, citing the Kremlin. 

However, Trump told Fox News "We didn’t talk about aid, actually." 

"We didn’t talk about aid at all," he said. "We talked about a lot of things, but aid was never discussed." 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Iran is trying to bolster its "battered deterrence" after a general vowed to respond "decisively and destructively" to any threats in the wake of U.S. strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, an expert told Fox News Digital.

Gen. Hossein Salami, the leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said, "We warn our enemies that Iran will respond decisively and destructively if they carry out their threats" following U.S. military action over the weekend against the Tehran-backed terrorist group, according to Reuters. Salami also denied that Iran is involved with Houthi attacks on U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the Associated Press reported. 

"Tehran’s bluster is aimed at bolstering its battered deterrence and getting President Trump to disconnect the dots between Iran and its proxies at a time when the regime is at its weakest," Behnam Ben Taleblu, director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Iran program, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. 

"Tellingly, as a measure of the regime’s weakness, Tehran is also trying to downplay its ties with the Houthis despite having built them up with state-level military capabilities for over a decade," he added. 

IRAN GENERAL RESPONDS TO TRUMP THREATS AGAINST HOUTHI REBELS 

Trump said Monday that "every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!" 

"Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Any further attack or retaliation by the ‘Houthis’ will be met with great force, and there is no guarantee that that force will stop there.  

"Iran has played 'the innocent victim' of rogue terrorists from which they’ve lost control, but they haven’t lost control," he continued. "They’re dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated Military equipment, and even, so-called, "Intelligence.'" 

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CRITICIZED FOR EMBOLDENING IRAN-BACKED HOUTHIS AS TRUMP RAMPS UP MILITARY STRIKES

U.S. Central Command said Saturday it had "initiated a series of operations consisting of precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets across Yemen to defend American interests, deter enemies, and restore freedom of navigation."   

Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday that he "ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen."

"It has been over a year since a U.S.-flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden," Trump continued. "The last American Warship to go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times."  

Fox News’ Taylor Penley, Andrea Margolis and Lucas Y. Tomlinson contributed to this report. 

With President Donald Trump now in the White House, analysts say Israel is operating with fewer constraints than before, impacting its military approach and the war’s potential outcome.

"It is all about Trump," a former senior Israeli official told Fox News Digital, "Netanyahu can continue this war for another year. If Trump tells him in two weeks, enough, now you have to go for a deal, he would." The same source also suggested that a new strategy is now being implemented: Dividing Gaza into controlled corridors, with food and civilian movement under Israeli military oversight, aiming to pressure Hamas.

John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point’s Modern War Institute, told Fox News Digital, "The Trump administration, even before it was elected, was very clear: release all the hostages, including American citizens, or I will provide Israel everything it needs to legally, lawfully, and within all international laws prosecute its war against Hamas, with fewer constraints than the Biden administration put on it."

CEASEFIRE OVER AS ISRAEL STRIKES GAZA AFTER HAMAS REFUSED TO RELEASE HOSTAGES, OFFICIALS SAY

"The big variable at the higher level is the status of civilian evacuations," Spencer explained. "The United States is now more open to encouraging nations to allow Gazans to temporarily evacuate combat zones, which signals a shift in approach under the Trump administration."

The collapse of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has reignited military operations in Gaza. Israel cited Hamas' refusal to release hostages as the reason for resuming attacks, while Hamas claimed that Israel failed to uphold its commitments under the ceasefire agreement. 

Jonathan Conricus, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, highlighted Egypt’s role in the evolving situation: "I think that this time around, Egypt will be forced by the U.S. to open up the gate and allow Palestinians to flee the battlefield. That is the right thing to do. It's the humane thing to do. It is the legal thing to do, and that is what Egypt must do," he said. He criticized Egyptian authorities for restricting Palestinian movement, arguing that their policies have contributed to civilian suffering.

"For the first time, Israel will be able to use all available weapons to decisively defeat Hamas," Conricus, a former IDF spokesman, told Fox News Digital.

FREED ISRAELI HOSTAGE SPEAKS FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT HIS 505 DAYS OF SURVIVING HAMAS HELL

In a video statement on Tuesday, Netanyahu thanked President Trump for his unwavering support of Israel, "Our alliance with the United States has never been stronger," he said.

On the battlefield, Israel has expanded its targets beyond Hamas’ military infrastructure to its governmental network.

"The recent strikes, as Israel states, include quite a lot of the governmental side of a terror organization," Assaf Orion, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute and INSS, told Fox News Digital. However, he said, questions remain about what will follow if Hamas' governance structure is dismantled.

The hostage situation remains a central issue. While the Israeli government argues that military action is necessary to pressure Hamas into releasing captives, concerns about hostage safety have sparked protests within Israel. Conricus told Fox News Digital, "The risk to hostages has increased. Hamas may execute some in retaliation for Israel’s renewed offensive, but the way I see it, Israel had no choice but to resume military operations after two weeks in which Hamas didn’t release any hostages. Honestly, I’m surprised we’ve waited this long to act."

Orion acknowledged the complexity of balancing military objectives with hostage negotiations: "There is a clear tension between releasing the hostages, which involves a deal, and eradicating Hamas, which involves fighting. If the hostages are killed, that’s irreversible. An enduring defeat to Hamas, we all understand, is a generational task," he told Fox News Digital.

Whether Hamas can be fully defeated remains an open question. Spencer believes it to be possible, saying, "Hamas is weaker than ever, with its ability to hold territory and conduct organized military operations severely diminished. However, Israel must commit to holding the ground it clears, or Hamas could regroup and return."

The outcome of Israel’s renewed campaign will depend not just on military strategy but also on Trump’s political approach. As the former Israeli official noted, if Trump decides to push for negotiations, Netanyahu is likely to follow suit. Until then, Israel appears set to continue its most extensive military operation yet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to stop attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, but the 30-day ceasefire still leaves many significant issues unresolved. 

The temporary truce did not include any protections for troops fighting on the front lines or for Ukrainian civilians who continue to live through Russia’s constant aerial bombardments. 

Putin’s preliminary agreement came after a 90-minute phone conversation with President Donald Trump, who took to social media afterward and described it as "very good" and "productive."

EVEN IF TRUMP SECURES UKRAINE-RUSSIA PEACE DEAL, CAN PUTIN BE TRUSTED?

"We agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine," he said. "That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!"

Trump later told Fox News' Laura Ingraham on the "Ingraham Angle" that pushing Putin further in a ceasefire "would have been tough. Russia has the advantage."

Speaking to Sean Hannity on Tuesday, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Saudi Arabia on Sunday to discuss the details of Tuesday's agreement between the two leaders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions, but in a message posted to X he said, "Putin effectively rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire."

"It would be right for the world to respond by rejecting any attempts by Putin to prolong the war," he continued, highlighting Russia's continued attacks on Ukrainian civilians, including on Tuesday when a Russia-fired Shahed drone hit a hospital in Ukraine's Sumy region.

"Sanctions against Russia. Assistance to Ukraine. "Strengthening allies in the free world and working toward security guarantees," Zelenskyy listed as steps the Western world can take to counter Putin. "Only a real cessation of strikes on civilian infrastructure by Russia, as proof of its willingness to end this war, can bring peace closer."

The Trump administration has argued that true negotiations can only begin once a ceasefire has been secured, though it remains unclear how negotiations will proceed with no truce that includes civilian protections from Russia’s aerial attacks.

Neither the State Department nor the White House responded to Fox News Digital’s questions on why the president believes Putin "wants to make peace" — which Trump accused Zelenskyy of not being "serious" about when he attempted to negotiate security guarantees for Ukraine last month.

Officials from NATO and the EU were also tight-lipped following the call between Trump and Putin.

Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire last week following an hours-long meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security advisor Mike Waltz, which the pair said they would then "take to the Russians."

While Washington was short on the details of the negotiations agreed to by Kyiv, Zelenskyy said the U.S. had pushed for a full ceasefire along the front lines, in the air and on the Black Sea — a push Trump was apparently unable to secure in his Tuesday discussions with Putin.

PUTIN ORDERS PARTIAL CEASEFIRE AFTER CALL WITH TRUMP BUT NOT THE ONE HOPED FOR

Zelenskyy said his delegation had also discussed the "release of prisoners of war and detainees — both military and civilian — and the return of Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred to Russia."

While the Kremlin on Tuesday said Putin had agreed to a 175-prisoner swap with Ukraine, there was no mention of the 20,000 Ukrainian children Kyiv has reported to have been forcibly abducted, largely from Luhansk and Donetsk, and then funneled through adoption schemes in Russia.

There are a litany of issues that still need to be negotiated between Ukraine and Russia, which the U.S. has said Europe will also be a part of.

Putin has already made clear Ukraine should not be allowed to join NATO — which the Trump administration has also backed over concerns it could not only perpetuate but escalate the nature of Russia’s war.

European leaders and Zelenskyy have argued that peacekeeping troops should then be placed in Ukraine to prevent Russia from launching a future invasion — but Moscow has also already signaled this will be viewed as a threat to Russia.

Issues over Western arms supplies, international observance of Russian occupied lands, Ukraine’s future security, Ukrainian troops in Kursk and Russia’s continued aerial campaigns over civilian populations all remain major issues that need to be negotiated. 

"Putin doesn’t share Trump's abhorrence of war," former CIA Moscow Station Chief Dan Hoffman told Fox News Digital. "At this point there’s no indication that he’s going to do anything else but negotiate with an eye towards ensuring Ukraine can’t deter future Russian attacks."

Hoffman also argued that the Trump administration needs to be careful about finding itself in a situation where Washington wants a ceasefire more than Moscow.

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"The strategic objective is still to destroy Ukraine," Hoffman said. "The question is, Putin has not agreed to a ceasefire, so what are you going to do about?" 

"Define success by what serves U.S. national security interests. A bad deal would not serve our interests," he added. 

"Let them go negotiate," Hoffman said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered his military to adhere to a 30-day ceasefire on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, but he did not extend the temporary truce to the active frontlines or civilian populations. 

"The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people," the White House said in a release following the roughly 90-minute call between Putin and President Donald Trump. "The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace."

Reports leading up to the call suggested that Trump intended to push Putin to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, as he refused to engage with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy until the latter makes clear that he "wants to make peace."

EVEN IF TRUMP SECURES UKRAINE-RUSSIA PEACE DEAL, CAN PUTIN BE TRUSTED?

Following the call, Trump posted on Truth Social that, "My phone conversation today with President Putin of Russia was a very good and productive one. We agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine," Trump said in a post following the call.  "That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!"

While Ukraine last week agreed to immediately start a ceasefire upon Russia’s agreement, Zelenskyy again voiced skepticism Monday night over whether Putin was actually interested in ending the war. 

"Now, almost a week later, it’s clear to everyone in the world – even to those who refused to acknowledge the truth for the past three years – that it is Putin who continues to drag out this war," he said during this Monday night address. 

Similarly, on Tuesday, a Ukrainian lawmaker, who wished to remain anonymous, pointed out that an agreement to stop hitting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure two days before the first day of spring was not necessarily a sign that Putin is interested in peace.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE TRUMP-PUTIN CALL ON UKRAINE WAR 

"30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure when winter is over, really? That’s it?" the lawmaker told Fox News Digital, highlighting Russia’s three-year winter-time strategy of targeting Ukraine’s energy sector. 

Zelenskyy’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions, and both NATO and EU officials held off on immediately reacting to the day’s talks. 

"The Russian readout is a typical diplomatic talk by the Kremlin, with a lot of fluff in it. The only tangible and significant commitment that Putin has made is to stop the strikes on Ukrainian critical infrastructure," Rebekah Koffler, a former DIA intelligence officer and author of "Putin’s Playbook," told Fox News Digital. "The key point, though, is the ‘mutual refusal of the parties to the conflict’ to strike these facilities. 

"I don’t rule out the possibility that Russia may violate this commitment and claim that Ukrainians did that first," she added. "But at least on the surface it looks positive."

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Putin also apparently agreed to a 175-prisioner swap with Ukraine, and 23 "seriously wounded" Ukrainian servicemen currently being treated in Russian hospitals will be returned to Ukraine in a "gesture of goodwill," said the Kremlin’s readout following the call. 

The Russian leader also said that following Trump’s "appeal to save the lives" of the Ukrainian forces bogged down in the Kursk region, he has been "guided by humanitarian considerations" and will allow for their surrender and provide "decent treatment to the soldiers," which is an existing international law mandated by the United Nations Geneva Convention.