Pete Hegseth, center, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, is joined by his wife Jennifer Rauchet, right, as they depart a meeting with Republican House members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Long lines of Palestinians -- some kneeling to kiss the soil as they stepped into the northern part of the strip -- were making their way home on Monday.

Pete Hegseth stresses that the US is 'fully committed' to ensure that Israel has the capabilities it needs to defend itself, says a defense official

The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as defense secretary by the narrowest of margins, elevating an Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News host to the top Pentagon job with the help of a rare tie-breaking vote by the vice president.

The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel began Jan. 19 after Hamas supplied a list of the hostages slated for return to Israel.

The White House announced Sunday that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended until Feb.18. Lebanon, Israel and the U.S. will also begin negotiations for the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after Oct. 7, 2023.

Of the 33 Israeli hostages set to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire, eight have been killed by Hamas, according to Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer. Seven hostages have already been released since the start of the ceasefire, meaning 18 more living hostages will be released by Hamas in the coming weeks.

Long lines of Palestinians -- some kneeling to kiss the soil as they stepped into the northern part of the strip -- were making their way home on Monday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived on Monday for his first full day leading the Pentagon, vowing to support President Trump’s priorities to seal the U.S. border with Mexico, use military planes to deport undocumented migrants and increase the military’s combat readiness.

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's controversial choice for US defence secretary, has been confirmed for the job. The 44-year-old ex-veteran and former Fox News host narrowly secured the top Pentagon ...

Trump has ended his predecessor's hold on sending 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, lifting a pressure point that had been meant to reduce civilian casualties during the U.S. ally's war with Hamas in Gaza that is now halted by a tenuous ceasefire.

On Monday, Trump also signed an order suspending the US’s Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), saying America “lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans”.