BY SAMY MAGDY AND TIA GOLDENBERG

Updated 12:47 PM EST, February 27, 2024

CAIRO (AP) — Israel and Hamas are inching toward a new deal that would free some of the roughly 130 hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for a weekslong pause in the war, now in its fifth month.

U.S. President Joe Biden says a deal could go into effect as early as Monday, ahead of what is seen as an unofficial deadline — the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, around March 10.

A deal would bring some respite to desperate people in Gaza, who have borne a staggering toll, as well as to the anguished families of Israeli hostages taken during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war.

The Latest | Biden says hostage deal could pause Gaza war, but Israel and Hamas show skepticism

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Updated 4:56 PM EST, February 27, 2024

President Joe Biden has said Israel would be willing to halt its war on Hamas in Gaza during the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan if a deal is reached to release some of the hostages held by the militants.

However, Israel and Hamas on Tuesday played down chances of an imminent breakthrough in talks for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Negotiators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar are working on a framework deal under which Hamas would free some of the dozens of hostages it holds, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and a six-week halt in fighting. During the temporary pause, negotiations would continue over the release of the remaining hostages.

Prominent Russian human rights activist Oleg Orlov gets 2 1/2 years in prison for criticizing war

BY ELISE MORTON

Updated 1:42 PM EST, February 27, 2024

A veteran human rights campaigner who criticized the war in Ukraine was convicted Tuesday by a Moscow court of “repeatedly discrediting” the Russian military and sentenced to 2½ years in prison.

Oleg Orlov, 70, co-chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights group Memorial, had rejected the case against him as politically motivated, saying in his closing statement: “I don’t regret anything and I don’t repent anything.” He also denounced the war again.

Orlov was handcuffed and taken into custody after the verdict, concluding a retrial in which he earlier was convicted and fined. Underscoring the low tolerance for criticism of the war by the government of President Vladimir Putin, the prosecution had appealed, seeking a harsher punishment.