Middle East: 3 Israeli, 5 Thai hostages released

Palestinian groups and Israel are carrying out a third hostage-prisoner exchange under a ceasefire deal. Meanwhile, Israel also cut contact with the UN's Palestinian refugee agency. DW has the latest.

• The third hostage-prisoner swap under the recent Gaza ceasefire deal will see Hamas and other Palestinian groups release Israeli and Thai hostages in return for 110 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel
• The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is banned from operating on Israeli soil
• UN chief Antonio Guterres has called on Israel to rescind its decision to cut ties with UNRWA, saying the agency was "irreplaceable"

Here's a look at headlines on Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and the wider Middle East on Thursday, January 30, 2025.