TRANSCRIPT
- Israel's cabinet approves phase one of a Gaza peace plan
- Indigenous artists celebrated at the Australian Women in Music Awards
- Australia remain top of the Women's Cricket World Cup League standings
Israel's government has approved the first phase of Gaza peace plan to secure the release of all hostages held in Gaza.
Of the remaining 48 hostages, around 20 are believed to be alive.
US envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, joined the full cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is thankful for their work in brokering the deal.
"Momentous development in the last two years. And central to one of these aims is to return the hostages - all the hostages, the living and dead. And we are about to achieve that goal. We couldn't achieve it, without the extraordinary help of President Trump and the team: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner."
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Australian government welcomes progress on the Gaza peace deal.
However, he says it is important work is done to build long-term peace via a two-state solution.
"Look, we'll continue to work with allies on these issues. I just want to say that very much welcome this breakthrough. We have called for some time for a ceasefire, for the release of hostages, for aid to be granted - that needs to happen - and we also need to talk about the day after, which requires a two state solution."
Trump administraton officials say the US plans to send about 200 troops to support and monitor the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Speaking to the AP news agency on the condition of anonymity pending an official announcement, the officials say the troops will be part of a team including international partners, non-government organisations, and private firms.
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The Australian activists who were detained and deported by Israel have spoken about the conditions they experienced in detention.
Seven Australians were part of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla that was intercepted by Israel's military in international waters last week.
Arriving in Sydney, after being deported to Jordan, Juliet Lamont says the conditions they faced included: being kicked, punched, spat at; while also being denied access to clean drinking water and menstrual pads.
She says it has been concerning to experience - and see firsthand - the conditions detainees are being subjected to.
"There are 400 Palestinian children in jail at the moment, and in the prison that we will put in, in Ketziot, we could hear them crying at night as big Alsatian dogs were taken into those prison cells. These people wear, you know, semi-automatic machine guns, and they train their lasers on every one of our heads. Imagine what they're doing to the Palestinians."
Israel has denied the allegations of abuse, calling them brazen lies.
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Yanyuwa and Wardaman singer-songwriter Dr Shellie Morris has won three awards at the Australian Women in Music Awards in Brisbane.
She picked up the inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Legacy Award, shared with cultural songwomen from the Arrkula Yinbayarra project.
She also won the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Artistic Excellence Award.
Pioneering Aboriginal singer-songwriter Ruby Hunter was inducted into the Honour Roll.
Missy Higgins took home the Songwriter Award; and Chinese-Australian hip-hop/R&B artist, Grace Chia, won the Diversity in Music Award.
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In cricket, Australia remain top of the Women's Cricket World Cup League standings - but only after India suffered a shock defeat at the hands of South Africa.
Just as Australia's Beth Mooney had done for the champions to oust Pakistan the day earlier, Nadine de Klerk came up with one of the World Cup's great innings, hammering a scintillating unbeaten 84 off 54 balls as the Proteas stunned the powerful hosts by three wickets.
Player of the Match, de Klerk says she is proud of the way the team turned things around.
"I do like being under pressure. I love World Cups as well. And like I said, there is no bigger stage then playing India at home. We knew that we were going to have to be at our very best. Yes, I think they got to 250 - which is quite a good total. Like I said, it is great to get over the line. And it just shows we are capable of beating the big sides - and putting up a massive fight as well."
