Brittney Griner returned to Phoenix for the first time since spending her first 11 seasons there on Wednesday night.Now with the Atlanta Dream, Griner racked up 17 points and nine rebounds against her former Mercury to lead her current squad to a 90-79 victory.The Mercury honored Griner with a tribute video before the game, with longtime teammate Diana Taurasi sitting courtside.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"When I looked over and saw D and Penny [Taylor] over there, it kind of ignited me a little bit. Just being back on the court where I basically started my career on, played the majority of it, it just felt good. The crowd, seeing familiar faces, hearing old stories, signing jerseys that I've signed like a thousand times, it was good. It was a really good feeling."Griner helped the Mercury to a WNBA championship in 2014. With Phoenix, she was named an All-Star nine times, was twice the Defensive Player of the Year, and was constantly in the MVP conversation.She missed the 2022 season due to being detained in Russia.FEVER STAR SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM HIT WITH FINE FROM WNBA FOR TIKTOK VIDEO CRITICIZING REFEREESIn 315 games with the Mercury, in which she started each of them, she put up 17.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while also blocking 2.6 shots per contest. In her back-to-back DPOY seasons, she put up 3.8 and 4.0 blocks per game.Griner has started all 21 games she has played for the Dream this year, putting up 10.2 points and 5.7 rebounds. Her 17 points on Wednesday were her fourth-most this season.Griner signed a one-year deal with the Dream over the offseason.She is writing herself a Hall of Fame resume, being a two-time scoring champ and leading the WNBA in blocks eight times. She also has been named to seven All-Defensive teams.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Officials have released the cause of death of formerEnglish Premier League player George Baldock, who was found dead in a swimming pool at his home in Greece in October.The Milton Keynes Coroners Court revealed at an inquest hearing on Wednesday that the 31-year-oldsoccer player had died as a result of drowning. A post-mortem examination found no traces of drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his death.According to the record of inquest reviewed by Fox News Digital, officials discovered that Baldock "had a very large heart that would have meant that he was susceptible to heart arrhythmias."CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEW.COMTheMayo Clinic describes heart arrhythmias as an irregular heartbeat, either too fast or too slow. While heart arrhythmias can be harmless for some, in other cases, they can cause "life-threatening symptoms."Baldocks death was ruled an accident.Bladock, who had played for the Greek national team, was discovered in the swimming pool of his residence inAttica, Greece, on Oct. 9. First responders attempted to resuscitate him but were unsuccessful.GREEK SOCCER PLAYER GEORGE BALDOCK FOUND DEAD IN ATHENS HOME; INVESTIGATORS RULE OUT FOUL PLAYBladock was born in England and played for Sheffield United for seven seasons three in the Premier League. He signed with Panathinaikos Football Club, a member of the Super League Greece, in 2024, making an appearance for the club just three days before his death.He appeared in 12 matches with Greece's national team and last appeared in a game in March in a match against Georgia in the Euro 2024 playoffs."There are no words to describe the human pain caused by the news of the untimely loss of one of our young people," the Greek Soccer Federation said in a statement at the time. "This moment calls for silence. Condolences to his family. Condolences from his second family. Goodbye."Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

A school district in North Carolina has been ordered to admit their mistake, issue an apology, fork over $20,000, and more after they were sued for suspending a 16-year-old student who used the term "illegal aliens."The settlement was approved on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, following a year-long legal battle after a 16-year-old student and his parents sued Davidson County Schools for the mischaracterization of racial bias and violation of the student's First Amendment rights."Although the parties initially moved to seal the revised settlement agreement, they have since withdrawn any request to seal any version of their settlement," Judge Thomas Schroeder stated in his Tuesday order. MARYLAND TEACHER CLAIMS IN LAWSUIT HE WAS FALSELY BRANDED 'RACIST OVER SEATING CHART DISPUTEThe 16-year-old student was suspended in April of last year after using the term "illegal aliens" during an English class discussion. "Do you mean space aliens or illegal aliens who need green cards?" the student asked.The student was later suspended for three days and marks denoting "racially insensitive behavior" were added to his permanent record. The story of Christian McGhee caught the eyes of Donald Trump, who wrote the student a personal recommendation letter as he seeks an athletic scholarship in the years ahead, according to the Liberty Justice Center, which helped with the litigation.THAT ENDS NOW: WHITE HOUSE VOWS REMOVAL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM TAXPAYER BENEFITSIn addition to the public apology required in the settlement, McGhee's school must correct his permanent record so it no longer denotes racial insensitivity and acknowledge "the inappropriate response to this matter by a former member." However, per Schroeder's order, the settlement does not amount to an admission of liability or wrongdoing."As the Supreme Court has often reminded us in its First Amendment jurisprudence, students do not shed their free speech rights at the schoolhouse gate. That it took a federal lawsuit and ultimately a court-approved settlement (including an apology to Christian, and a payment of $20,000) is indicative of how far lost many educators have become in the wake of the previous administration's identity politics obsession," Sarah Parshall Perry, vice president and legal fellow at conservative nonprofit Defending Education, told Fox News Digital."No more," Perry continued. "The mission of American educationis rooted in the viewpoint diversity of a pluralistic society. Our hope is that after Christian's ordeal, schools will think twice about venturing into unconstitutional waters and trampling on the free speech rights of their students."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPAccording to the Liberty Justice Center, McGhee's mother spoke up in defense of her son after the incident happened, including at school board meetings, which led to an alleged attempt to smear her. The center claimed that two board members sent messages to county leaders and residents with the mother's arrest record and encouraged people to post it on social media.Neither Davidson County Schools, nor the district's board, responded to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.

Toby Atwood, a rising senior at Thiel College and a member of the womenstennis team, suddenly died over the weekend after collapsing during a half-marathon in Pennsylvania, school officials confirmed.The 21-year-oldPennsylvania native was participating in the Presque Isle Half Marathon in Erie on Sunday when she collapsed and died. Atwoods cause of death was not immediately known.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEW.COM"Toby was entering her senior year at Thiel College and was an accomplished student, athlete, and leader throughout her time at the College. Her presence touched the lives of so many, and she will be deeply missed," Vice President for Student Life and Athletics Michael McKinney said in a letter sent to the community."During this heartbreaking time, we mourn for Toby and extend our heartfelt sympathy to her family, friends, classmates, teammates, coach, instructors, and all who knew her."Atwood was described as a "standout" student, who maintained a 4.0 GPA as a business administration and accounting double major. Attending Thiel College on a full scholarship, Atwood served as the president of Zeta Tau Alpha and was recently inducted into Chi Eta Sigma, the National Commerce Honorary Society.MOTHER OF CINCINNATI PLAYER WHO DIED OF HEART CONDITION WONDERS IF HIS DEATH WAS PREVENTABLE"Toby was a light in everyones life. There was never a dull moment with her and she was always there for the people she loved when they needed it," the womens fraternity said in a statement."Toby truly left her mark while she was with us. She was seen as a leader, role model and mentor. She was strong, resilient, and never afraid to speak her mind. There will forever be a hole in our hearts and our chapter without her. She has touched the lives of so many."Atwood was co-captain of the womens tennis team. As a freshman, she won four singles and two doubles matches.She was recently honored by theIntercollegiate Tennis Association for her academic success marking her second such honor in the past two seasons.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Sacha Baron Cohen broke the internet with his new look.Cohen posed for Men's Fitness UK, debuting his toned body. The actor has been preparing for his role as Marvel's newest villain, Mephisto, in the miniseries "Ironheart.""I'm sorry, but thirst trap Borat was not on my 2025 bingo card," one user commented on the photo of Cohen showing off his fit physique, while another wrote, "Is this AI?""This is not AI," Cohen answered on his Instagram stories. "I really am egotistical enough to do this."ISLA FISHER BREAKS SILENCE ON SACHA BARON COHEN DIVORCE AFTER 14-YEAR MARRIAGE FALLS APARTCohen continued to make quips on his Instagram stories as he shared different photos from the shoot."Some celebs use Ozempic, some use private chefs, others use personal trainers. I did all three," he wrote."Debuting my new character: Middle aged man who replaced beer with protein shakes."According to Cohen, he spent 25 minutes a day with a personal trainer."I now believe that just 20 to 30 minutes of movement a day can make a real difference," he told Men's Fitness UK. "And its something anyone can fit into their routine, especially celebrities with personal assistants to do all the boring stuff like shopping and attending friends funerals."He added, "In the past, I wouldve thought you needed hour-long sessions. But the short sessions made it so much easier to stay consistent even with the demands of being on set."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSCohen debuted his new look after he finalized his divorce from ex-wife Isla Fisher in June. The two announced their split in April 2024."After a long tennis match lasting over twenty years, we are finally putting our racquets down," a joint statement shared by the couple at the time read. "In 2023 we jointly filed to end our marriage. We have always prioritized our privacy, and have been quietly working through this change.""We forever share in our devotion and love for our children," they added. "We sincerely appreciate your respecting our familys wish for privacy."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERAt the time, Cohen was dealing with bold accusations from his former co-star, Rebel Wilson.The actress accused Cohen of harassing her on the set of "The Brothers Grimsby." A representative for Cohen slammed Wilson's accusation as "demonstrably false.""While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence, including contemporaneous documents, film footage, and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of 'The Brothers Grimsby,'" the representative told Fox News Digital.

Pro wrestling legend Ric Flair was among the many that mourned the loss of fellow wrestling great Hulk Hogan, who died after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Florida on Thursday.Hogan was 71."I Am Absolutely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Close FriendHulk Hogan," Flair wrote in a statement on social media. "Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father! Our Friendship Has Meant The World To Me. He Was Always There For Me Even When I Didnt Ask For Him To Be."He went on to thank Hogan for the kindness he showed him during his health battles, adding "Hulkster, No One Will Ever Compare To You! Rest In Peace My Friend!"CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEW.COMTMZ Sports first reported the news of Hogans passing, citing a possible "cardiac arrest" at his home in Clearwater, Florida. His death came weeks after he had allegedly suffered a health crisis.The Clearwater Police Department later confirmed that emergency personnel responded to a medical call just before 10 a.m. Hogan was treated on site for a cardiac arrest before being transported to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead."WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the promotion later wrote in a statement on X. "One of pop cultures most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogans family, friends, and fans."PRO WRESTLING ICON HULK HOGAN DEAD AT 71Hogan later joined the political scene when he appeared at the Republican National Convention during the2024 Presidential Election. Months later, he appeared at a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in New York.Tributes from several lawmakers and other notable figures poured in on social media.Fox News Digitals Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

William Shakespeare wrote about "the winter of our discontent" in Richard III. The line which follows that famous quotation suggests a grim winter morphed into a "glorious summer" and that "the clouds" are now "in the deep bosom of the ocean buried."Well, that "glorious summer" may have dissipated for House Republicans.2025 is now the summer of discontent. The party is cleaved over the Epstein files.Or, as the Bard might say, "To release or not to release. That is the question."CLEAR CORRUPTION: JEFFRIES FACES COMPLAINT FOR PRESSING JUDGES TO OUST ALINA HABBAMany Republicans want the Epstein issue to disappear. But theres a cohort of conservative House Republicans well tapped into the MAGA base who are apoplectic that the Trump administration hasnt coughed up the files. That group of lawmakers represents a core component of the Trump coalition which prevailed last year. And its growing more disaffected by the day."I don't think this issue is going away over August," said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. "You don't lose your base over one single thing. But [President Donald Trump] is eroding his base. More importantly, if we don't take the right side of this issue, it's going to cost us votes in the midterms. People are becoming despondent. They're apathetic."Massie teamed several weeks ago with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., to compel the House to vote to demand the release of the files. But that measure doesnt ripen until late this week. But if the House isnt in sessionMARK GREEN RESIGNS FROM CONGRESS, FURTHER SHRINKING HOUSE GOP MAJORITYDemocrats were more than happy to egg on the Epstein file effort especially since some Republicans were upset with Johnson and how GOP leaders handled the issue."Im not quite certain what his strategy is," mused House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., about Massie. "I don't understand Thomas Massie's motivation. I really dont know how his mind works."But House GOP leaders cut the House loose a day earlier than planned for the five-and-a-half week "August recess." Johnson characterized August as "arguably the most important work month on our calendar" as Republicans try to meet with constituents and tout passage of the "big, beautiful bill." Johnson called releasing the Epstein files running "roughshod."By Wednesday, Johnson gaggled with the congressional press corps to combat the narrative that the House was letting out early to avoid dealing with the Epstein issue."The published schedule of Congress was decided in December 2024. And it's been published ever since. We are fulfilling the calendar," said Johnson.But the House didnt convene for votes as scheduled on Thursday. And even some Republicans werent buying Johnsons argument."I guess we're getting tired of these two-hour work weeks up here," complained Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. "I'm sick of it. I came here to work."But the impasse over the Epstein files forced the House to scrap a bill by Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., to bolster penalties against persons who enter the U.S. illegally and are deported and then try to come back. Thats one of the reasons the House cashed out Thursday from the schedule."I want to get some of these issues put to bed. Certainly the Epstein one seems to be the topic du jour. Weve got to get past that," said Bice. "We have to come to some sort of resolution. Sooner rather than later. We cannot let this drag on."But with the House done, that subject which should be a layup for House Republicans will remain in abeyance until after the recess.Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., didnt mind the House cutting town early."We weren't going to do that much this week anyway," said Norman.But he pointed out how Democrats were suddenly championing the Epstein issue because the mischief put Republicans in a fix and potentially caused headaches for Trump."The Democrats are trying to use this as a wedge issue This is the only thing they've got," said Norman.Massie said his resolution with Khanna would ripen for a vote when the House reconvenes in September. He suggested it would marinate under the hot, August sun."Dogs don't bark at parked cars, right? This bill is moving. This is coming to a vote. We've got enough Republican co-sponsors of the bill. Twice as many as we need right now," said Massie. "Were going to force a vote on it. It's not going away."In fact, as the House tried to take its last votes until September, Rep. Summer Lee, D-Penn., sprang a vote on the House Oversight Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, requiring a subpoena of the Epstein files."I expect my Republican colleagues to care about this because their constituents certainly care about child sex trafficking, whether it's through the immigration system like this hearing alleges, or by a U.S. citizen facilitating other powerful U.S. citizens. It's time for them to prove it right now," said Lee.The Pennsylvania Democrat could read the room. Conservative Republicans interested in the Epstein files comprised the membership of the panel: Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., is the subcommittee chairman. Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.; Paul Gosar, R-Ariz.; Brian Jack, R-Ga.; Nancy Mace, R-S.C.; Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.; and Scott Perry, R-Penn., made up the rest of the GOP roster.The panel voted 8-2 to subpoena the Epstein files but only after Perry amended Lees plan by simultaneously issuing subpoenas for former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller, along with former Attorneys General Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Merrick Garland, Bill Barr, Jeff Sessions, and Alberto Gonzales.In short, this isnt going away.The House Appropriations Committee scheduled a "markup session" for Thursday to prepare the annual Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill for the floor. But leaders abruptly canceled that meeting Wednesday night. Some of it was due to "exhaustion," as members have been lingering in Washington so long this summer. Some of it was because the House canceled votes. Appropriations Committee members didnt want to be in Washington. But the other component was the threat of Epstein-related amendments.So, they pulled the plug.This came after both Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., made a point of telling reporters that committees would still meet even though the House canceled votes for the rest of the week."We have nine or ten committees working through, markups this week. Many tomorrow," said Johnson on Wednesday."We're going to have committee meetingsthrough Thursday. And there's still a lot of work being done," said Scalise. "Most members know that the work of Congress is mostly done in committee."But not this time.Granted, the House Oversight Committee took closed-door testimony from former Biden administration Chief of Staff Ron Klain about President Joe Bidens cognitive abilities. But that was about it for the House."Today marks the first day of the House embarking on their Epstein recess," declared Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "And already the story Republicans hoped would quietly fade is growing louder by the hour.""It's going to keep percolating," predicted Khanna. "This is just breathing more life."August is often a news vacuum. And so something has to fill the void. The Epstein files could be it.And that only fuels the summer of discontent.

The White House is claiming that Russia was attempting to sow "distrust and chaos," even as reports from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence suggest the Obama administration "manipulated" Russian interference to undercut Trumps win in 2016.Press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about whether Secretary of State Marco Rubios position when he led the Senate Intelligence Committee fell in line with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's new findings."He said what they found is troubling," Leavitt said, while standing beside Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard at a Wednesday White House press briefing. "We found irrefutable evidence of Russian meddling, which the director of national intelligence just confirmed for all of you that Russia was trying to sow distrust and chaos.""What's the outrage in this that Secretary Rubio did not say at the time, the Democrats were saying at the time is the fact that the intelligence community was concocting this narrative that the president colluded with the Russians, that the president's son was holding secret meetings with the Russians, all of these lies that were never true," she continued.NEW RUSSIAGATE EVIDENCE 'DIRECTLY POINT TO' OBAMA, DOJ WILL DECIDE 'CRIMINAL IMPLICATIONS': GABBARDIn 2020, the Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Sen. Rubio, released a report finding "irrefutable evidence" of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Now, Gabbard claims Obama officials manipulated intelligence to undermine Trumps victory by playing up Russias actions during the 2016 election.But, Rubio said at the time, "We can say, without any hesitation, that the Committee found absolutely no evidence that then-candidate Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russian government to meddle in the 2016 election."He added that the report had found "deeply troubling actions" on behalf of the FBI, "particularly their acceptance and willingness to rely on the Steele Dossier without verifying its methodology or sourcing."The Steele dossier was funded by Hillary Clintons presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee through the law firm Perkins Coie.Documents recently released by Gabbard found intelligence showing Russian actors did not impact the 2016 election had been "suppressed."The Obama administration "manufactured and politicized intelligence" to create the narrative that Russia was attempting to influence the 2016 presidential election, despite information from the intelligence community stating otherwise, Gabbard claimed.Gabbard also said the declassified documents have been shared with the Department of Justice and the FBI so those agencies can evaluate if any criminal implications stemming from the materials are warranted.Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush responded to the DNI claims: "Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.""Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes. These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio," he added.Rubio's office referred Fox News Digital to Leavitt's comments.GABBARD CLAIMS OBAMA'S GOAL WITH RUSSIA NARRATIVE WAS TO 'SUBVERT THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLEDocuments stated that intelligence officials had found Russia was "probably not trying to influence the election by using cyber means."One instance was on Dec. 7, 2016, weeks after the election. Then-Director of National Intelligence James Clappers talking points stated: "Foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks on election infrastructure to alter the U.S. presidential election outcome."A presidential daily brief prepared for President Barack Obama in 2016 assessed: "Russian and criminal actors did not impact recent US election results by conducting malicious cyber activities against election infrastructure."But, the brief found, "Russian Government-affiliated actors most likely compromised an Illinois voter registration database and unsuccessfully attempted the same in other states."The brief stated that it was "highly unlikely" the effort "would have resulted in altering any states official vote result.""Criminal activity also failed to reach the scale and sophistication necessary to change election outcomes," it stated.The brief said the office of the Director of National Intelligence assessed Russian activities "probably were intended to cause psychological effects, such as undermining the credibility of the election process and candidates."Obama officials then"leaked false statements to media outlets," according to Gabbards office, claiming,"Russia has attempted through cyber means to interfere in, if not actively influence, the outcome of an election."Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

While some tourists may have a "sky's out, thighs out" attitude toward their swim trunks, one Mediterranean town begs to differ.The mayor of Chetabi, Alegeria, called for longer and looser shorts on men issuinga decree banning them from walking around in Bermuda shorts."These summer outfits disturb the population. They go against our societys moral values and sense of decency," Mayor Layachi Allaoua said, according to The Associated Press (AP).DEADLY RIP CURRENT FATALITIES REPORTED AMID SUMMER BEACH SEASON AS EXPERTS WEIGH IN"The population can no longer tolerate seeing foreigners wandering the streets in indecent clothing," he added.The decision sparked a regional debate over religious and traditional attire as opposed to the habits of more open-minded beachgoers.Officials in the coastal city of Annaba called on the mayor to rescind his order.After two days of controversy, the mayor did reverse the order saying he wanted to preserve"peace and tranquility" for both locals and tourists and that he was not influenced by Islamist pressure, according to AP.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyleIn 2023, 3.3 million people visited the North African country of Algeria, according to the tourism ministry.Islam is Algerias official state religion, with 99% of residents identified as Sunni Muslims, according to the CIAs World Factbook.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERBetween 1991 and 2002, the Algerian Civil War ledto more openly visible religious practices in daily life."Modesty is a foundational virtue of Islamic culture, which is intrinsically linked to awara," notes a study published in the MAQOLAT: Journal of Islamic Studies."The idea ofawara refers to the parts of the body that must be covered to maintain privacy anddignity," the study says.Men should cover their bodies from the navel to the knees while women must cover their entire body aside from face and hands.

Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization hit a setback Thursday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled Israels negotiating delegation from Doha following what officials described as a hardening of Hamas demands."In light of the response Hamas delivered this morning, it has been decided to recall the negotiating team for further consultations in Israel," the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement. "We appreciate the efforts of the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, and the efforts of envoy Steve Witkoff to achieve a breakthrough in the talks."According to reports in Israeli media, the terror group is now demanding the release of 200 Palestinians serving life sentences for murdering Israelis, and an additional 2,000 Palestinians detained in Gaza after Oct. 7. That demand significantly exceeds the previous mediator-backed framework reportedly accepted by Israel which included the release of 125 life-term prisoners and 1,200 other detainees.HUCKABEE HITS BACK AT WESTERN COUNTRIES THAT 'SIDE WITH TERROR GROUP HAMASWitkoff announced on X that his team is returning from Doha "for consultations after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza."He praised the mediators efforts but said, "Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith." Witkoff added, "We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza," calling it "a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way.""The return of the delegation is not a collapse or a crisis, but the gaps are significant and present across all core issues," a senior Israeli official told Channel 12. Another official confirmed to U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff that Hamas updated prisoner exchange terms are "unacceptable."A joint statement by 25 countries condemning Israels conduct in Gaza may have further complicated already fragile ceasefire negotiations, Israeli officials suggested. In response to the condemnation, Israels Foreign Ministry issued a sharply worded statement, warning, "At these sensitive moments in the ongoing negotiations, it is better to avoid statements of this kind."Israel rejects the joint statement published by a group of countries, as it is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas." The ministry added that "all statements and all claims should be directed at the only party responsible for the lack of a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire: Hamas, which started this war and is prolonging it."Hostage families expressed deep concern about the breakdown in negotiations. "The families are watching with concern as reports emerge about the negotiating teams return," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement. "Every day that passes endangers the hostages chances of recovery and the ability to locate the dead. Another missed opportunity to bring everyone home would be unforgivable a moral, security, and diplomatic failure."The negotiations, which have dragged on for weeks, are part of a proposed U.S.-backed deal involving a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of some 50 remaining Israeli hostages, a phased release of Palestinian prisoners and expanded humanitarian aid to Gaza.Hamas is also demanding that Israeli troops withdraw to positions held before March 2, when the last ceasefire collapsed, and that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopen in both directions. The group further opposes the newly established U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund, demanding that aid distribution return to the previous U.N.-supervised mechanism.A Hamas official told Reuters the group is insisting on a return to a Jan. 19 protocol for aid entry, and that ceasefire negotiations must include a clause preventing Israel from resuming military operations after the 60-day truce even if a broader deal is not reached.At the center of the deadlock is the growing humanitarian crisis. The U.N. and international aid groups warn that hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza face severe food insecurity. It is claimed that civilians in the north have been forced to survive on animal feed and foraged plants, while chaotic aid distributions in the south have repeatedly turned deadly.ISRAEL ACCEPTS TRUMP-LED CEASEFIRE PLAN THAT COULD END GAZA WAR WITHIN 60 DAYSIn response to mounting pressure, Israel is visibly increasing the pace of aid deliveries. On Thursday, COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories) reported that 70 aid trucks were transferred into Gaza on Wednesday through the Zikim and Kerem Shalom crossings. The shipments, primarily food, were delivered under IDF coordination with the U.N. and humanitarian organizations.COGAT said more than 150 trucks were collected inside Gaza, but warned that over 800 trucks remain uncollected at the crossings due to logistical breakdowns on the Palestinian side.The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) stated on X that it offered on Wednesday to deliver the U.N.s tons of aid sitting in Gaza for free. John Acree, GHFs interim director, said, "Weve seen aid by the U.N. and other organization(s) being piled near the borders but not being delivered."Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal reported Thursday that senior defense officials say theyve been instructed by the political echelon to "greatly speed up the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza" and to "be less concerned with precautions or plans to keep it out of Hamas hands."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPAs talks stall and military activity resumes, Israeli officials warn that the window for a deal may be closing. "There are still significant gaps," one source told Channel 12. "The negotiations are not over but time is running out."