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Pope Francis suffered "two episodes of acute respiratory failure" Monday, the Vatican announced.

"Today, the Holy Father presented two episodes of acute respiratory failure, caused by significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and consequent bronchospasm," according to the Vatican. "Two bronchoscopies were therefore performed requiring aspiration of abundant secretions."

"In the afternoon, non-invasive mechanical ventilation was resumed," it added in a statement. "The Holy Father has always remained vigilant, oriented and collaborative. The prognosis remains guarded."

Broncospasm is defined by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology as "a contraction of the muscular coat of the bronchial tubes" that "results in a narrowing and obstruction of the breathing airways."

POPE FRANCIS BELIEVES ‘PAPACY IS FOR LIFE,’ HISTORIAN-BIOGRAPHER SAYS

The development comes after the Vatican said earlier Monday that Francis "rested well all night."

Francis, 88, was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14 after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. 

Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and subsequently the onset of pneumonia in both lungs.

VP VANCE SHARES SPECIAL MESSAGE TO AILING POPE FRANCIS

Doctors said the pope spent all day Sunday without using the noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask that pumps oxygen into his lungs that he used after a breathing crisis on Friday. 

"I would like to thank you for your prayers, which rise up to the Lord from the hearts of so many faithful from many parts of the world," Pope Francis wrote on his X account on Sunday. 

"I feel all your affection and closeness and, at this particular time, I feel as if I am ‘carried’ and supported by all God’s people," he added.

Fox News' Melissa Chrise and Landon Mion contributed to this report.

A suspect rammed a car into a crowd of people in Mannheim, Germany on Monday, killing one person and injuring multiple others, reports say.

Police said the suspect is in custody. Local media reported that a car drove at a high rate of speed into the crowd in Mannheim’s Paradeplatz square, according to Reuters. 

Locals are now being urged to avoid the downtown area in Mannheim due to police activity.  

"We can confirm that one perpetrator was arrested," police spokesperson Stefan Wilhelm told the Associated Press. "We can’t yet give information on whether there were further perpetrators." 

SUSPECT IN MUNICH CAR ATTACK HAD ‘ISLAMIST MOTIVATION,' PROSECUTOR SAYS

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser canceled her participation in the carnival street parade in Cologne due to the events in Mannheim.

"The focus is now on saving lives, treating the injured and the initial investigations by the authorities in Mannheim," an interior ministry spokesperson told the dpa news agency.

The incident happened weeks after a car ramming attack in Munich left a 2-year-old girl and her mother dead.

GERMANY'S NEW CONSERVATIVE LEADER LOOKS TO ‘ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE’ FROM US

That attack happened a day before Vice President JD Vance and others gathered in Munich for the Munich Security Conference.

German prosecutors later said the suspect in the Munich incident, a 24-year-old Afghan, appeared to have been motivated by Islamic extremism.

Last year, six people also were killed and more than 200 injured when a car slammed into a Christmas market in eastern Germany city of Magdeburg. 

The suspect, who was arrested, was a 50-year-old doctor originally from Saudi Arabia who had expressed anti-Muslim views and support for the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative For Germany party, the AP reported.

Fox News’ Thomas Ferraro and the Associated Press contributed to this report. 

JERUSALEM, Israel - Democratic lawmakers' reactions to last week's public row between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy set off a firestorm of criticism, yet comparisons of how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was treated by Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama have critics calling foul.

Former Presidents Obama and Biden publicly humiliated Netanyahu, according to media reports, and the Israeli leader, in sharp contrast to Zelenskyy, did not garner the same solidarity from many European leaders and legacy media outlets.

Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs President Dan Diker told Fox News Digital, "The real question is why the international media, European powers and social networks were noticeably unsympathetic to Israel and its PM Netanyahu during the Obama and Biden administrations, dressing down and even humiliation of Netanyahu during and in between White House visits, in contrast to the immediate and widespread international sympathy for Zelenskyy following his 100 mph head on collision with and excoriation by President Trump and VP Vance?"

Dicker continued, saying, "Broadcast around the world, we remember Obama’s dumping of the Netanyahu-led delegation to the White House in 2010 and the Biden administration's overall maximum political pressure campaigns to force Israel to yield to American demands."

TRUMP SAYS ZELENSKYY CAN ‘COME BACK WHEN HE IS READY FOR PEACE’ AFTER FIERY WHITE HOUSE EXCHANGE

There are striking parallels between the two countries — Ukraine and Israel — which are at war against anti-democratic regimes. Israel has been waging a multi-front existential war against Iranian regime proxies (Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis and other forces) since October 2023. Russia invaded Ukraine a little more than three years ago and absorbed a chunk of the country’s territory. Ukraine is fighting for its life.

However, one key difference is the outrage over the White House spat with Zelenskyy was not mirrored in the same way in the court of public opinion after Biden and Obama launched verbal attacks, including profanity-laced tirades, against Netanyahu. 

After the 2024 State of the Union speech, Biden was caught on a hot mic on the House floor, where Biden said he and Netanyahu would have a "come to Jesus" moment soon. 

Biden warned Israel that invading Rafah would be crossing a "red line." Israel defied Biden and secured the freedom of some hostages held by the Hamas terrorist organization in Rafah.

After Israel entered Rafah, Biden reportedly said of Netanyahu, "He’s a f---ing liar."

Biden called Netanyahu "a pain in my a--" and  said "he’s been killing me lately."

According to Politico columnist Jonathan Martin, Biden termed Netanyahu a "bad f---ing guy." 

BIDEN’S HISTORY OF BERATING, SCOLDING AND INSULTING REPORTERS, FROM ‘STUPID SON OF A B----’ TO ‘GET EDUCATED’

Biden’s seemingly relentless attacks on Netanyahu continued with Israel’s self-defensive measures against the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah and its chief strategic partner, the Islamic Republic of Iran. The U.S. government has designated Hezbollah a terrorist entity and classified Iran as the world’s worst state-sponsor of terrorism.

Reuters reported that "War," a book by the journalist Bob Woodward, noted that Biden regularly accused Netanyahu of having no strategy and shouted "Bibi, what the f----?" at him in July after Israeli strikes near Beirut and in Iran.

The Obama administration laid the foundation to delegitimize Netanyahu and create "daylight" between Israel and the United States, argued experts on U.S.-Israel relations.

Obama refused to pose with Netanyahu for photographers during the Israeli leader’s White House visit in 2010 and held a private dinner without the prime minister, which was said to have been a breach of custom.

KAMALA HARRIS TO SKIP NETANYAHU'S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS, WHILE TOP DEM SENATOR BOYCOTTS ALTOGETHER

When asked about his alleged conflict-ridden relationship with Netanyahu, Obama said in 2010, "I think that he is dealing with a very complex situation in a very tough neighborhood.  And what I have consistently shared with him is my interest in working with him -- not at cross-purposes -- so that we can achieve the kind of peace that will ensure Israel’s security for decades to come. 

"And that's going to mean some tough choices.  And there are going to be times where he and I are having robust discussions about what kind of choices need to be made."

The Obama administration frequently used anonymous government officials to channel Obama’s views, according to critics. In 2014, the Atlantic magazine’s Jeffery Goldberg reported that an unnamed Obama administration official termed Netanyahu "chickens---" regarding efforts to secure a peace deal with the Palestinians. 

The strained relations between Obama and Netanyahu reached a head at the end of Obama’s term in December 2016. Obama’s alleged abandonment of Israel at the United Nations by allowing the United Nations Security Council to censure Israel prompted Netanyahu to term the move a "shameful ambush."

The 2016 U.N. Security Council resolution condemned Israel for building Jewish communities in the West Bank, the historic biblical region known in Israel as Judea and Samaria. 

Netanyahu’s speeches to the U.S. Congress in 2015 (to argue against Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran) and in 2024 (to defend Israel’s war against the Iran-backed Hamas) ruffled the feathers of the Obama and Biden administrations.

Eugene Kontorovich, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital, "Democrats seethed for years that Netanyahu dared have a different policy than Obama. By this standard, Zelenskyy’s open, argumentative bickering with President Trump and VP Vance at a press event should hang over the former comedian. However, President Trump has already expressed a willingness to reengage."

Fox News' Kristine Parks and Reuters contributed to this report.

TEL AVIV, Israel - Last week, an influential group of American Christians publicly reaffirmed the Jewish people’s right to Judea and Samaria as the biblical heartland of Israel. The Judea and Samaria area is more commonly known as the West Bank.

The declaration was unveiled at the annual National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Dallas by American Christian Leaders for Israel and was expected to be signed by 3,000 religious leaders before being delivered to President Donald Trump. 

The push to apply Israeli sovereignty to the area comes after Trump said last month that his administration would make an announcement on the matter in the coming weeks when asked about annexation.

The Oslo Accords, forged under the Clinton administration, divided the West Bank into three regions: Area A, under full Palestinian jurisdiction; Area B, under Palestinian civil administration and Israeli security control; and Area C, under full Israeli authority.

TIMELINE OF DECADES-LONG ISRAELI-ARAB, PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

A 2020 Trump plan, dubbed Peace to Prosperity, envisioned Israel annexing parts of Judea and Samaria, but was shelved in favor of the Abraham Accords, which normalized Jerusalem’s ties with four Arab countries.

"The evangelicals gave Trump the presidency. He will support our position on the Bible and that’s why he chose Mike Huckabee [as ambassador to Jerusalem], who supports Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria," Dr. Mike Evans, founder of Friends of Zion, which boasts just under 30 million members, told Fox News Digital.

The declaration reaffirms "the Jewish people’s inalienable right to the Biblical Heartland of Israel and reject all efforts—both from the United States and the international community—to pressure the Jewish people to relinquish their ancestral homeland in Judea and Samaria."

Evans said evangelicals support Israel "because they believe in moral clarity, good versus evil, they are friends of Zion. They see Jews being killed because they’re Jews, not because of land."

Pastor John Hagee, the influential founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, told Fox News Digital that Evangelicals "know the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will always keep His word to the Children of Israel. From beginning to end, the Bible is a Zionist document mandating that all believers stand with, and bless, Israel and her people.

"For almost half a century, I have been preaching the message that Israel does not occupy the land, Israel owns the land, the title deed of which is recorded in the pages of the Bible. The land was endowed by God to the Jewish people for all time," added Hagee.

Earlier this week, Fox News Digital reported that some Republican lawmakers led by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) urged the president to recognize Judea and Samaria as Israeli territory. Their letter to the president expressed support for Jerusalem applying sovereignty over the area, which the lawmakers said was "the heart of our shared Judeo-Christian heritage."

Israel’s Parliament Speaker Amir Ohana on Feb. 23 urged the government in Jerusalem to extend sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, saying full control over the region was the "one and only way" to achieve lasting peace.

Another Likud lawmaker, Dan Illouz, told Fox News Digital that Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 massacre "proved that any withdrawal, any concession, any illusion of coexistence with those who seek our destruction is not just naive—it is suicidal … we withdrew from Gaza, and in return we got Hamas and the massacre of our people. Judea and Samaria cannot become another terror state."

TRAPPED IN GAZA: RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT AS EGYPT BLOCKS EXIT, REJECTS TRUMP’S RELOCATION PLAN

"A push for sovereignty in Judea and Samaria would be the end of Israel," Yossi Beilin, a former Israeli lawmaker and an architect of the 1993 Oslo Accords with the Palestinians, told Fox News Digital. "If Israel were to become a minority of Jews dominating a majority of Palestinians, it would be neither Jewish nor democratic. I don’t believe it could ever happen, but just waving this [idea] is bad enough," he said.

"The right in Israel believes that Trump would support whatever they demand. But five years ago, he suggested there could be a two-state solution. As such, it is not as clear-cut as it seems," he added.

Late last month, Netanyahu ordered the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to conduct a "massive" counter-terrorism operation in Judea and Samaria after three buses exploded near Tel Aviv, and bombs were found on two others in what is being investigated as a coordinated attack.

"This brutality and forceful displacement of civilians in the West Bank… was never about self-defense, but rather a colonial expansion scheme and an ethnic cleansing campaign," Ahmad Fattouh, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s dominant Fatah faction, told Fox News Digital.

"Annexing the West Bank will set us back to 1948 and destroy any future stability or prospects for peace. Every rational voice understands too well that there is no way forward except the two-state solution; otherwise, it will lead to endless havoc," he added.

Israel Ganz, head of the Yesha Council, the umbrella group representing Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, is working in conjunction with the government in Jerusalem to push for sovereignty.

TRUMP ENVOY WITKOFF SEEKING 'EXTENSION' OF PHASE 1 OF ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASEFIRE DEAL, TO HEAD BACK TO MIDDLE EAST

"We started a campaign to push for it, but we won’t do it without the support of the U.S.," he told Fox News Digital. "Many in the Trump administration are very connected, they know the area, and they believe in our right to this place. They understand that if they want to stabilize the situation, we must have sovereignty in Judea and Samaria."

"For Israel to be able to continue to survive and thrive along the coastal plain, which produces about 80% of the country’s GDP, then it must keep control of the high grounds in Judea and Samaria," Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus (ret.), a former IDF international spokesperson and now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.

"If any other entity, Palestinian or otherwise, holds that, it would be used as a way to threaten Israel’s security; its core infrastructure, including Ben-Gurion Airport, and also its population– concentrated in a narrow strip between Haifa [in the north] and Ashdod [in the south]--approximately 15 kilometers wide," he said.

Another element, Conricus explained, is that some 500,000 Israelis currently live in Judea and Samaria, and they need to be protected.

"The trends of escalation in Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem are highest now since Oct. 7. We see significant terrorist activity in almost all Palestinian cities and continued weakness of the P.A. in exercising control," he said.

Ze'ev Orenstein, director of international affairs at the Jerusalem-based City of David Foundation, told Fox News Digital that the Jewish people’s millenia-long connection to the Land of Israel bestows upon them an inherent right to Judea and Samaria.

"The reality is that there is likely no other people on the planet today with a deeper–and longer–connection to any piece of land than the Jewish people with the Land of Israel, in general, and Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem, in particular; where the inhabitants continue to worship the very same G-d, speak the same language, practice the same faith, celebrate the same festivals, and walk upon the very same stones, as their ancestors did so many thousands of years ago," Orenstein added.

A stabbing attack left one person dead and four others wounded in Haifa, Israel, on Monday. 

Police said they were treating the stabbing, which took place in a central transit hub, as a militant attack. A security guard and a civilian killed the attacker, who police said was an Arab citizen of Israel who had recently returned to Israel after some time abroad.

"My wife Sara and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim of the horrific terrorist attack in Haifa, and we send our wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. 

"We will continue to fight those who seek to harm us – wherever they are – and we will defeat them," he added.

DELEGATION OF HOSTAGES RELEASED BY HAMAS TRAVELING TO WASHINGTON TO MEET WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS

The victim who died in the attack – who was stabbed in the back multiple times, according to the Times of Israel – was 70-years-old.

A 15-year-old boy was also wounded, but he is now in stable condition after undergoing surgery at a local hospital, the Times of Israel reported, citing a doctor.

Haifa is a city in northern Israel, located near the country's border with Lebanon.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. 

Fox News’ Yael Rotem-Kuriel and the Associated Press contributed to this report. 

A group of seven people who were freed from Hamas' captivity are traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet with U.S. officials.

Eli Sharabi, Doron Steinbrecher, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Omer Shem Tov and Iair Horn will meet with officials from the Trump administration, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters.

The released hostages will express their gratitude to the Trump administration for the president’s commitment to bringing all the hostages home.

The group will provide firsthand testimony about their experiences in Hamas’ tunnels.

WHITE HOUSE BACKS ISRAEL'S DECISION TO HALT GAZA AID SHIPMENTS UNTIL HAMAS ACCEPTS CEASEFIRE EXTENSION

The delegation will stress to government officials about the need to require Hamas to return all remaining hostages immediately in a single phase.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Sunday with Sharabi.

"I deeply appreciate the courageous way you are sharing your experience, and it is also important that you share it with President Trump," Netanyahu told him. "Our goal is to bring all the hostages home – and we will not relent for a moment."

Sharabi replied that he was glad to be home and reunited with his family, but emphasized that "the remaining hostages, especially those who are still alive, must return home to their families urgently."

"And of course, the fallen hostages, including my brother Yossi, must be brought back for burial in Israel so that their families have a grave to mourn at," Sharabi said.

ISRAEL AGREES TO TRUMP ENVOY'S TEMPORARY GAZA CEASEFIRE EXTENSION PROPOSAL AS FIRST PHASE EXPIRES: REPORTS

On Sunday, Israeli officials announced that they are stopping the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip and warned Hamas it would face "additional consequences" if it does not accept a new proposal for an extended ceasefire. An Israeli official said the decision to suspend aid was made in coordination with the Trump administration.

The White House backed the move by Israel, saying that the Jewish State has "negotiated in good faith since the beginning of this administration to ensure the release of hostages held captive by Hamas terrorists."

The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which included an uptick in humanitarian assistance, expired on Saturday. The two sides have not yet negotiated the second phase, in which Hamas was called to release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an Israeli pullout and a permanent ceasefire.

Israeli officials also said on Sunday that they support a proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover, or April 20. They said the proposal came from the Trump administration's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

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Under that deal, Hamas would release half the hostages on the first day and the remainder when an agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire, according to Netanyahu's office.

In the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israeli also pulled back forces from most of Gaza and allowed a surge of humanitarian aid to enter the region.

The war began when Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing roughly 1,200 people and abducting more than 251. Hamas still has 59 hostages, 32 of whom are believed to be dead.

Israel's offensive into Gaza in response to Hamas' attack has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run government's Gaza Health Ministry. It does not specify how many of the dead were terrorists or civilians.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pope Francis rested well after overcoming a setback in his recovery caused by a respiratory crisis, as he remains in the hospital recovering from double pneumonia.

"The pope rested well all night," the Vatican said Monday morning.

Francis, 88, is in stable condition, is off mechanical ventilation and he shows no indication of new infection following a respiratory crisis that happened late last week.

The pontiff was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14 after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and subsequently the onset of pneumonia in both lungs.

POPE FRANCIS OFF MECHANICAL VENTILATOR, HAS NO FEVER OR SIGNS OF INFECTION: VATICAN

Doctors said the pope spent all day Sunday without using the noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask that pumps oxygen into his lungs that he used after a breathing crisis on Friday. Francis continued to receive high flow supplemental oxygen through a nasal tube.

The respiratory crisis on Friday led to concerns about a new lung infection since Francis inhaled some vomit. Doctors aspirated it and said they needed 24 to 48 hours to determine if there was any new infection.

On Sunday, the doctors said Francis remained stable, did not have a fever and showed no signs of an infection, which suggests he had overcome the respiratory crisis.

VATICAN GIVES HEALTH UPDATE AS POPE ENTERS THIRD WEEK IN HOSPITAL

But the pope's prognosis remained guarded, meaning he was not out of danger.

Francis again missed his weekly noon blessing. The Vatican instead distributed a message the pope wrote, thanking his doctors for their care and well-wishers for their prayers.

In his message, he also prayed for peace in Ukraine and elsewhere.

"From here, war appears even more absurd," Francis said.

Francis said he was living his hospitalization as an experience of profound solidarity with people who are sick and suffering around the world.

"I feel in my heart the 'blessing' that is hidden within frailty, because it is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord," Francis said in the text. "At the same time, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share in body and spirit the condition of so many sick and suffering people."

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski presided over the evening Rosary prayer in St. Peter's Square on Sunday night at the Vatican.

"Let us pray together with the entire church for the health of the Holy Father Francis," Krajewski said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Vatican confirmed early Sunday that Pope Francis is "still resting following a peaceful night" as he continues his recovery from double pneumonia. 

The Vatican said Saturday that Francis’ medical condition "remained stable with respiratory physiotherapy alternating between non-invasive mechanical ventilation and long periods of supplemental high-flow oxygenation with a good response to gas exchange." 

He had no fever or signs of elevated white blood cells, which would signal his body was still fighting an infection.

Doctors on Saturday reported that Francis was in stable condition, with no mention of him being critical, and signaled once again continued improvement. Their upbeat assessment came a day after a respiratory crisis that resulted in him being put on noninvasive mechanical ventilation.

JD VANCE SHARES SPECIAL MESSAGE TO AILING POPE FRANCIS AMID BREATHING CRISIS

Doctors were cautious however, and kept his prognosis as guarded – meaning he wasn't out of danger. He was eating and drinking and continued his respiratory physiotherapy, and spent 20 minutes in his private chapel down the hall on Saturday, the Vatican said.

The 88-year-old pope had a "good response" in his gas exchange levels even during the "long periods" he was off the ventilator mask and only using high-flow supplemental oxygen, the Vatican said.

For the third weekend in a row, Francis canceled the appointment delivering the Angelus prayer at noon Sunday. The Vatican instead planned to distribute the prepared text as Francis continued his recovery.

POPE FRANCIS' SLIGHT KIDNEY INSUFFICIENCY HAS RECEDED AS HE BATTLES PNEUMONIA, VATICAN SAYS

The pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has lung disease and was admitted to Gemelli on Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened and turned into a complex pneumonia in both lungs.

Francis' hospitalization has come as the Vatican is marking its Holy Year, drawing pilgrims to Rome from all over. They are walking through the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica and also making pilgrimages to the hilltop Umbrian town of Assisi, to pray at the home of Francis' namesake, St. Francis.

Francis was supposed to have presided Saturday over a Holy Year audience in the Vatican's auditorium for the staff of the Gemelli hospital and other healthcare workers. They came as planned and completed the pilgrimage, while Francis continued his recovery at the hospital.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

The White House is supporting the Israeli government's decision to block aid to Gaza until Hamas leaders agree to a ceasefire extension, according to a newly-released statement.

In a statement obtained by Fox News on Sunday, National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said that Israel has "negotiated in good faith since the beginning of this administration to ensure the release of hostages held captive by Hamas terrorists."

"We will support their decision on next steps given Hamas has indicated it’s no longer interested in a negotiated ceasefire," Hughes added.

Earlier on Sunday, Israeli officials announced that they are stopping the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip and warned Hamas it would face "additional consequences" if it does not accept a new proposal for an extended ceasefire.

ISRAEL AGREES TO TRUMP ENVOY'S TEMPORARY GAZA CEASEFIRE EXTENSION PROPOSAL AS FIRST PHASE EXPIRES: REPORTS

"With the conclusion of the 1st stage of the hostages deal and in light of Hamas' refusal to accept the [U.S. Mideast envoy Steve] Witkoff framework for the continuation of the talks, to which Israel agreed, PM Netanyahu decided: as of this morning, entry of all goods & supplies to the Gaza Strip be halted," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on X.

"Israel will not allow a ceasefire without a release of our hostages. If Hamas persists in its refusal, there will be additional consequences," the post added.

Hamas accused Israel of attempting to derail the fragile truce, saying its decision to cut off aid was "cheap extortion, a war crime and a blatant attack on the (ceasefire) agreement."

"The occupation’s announcement of halting the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip is yet another confirmation of its failure to uphold its commitments and its evasion of obligations under the ceasefire agreement," Hamas said in a statement. "This reflects its ugly criminal face and constitutes a continuation of the genocide against our people, as well as an act of blackmail targeting an entire population by depriving them of food, water, and medicine."

The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which included an uptick in humanitarian assistance, expired on Saturday. The two sides have not yet negotiated the second phase, in which Hamas was called to release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an Israeli pullout and a permanent ceasefire.

An Israeli official said the decision to suspend aid was made in coordination with the Trump administration.

Israeli officials said earlier on Sunday that they support a proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover, or April 20. They said the proposal came from the Trump administration's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Under that deal, Hamas would release half the hostages on the first day and the remainder when an agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire, according to Netanyahu's office.

In the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israeli also pulled back forces from most of Gaza and allowed a surge of humanitarian aid to enter the region.

But the first phase also featured various disputes, as each side accused the other of violating the ceasefire.

Hamas now says Israel committed another violation by suspending aid. The terror group said deliveries were supposed to continue as the two sides negotiated the second phase of the ceasefire.

HAMAS RELEASES MORE HOSTAGES IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE THAN 600  PALESTINIAN PRISONERS AS PART OF CEASEFIRE DEAL

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The war began when Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing roughly 1,200 people and abducting more than 251. Hamas still has 59 hostages, 32 of whom are believed to be dead.

Israel's offensive into Gaza in response to Hamas' attack has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run government's Gaza Health Ministry. It does not specify how many of the dead were terrorists or civilians.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Israeli officials announced Sunday that they are stopping the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip and warned Hamas it would face "additional consequences" if it does not accept a new proposal for an extended ceasefire.

"With the conclusion of the 1st stage of the hostages deal and in light of Hamas's refusal to accept the [U.S. Mideast envoy Steve] Witkoff framework for the continuation of the talks, to which Israel agreed, PM Netanyahu decided: as of this morning, entry of all goods & supplies to the Gaza Strip be halted," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on X.

"Israel will not allow a ceasefire without a release of our hostages. If Hamas persists in its refusal, there will be additional consequences," the post added.

Hamas accused Israel of trying to derail the fragile truce and said its decision to cut off aid was "cheap extortion, a war crime and a blatant attack on the (ceasefire) agreement."

The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which included an uptick in humanitarian assistance, expired on Saturday. The two sides have not yet negotiated the second phase, in which Hamas was called to release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an Israeli pullout and a lasting ceasefire.

Israeli officials said earlier on Sunday that they support a proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover, or April 20. It said the proposal came from the Trump administration's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Under that deal, Hamas would release half the hostages on the first day and the remainder when an agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire, according to Netanyahu's office.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Israel has agreed to a temporary ceasefire extension proposal from President Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, for the period around the Muslim Ramadan and Jewish Passover, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Saturday night. 

The news came as the first temporary ceasefire agreement expired at midnight local time. 

Netanyahu’s office said the temporary ceasefire extension was agreed to after they realized more time was needed to figure out a permanent ceasefire solution. 

Under the extension proposal, half of the hostages and the remains of dead hostages still in Gaza will be released, with the remaining released once a permanent ceasefire is established. 

HAMAS RELEASES MORE HOSTAGES IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE THAN 600  PALESTINIAN PRISONERS AS PART OF CEASEFIRE DEAL

"According to the agreement, Israel can return to fighting after the 42nd day if it feels that the negotiations are ineffective," Netanyahu's office noted of the first temporary ceasefire's phase one. 

Hamas has "so far remained firm in its refusal of this framework" necessary for a permanent ceasefire, Israel said, according to the Jerusalem Post. Hamas has made similar accusations against Israel. 

7 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE ISRAELI MILITARY'S REPORT ON WHAT HAPPENED ON OCT. 7

"Israel will immediately enter negotiations on all details of Witkoff’s framework," if Hamas agrees, the Israeli government said.

If a new ceasefire deal is not agreed to, fighting is set to resume on Sunday. 

Witkoff’s proposal said: "There is no possibility of bridging the gaps between the parties’ positions to end the war and that additional time is needed for negotiations on a permanent ceasefire," the Post reported. 

A total of 38 hostages were released during the 42-day ceasefire phase one that began in mid-January in return for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. 

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Reuters reported that Hamas posted a video Saturday that said hostages that remain in Gaza will only be released through another swap for Palestinian prisoners, which was part of the original phased ceasefire agreement framework. 

Ongoing permanent ceasefire talks primarily held in Cairo have stalled. 

Reuters contributed to this report. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was warmly greeted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer outside 10 Downing St. in London on Saturday, a day after Zelenskyy's tense exchange with President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. 

Zelemskyy and Starmer, who met with Trump in Washington on Thursday, embraced, shook hands, waved and gave a thumbs up to reporters before heading inside the prime minister’s residence for their meeting. 

The scheduled London visit comes after Zelenskyy’s blowup with Trump and Vice President JD Vance during Friday's televised meeting in the Oval Office. 

Zelenskyy was peppered with questions from shouting reporters about Trump outside the prime minister’s residence, but remained tight-lipped. 

ZELENSKYY SPEAKS OUT AFTER PUBLIC SPAT WITH TRUMP, VANCE, SAYS DUSTUP ‘BAD FOR BOTH SIDES’

Starmer told Zelenskyy when he greeted him: "Well, let me just say that you're very, very welcome here in Downing Street. And as you heard from the cheers on the street outside, you have full backing across the United Kingdom, and we stand with you with Ukraine for as long as it may take."

He added, "And I hope you've heard some of that cheering in the street. That is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you, how much they support Ukraine, and our absolute determination to stand with unwavering determination and to achieve what we both want to achieve, which is a lasting peace, a lasting peace for Ukraine based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine, so important for Ukraine, so important for Europe, and so for the United Kingdom. So I'm much looking forward to discussions here this afternoon. Thank you very much for taking the time to chat." 

Zelenskyy answered: "With pleasure. Thank you very much."

He added that the British people have given Ukraine "big support from the very beginning of this war." 

Zelenskyy said that he is also "very happy" to be meeting with King Charles III at his residence in Sandringham on Sunday. 

TRUMP SAYS ZELENSKYY CAN ‘COME BACK WHEN HE IS READY FOR PEACE’ AFTER FIERY WHITE HOUSE EXCHANGE

Tensions increased during the Oval Office meeting on Friday over a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine after Zelenskyy said Russian President Vladimir Putin couldn't be trusted and had breached other agreements.

Trump and Vance then accused Zelenskyy of not being grateful for the support the U.S. has provided over the years and said the Ukrainian leader was in a "bad position" at the negotiating table. 

"You're playing cards," Trump said. "You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War III. You're gambling with World War III. And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country."

After Vance told Zelenskyy Ukraine had manpower and military recruiting problems, Zelenskyy said war means "everybody has problems, even you," adding the U.S. would feel the war "in the future."

"Don't tell us what we're going to feel," Trump responded. "We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're going to feel."

Zelenskyy was asked to leave the White House after the exchange, a scheduled news conference was canceled and a deal for Ukraine to give the U.S. its rare earth minerals was left unsigned. 

Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for America’s help after the meeting.

"Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit," he wrote on X. "Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that." 

The Ukrainian president told Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier in an interview after the meeting on "Special Report" that he believes Ukrainian-U.S. ties can be salvaged.

"Yes, of course, because it's relations more than two presidents," he said in the exclusive interview. "It's the historical relations, strong relations between our people. And that's why I always began … to thank your people from our people.

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"Of course, thankful to the president and, of course, to Congress," Zelenskyy added, "But, first of all, to your people … we wanted very much to have all this strong relations and where it counted. We will have it."

Zelenskyy said he was "not sure we did something bad" when asked about the heated exchange but conceded the dustup was "bad for both sides."

Fox News' Madeline Coggins contributed to this report. 

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan: As China continues and intensifies its campaign of aggression against the island, Taiwan’s military is struggling to reach recruitment goals for professional personnel, and the challenges to reversing this situation are formidable. 

Between 2022 and 2024, some 12,000 service people left Taiwan’s military. Officials in both the government and the military are voicing concern, and once again, there is talk of enlisting foreign migrants into the armed forces, an idea that has been under extremely informal "discussions" for over two decades. 

The simplest reason for the drop-off is math. This self-ruled democracy has the second-lowest birthrate in Asia, following South Korea. Military pay could be better but is generally considered competitive. Low morale is often over-hyped but is a factor, as is strong competition from the private sector. 

TAIWAN DISPATCHES NAVY, AIR FORCE AFTER CHINA LAUNCHES LIVE-FIRE DRILLS WITH NO WARNING

"They’ve been talking about ‘migrant troops’ for close to a quarter of a century! But not even a single official panel or committee has come close to examining the idea," Dr. Chang Ching, a senior research fellow with the R.O.C. Society for Strategic Studies who served in the Navy for several decades, told Fox News Digital. 

"I’ll unreservedly confess the truth as I see it: most Taiwanese aren’t willing to make the sacrifices required for victory in war. Migrant workers serving as essentially mercenaries would only highlight how few of our citizens are willing to fight – even to simply maintain the status quo of de facto independence," Chang said.  

Taiwan needs a strong military to deter its hostile neighbor located roughly 100 miles to the west. In recent years, China has stepped up both bombastic threats and incursions into Taiwan’s air and sea defense zones as it attempts to squeeze Taiwan into submission. 

American Christopher Clifford is better known in Taiwan as YouTuber "Uncle Topher." His resume is a big reason why around 112,000 Taiwanese frequently watch his videos on geopolitics. Over 20 years ago, "Uncle Topher" was Captain Christopher Clifford, U.S. 101 Airborne Division. Serving during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq gave him an up-close look at the difficulties of invasion, and the even harder challenges of occupation. 

Speaking to Fox News Digital in Kaohsiung City, Clifford said that much of his content is aimed at challenging "China invasion sensationalism." He often points out to viewers that, as a result of China’s now-reversed "One-Child Policy," Chinese men of fighting age are commonly highly valued "only sons," men who have a traditional duty to carry on family linages. More importantly, says Clifford, is the economic toll a war would have on not just the region, but the planet – a conflict Clifford believes China may literally not be able to afford.    

TRUMP CABINET PICKS DELIGHT TAIWAN, SEND STRONG SIGNAL TO CHINA

He said that falling troop numbers are a problem but pointed out that most modern militaries – including China’s – are facing enlistment and retention difficulties. "Taiwan’s military is making some much-needed changes – allowing tattoos and modifying insane height restrictions," he said. "You couldn’t join before if you were over 6"6’." 

However, Clifford sees a future where wars are waged with drones and keyboards. "Cyberattacks and misinformation are, I’d argue, bigger threats than a PRC version of Normandy. People compare Taiwan to Ukraine. But Taiwan is in almost no way comparable to Ukraine or any other conflict area on Earth." 

Much debate is about whether the United States would intervene should China attempt an invasion or blockade. "Of course, I understand the logic behind the U.S. policy of strategic ambiguity, but I fear far too many Taiwanese people – especially younger people – are counting on a rescue from Uncle Sam," Chang explained.

He is not optimistic about refilling the ranks, explaining that pension cuts of between 15-20% for retired Taiwan military personnel in 2018 "alienated a critical pillar of the ROC Armed Forces – families in Taiwan that had a ‘tradition of service.’" Speaking during an interview near the navy’s headquarters in Kaohsiung, Chang said, "Taiwanese born in the 1990s, for example, don’t give much thought to what province of China an ancestor came from, but they will listen when grandpa says, ‘Don’t sign up! They’ll break their promise to care for you, just like they did to me.’"

Taiwan’s government in 2018 said without the cuts, the entire pension program would go bankrupt, and many Taiwanese agreed with the decision to slash what they saw as disproportionately high military pensions. Those who opposed the cuts, however, saw it as a betrayal. 

TAIWAN FM HAILS IMPORTANCE OF US RELATIONSHIP, SAYS GROUP VISITS 'CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE AND STABILITY'

From the 1950s through the early 2000s, men in Taiwan served at least two years as conscripts. However, as Taiwan graduated into a full democracy, both of Taiwan’s main political parties worked to reduce (and eventually eliminate) mandatory military service. By 2013, conscription was a condensed four-month "boot camp."

In 2022, then-President Tsai Ing-wen announced a return to the one-year service requirement in place before 2013. While some were unhappy, there were no major protests or efforts to reverse the decision that took effect in January 2024. That same month, Taiwanese voters elected then-Vice President William Lai to succeed the term-limited Tsai. Lai is openly despised by Beijing and relations with China have only deteriorated since his election win.

More than 800,000 migrant workers (mostly from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines) reside on the island, according to government stats. Once again, the idea has reemerged that some of them could be the solution to refilling the ranks. 

Clifford believes that, while no easy task, there are ways of making it work, perhaps in exchange for the equivalent of an American Green Card. "They could start with a foreign legion of mechanics, engineers, cooks, etc. In peacetime, they would assist with construction projects and disaster relief. In wartime, they could be responsible for setting up other defenses. No rifle required."  

The U.S. is Taiwan’s strongest ally and its major supplier of arms. President Lai says he hopes to convince parliament to significantly increase defense spending. Taiwan is waiting for already purchased U.S. arms valued at almost $22 billion, according to the Cato Institute. Not having enough trained people able to use these weapons, however, could be a more serious issue than the large backlog. 

Pope Francis' condition remains stable, and he is alternating between mechanical ventilation and high-flow oxygen therapy, the Vatican said on Saturday. The 88-year-old pontiff apparently does not have a fever and has not experienced another bronchospasm.

Vatican sources say the pope's is in a "complex," but "stable" situation as he enters his third week in Rome's Gemelli Hospital. His white blood cell count is apparently "so low" that infections are likely under control, the sources added.

POPE FRANCIS’ MEDICAL CONDITION: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BILATERAL PNEUMONIA

The pope is apparently in a good mood and is able to move, eat and walk. However, according to Vatican sources, his doctors are advising him to stay cautious. He opted to rest on Saturday instead of doing work with his secretaries, Vatican sources say.

Pope Francis was originally hospitalized on Feb. 14 for what was believed to be a bout of bronchitis. He was later diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia, meaning it is in both of his lungs.

The 88-year-old pontiff has a history of respiratory issues, and had part of his lung removed when he was just 21 years old.

VP VANCE SHARES SPECIAL MESSAGE TO AILING POPE FRANCIS AMID BREATHING CRISIS

Catholics across the globe have been praying for the pope's health, with many gathering around the hospital where he is receiving treatment.

On Friday, while speaking at the annual National Prayer Breakfast, Vice President JD Vance spoke about the pope's health struggles and said he had been praying daily since he first heard that Pope Francis was hospitalized.

The vice president acknowledged that the pope and the Trump administration had butted heads, but he emphasized the importance of praying for Pope Francis and led the crowd in prayer.

"I believe that the pope is fundamentally a person who cares about the flock of Christians under his leadership, and he's a man who cares about the spiritual direction of the faith," Vance said. "Every day me and my children have said a prayer for the Holy Father, and we pray for his health, and we pray for his comfort as he deals with what appears to be a pretty serious health crisis."

"If the Holy Father can hear us, I hope he knows that there are thousands of faithful Catholics in this room and millions of faithful Catholics in this country who are praying for him as he weathers his particular storm," the vice president concluded.

Russia is loving the Oval Office spectacle that took place yesterday with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. However, there is one prominent Russian voice that has not been heard yet, that of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who, at the time of this writing, has yet to comment on the situation.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is a staunch defender of Putin, was delighted by what he called the "proper slap down" that Zelenskyy received at the hands of Trump and Vance. In the same post on X, Medvedev wrote that Trump was right about Ukraine "gambling with WWIII."

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said it was a "miracle" Trump and Vance stopped themselves from hitting Zelenskyy during the intense exchange.

UKRAINE AMBASSADOR'S REACTION TO FIERY TRUMP-ZELENSKYY OVAL OFFICE CLASH GOES VIRAL

It’s not just Russian leaders celebrating; members of the government-run media are also reveling in the fracas.

"The Russian media, which is almost exclusively controlled by Putin’s government, is having a field day with what happened today between Zelenskyy and President Trump and JD Vance," Rebekah Koffler, a strategic military intelligence analyst, former senior official at the Defense Intelligence Agency and author of "Putin’s Playbook," told Fox News Digital.

"Rossiyskaya Gazeta," the Russian National Gazette, tore into Zelenskyy, with many headlines gloating about the leader’s spat with Trump and Vance, as well as his leaving the White House early, according to Koffler, who translated the headlines for Fox News Digital.

Additionally, Russian state TV commentator Vladimir Solovyov reportedly announced a special show focusing on "Zelenskyy’s suicide in the White House," according to Reuters.

WORLD LEADERS BACK ZELENSKYY FOLLOWING TRUMP, VANCE OVAL OFFICE SPAT

After the tense Oval Office meeting, leaders from across the globe came out condemning Trump and Vance’s actions and showing their support for Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently met with Trump in DC, expressed support for Ukraine in a post on X.

"There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a victim: Ukraine. We were right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago—and to keep doing so," Macron wrote. "By ‘we,’ I mean the Americans, the Europeans, the Canadians, the Japanese, and many others."

While U.K. Prime Minister Kier Starmer has yet to comment publicly, the leader of the U.K. Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, spoke out in support of Ukraine, writing, "We need to remember that the villain is the war criminal President Putin who illegally invaded another sovereign country - Ukraine."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, an ardent Trump critic, wrote, "Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a just and lasting peace."

Tensions between Washington and Kyiv were clear before any words were exchanged in the Oval Office. On Feb. 19, President Trump called President Zelenskyy "a dictator without elections" in a post on Truth Social. However, when he was asked about his comment during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump appeared to back down saying, "Did I say that?"

The Trump administration’s approach to Kyiv wildly deviates from that of the Biden administration. Biden made his pro-Ukraine stance clear after the February 2022 invasion, despite suggesting in January 2022 that a "minor incursion" would result in lighter consequences. Trump, on the other hand, told the media minutes before the exchange that he would not take either Russia or Ukraine’s side. Rather, he was "not aligned with anybody. I'm aligned with the United States of America and for the good of the world."

In an exclusive interview with Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier, Zelenskyy did not apologize for the heated exchange, but he acknowledged that it was "bad for both sides."

"I just want to be honest, and I just want our partners to understand the situation correctly, and I want to understand everything correctly. That's about us not to lose our friendship," Zelenskyy said on "Special Report."

Questions surrounding the resignation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sparked on Friday after Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, suggested he may need to step down after a spat erupted between him and President Donald Trump during live coverage.

But that wasn’t the first time the Republican Party has  suggested such a move, and it began earlier this month after Trump pushed the idea following a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Trump first said Ukraine should hold elections after falsely claiming he only enjoyed a 4% approval rating, though under Ukraine’s constitution the country cannot hold elections when Martial Law is in effect during a time of war. 

WORLD LEADERS BACK ZELENSKYY FOLLOWING TRUMP, VANCE OVAL OFFICE SPAT

Zelenskyy, whose approval rating is closer to 63% according to a Reuters report, on Friday once again reiterated he would resign if Kyiv was granted NATO membership. 

Ultimately, he emphasized during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, that just like in the U.S. where "Americans vote for American president," just as "each European country vote for their president," the same sovereign right is held in Ukraine – suggesting it is not a negotiating tactic he will allow Trump to use to appeal to Putin. 

But who may be in the running should Zelenskyy ever decide to step down?

The former boxer-turned politician who has served as the mayor of Kyiv since 2014 with strong support among those living in the capital city, has also proven himself on the international stage.

In a trip to Brussels earlier this month, Klitschko stressed the need to stand behind Zelenskyy as he fielded verbal attacks from the Trump administration while also trying to counter Putin’s war. 

The voice of support for the Ukrainian leaders was particularly noticeable given his previous criticism of Zelenskyy.

During his trip last week, Klitschko reportedly emphasized that an election could "destroy the country from within" while it faces existential threats from the north and on its eastern flank.

ZELENSKYY SPEAKS OUT AFTER PUBLIC SPAT WITH TRUMP, VANCE, SAYS DUSTUP 'BAD FOR BOTH SIDES'

Stefanchuk, the chairman of Ukraine's Parliament, has also reportedly been floated as a potential future contender for the top role in Ukraine. 

Though Stefanchuk is said to be a top ally of Zelenskyy, he has ardently rejected the recent international suggestions  that Ukraine hold elections.

In a Facebook post earlier this month he argued that "If there is anyone who needs to be forced into real, free and fair elections, it is [Putin]."

He noted that Ukraine needs "bullets, not ballots," according to a report by Newsweek. 

Head of Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency, Budanov, could be another who may be a contender for the top job in Kyiv given.

Budanov, who has not expressed a desire to seek high office according to a Newsweek report, happens to have an even higher trust rating than Zelenskyy among Ukrainians. 

The military intelligence head earlier this month apparently voiced his confidence that Ukraine may finally be able to reach a peace deal after three years of war.

"I think it is going to happen. There are most of the components for it to happen," Budanov reportedly said during a YouTube interview. "How long it will be, how effective it will be – [is] another question."

The former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Zaluzhny, and presently his country's ambassador to the U.K. is seen as a popular and credible successor to Zelenskyy if the president were to step aside. 

Zaluzhny and Zelenskyy have had their differences, resulting in the general being dismissed from his military post in 2024. Carnegie Politika blog recently reported that his popularity is strong, with 80% of Ukranians saying they trust him. The publication also noted that a hypothetical second-round runoff between the two resulted in a statistical tie.

Zaluzhny has not said if he would challenge Zelenskyy or if he was even interested in running for the president. 

Pope Francis, 88, had a peaceful night and is resting after a breathing crisis, the Vatican said on Saturday.

Francis had an isolated breathing crisis on Friday requiring non-invasive, mechanical ventilation, the Vatican said. He had experienced a bronchospasm that led to an episode of vomiting and inhalation. He then began non-invasive ventilation and was responding well.

The pontiff still remains conscious and alert.

POPE SUFFERS BREATHING CRISIS AMID PNEUMONIA BATTLE, VATICAN SAYS

Francis was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14 after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and subsequently the onset of pneumonia in both lungs.

In the chaotic aftermath of an explosive Oval Office press conference Friday with President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his frustration with the administration began after it issued a series of controversial comments in the five weeks after Trump’s inauguration.

"It's not about [being] mad," Zelenskyy told Fox News’ Chief Political Anchor Bret Baier on "Special Report." 

"[When you hear] president, vice president or somebody or senators — doesn't matter, big politicians — when they, for example, say that Ukraine is almost destroyed, that our soldiers run away, that they are not a heroes, that Ukraine lost millions of civilians, that his president is dictator.

ZELENSKYY SPEAKS OUT AFTER PUBLIC SPAT WITH TRUMP, VANCE, SAYS DUSTUP 'BAD FOR BOTH SIDES'

"The reaction is that, where is our friendship between Ukraine and United States?"

Zelenskyy said it was important that Ukraine, the U.S. and Europe maintain their great partnership in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression. 

But when asked if he feels he should apologize for the heated discussions that erupted in the Oval Office, which began after Vance accused Zelenskyy of being "disrespectful," the Ukrainian leader said "no."

"I respect the president, and I respect the American people," he said. "I'm not sure that we did something bad."

WORLD LEADERS BACK ZELENSKYY FOLLOWING TRUMP, VANCE OVAL OFFICE SPAT

Zelenskyy argued that important issues need to be discussed thoroughly and warned Trump, "Don’t trust Putin."

Zelenskyy noted again that security guarantees, which caused the blowup in the Oval Office Friday, are not an issue he can disregard because the threat of another Russian invasion is too great. 

Zelenskyy also reiterated he would be willing to step down as president so long as Ukraine was given NATO membership. 

"We want just and lasting peace. It's true. We want security guarantees," he said. "If [the] United States will support NATO … I think that is enough for Ukraine."

Trump, after speaking with Putin earlier this month, began pushing the idea that Ukraine should hold elections, claiming Zelenskyy has little support among the Ukrainian public. 

But under Ukraine’s constitution, it cannot hold elections during a time of war.

European leaders came out with sweeping support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the explosive Oval Office meeting in which President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance gave harsh reprimands and accused him of being "disrespectful."

Several leaders took to social media to back Ukraine and to remind Washington that Russian President Vladimir Putin is the Russia-Ukraine conflict's "aggressor," not Zelenskyy. 

TUNE IN: BRET BAIER INTERVIEWS ZELENSKYY ON 'SPECIAL REPORT,' 6 PM ET ON FOX NEWS

The EU’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, had some of the strongest words of rebuke for Trump and said, "We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the aggressor." 

"Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader," she added.  "It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge."

"There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a victim: Ukraine," said French President Emmanuel Macron, who just met with Trump this week in D.C. "We were right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago – and to keep doing so." 

"By ‘we,’ I mean the Americans, the Europeans, the Canadians, the Japanese, and many others," he added.  

Though UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer, who also met with Trump this week, has remained publicly silent following the geopolitical fallout, the leader of the U.K.’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, showed her support for Ukraine.

"Respectable diplomacy is essential for peace," she said in a post on X. "We need to remember that the villain is the war criminal President Putin who illegally invaded another sovereign country - Ukraine. 

"A divided West only benefits Russia," she continued. "Any peace agreement must be negotiated with Ukraine at the table, and will need security guarantees. We cannot lose sight of the fact that tonight air raid sirens are sounding in Ukraine."

HERE'S THE REAL REASON TRUMP AND ZELENSKYY'S DEAL BLEW UP IN THE OVAL OFFICE

"What we saw from the White House today is serious and disheartening," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement according to Reuters. "Ukraine still needs the US's support, and Ukraine's security and future are also important to the US and to Europe. 

"That Trump accuses Zelenskyy of gambling with World War III is deeply unreasonable and a statement I distance myself from," he said. "Norway stands with Ukraine in their struggle for freedom." 

"Dear Zelenskyy, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone," said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on X.

Germany’s new conservative leader, incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has said he seeks "independence" from the U.S., said, "Dear Volodymyr Zelenskyy, we stand with Ukraine in good and in testing times. We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war."

Notably, nations that typically stand strong with Trump, like Turkey’s Recep Erdogan and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, did not release a public statement following the day’s events. 

Though Russian officials did voice their support for how the day unfolded.

Former Russian President and current deputy chair of Russia's security council, Dmitry Medvedev, took to X to call Zelenskyy an "insolent pig" and claimed he "finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office." 

"And Donald Trump is right: The Kyiv regime is ‘gambling with WWIII’," he  added. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau threw his weight behind Ukraine as well and said, "Russia illegally and unjustifiably invaded Ukraine. 

"For three years now, Ukrainians have fought with courage and resilience," he added, suggesting NATO allies may back Kyiv over Washington. "Their fight for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a fight that matters to us all. Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a just and lasting peace." 

Rose Girone, believed to be the oldest living Holocaust survivor and a strong advocate for sharing survivors' stories, has died. She was 113.

She died Monday in New York, according to the Claims Conference, a New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

MY FATHER SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST. CENSORSHIP DIDN’T STOP THE NAZIS, IT HELPED THEM

"Rose was an example of fortitude but now we are obligated to carry on in her memory," Greg Schneider, Claims Conference executive vice president, said in a statement Thursday. "The lessons of the Holocaust must not die with those who endured the suffering."

Girone was born on January 13, 1912, in Janow, Poland. Her family moved to Hamburg, Germany, when she was 6, she said in a filmed interview in 1996 with the USC Shoah Foundation.

When asked by the interviewer if she had any particular career plans before Hitler, she said: "Hitler came in 1933 and then it was over for everybody."

Girone was one of about 245,000 survivors still living across more than 90 countries, according to a study released by the Claims Conference last year. Their numbers are quickly dwindling, as most are very old and often of frail health, with a median age of 86.

Six million European Jews and people from other minorities were killed by the Nazis and their collaborators during the Holocaust.

"This passing reminds us of the urgency of sharing the lessons of the Holocaust while we still have first-hand witnesses with us," Schneider said. "The Holocaust is slipping from memory to history, and its lessons are too important, especially in today’s world, to be forgotten."

Girone married Julius Mannheim in 1937 through an arranged marriage.

She was 9 months pregnant living in Breslau, which is now Wroclaw, Poland, when Nazis arrived to take Mannheim to the Buchenwald concentration camp. Their family had two cars and so she asked her husband to leave his keys.

She said she remembers one Nazi saying: "Take that woman also."

The other Nazi responded: "She’s pregnant, leave her alone."

The next morning her father-in-law was also taken and she was left alone with their housekeeper.

After her daughter Reha was born in 1938, Girone was able to secure Chinese visas from relatives in London and secure her husband's release.

In Genoa, Italy, when Reha was only 6 months old, they boarded a ship to Japan-occupied Shanghai with little more than clothing and some linens.

Her husband first made money through buying and selling secondhand goods. He saved up to buy a car and started a taxi business, while Girone knitted and sold sweaters.

But in 1941, Jewish refugees were rounded up into a ghetto. The family of three were forced to cram into a bathroom in a house while roaches and bed bugs crawled through their belongings.

Her father-in-law came just before World War II started but became sick and died. They had to wait in line for food and lived under the rule of a ruthless Japanese man who called himself "King of the Jews."

"They did really horrible things to people," Girone said of the Japanese military trucks that patrolled the streets. "One of our friends got killed because he wouldn’t move fast enough."

Information about the war in Europe only circulated in the form of rumors, as British radios were not allowed.

When the war was over, they began receiving mail from Girone’s mother, grandmother and other relatives in the U.S. With their help, they boarded a ship to San Francisco in 1947 with only $80, which Girone hid inside buttons.

They arrived in New York City in 1947. She later started a knitting store with the help of her mother.

Girone was also reunited with her brother, who went to France for school and ended up getting his U.S. citizenship by joining the Army. When she went to the airport to pick him up in New York, it was her first time seeing him in 17 years.

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Girone later divorced Mannheim. In 1968, she met Jack Girone, the same day her granddaughter was born. By the next year they were married. He died in 1990.

When asked in 1996 for the message she would like to leave for her daughter and granddaughter, she said: "Nothing is so very bad that something good shouldn't come out of it. No matter what it is."