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☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, two Israeli hostages rescued as dozens of Palestinians killed in Rafah
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Mahmoud Abbas during a meeting in Amman, Jordan, on October 17, 2023. Jacquelyn Martin/AP/FilePalestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived on Sunday in Doha, Qatar, which has been a key mediator in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The Palestinian Authority is a government body with limited self-rule in the West Bank. The visit comes as CIA director Bill Burns is expected to travel to Cairo for a Tuesday meeting to push for a hostage release deal, according to two sources familiar with the plans. One of the sources said Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Israel's Mossad Director David Barnea are also expected to be in attendance.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Jacquelyn Martin, Abbas, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Bill Burns, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, David Barnea Organizations: Palestinian, West Bank, Qatari Locations: Amman, Jordan, Doha, Qatar, Israel, Cairo, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani

CNN —Efforts to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza and broker a prolonged pause in fighting are at an important juncture as President Joe Biden deploys his point person on hostage talks to Europe for multiparty talks on the contours of a possible agreement. He said on Friday, Biden had spoken to Egypt’s President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as well as Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss ongoing hostage talks. “We continue to do everything we can to facilitate another hostage deal just like we did back in November,” Kirby said. Each stage would come with a pause in fighting and the delivery of aid to the North and South of Gaza. The White House on Thursday reiterated its gratitude for Qatar — which has acted as a key mediator in hostage talks — in response to the leaked recording.

Persons: Joe Biden, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Abbas Kamel, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Burns, Barnea, John Kirby, “, ” Kirby, Biden, Abdel Fatah al, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Al Thani, Kirby, Brett McGurk, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Betsy Klein, Katie Bo Lillis Organizations: CNN, CIA, White House, Qatari, White, National Security, Hamas, Biden, Qatar Locations: Gaza, Europe, Israel, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, France, Washington, Qatar, Egypt, South, Palestinian, Gulf

☆ At climate summit, Turkey, South Africa hit out at Israel over Gaza war
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Alexander Cornwell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan delivers a national statement at the World Climate Action Summit during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 1, 2023. "The current situation in Gaza constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity; those responsible must be held accountable under international law," he said. The war against the innocent people of Palestine is a war crime that must be ended now," he said in his address. The "international youth delegate" said he would try to raise awareness at the COP28 conference of the Palestinian cause. The assault sparked outrage in the Arab world, though most Western leaders have supported what they say is Israel's right to defend itself.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Al Sudani, Israel, Cyril Ramaphosa, Jordan's King Abdullah, Mohammed Ursof, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Rishi Sunak, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Isaac Herzog, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Herzog, Oded Joseph, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Abdul Latif Rashid, Gustavo Petro, Alexander Cornwell, Nadine Awadalla, Jana Choukeir, Huseyin Hayatsever, Mai Shams El, Richard Valdmanis, William Maclean Organizations: United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Hamas, United, U.S, State Department, Palestinian Authority, Dubai, UAE, Foreign Ministry, Reuters COP28, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Africa, Palestine, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, COP28

☆ How Qatar swayed Israel and Hamas to make a truce work
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

It was necessary to clarify all the points in the agreement and make sure they meant the same thing to Israel and Hamas, a source briefed on the negotiations said. Qatar's foreign ministry told reporters that Hamas and Israel negotiated in Doha until "the early morning" of Nov. 23 and agreed on a plan to implement the truce deal the next day. Qatari negotiators shepherded Israel and Hamas to agree on exactly where in Gaza Israeli tanks would be stationed during the truce. Israel vets all financial transfers Qatar makes to Palestinians in Gaza, Qatari sources have said. Despite proximity to Hamas officials, Qatari negotiators did not speak directly to the group's leaders in Gaza, but through its representatives based in Doha.

Persons: Qatar’s, Abdullah Al Sulaiti, Imad Creidi, Qatar's, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Sheikh Mohammed, David Barnea, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, shepherded Israel, Al Shifa, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim, Mehran Kamrava, We've, Al Sulaiti, I've, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Matt S, Dan Williams, David Gauthier, Frank Jack Daniel Organizations: Hamas, National Command Centre, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, Qatari, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S . Department of State, U.S, Gaza, Bild, Palestinian, Georgetown University, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Doha, Qatar, Palestinian Territories, Egypt, Gaza, Moscow, London, Hamas, U.S, Russia, Gulf, Berlin, Syria, Qatari, Cairo, Washington, Jerusalem

Thirty-three Palestinian prisoners released by Israel arrived early Tuesday in east Jerusalem and the West Bank town of Ramallah. Political Cartoons View All 1267 ImagesCurrently:— Israel and Hamas extend their truce, but it seems only a matter of time before the war resumes. So far, Hamas has released 69 hostages, including 51 Israelis, and Israel has released 150 Palestinian prisoners. Fifty Israeli hostages have been freed under the terms of an initial four-day truce, which has been extended to Wednesday. Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released.

Persons: Israel, — Israel, — Freed, — Blinken, Israel —, “, Israel — Kfir Bibas, Ariel, Eylon, Kfir’s, ”, William Burns, David Barnea, Burns, Barnea, Isabel Debre, Jon Gambrell, Eli Cohen, Parnpree, Thais, ” Parnpree, Cohen, GAZA WASHINGTON —, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Constantinos Letymbiotis, Nikos Christodoulides, Christodoulides, Qatar’s, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Catherine Colonna, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, ” Israel, ” Elad Levy, Levy’s, Roni Eshel, ” Levy, Antony Blinken, John Kirby, Jason J, Eaton, General Merrick Garland Organizations: Hamas, West Bank, Health Ministry, —, TEL, CIA, DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Officials, U.S, The Washington Post, Shamir, Thais, GERMANY BERLIN, White, Israeli Defense Forces, Cyprus ’, Cypriot, AP, UNIT, Gaza Health Ministry, Shifa, World Health Organization, PARIS, Foreign, RTL, UN, UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, Palestinian, of Solidarity, AS US, FIRE BRUSSELS, State Department, NATO, Organization for Peace, Security, National Security, MEN, UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT, BURLINGTON , Vermont —, University of Vermont, U.S . Department of Justice Locations: Israel, Gaza, Jerusalem, Ramallah, East, israel, ISRAEL, TEL AVIV, Israeli, Tel Aviv, QATAR, United Arab, Qatar, Egypt, ___, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, JERUSALEM, GERMANY, Germany, Berlin, GAZA WASHINGTON, CYPRUS, GAZA NICOSIA, Cyprus, CAIRO, Shifa, Europe, France, CANBERRA, Australia, Australia’s, Canberra, Ukraine, Brussels, Skopje, North Macedonia, UNIVERSITY, BURLINGTON , Vermont, Vermont, Burlington

"The released hostages are on their way to hospitals in Israel, where they will re-unite with their families," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. Israel released 39 Palestinians - six women and 33 minors - from two prisons, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said. Saturday's swap follows the previous day's initial release of 13 Israeli hostages, including children and the elderly, by Hamas in return for the release of 39 Palestinian women and young people from Israeli prisons. On Friday Hamas also released a Philippine national and 10 Thai farm workers. Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continued to release at least 10 hostages a day.

Persons: Israel, WAFA, Srettha Thavisin, Thais, Thongkoon Onkaew, Natthaporn Onkaew, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Osama Hamdan, Majed Al, Ansari, Maya Regev, Emily Hand, Hila Rotem, Emily, Raya Rotem, Shorouk Dwayyat, Emily Rose, Bassam Masoud, James Mackenzie, Maayan Lubell, Emma Farge, Aidan Lewis, Adam Makary, Nidal, Moaz Abd, Ali Sawafta, Sybille de La Hamaide, Jeff Mason, Humeyra Pamuk, Leslie Adler, Clarence Fernandez, William Mallard Organizations: Sunday, International Committee, Israel Defense Forces, West Bank, Hamas, Reuters, Brigades, IDF, United Nations, CNN, Al, Thomson Locations: Israel Egypt, Qatar, West Bank GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Palestinian, Rafah, Al, Bireh, Ramallah, Philippine, U.S, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Al Jazeera, Nantucket , Massachusetts

☆ Israel-Hamas war live updates: Israel and Hamas begin temporary pause in Gaza fighting, with first hostage release expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The 50 hostages, among about 240 taken by Hamas in their Oct. 7 raid on Israel, are expected to be released in batches, probably about a dozen a day, during the four-day ceasefire. The pause will be extended by a day for each additional batch of 10 hostages released, Israel said in a statement. The group said Israel agreed not to attack or arrest anyone in Gaza, and people can move freely along Salah al-Din Street, the main road along which many Palestinians have fled northern Gaza where Israel launched its ground invasion. Hamas has not released a full list of names of those being held in Gaza. Not all the hostages taken on Oct. 7 were being held by Hamas fighters.

Persons: Israel, Salah al, Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Benjamin Netanyahu, — Organizations: Hamas, State, Foreign Ministry, U.S, Qatar, Qatari, United Locations: Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Gaza ., Doha, United States, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Israeli, Egypt

☆ Israel–Hamas war: The hostage deal and ceasefire explained
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Israeli tanks take position near a border with Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, November 22, 2023. The pause will be extended by a day for each additional batch of 10 hostages released, Israel said in a statement. Qatar's chief negotiator in ceasefire talks, Minister of State at the Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, said that under the deal there would be "no attack whatsoever. The deal was announced 46 days after the start of the war, one of the most fierce conflicts to erupt between the two sides. The initial negotiations for a deal between Israel and Hamas, both sworn enemies, began within days of the Oct. 7 attack but progress was slow.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Israel, Salah al, Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Mahmoud Abbas, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's, Edmund Blair, Howard Goller Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, State, Foreign Ministry, Committee, WHO, U.S, Palestinian Prisoners Society, West Bank and, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Qatari, United, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Gaza ., Argentina, Britain, Chile, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, U.S, West Bank and Jerusalem, Doha, United States, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Israeli, Cairo

Biden vowed that he would not relent until all American hostages in Gaza were released. Biden had his own demand throughout the talks: Humanitarian assistance had to reach Gaza, regardless of a deal. Israel’s ground invasion plans were revised so fighting could be paused if a hostage deal came together. Talks resumed last Friday, and in another conversation with the Qatari emir, Biden told him it was the last shot at a hostage deal and he had to close it now. Officials also crafted a way to try to entice Hamas to release more hostages than the 50 already agreed to.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Brett McGurk, Joshua Geltzer, McGurk, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, Jake Sullivan, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Israel —, “, ”, Netanyahu, – Natalie, Judith Raanan –, Natalie’s, wouldn’t, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Israel, Al Thani, ” Netanyahu, — — Kim, Magdy, Frankel Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S ., White House, U.S, Israeli, White, National Security, CIA, Hamas, ., Israeli Defense Forces, Shifa Hospital, Qatari Locations: Qatar, United States, U.S, Egypt, Gaza, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Israel, Doha, Cairo, Nantucket , Massachusetts, Jerusalem

☆ The secret negotiations that led to the Gaza hostages deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Pictures of hostages held in Gaza, who were seized from southern Israel on October 7 by Hamas gunmen during a deadly attack, are displayed in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 15, 2023. Demands were made that Hamas produce the lists of hostages it was holding, their identifying information, and guarantees of release. Biden held a previously undisclosed phone call with the Qatari prime minister when the phasing of releases began to take shape, the official said. Shortly after Biden's call, Hamas produced details for the 50 hostages it said would be released in the first phase of any deal. Biden in a Nov. 14 call urged Netanyahu to take the deal - Netanyahu agreed.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Bill Burns, Jake Sullivan, Jon, Brett McGurk, Sullivan, McGurk, Josh Geltzer, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, Biden, Netanyahu, Judith Raanan, Burns, David Barnea, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, ”, Abbas Kamil, Word, Steve Holland, Don Durfee Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, White, U.S, Israeli, CIA, U.S . Middle East, National Security Council, Hamas, Qatari, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Tel Aviv, Qatar, Egypt, United States, U.S, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Sullivan’s, Doha, Cairo, San Francisco, Asia, Lincoln

☆ The Secret Negotiations That Led to the Gaza Hostages Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +8 min

Five days later, on Oct. 23, the White House team's work helped yield the release of two American hostages, Natalie and Judith Raanan. Demands were made that Hamas produce the lists of hostages it was holding, their identifying information, and guarantees of release. Biden held a previously undisclosed phone call with the Qatari prime minister when the phasing of releases began to take shape, the official said. Shortly after Biden's call, Hamas produced details for the 50 hostages it said would be released in the first phase of any deal. Biden in a Nov. 14 call urged Netanyahu to take the deal - Netanyahu agreed.

Persons: Steve Holland WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Bill Burns, Jake Sullivan, Jon, Brett McGurk, Sullivan, McGurk, Josh Geltzer, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, Biden, Netanyahu, Judith Raanan, Burns, David Barnea, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, ”, Abbas Kamil, Word, Steve Holland, Don Durfee Organizations: White, U.S, Israeli, CIA, U.S . Middle East, National Security Council, Hamas, Qatari Locations: Israel, Qatar, Egypt, United States, U.S, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Tel Aviv, Sullivan’s, Gaza, Doha, Cairo, San Francisco, Asia

[1/6] A satellite image shows Al-Shifa hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Gaza November 7, 2023. Israel says it is homing in on Palestinian Hamas militants who launched deadly attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, and says the group has command centers under and near the hospitals. "Tragically, the number of patient fatalities has increased significantly," he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, adding that Shifa was "not functioning as a hospital anymore." The Israeli military response has also prompted anger, with hundreds of thousands protesting in capitals around the world demanding a ceasefire. "Al Quds hospital has been cut off from the world in the last six to seven days.

Persons: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros, Israel, Josep Borrell, Jake Sullivan, we've, Sullivan, Biden, Joe Biden, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Ashraf Al, Shifa, Ahmed El Mokhallalati, Crescent, Tommaso Della Longa, Nidal al, Dan Williams, Adam Makary, Ahmed Tolba, Sabine Siebold, Andrea Shalal, Simon Lewis, Diane Craft Organizations: Hamas, Maxar Technologies, REUTERS Acquire, World Health Organization, WHO, United Nations, European Union, Union, White, National, Israeli Defense Forces, CBS News, United, Reuters, Gaza's Health Ministry, Health Ministry, Palestinian, International Federation of Red, Red Crescent Societies, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Shifa, United States, Washington, U.S, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Al, Quds, Al Quds, Jerusalem

☆ Largest Gaza Hospital 'Not Functioning' Amid Israeli Assault
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Dan WilliamsGAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The largest hospital in Gaza has ceased to function and fatalities among patients are rising, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday, as a blistering Israeli assault continues in the Hamas-controlled strip. "Tragically, the number of patient fatalities has increased significantly," he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, adding that Shifa was "not functioning as a hospital anymore." The European Union condemned Hamas for using "hospitals and civilians as human shields" in Gaza, while also urging Israel to show "maximum restraint" to protect civilians. The Israeli military response has also prompted anger, with hundreds of thousands protesting in capitals around the world demanding a ceasefire. "Al Quds hospital has been cut off from the world in the last six to seven days.

Persons: Nidal, Dan Williams, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros, Israel, Josep Borrell, Jake Sullivan, we've, Sullivan, Biden, Joe Biden, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Ashraf Al, Shifa, Ahmed El Mokhallalati, Crescent, Tommaso Della Longa, Nidal al, Adam Makary, Ahmed Tolba, Sabine Siebold, Andrea Shalal, Simon Lewis, Diane Craft Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, United Nations, European Union, Union, White, National, Israeli Defense Forces, CBS News, United, Reuters, Gaza's Health Ministry, Health Ministry, Palestinian, International Federation of Red, Red Crescent Societies Locations: Dan Williams GAZA, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Shifa, Israel, United States, Washington, U.S, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Al, Quds, Al Quds, Jerusalem

U.S. President Joe Biden holds a bilateral meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2022. "The two leaders agreed that all hostages must be released without further delay," the statement said. Hamas fighters surged across the border from Gaza into Israel on Oct.7, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Reuters last week reported that Qatar, where several political leaders of Hamas are based, has been leading mediation efforts between Hamas and Israeli officials over the hostages. Washington has rejected calls from Arab leaders and others for it to insist that Israel halt its assault on the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip.

Persons: Joe Biden, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Leah Millis, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Biden, Jake Sullivan, CNN's, Sullivan, Brett McGurk, Biden's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Al Thani, Washington, Andrea Shalal, Ahmed Tolba, Steve Holland, Hugh Lawson, Noeleen Walder, Diane Craft Organizations: White, REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, Reuters, CNN, U.S, East, Israel, Israeli, Biden, Thomson Locations: Thani, Washington , U.S, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, United States, Brussels, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Rafah

☆ Exclusive: UAE plans to maintain ties with Israel despite Gaza outcry, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Alexander Cornwell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Abu Dhabi became the most prominent Arab nation to establish diplomatic ties with Israel in 30 years under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020. "The indiscriminate damage visited upon the people of Gaza in pursuit of Israel's security risks extinguishing that hope," she said. Israel and the UAE have developed close economic and security ties in the three years since normalisation, including defence cooperation. None of four sources ruled out that the UAE could downgrade or sever its ties if the crisis escalated. While criticising Israel's conduct of the war, Abu Dhabi has also condemned Hamas for its attack.

Persons: Ronen, Abu Dhabi, Israel ABU, Abraham, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sheikh Mohamed, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Israel, Washington, Anwar Gargash, Lana Nusseibeh, Abu, Jordan, James Dorsey, Netanyahu, Israel's, Abdel Fattah al, Mohammed Mursi, Omar Hassan al, Bashir, Alexander Cornwell, Dan Williams, Steven Scheers, Maha El Dahan, Michael Georgy, Daniel Flynn Organizations: REUTERS, UAE, United Arab Emirates, Israel, U.S, Abraham Accords, Israeli, Qatari, UN Security Council, Reuters, West Bank, Gaza, National University of Singapore, European Union, Egypt's, Thomson Locations: Petah Tikva, Israel, UAE, Gaza, Israel ABU DHABI, Abu, Palestinian, Arab, United States, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, reining, East Jerusalem, Israeli, Iran, Yemen, OPEC, Al Aqsa, Islam, Egypt, Jerusalem

☆ Qatar's emir holds talks in Egypt on ending Gaza violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Mohamed Wali | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attends the Arab League Summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 19, 2023. Qatar said "joint efforts to stop the aggression against Gaza, reduce escalation and bring in urgent humanitarian aid" were discussed. Since then Israel has launched an unrelenting bombardment and an armoured invasion of Hamas-ruled Gaza, where more than 10,000 people have been killed, according to Palestinian officials. Evacuations through Rafah restarted on Thursday following a pause after the Red Cross said one of its convoys escorting evacuees was targeted inside Gaza. The United Nations said 65 aid trucks entered Gaza from Egypt on Thursday, well below the number needed to address a deepening humanitarian crisis.

Persons: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Thani, Abdel Fattah al, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Cross, Israel, Mohamed Wali, Nayera Abdallah, Nadine Awadalla, Aidan Lewis, Nick Macfie, Alex Richardson Organizations: Arab League Summit, Saudi Royal Court, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Hamas, United Nations, United, Thomson Locations: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Bandar, Rights CAIRO, Qatar, Egypt, Cairo, Gaza, Qatari, Doha, Israel, Hamas, Rafah, United States

☆ Mossad, CIA chiefs meet Qatar PM in Doha on Gaza hostage deal -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsDOHA, Nov 9 (Reuters) - The CIA and Mossad chiefs met with the Qatari prime minister in Doha on Thursday to discuss the parameters of a deal for hostage releases and a pause in Hamas-Israel fighting in the Gaza Strip, a source briefed on the meeting told Reuters. Sheikh Tamim was accompanied by the Qatari prime minister. The statement said the purpose of the visit was to discuss the situation in Gaza. Unlike Qatar, the UAE has had diplomatic relations with Israel since a U.S.-brokered normalisation agreement in 2020. Reporting by Andrew Mills; writing by Maha El Dahan; editing by Toby Chopra and Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: William Burns, Mary F, David Barnea, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Tamim, Andrew Mills, Maha El, Toby Chopra, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Central Intelligence Agency, Intelligence, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, CIA, Reuters, Qatari, Wednesday, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Doha, Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Qatar's, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, UAE, U.S

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is in talks with The Sovereign Wealth Fund of Egypt (TSFE) about the deal, said two sources with knowledge of the matter, who declined to be named. The fund is considering acquiring a stake of up to 30% in the hotels, the sources said, without naming them. Relations between Egypt and Qatar soured in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings that toppled former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia has led efforts to rebuild ties with Qatar and, along with Egypt, re-established diplomatic relations in 2021. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Baghdad in August 2021 for the first time since ending the dispute.

Persons: Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, St Regis Saadiyat, Egypt's TSFE, Agatha Christie's, Hosni Mubarak, Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Hadeel El, Andrew Mills, Patrick Werr, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Abu, Abu Dhabi Executive Council, St Regis, United, United Arab Emirates, Read, Qatar Investment Authority, Sovereign Wealth Fund of Egypt, Regional, Qatar, Thomson Locations: Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Qatar, United Arab, DUBAI, Harrods, London, Aswan, Saudi Arabia, Thani, Baghdad, Ukraine, Hadeel El Sayegh, Dubai, Doha, Cairo

☆ Lawmakers explain why they went to Qatar for the World Cup despite human rights concerns: 'There are no perfect countries'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Qatar's hosting of the 2022 World Cup has been controversial, given the country's human rights record. The congresswoman also suggested that the 2026 World Cup may prompt similar conversations about human rights abuses in North America. "We are slated to host the World Cup next with Mexico and Canada," she said, referring to the 2026 World Cup. "The spotlight of the World Cup has caused Qatar to make a lot of important reforms to their employment law." According to Human Rights Watch, LGBTQ people have been subjected to arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment in detention.

☆ Soccer Qatar's Bedouin roots star in World Cup opening ceremony
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"From Qatar, from the Arab world, I welcome everyone to the World Cup 2022," Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said. "How lovely it is that people can put aside what divides them to celebrate their diversity and what brings them together." Then, fireworks exploded from the roof of Al Bayt stadium, 44 km (27 miles) north of the capital, Doha. Earlier, the nearly full stadium erupted in cheers when Sheikh Tamim arrived at the stadium flanked by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The ceremony featured video footage of Sheikh Tamim as a boy playing soccer in the desert, which seemed aimed at countering the argument made by Qatar's critics that the Gulf Arab state has no soccer tradition.

☆ Some LGBTQ fans skip Qatar World Cup, fearing hostility
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Instead, Niño de Rivera proposed at an Amsterdam stadium this summer and opted to skip the World Cup altogether. “It was a really hard decision.”Niño de Rivera’s concerns are shared by many LGBTQ soccer fans and their allies worldwide. An ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar, however, has described homosexuality as a “damage in the mind” in an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF. He publicly came out and has been lobbying to expand the conversation before the World Cup. “The World Cup can help change misconceptions, and we want fans to travel home with a better understanding of our country, culture and region.

☆ Qatar to suspend evacuation flights for U.S.-bound Afghan refugees while it hosts soccer World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Dan De Luce | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Julia-Ainsley-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Qatari officials have said they plan to suspend evacuation flights for Afghan refugees hoping to resettle in the U.S. while the country hosts soccer’s World Cup next month, according to refugee advocates, congressional aides and a source familiar with the Qatari government’s plans. Afghan refugees trying to book flights to Doha have received emails saying it’s not possible to reserve a seat until January, Afghans and advocacy groups said. Flights are continuing to operate at the moment but refugee organizations are worried the planes will soon stop flying out of Kabul. The Biden administration has not released up-to-date numbers on how many Afghans are in the pipeline for special immigrant visas. A State Department spokesperson said the U.S. has issued more than 18,000 special immigrant visas to Afghan applicants and their family members from January 2021 to Sept. 30, 2022.

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