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☆ Anti-government protests demand release of Gaza hostages ahead of Israel’s Memorial Day
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Eugenia Yosef | Mohammed Tawfeeq | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Protesters took to the streets of several cities across Israel on Saturday, demanding the release of all hostages held in Gaza ahead of Israel’s Memorial Day. Families of hostages held in Gaza also took part in anti-government protests, including in Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Rehovot, and Haifa. Many waved Israeli flags and held up signs with images of the Israeli hostages, calling on the government to bring them home alive. Israeli mounted police deploy during a rally calling for the release of hostages held in Gaza outside the defense ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv on May 11, 2024. “The UK government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yael Adar, Tamir Adar, Tamir, ” Adar, Jack Guez, Hagit Chen, Itay Chen, “, ” Chen, Abu Obaida, Popplewell, ” Obaida, Kibbutz, Channah Peri, brother Roi Organizations: CNN — Protesters, Israel Defense Forces, Getty, Al, Brigades, Minister’s, CNN, United Locations: Israel, Gaza, Israel’s, Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Rehovot, Haifa, AFP, Kibbutz Nirim, Israeli

☆ Telegram rarely bans channels. Israel-Gaza forced it to step in.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

It has also restricted two of Hamas' official channels on Android and iOS devices. Restrictions, not bans — but rare for Telegram nonethelessTelegram, which is known for its message encryption and lax moderation, restricted two official Hamas channels on Android devices earlier this month. The impact of banning Telegram channels remains to be seenAs for Hamas, Telegram has been under pressure for weeks to cut the militant group from its services. Before the restrictions, Hamas' official Telegram channels saw a three-fold jump in followers after the attacks, the Digital Forensic Research Lab reported. Notably, Hamas channels are not the only ones spreading content related to the October 7 attacks, and some of those channels are still available on the platform.

Persons: —, Pavel Durov, Durov, it's, It's, Abu Obaida Organizations: Service, Telegram, Google, Jerusalem Post, Meta, Hong, Kremlin, Makhachkala International Airport, Morning, Apple, Middle East Media Research Institute, Capitol, Forensic Research, Wired, Digital Forensic Research Lab, Human Rights, Hamas, Brigades, DFRLab, CNBC, Washington Post, Palestinian Health Authority Locations: Israel, Ashkelon, Jerusalem, Hong Kong, Gaza, Russia, Dagestan, Tel Aviv, Makhachkala, Morning Dagestan

☆ American mother and daughter taken hostage by Hamas have been released, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Alex Marquardt Kaitlan Collins Oren Liebermann Michael Conte Sana Noor Haq | Alex Marquardt | Kaitlan Collins | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Hamas released two American hostages, Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natali Raanan, on Friday after they abducted around 200 people from Israel in a deadly attack on October 7. They are being released on “humanitarian grounds” because the mother is in poor health, the same source said. US officials have not said whether they believe any of the American hostages are dead and have previously noted that all hostages are assumed alive. Amnesty International has said Israel’s “collective punishment” of Palestinian civilians for Hamas’ attack amounts to a war crime. “The families’ headquarters welcomes the release of hostages from Hamas captivity,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement to CNN.

Persons: Judith Tai Raanan, Natali, Daniel Hagari, Abu Obaida, Biden, ”, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majid Al, Ansari, Joe Biden, “, “ Jill, Israel, Antony Blinken, Rishi Sunak Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Brigades, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Nations, Amnesty Locations: Israel, Gaza, Chicago, Nahal Oz, Qatar, ” Qatar, Israel’s, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand

Reuters fact-checking unit has identified numerous cases of social media posts using fake images and information about the Israel-Hamas conflict, and others in which confusion rather than deliberate disinformation appears to have heightened tensions. loading* A video of Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking about Ukraine last year was shared this month with fabricated subtitles warning the U.S. not to interfere in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The sheriff’s office said they were "targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the on-going Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis". Marc Owen Jones, a disinformation expert and professor at Hamad bin Khalifa University in Qatar, said there was often a rise in disinformation during conflicts. Clearly they seem directed at different audiences, but the combined effect is to muddy the waters about the truth in the conflict," he said.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Joe Biden, we’ve, Biden, Farida Khan, Al Jazeera, Jazeera, Vladimir Putin, Pink, Gerald Darmanin, Thierry Breton, Rafi Mendelsohn, Abu Obaidah, Tayyip Erdogan, Marc Owen Jones, Hamad, Stephanie Burnett, Stephen Farrell, Hardik, Abdel Fattah Sherif, Neha Mustafi, Jonathan B Mathew, Nidal, James Mackenzie, Andrew Mills, William Maclean, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Al, Hamas, Reuters, Louvre, Facebook, Meta, YouTube, Israel’s Office, State Attorney, Twitter, Palestine, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Hardik Vyas, Thomson Locations: Gaza, AMSTERDAM, LONDON, Israel, ., Al Jazeera, Ukraine, Guatemala, Israeli, New Zealand, kibbutzes, France, In Illinois, London, Middle, Tehran, Turkey, Qatar, Amsterdam, Bangalore, Jerusalem, Doha

☆ First hostage video of 21-year old Mia Shem posted by Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The short video clip shows Mia Schem lying on a bed, her right arm being bandaged by someone out of the frame. Schem, a 21-year-old French-Israeli woman, is being held hostage by the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The video released by Hamas on Monday is the first footage of any of the dozens of people held in the enclave. Schem’s mother told CNN on Monday that she believed her daughter’s resilience would help her survive. She is being held hostage by the group, which released a video of Schem on Monday.

Persons: Mia Schem, Schem’s, Keren Scharf Schem, “, ” Scharf Schem, …, ”, Schem, Libby Weiss, Al, Abu Obaida, WAFA, Scharf Schem, Mia, ” “ Mia, Eli Schem, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, ., ’, IDF Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, Palestinian

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is still closed, leaving humanitarian supplies piling up on the Egyptian side of the border. But, Israel has closed its two border crossings with Gaza and imposed a “complete siege” of the territory. That has left the Rafah crossing as the only viable outlet to get people out of the enclave – and supplies into it. Also complicating matters: border authorities have not managed to repair Israeli airstrike damage to the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing, a Palestinian official said. Abu Obaida claimed 22 of the hostages in Gaza were killed in Israeli airstrikes (CNN cannot independently verify that claim).

Persons: Sameh Shoukry, Abu Odaida, Abu Obaida, Antonio Guterres, Rishi Sunak, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Yoav Gallant, Yair Lapid, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, White Organizations: Egypt’s, UN, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs, European Commission, World Health Organization, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, CNN, United Nations, Hezbollah, British, Israeli, State Department, Pentagon, Hamas Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Lebanese, Turkish, East

☆ Hamas Says Its Attack on Israel Was Planned for Two Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Fatima Abdulkarim | Ghassan Adnan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Hamas's idea for Saturday's attack on Israel dates to 2021, when the militant group began preparing intensively by studying the tactics and strategies of its opponent, according to Abu Obaida, the spokesman for Hamas's military wing, on its Telegram account. "Our forces achieved an unprecedented military victory in the history of conflict with the Zionist enemy," he said. Already, he said the result was "more than we had planned." The group's plan was to deploy 3,000 fighters for the battle, and another 1,500 for backup and support. It studied everything from how the Israeli military trains and deploys its soldiers, to the land and weather conditions.

Persons: Abu Obaida, Obaida Locations: Israel

☆ Fact Check: Video of Hamas military wing spokesperson thanking Iran dates to 2014
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A 2014 video of a spokesperson for the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, acknowledging Iranian support has been misrepresented online as being recent, following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. “Breaking News Israel: Spokesperson of Izzuddin Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obaidah: “We thank the Islamic Republic of Iran who provided us with weapons, money and other equipment! A report by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time includes a transcript of the spokesperson’s comments. Hamas is backed by Iran and is politically aligned with Iran, Syria and the Shi'ite Islamist group Hezbollah in Lebanon. A video showing an Al-Qassam Brigades’ spokesperson thanking Iran, was filmed in 2014, not after the October 2023 attacks on Israel.

Persons: Deen al, Izzuddin Al, Abu Obaidah, Al Jazeera, “ Al, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Read Organizations: Brigades, Breaking, Israel, Facebook, Al, YouTube, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hamas, United Nations, Hezbollah, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Palestinian, Israel, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran, Syria, Lebanon

Here’s what we know about some of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. Noa Argamani, an Israeli woman, who was kidnapped by Hamas militants with her boyfriend. Another Israeli father told CNN he suspects his wife and young daughters may have been abducted while visiting Nir Oz. “They have been secured in safe places and resistance tunnels.”Video geolocated and authenticated by CNN shows at least one Israeli soldier being taken prisoner. A second video, taken afterward, shows a number of different armed men around the tank.

Persons: Shani Louk, festivalgoers, Louk, “ Allahu Akbar, ”, Richard Hecht, Al Qassam, Abu Obaida, Jonathan Conricus, CNN’s Wolf, –, Noa Argamani, Argamani, ” Amir Moadi, Handout, Daniel Hagari, Nir Oz, “, ‘ I’m, ’, “ Allahu Akbar ”, ” Yoni Asher, yank Organizations: CNN, Al Qassam Brigades, Israel Defense Forces, Nova, Washington Post, Hamas, Residents, Channel, “ Locations: German, Israeli, Gaza, Israel, Urim, Ofakim, Be’eri, Netiv HaAsara, Shejaiya

☆ Israel/Gaza crisis: Netanyahu warns of 'long war' as it faces unprecedented hostage crisis following Gaza attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Hadas Gold Shirin Faqiri Helen Regan Jessie Yeung | Hadas Gold | Shirin Faqiri | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Jerusalem and Gaza CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is “embarking on a long and difficult war” as it deals with an unprecedented hostage crisis after Palestinian militants launched a surprise land, sea and air attack from Gaza, killing hundreds and infiltrating into Israeli territory. At least 350 Israelis have been killed, an Israeli official told CNN and more than 1,500 have been injured, Israeli media reported. Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Palestinians gather around an Israeli army vehicle that Palestinian militants drove from Israel into Gaza on Saturday. Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images An Israeli soldier stands by the bodies of Israelis killed by Palestinian militants in Sderot on Saturday. The IDF is now slowly evacuating communities Gaza, and searching the area for any Hamas militants left.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Eyad Baba, Netanyahu, Israel –, Israel, ” Netanyahu, Tsafrir, Ali Jadallah, Fatima Shbair, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Mustafa Hassona, Ammar Awad, Ahmad Gharabli, Mahmud Hams, Baz Ratner, Ilan Rosenberg, Maya Alleruzzo, Amir Cohen, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, “ Israel, ”, Richard Hecht, “, Abu Obaida, Hecht, It’s, ” Hecht, Joe Biden, blitzed, ” Efraim Halevy, ” Halevy, Nic Robertson, ‘ I’m, ’, Noa Argamani, Avinatan, Argamani’s, Shani Louk, Ricarda, Yoni Asher, Asher Organizations: Gaza CNN, Israeli, Palestinian, Palestinian Authority, Israel’s, Getty, Hamas, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Gaza . Police, Anadolu Agency, Saturday, Reuters, AP Vehicles, Reuters Rockets, Israeli Defense Forces, Al, Brigades, IDF, United Nations Security Council, Israel’s Intelligence Service, Reuters Air, “, Channel, Israel Police Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, AFP, Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, Sderot, Israeli, Saturday, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion, “, Palestinian, Otef, …, Brazil, blitzed Israel, Yom Kippur, Zikim, Egypt, Rafah, German

☆ Women, children, and seniors believed to be among at least 100 Israeli hostages seized by Hamas and taken to Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementPhotos from AP show several hostages being taken to the Gaza Strip. An Israeli woman posted on social media with the photograph, saying it was her 85-year-old grandmother, per The Times of Israel. Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian, center, from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. AdvertisementAdvertisementPalestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The Hamas-run health ministry in the Gaza Strip said 232 Palestinians were killed and another 1,697 were wounded as of Saturday afternoon.

Persons: —, Tzipi Hotovely, I've, Hatem Ali, partygoers, Col Jonathan Conricus, Abu Obaida, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Sky News, Kibbutz Kfar, Telegraph, AP, Kfar, CNN, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, Israeli, Kibbutz, Kibbutz Kfar Azza, Re'im, Kfar Azza

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