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In the first phase, fighting would stop to allow for the remaining women, elderly and wounded hostages to be released by Hamas. Netanyahu has faced increasing pressure from the families of many hostages who are demanding a deal to win their loved ones’ release. The Oct. 7 attack killed some 1,200 people in Israel, and Hamas and other militants abducted around 250 people. Around 100 hostages were freed under a weeklong cease-fire deal in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Hamas has said it will free more captives only in exchange for an end to the war and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.

Persons: Bill Burns, David Barnea, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Abbas Kamel, Joe Biden, Abdel Fattah el, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al, “, ” Burns, Brett McGurk, Burns, Biden, McGurk, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ___ Miller Organizations: WASHINGTON, — U.S, New York Times, Qatari, White, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.S, France, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Thani, Columbia , South Carolina

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatar's ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. The meeting will focus on the release of hostages in exchange for a pause in hostilities. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe CIA and the White House National Security Council declined to comment on the meeting. Some 1,200 people were killed and Hamas and other militants abducted around 250 people during their Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel. Around 100 hostages were freed under a weeklong cease-fire deal in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden, John Kirby, Biden, Abdel Fattah el, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al, ” Kirby, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Abbas Kamel, Burns, Brett McGurk, McGurk, Antony Blinken Organizations: WASHINGTON, Qatari, Gaza . U.S . National Security, CIA, U.S, White House National Security, White House Locations: Israel, Gaza . U.S, Thani, Europe, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Gaza

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest honor for Salman Rushdie was a prize kept secret until minutes before he rose from his seat to accept it. On Tuesday night, the author received the first-ever Lifetime Disturbing the Peace Award, presented by the Vaclav Havel Center on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Alaa Abdel-Fattah, the imprisoned Egyptian activist, was given the Disturbing the Peace Award to a Courageous Writer at Risk. Rushdie, 76, noted that last month he had received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, and now was getting a prize for disturbing the peace, leaving him wondering which side of “the fence” he was on. “He was inspirational to me as for many, many writers, and to receive an award in his name is a great honor,” Rushdie added.

Persons: Salman Rushdie, Vaclav Havel, Rushdie, “, ” Rushdie, Azar Nafisi, Vaclav, Havel, Lesley Stahl, Alaa Abdel, Fattah, Adhaf Soueif, ”, ” Abdel, Hosni Mubarak, Ruhollah Khomeini's Organizations: Lolita, Library Foundation, Communist, CBS, Abdel, Trade Locations: Western New York, Tehran ”, Czech, Czechoslovakia

As he did last month, Blinken will stress U.S. support for Israel and try to prevent a wider Mideast war as he visits Israel and Jordan starting on Friday. He'll push for the evacuation of more foreigners from Gaza and more humanitarian aid for the territory. President Joe Biden said Wednesday he thought there should be a humanitarian “pause” in the Israel-Hamas war in order to get “prisoners” out. Political Cartoons View All 1230 ImagesU.S. officials, including Biden and Blinken, have said repeatedly that they do not believe an Israeli re-occupation of Gaza is feasible, and Israel agrees. Miller said the U.S. shares Jordan's concerns about "the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza” and that Blinken will make that a priority on his trip.

Persons: —, Antony Blinken, Jordan, Biden, Israel, Joe Biden, Blinken, Matthew Miller, what’s, Miller, ”, “, ” Jordan, Netanyahu, Sissi, ” Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, Israel, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, ”, Saudi, U.S, State Department Locations: East, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Blinken, Palestinian, Japan, South Korea, India, Ukraine, China, Jordan, Amman, Egypt, Turkey, Washington, Qatar

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Joe Biden said he thought there should be a humanitarian “pause” in the Israel-Hamas war, after his campaign speech Wednesday evening was interrupted by a protester calling for a cease-fire. “I think we need a pause,” Biden said. Meanwhile, hundreds of foreign nationals and dozens of seriously injured Palestinians were allowed to leave Gaza after more than three weeks under siege. We provide other types of supplies.”He said to NewsNation they were happy to see foreigners leave Gaza. He said, when asked, that a pause "means give time to get the prisoners out.” White House officials later clarified he meant hostages and humanitarian aid.

Persons: Joe Biden, ” Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, —, John Kirby, Jack Lew, Michael Herzog, “ Mr, ”, he's, Netanyahu, Abdel Fattah el, ___ Madhani, Colleen Long, Amy Forliti Organizations: White, Democratic Party, Hamas, National Security, Associated Press Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Israel, Gaza, Gaza City, Egypt, U.S, Minneapolis, “, Washington

For a Biden administration committed to stopping the Israel-Hamas war from widening, the conflict could amplify the economic strains and possibly cause governments to collapse. “Let’s support Egypt," Michel told reporters afterward. One major potential setback for Egypt stemming from the latest Israel-Hamas War would be the loss of tourists seeking to explore the country's ancient pyramids and history. Tourism is one of Egypt's leading economic sectors, and along with foreign investment provides needed access to the rest of the global economy. Before the latest Israel-Hamas war, some officials had pointed to Lebanon’s rebounding tourism industry as an economic lifeline.

Persons: Joe Biden, Christopher Swift, Ajay Banga, Charles Michel, Michel, Abdel Fattah el, Sissi, Israel, ”, Swift, ” Swift, it's, Mubarak, Moody’s, Mirette, Mabrouk, ” Mabrouk, Paul Salem, Abby Sewell Organizations: WASHINGTON, Hamas, International Monetary Fund, European Union, reverberations, Treasury Department, European Council, el, IMF, Tourism, Associated, World Bank, U.S, Middle East Institute Locations: Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, Sudan, East, Hamas, United States, Qatar, Washington, Beirut

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday warned that Israel's conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas will not be a short-term engagement. Palestinian militant group Hamas said an Israeli airstrike in the north of Gaza City killed the head of its Hamas-led security forces. Violence between Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Israeli forces and settlers has meanwhile surged amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. On Thursday, three Palestinians in the West Bank including two teenagers were killed by Israeli forces after they stormed the village of Budrus, Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported. More than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel over the same period, according to Israeli authorities.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Rishi Sunak, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Abdel Fatah el, Sissi, WAFA Organizations: Palestinian, British, Hamas, Gaza City, CNBC, West Bank, Palestinian Health Ministry Locations: al, Zahra, Gaza, Israel, West, Budrus, Lebanon

☆ Biden to seek 'unprecedented' Israel aid package; pledges $100 million for humanitarian relief in Gaza and West Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a visit to Israel amid the war between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Oct. 18, 2023. UNITED NATIONS — President Joe Biden reaffirmed America's commitment to Israel on Wednesday in Tel Aviv, where he blamed a deadly hospital blast on militants inside Gaza. Biden also committed $100 million in humanitarian assistance to Gaza and the West Bank, to support the more than 1 million people displaced by the ongoing conflict. The president said he planned to ask Congress for an "unprecedented support package for Israel's defense" but did not elaborate. Biden arrived in Tel Aviv hours after an explosion killed hundreds of people taking shelter at the al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza.

Persons: Joe Biden, America's, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Isaac Herzog, Israel, Biden's, Mahmoud Abbas, Abdel Fattah el, King Abdullah II, Jordan, Read Organizations: Hamas, UNITED NATIONS, Israel, West Bank, Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, Israeli, United Nations Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza, Ahli, Amman, Jordan, States, Russia

The vote follows the council’s rejection Monday evening of a Russian-drafted resolution that condemned violence and terrorism against civilians and called for a “humanitarian cease-fire” but made no mention of Hamas. One calls for a “humanitarian cease-fire.” The other would condemn indiscriminate attacks on civilians and assaults on “civilian objects” in Gaza like hospitals and schools that deprive people of the means to survive. To be adopted, a resolution needs at least nine of the 15 council members to vote “yes” and no veto by a permanent member. The council vote was taking place amid frantic diplomatic efforts to prevent the Israeli-Hamas conflict from spreading. The five permanent Security Council nations are also invited, he said.

Persons: “, ”, Rosemary DiCarlo, Tor Wennesland, Islamic Jihad, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, Biden, Abdel Fattah el, King Abdullah II of Jordan, U.N, Osama Mahmoud, Antonio Guterres, Mahmoud Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, . Security, Hamas, United Arab, Islamic, Arab, United Nations, Security Council Locations: Israel, Gaza, Brazil, Russian, Russia, United Arab Emirates, China, U.N, Palestinian, Ukraine, United States, Britain, France, U.S, Cairo

Now Biden's only stop will be Israel, where he's expected to huddle with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has been preparing for a potential ground invasion of Gaza in response to Hamas' attacks on Oct. 7, which killed 1,400 Israelis. Outrage over the hospital explosion scuttled Biden's plans to visit Jordan, where King Abdullah II had planned to host meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. He said Biden would have an opportunity to speak to the Arab leaders by phone as he returned to Washington. The visit to Israel coincides with rising humanitarian concerns in Gaza, where Israel has cut off the flow of food, fuel and water.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Jordan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, John Kirby, Biden “, ” Kirby, ”, “, King Abdullah II, Mahmoud Abbas, Abdel Fattah el, Abbas, Kirby, Ayman Safadi, It's, Antony Blinken, Blinken's, Matthew Lee Organizations: WASHINGTON, White House, Air Force, Al, Hamas, Gaza Health Ministry, Bank, Embassy, Associated Press Locations: Israel, Gaza, Washington, Ahli, Al Ahli, Ramallah, Beirut, Lebanon, Amman, Jordan, Iran, Ukraine, Tel Aviv, —

The less-ambitious approach fit with Biden's determination to pivot his foreign-policy focus from Middle East hotspots to China. Arab leaders “are very aware this is going to keep blowing up. Then, Hamas's breakout from Gaza shattered what National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had hailed as a period of Middle East calm. Brokering those alliances would stabilize the Middle East in themselves, no Israeli-Palestinian peace accord needed, supporters have argued. The nightmare unfolding now for Israeli and Palestinian civilians argues differently, when it comes to Biden's approach, critics say.

Persons: Biden, Richard Nixon, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Abdel Fattah el, Sissi, Antony Blinken, ”, Yezid Sayigh, Malcolm H, it’s, Sayigh, Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, Donald Trump, Jake Sullivan, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, “, Jonathan Lord, Yousef Munayyer, Sam Magdy Organizations: WASHINGTON, Camp David, Israeli, West Bank, United, Palestinian, Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, U.S, Trump, United Arab, National, Biden, Hamas's, Center, New, New American Security, Arab, Associated Press Locations: Israel, China, Gaza, United States, Cairo, East, Jordan, Egypt, East Jerusalem, Saudi Arabia, Beirut, Lebanon, American, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, U.S, Iran, Saudi, New American, Palestine, Washington

Biden's travels will be rife with security concerns, and visits by other U.S. officials have been disrupted by rocket launches into Israel. ... And if we don’t, who does?”In Israel, Biden was expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials before heading to Jordan. However, Abbas has withdrawn his planned participation because of the destruction at the hospital in Gaza. Abbas has been Palestinian president for nearly 20 years. Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 2,700 people and wounded more than 9,700, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas, Biden, Jordan, Ukraine —, Joe Biden, ”, Jon Alterman, There's, ” Alterman, Biden's, Antony Blinken, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, King Abdullah II, Abdel Fattah el, it's, Netanyahu, Abdullah II, — Biden, Richard Hecht, haven’t, Josh Boak, Josef Federman, Matthew Lee Organizations: WASHINGTON, Hamas, Ministry, Palestinian, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Senate Foreign Relations, Hezbollah, Associated Press, Israel, Republicans, CBS, International Monetary Fund, Gaza Health Ministry, United Nations Locations: Israel, East, Gaza, Palestinian, Ukraine, United States, Iran, Southern Lebanon, “, The U.S, Tel Aviv, —, U.S, United States of America, Jordan, The Israel, Jordanian, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Washington, Jerusalem, Amman

He had been scheduled to take a tour of CS Wind, the world’s largest facility for wind tower manufacturing. The official, who was not authorized to comment about the president's potential visit, said a final decision to visit Israel hasn't been made. Blinken was in Israel on Monday for his second visit in less than a week for talks with Israeli leaders. He has been crisscrossing the Middle East with stops in Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It’s the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Abdel Fattah el, Mohammed Shia, Olaf Scholz, Harris, Jeff Zients, Jake Sullivan, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Bill Burns, Israel hasn't, idled, Sissi, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Matthew Miller, Israel, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Chuck Schumer, “, ” Schumer, Schumer, Kevin McCarthy, Jacob Lew, — Lee, Jon Gambrell, Mary Clare Jalonick Organizations: WASHINGTON, National, National Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, CS, U.S, Union, United, United Arab Emirates, Israeli, ”, “, Israel, Air, Hamas, Israeli Ministry of Defense, United States Senate, Foreign, AP Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iraqi, Pueblo , Colorado, Egypt’s, Cairo, Europe, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon, U.S, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Washington

RUSSIAN DEATH TOLL IN HAMAS ATTACKS RISES TO 4MOSCOW — Russia’s embassy in Israel said the number of Russian citizens killed in the latest Israel-Palestinian war has risen to four. Previously, two Russian citizens were believed to have been killed and four were missing, according to Anatoly Viktorov, Russian Ambassador to Israel. 2 RUSSIAN CITIZENS WERE KILLED IN HAMAS ATTACKS IN ISRAELMOSCOW — Russia’s ambassador to Israel said that two Russian citizens have been killed in of the latest Israel-Palestinian war. Viktorov said that four other Russian citizens remain missing. He said the embassy has no information confirming Hamas’ claim that several Russian citizens were among the hostages it has taken.

Persons: Israel pummeled, Elon Musk, Musk, Marina Ryazanova, Anatoly Viktorov, Abdel Fattah el, JERUSALEM —, Cross, Fabrizio Carboni, we’ve, ” Carboni, “, Volker Türk, Türk, ”, ” PUTIN, Vladimir Putin, Mohammed Al, Sudani, Putin, regrettably hasn’t, ” Putin, Leo, Khan Younis, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, INDIA'S MODI, Narendra Modi, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Modi, Modi, ISRAEL MOSCOW —, Israel, Anatoly Viktorov didn’t, hasn’t, Viktorov, MACRON, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Macron, Muqtada al, National Security Iyad, Bazm, Dmitry Peskov, Mahmoud Abbas, Peskov, it’s, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s, Tarik Jazarevic, HAVE Organizations: ‘, Twitter, Tass, International Committee, ICRC, Associated Press, HUMAN RIGHTS, The United Nations, Palestinian, Tuesday, Iraqi, MSF, Shifa Hospital, Nasser Hospital, ISRAEL BERLIN, German Foreign Ministry, Indian, Israel’s, Israel, ISRAEL MOSCOW, Hamas, Ministry of Interior, National Security, Kremlin, WHO, The United, World Health Organization, United Nations, UNRWA, PARIS — France’s Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.N, ISRAEL, MOSCOW, Russian, Egypt, Palestinian, Geneva, GAZA, U.S, GAZA CAIRO, Gaza City, Khan, Shalom, GERMANY, Israeli, Germany, DELHI, India, FRANCE, MACRON HAMBURG, Iran, Hamburg, France, IRAQ, GAZA BAGHDAD, Sadr, Najaf, Iraq, RAFAH, Rafah, RUSSIA, Moscow, GAZA GENEVA, The United Nations, UN, BEIRUT

☆ Marta: How Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer became the greatest of all time and an ‘icon’ in her country
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

10, it the greatest women's player of all time and has become an 'icon' Brazil. Marta has won the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award an unprecedented six times. The only achievement missing from a glittering CV is a major title with her beloved national team. Australia and New Zealand 2023 is her sixth and final Women's World Cup. If it weren’t for Marta, women’s football in Brazil would probably still be a very incipient thing.

Persons: CNN —, ” Sissi, “, Sissi, Vasco da Gama, Marta Viera da Silva, ”, Marta, chuckles, Stuart Franklin, wasn’t, Marta ’, John Walton, ’, that’s, ” Marta, Feng Li, Brazil’s, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Dida, Tina Ellerston, Ellerston, –, Juca Kfouri, Ronaldo O Fenômeno, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, ” Kfouri, Doug Pensinger, Pelé, Marta “ Pelé, Raphael Alves, she’s, Neymar, ‘ Marta ’, King, Marta –, Paul Currie, Kfouri, “ Marta Organizations: CNN, Brazil, Rio, Vasco, CNN Sport, FIFA, Nigeria, women’s, Champions League, Copa Libertadores, Germany, United, United States Women’s National, AFP, Getty, Brazil ” Locations: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, United States, men’s, Germany, USA, nestling, Australia, New Zealand, Alagoas, Marta’s, Brazilian

☆ After Saudi Arabia, Iran may be patching up with its oldest Arab foe
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The feud became the longest between Iran and an Arab country in modern times. Khamenei’s recent comments come as Saudi Arabia normalizes ties with Iran after nearly eight years of a diplomatic freeze. Apart from Saudi Arabia and Iran, Egypt has reconciled with both Turkey and Qatar, and the Arab League last month welcomed Syria back as a member after more than a decade of isolation. Weight of historical symbolismAs the years passed by, Egypt and Iran only grew apart, with little desire to reconcile from either party. Most Arab states continue to reject recognition of Israel.

Persons: Princess Fawzia, Iran’s Crown Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Fawzia, King Farouk I –, –, Pahlavi, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran “, ”, Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq, Trita Parsi, ” Parsi, “, Abdel Fattah al, Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Shah, Anwar Sadat, King Farouk, Sadat, Khaled Islambouli, Hosni Mubarak, chargé d’affaires, Mubarak, Mohamed Mursi, Parsi, “ Israel, Abraham, Israel, won’t Organizations: CNN, Iran’s Crown, Iran’s, Media, Tehran, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Arab League, Quincy Institute, Oman News Agency, Reuters Analysts, Cairo Citadel, West, Israel, Abraham Accords Locations: Egypt, Iran, Tehran, Saudi Arabia, United States, ”, London, Cairo, Turkey, Qatar, Syria, West, Washington ,, Al, Rifa’I, Israel, Republic, Ater

☆ Jailed Egyptian hunger striker is hospitalized, family says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Egyptian prison authorities have intervened medically with jailed pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah, who this week escalated a food and hunger strike demanding his release, coinciding with Egypt’s hosting of the U.N. climate summit, his mother said. Abdel-Fattah’s mother, Leila Soueif, said she spoke to prison authorities by phone and asked them if her son was undergoing any medical procedure and they said he was. She asked “if it was by force, and they said no” and told her, “Alaa is good,” she told The Associated Press. Soueif has been waiting outside the prison every day this week, asking for proof of life for her son. World leaders and activists have repeatedly called for Egyptian authorities to release the activist.

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