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☆ 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

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: | 2023-11-21 | 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

Washington CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu grabbed Brett McGurk’s arm as he walked out of a tense meeting of the Israeli Cabinet over securing the release of hostages Hamas was holding in Gaza. Hamas – after refusing for days – had relented in offering identifying information about several dozen hostages, such as their age, gender and nationalities. It laid out how women and children would leave in the first phase, as well as incentives for Hamas to release more hostages beyond that. On October 24, Hamas appeared to agree to the parameters of a deal to release women and children hostages. Hamas would only guarantee 50 and refused to produce identifying information about the hostages.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Brett McGurk’s, ” Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Hamas –, –, – couldn’t, Biden –, Xi Jinping –, Biden, McGurk, Bill Burns, Natalie, Judith Raanan, Jake Sullivan, Jon, Stephanie Hallett, Natalie Raanan’s, Burns, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Ismail Haniyeh, Israel wasn’t, Israel, Blinken, David Barnea, ”, Matt Miller, John Kirby, Kirby, CNN’s Alex Marquardt Organizations: Washington CNN, Israeli, White, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Al, CIA, Qatari, White House, State Department, CNN, State, National Security, US State Department Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, San Francisco, Qatar, Doha, Cairo, Hamas

☆ Israeli Tanks Reported Near Hospital in Embattled North Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military of the reports from the Indonesian Hospital but the Palestinian news agency WAFA said the facility had been hit by artillery fire. Like many other health facilities in embattled Gaza, the Indonesian Hospital, set up in 2016 with funding from Indonesian organisations, has ceased operations. At the other end of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, at least 14 Palestinians were killed in two Israeli air strikes on houses in the town of Rafah, near the border with Egypt, health officials said. Israeli tanks and troops stormed into Gaza late last month and have since seized wide areas of the north and northwest and east around Gaza City, the Israeli military says. Palestinians say Israel's repeated bombardment of southern Gaza renders Israeli promises of safety absurd.

Persons: Clauda Tanios, James Mackenzie, WAFA, Ashraf Al, Qidra, Gaza's, Beit Lahia, Israel, Yemen's, Houthis, Michael Herzog, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, General Antonio Guterres, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Indonesian, Indonesian Hospital, Palestinian, Gaza's General Authority, Gaza's Hamas, Islamic, Sunday, Qatari, White, Hamas, Israel Locations: James Mackenzie GAZA, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Palestinian, Rafah, Egypt, Israel, Gaza City, Beach, Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, Beijing, Yemen's Iran, British, United States, Doha, States

[1/6] Smoke rises after Israeli air strikes in Gaza, as seen from southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, November 20, 2023. Like many other health facilities in embattled Gaza, the Indonesian Hospital, set up in 2016 with funding from Indonesian organisations, has ceased operations. At the other end of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, at least 14 Palestinians were killed in two Israeli air strikes on houses in the town of Rafah, near the border with Egypt, health officials said. Israeli tanks and troops stormed into Gaza late last month and have since seized wide areas of the north and northwest and east around Gaza City, the Israeli military says. Palestinians say Israel's repeated bombardment of southern Gaza renders Israeli promises of safety absurd.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, WAFA, Ashraf Al, Qidra, Gaza's, Beit Lahia, Israel, Yemen's, Houthis, Michael Herzog, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, General Antonio Guterres, Clauda Tanios, James Mackenzie, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, Indonesian, Indonesian Hospital, Gaza's General Authority, Gaza's Hamas, Islamic, Sunday, Qatari, White, Israel, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Egyptian, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Palestinian, Egypt, Gaza City, Beach, Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, Beijing, Yemen's Iran, British, United States, Doha, States

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani attends a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna (not pictured) at the Amiri Diwan, in Doha, Qatar November 5, 2023. It followed a report in the Washington Post published on Saturday that said a deal for the release of 50 hostages had been agreed. "The challenges facing the agreement are just practical and logistical," Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said at a joint press conference with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Doha. "The deal is going through ups and downs from time to time throughout the last few weeks. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said no deal had been reached yet.

Persons: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Catherine Colonna, Amiri, Imad Creidi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, Josep Borrell, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sheikh Mohammed, Andrew Gray, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Emelia Sithole, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Qatar's, French, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, Hamas, Washington Post, White House, Reuters, Qatari, European Union, Washington, Thomson Locations: Doha, Qatar, Palestinian, Israel, United States, Gaza

☆ Hamas battles Israeli forces in north Gaza, amid hopes of hostage deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A view of debris of destroyed buildings after Israeli army's airstrike at Nuseirat Refugee Camp as Israel's attacks continue on its 42nd day in Gaza Strip on November 17, 2023. Hamas gunmen battled Israeli forces trying to push into Gaza's largest refugee camp on Sunday and at least 11 Palestinians were killed by an Israeli air strike on a house, medics said, as hopes rose of a deal to free some hostages from the enclave. Reuters reported on Nov. 15 that Qatari mediators had been seeking a deal between Israel and Hamas to exchange 50 hostages in return for a three-day ceasefire, citing an official briefed on the talks. At the time, the official said general outlines had been agreed but Israel was still negotiating details. The civilian death toll in Gaza was "staggering and unacceptable," U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday, again appealing for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, United States Michael Herzog, Israel, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, General Antonio Guterres Organizations: The Washington Post, Post, Israeli, Reuters, Sunday, Qatari, Hamas, Israel Locations: Gaza, The, Israel, United States, Doha, States

☆ Israel-Hamas hostage deal could come this week — here's what we know
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Officials have been tight-lipped when speaking publicly on the hostage negotiations, due to the sensitive and malleable nature of the talks. As the current deal appears to inch closer to a final version, here are some lingering questions and what we know so far. Reaching a deal this week is not certain — a variety of factors could disrupt and prolong the negotiations. Finer said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" that the deal would "certainly" lead to the release of "more than dozens" of hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that Israel will not begin to consider a cease-fire until all of Hamas' hostages have been released.

Persons: Jonathan, Israel, Adrienne Watson, Michael Herzog, Herzog, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, Benjamin Netanyahu, it's, Netanyahu Organizations: Hamas, U.S, Deputy National, White, Washington Post, National Security, National, CNN, Qatari Locations: Gaza, Israel, Tel Aviv, Qatar

☆ 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

☆ Biden Gets Four-Hour Battle Pauses From Israel After Pushing for Three-Day Stoppages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

White House spokesman John Kirby announced the pauses and the opening of two humanitarian corridors in northern Gaza to allow Palestinians to seek safety from Israel's military operations. The pauses emerged from discussions between U.S and Israeli officials in recent days, including talks Biden had with Netanyahu, Kirby told reporters. "We understand that Israel will begin to implement four-hour pauses in areas of northern Gaza each day, with an announcement to be made three hours beforehand," Kirby said. Palestinian Hamas gunmen killed 1,400 people and took 240 hostage during an Oct. 7 incursion into Israel, Israel has said. Israel is also opening two humanitarian corridors in northern Gaza, Kirby said.

Persons: Steve Holland, Doina, Nandita Bose WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Biden, I've, Benjamin Netanyahu, It's, Netanyahu, Kirby, We've, Nandita Bose, Nick Macfie, Howard Goller Organizations: White, Israeli, CIA, Reuters, Islamic, Brigades, United Locations: Israel, Gaza, Gaza . Palestinian, Doha, United States

Persons: Joe Biden, John Kirby, Biden, I've, Benjamin Netanyahu, It's, Netanyahu, Kirby, Mohammed Salem, We've, Steve Holland, Nandita Bose, Doina, Nick Macfie, Howard Goller Organizations: White, Israeli, Hamas, REUTERS, CIA, Reuters, Islamic, Brigades, United, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Gaza . Palestinian, Palestinian, Doha, United States

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, crisis in Gaza, Netanyahu rejects ceasefire calls
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Officials with US President Joe Biden's administration have been calling on Israel to consider so-called “humanitarian pauses” that can allow for civilians in Gaza, including hostages, to exit and for aid to get in. One source familiar with the discussions said the talks have centered on freeing hostages in exchange for prisoners being held by Israel. Al-Ansari, the Qatari spokesperson, also said there have been active discussions about a “prisoner exchange” for the hostages. The source added the negotiations also include getting Hamas to open the Rafah gates for dual nationals to leave Gaza. “We are optimistic that the talks are headed more towards all civilian hostages,” al-Ansari said.

Persons: Joe Biden's, ”, —, Majed Al, Ansari, Israel, Jake Sullivan, we’ve, ” Sullivan, Al, ” al, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatari, US Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Doha

☆ Ori Megidish: Israeli forces rescue soldier held by Hamas in special operation, IDF says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Akanksha Sharma | Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A female Israeli soldier who was abducted by Hamas has been rescued in a special joint operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told CNN, the first successful hostage extrication since the militant group’s October 7 rampage. Ori Megidish was “released.” But that was a translation error, IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Tuesday. Megidish was among over 200 hostages held by Hamas and was “actively rescued” with “boots on the ground” in a joint operation between the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) which is also known as Shin Bet, Conricus said. Megidish has also shared information about her captivity with Israeli intelligence officers that “can be used for the future,” Conricus added. Conricus also alleged that Hamas is indulging in psychological warfare by using hostages as leverage.

Persons: Megidish, Jonathan Conricus, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, “, Shin Bet, Conricus, ”, ” Conricus, –, Majed Al, Ansari, … Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Israeli Security Agency, Israel, Israeli Government Press Office, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Gaza, Israel, American, Qatar, Megidish

On Oct. 7, Hamas gunmen stormed into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing at least 1,400 people. In response, Israel has retaliated with air strikes, putting the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million people under siege. President Joe Biden said he would seek extra funding, estimated to be in the billions, to help Israel fight Hamas. QATARIn Qatar, Zhai said China was ready to maintain communication and coordination with Russia in an effort to calm the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Reporting by Liz Lee and Ryan Woo; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Stephen Coates and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Zhai Jun, Mikhail Bogdanov, Zhai, Bogdanov, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Israel, U.N, Antony Blinken, Washington, Blinken, Liz Lee, Ryan Woo, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Mideast, Moscow, Gaza, Security, United, Global Times, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Rights BEIJING, Israel, Qatar, Middle, Moscow, China, Russia, Doha, Beijing, Palestinian, United States, Iran, Brazil, Washington, Russian, U.S, QATAR, Lincoln

☆ Exclusive: Qatar PM touts ‘better environment’ after US-Iran prisoner deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“We were so proud to see that Qatar helped in bringing those people back to their families,” Al-Thani told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in an exclusive interview. “I hope both countries are believing that this will lead to a better environment to go for an entire agreement on the nuclear issue, and any other outstanding issue,” he said. The Qatar-mediated prisoner-release deal came amid a significant dialing back of tensions between Iran and the US in recent months. Attacks by Iran and its proxies on US interests in the Middle East have almost ceased, and Iran’s oil exports have risen despite Western sanctions on its oil industry. Meanwhile, Iran’s uranium enrichment under its nuclear program has reportedly slowed.

Persons: Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, “, ”, Thani, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Emad, Morad, Siamak, Amanpour, Biden, Ebrahim Raisi, Donald Trump’s, Raisi, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN — Qatar, Qatari, CNN, Biden, UN, Assembly, Hall, Ukraine ” Locations: Iran, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani, Qatar, ” Al, Virginia, Doha, Al, New York, UN’s, Ukraine, United States, America

☆ Exclusive: Qatar prime minister, Taliban chief hold secret Afghan talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Jonathan Landay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The Taliban say they respect women’s rights in line with their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan customs. The Taliban in March 2022 barred girls from high schools and extended the ban to universities in December. ADDRESSING HUMANITARIAN CRISISSheikh Mohammed and Haibatullah also discussed efforts to remedy Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis, the source said. The U.S. and its allies say the Taliban harbor members of al Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban. Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as Qatar's foreign minister, met publicly in Kandahar with Mullah Hassan Akhund, the Taliban prime minister, on the same day he met the supreme leader.

Persons: Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Akhunzada, Joe Biden's, Sheikh Mohammed, Haibatullah, al, Mullah Hassan Akhund, Jonathan Landay, Don Durfee, Deepa Babington Organizations: Qatari, Qatar, United, The State Department, Human Rights, United Nations, Islamic, Haibatullah, Thomson Locations: Afghan, Kandahar, Thani, Kabul, United States, Washington, Qatar, U.S, Geneva, Islamic State, Afghanistan, The U.S, al Qaeda, Doha

☆ Reaction to Iran and Saudi Arabia resuming ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

STATEMENT ISSUED BY IRAN, SAUDI ARABIA AND CHINATehran and Riyadh agreed "to resume diplomatic relations between them and re-open their embassies and missions within a period not exceeding two months". HEZBOLLAHThe head of Lebanon's powerful armed group said the resumption of ties between its backer Iran and longtime rival Saudi Arabia was a "good development". ANWAR GARGASH, DIPLOMATIC ADVISER TO UNITED ARAB EMIRATES PRESIDENT"We welcome the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic relations, and we hail the Chinese role in this regard," he tweeted. QATARPrime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who also acts as foreign minister, called the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia to welcome the deal. IRAQ STATE NEWS AGENCYIraq welcomes "turning a new page" between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

☆ Former Qatari prime minister's son bids for Manchester United
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A statue of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton standing outside Old Trafford, home of Manchester United in Manchester, England. Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a son of Qatar's former prime minister, on Friday launched a bid to buy Premier League soccer club Manchester United, whose American owners launched a formal sale process late last year. Sheikh Jassim is the son of Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, who is one of the richest men in the Gulf state. However, Qatari state investors, who own a stake in French champions Paris Saint-Germain, could face challenges structuring a takeover of Manchester United, as rules forbid two clubs with the same owner taking part in the lucrative Champions League. Sheikh Hamad is the owner of PSG and it is unclear how the Qatari bid will be structured.

But whatever your feelings toward Elizabeth, it’s clear that the institution of the British monarchy is far from benevolent. Meanwhile, the exact worth of the British monarchy is very difficult to calculate. The Sunday Times' Rich List calculated the queen’s personal net worth as 370 million pounds (more than $420 million), while the author and royal expert David McClure estimated it at 400 million pounds (around $460 million). In 2021-2022, the royal household’s financial report calculated this as 86.3 million pounds ($98.5 million). (According to the BBC, this portfolio generates around 20 million pounds a year in profits.)

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