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☆ Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks are ‘stuck but ongoing,’ sources tell CNN
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Alex Marquardt | Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Talks over a hostage deal and a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas have reached another stalemate but are not over, according to three people familiar with the negotiations. Burns put forward a proposal that was accepted by Israel and sent back to Hamas, the second person and an Israeli official told CNN. “The negotiations are not only centric around the prisoner exchange deal,” Hamas senior official Basem Naeim told CNN on Monday. Those releases would take place during the first phase of a ceasefire, which would be expected to last around six weeks. The senior US officials and Gallant did not reach any agreements on how Israel will move forward with an operation in Rafah in southern Gaza, US and Israeli officials told CNN.

Persons: “, ”, Bill Burns, Burns, Israel, David Barnea, Basem Naeim, “ Israel, Amir Levy, Yahya Sinwar, Matthew Miller, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, William Burns, Anna Moneymaker, ” Miller, Biden, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand Organizations: Hamas, CIA, Doha, Qatari, CNN, Hamas didn’t, National Security, United Nations Security, Central Intelligence Agency, House Intelligence, Cannon, US, Biden Locations: Gaza, Israel, Doha, Qatar, Tel Aviv, Washington , DC, Rafah, Washington, US

☆ British Museum Sues Former Curator for Return of Stolen Items
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Alex Marshall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A judge has ordered a former curator who the British Museum says stole hundreds of artifacts to return any gems or jewelry from the institution that are in his possession. Officials also want Mr. Higgs to explain the whereabouts of other artifacts that they says the former curator sold online. The court documents state that Mr. Higgs disputes the accusations against him. At a High Court hearing in London, the presiding judge, Heather Williams, ordered Mr. Higgs to return any items within four weeks. Judge Williams also ordered PayPal, the online payments company, to disclose data relating to Mr. Higgs’s eBay accounts, including his transaction history.

Persons: Peter Higgs, Higgs, Heather Williams, Judge Williams Organizations: British Museum, eBay, PayPal Locations: London

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has agreed to reschedule a planned meeting with US and Israeli officials to discuss a possible operation in Rafah, the White House confirmed Wednesday, just days after Netanyahu canceled the delegation. “The Prime Minister’s Office has agreed to reschedule the meeting dedicated to Rafah,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. During Wednesday’s briefing, the press secretary declined to say when the administration is hoping to reschedule the meeting, but emphasized it’s an “urgent” priority. Netanyahu canceled the delegation’s planned trip this week over objections to the US abstaining from a UN Security Council vote calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. An Israeli official told CNN they are in the process of rescheduling the visit to DC to hear US ideas for how to target Hamas in Rafah.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Karine Jean, Pierre said, we’re, Jake Sullivan, Tony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Bill Burns, ”, CNN’s Jennifer Hansler Organizations: White House, CNN, UN Security, US Locations: Rafah, Gaza, “ Rafah

The reason for the reports of a deteriorating service in Ukraine are unclear, and Starlink, SpaceX and Musk declined to comment. Even with the Starlink devices that are firmly in the Ukrainian military’s control, there is a concern among Ukrainian officials that Russians may hijack their communications or hack them. Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service claimed last year that Russian military hackers were trying to steal battlefield communications sent from Ukrainian soldiers’ mobile devices to Starlink terminals. She promised 30 at a later date, and also posted images of a stack of 20 apparent donated Starlink units. Ukrainian units have also been posting footage of multiple drone strikes against Russian trenches where Starlink terminals have been spotted.

Persons: Elon Musk, SpaceX, Misha, “, ”, John Moore, Anton, Oleg Kutkov, Jeff Jurgensen, Musk, Starlink, crowdfunders, Katya Valya, CedarWoods Organizations: CNN, Elon, SpaceX, 65th Mechanised Brigade, Russian, Pentagon, Ukraine, CedarWoods Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Ukraine, Donbas, “, Kyiv, Poland, Russia, Moscow

☆ Israel defense minister’s meeting with Lloyd Austin comes at a delicate moment in push for US weaponry
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Gallant will be told that the various cases of weapons sales are being worked on, a senior administration official told CNN. “There is scrutiny, but no policy decision to deny” the provision of additional weapons to Israel, the official told CNN. But the defense secretary’s position on providing weapons to Israel has not shifted much since the war began, officials said. “If there is one, that would be something we would want to hear,” said the senior administration official who added that consequences for ignoring US urgings are increasingly being considered. Austin also told Gallant last week that Israel needs “to consider alternatives to a major ground operation in Rafah,” according to a Pentagon readout of their call.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, Lloyd Austin, Gallant, —, Joe Biden’s, Austin, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, We’re, John Kirby, Israel, “, Patrick Ryder, ”, ” Gallant, Biden, Netanyahu, ” Kirby, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, ” CNN’s Oren Liebermann Organizations: US, Israel, Pentagon, UN, ” National Security, CNN, Austin, Israel Defense Forces, Foreign, State Department, Congress, Democratic Locations: Gaza, Israeli, Washington, Rafah, Israel, Lebanon, ”

☆ How Do You Become the U.K.’s Hottest New Band? The Old-Fashioned Way.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Alex Marshall | Ellie Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

One drunken evening in 2019, Abigail Morris and Georgia Davies rushed into a discount store in Brixton, south London, and bought a cheap notepad to write down their band’s manifesto. At that point, the rock group, then called the Dinner Party, only had three members, and had never actually rehearsed any songs. But Morris and Davies — the singer and bassist — knew exactly how they wanted to look and sound: “Gothic,” “Indulgent” and “Decadence” were at the top of their list. Later in the evening, Morris accidentally cut herself on a broken glass, and dripped blood onto the notepad. The splatters emphasized the pair’s vision for a band teetering between the beautiful and the grotesque.

Persons: Abigail Morris, Georgia Davies, Morris, Davies, —, “, ” Davies Organizations: Party Locations: Brixton, London

☆ Senior Hamas official says he ‘cannot reassure anyone’ that hostages in Gaza are safe
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Jeremy Diamond | Abeer Salman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

During the interview, Naim rejected defining Hamas’ attacks as terrorism, falsely claiming that his organization does not target civilians. Hamas has denied international organizations any access to those hostages still in captivity to assess their wellbeing. While Naim denied the allegations of sexual violence, he said Hamas was unable to account for the wellbeing of the hostages because of the continued bombardment of Gaza. In recent weeks, many civilians in Gaza have increasingly blamed Hamas for the mounting starvation. This year, it comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Gaza, Israeli crackdowns on Palestinian militant groups in the occupied West Bank and Hamas’ calls for more attacks.

Persons: Jerusalem CNN —, “, ”, Basem Naim, Naim, Israel, Pramila Patten, ” Naim, hasn’t, ” Patten’s, Netanyahu’s, West Bank “, Ramadan, CNN’s Alex Marquardt Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, CNN, United, Hamas, Israel, United Nations, UN, Hamas ’, Reuters, “, Gaza, West Bank Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, United Nations, Istanbul, Turkey, Israel, Hamas, Doha, Qatar, Aqsa

☆ Israel slams Hamas’ latest Gaza ceasefire proposal as ‘ridiculous’ but says it will send negotiators to latest talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The response from Hamas was long-awaited after discussions over a proposed six-week pause in the fighting appeared to stall. Hamas communicated their latest proposal via mediators Qatar and Egypt on Thursday, two sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN. On Friday, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “Hamas is continuing to hold to unrealistic demands” but announced that an Israeli team would soon be traveling to Doha to further talks. The Hamas proposal included 100 prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli prisons, the diplomat said. Even if both Hamas and Israel are participating in the talks, the two sides would not be in the same room.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ”, Antony Blinken, Israel, ” Blinken, Bill Burns, David Barnea, John Kirby, we’ve, ” Kirby, CNN’s MJ Lee, Ireland’s, Biden nodded, ” Basem Naim, CNN’s Amir Tal, MJ Lee, Betsy Klein, Abeer Salman Organizations: CNN, Qatar, Hamas, Reuters, CIA, Biden, National Security, White House Locations: CNN — Israel, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Israeli, Doha, Rafah, Qatar, Jordan

☆ US not anticipating Israeli forces to enter Rafah at the start of Ramadan
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Mj Lee | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration is not anticipating that Israeli forces will imminently expand their military operations into Rafah, two US officials told CNN, with the holy month of Ramadan set to begin Monday for most Muslims. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that regardless of a deal, he plans to send the military into Rafah. “Once we begin the intense action of eradicating the Hamas terrorist battalions in Rafah, it’s a matter of weeks, if not months. Families are already living with severe shortages of food, water, medicine and shelter, and the daily risk of being killed. CIA Director Bill Burns, who has led US efforts, was back in the Middle East last week meeting with Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli counterparts.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Benny Gantz, Ramadan, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ We’ll, We’re, ” Netanyahu, Axel Springer, “, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Netanyahu, ”, Bill Burns, –, John Kirby, CNN’s Mitchell McCluskey, Michelle Shen Organizations: CNN, Hamas, MSNBC, Politico, United Nations, CIA, Biden White, National Security, House Locations: Rafah, Washington, Gaza, “, it’s, Israel

Ryder also said the construction of the pier and causeway will likely require as many as 1,000 US military personnel to complete. The initiative will aim to augment a maritime corridor that the US, the European Commission, the United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, and the UK, have been working to open to deliver assistance directly. The pier will allow ships to offload aid, which will then be transported across a causeway into Gaza that will also be constructed by the US military, officials said. “We are committed to supporting the maritime corridor which is planned by Fogbow,” the official said. The US president and vice president each said Israel had “no excuses” not to ramp up the aid allowed into Gaza.

Persons: Patrick Ryder, Ryder, Biden, Joe Biden, Sigrid Kaag, “ We’re, ” Ryder, Fogbow, “ I’m, ” Biden, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, ” Kaag, ” Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, European Commission, United Arab, US, United Nations, United States Air Force, UN, Navy, Army, military’s, 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary, Base Langley, USAID, CIA, Blue, Qatari, European Union, Administration, “ Locations: Gaza, United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, United, Base Langley Eustis, Virginia, American, Qatar, Israel

☆ Russian oligarch went to Moscow in effort to broker complex prisoner exchange that included Navalny, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Sebastian Shukla | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —A multi-country prisoner exchange that might have freed Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was being discussed and progressing when he died last month, multiple sources have told CNN, and included the direct involvement of a Russian oligarch, Roman Abramovich. However, a source close to Navalny’s team told CNN that on the evening of February 15 they had received word that a message had been delivered to Putin. Clinton “initially passed on the message” to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Grozev told CNN. “We had to find a way to package the German asset [Krasikov] into an American negotiation,” the source close to the Navalny team said. Getting the message to Putin was one of the greatest challenges, the individual close to the Navalny team told CNN.

Persons: Alexey Navalny, Roman Abramovich, Navalny, Abramovich, Hillary Clinton, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Maria Pevchikh, “, ”, Dmitry Peskov, it’s, Christo Grozev, Clinton, Grozev, Biden, Viktor Bout, Brittney Griner, Clinton “, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Pevchikh, Vadim Krasikov, Krasikov, Tucker Carlson, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Whelan, Gershkovich, Whelan –, Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov, ” Abramovich Organizations: CNN, United Arab, Kremlin, IK, Aspen Ideas, FSB, US National, National Security, Wall Street, Krasikov, Navalny, US Department of Justice Locations: Russian, Moscow, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Siberia, Western, Russia, Aspen, Colorado, Berlin, Chechen, Europe, Germans, Brazil

CNN —The Israelis have “basically accepted” a six-week ceasefire proposal in Gaza, a senior Biden administration official told reporters Saturday. On Thursday, a Hamas official warned, however, that the negotiations could be affected. Negotiators from the US, Israel, Egypt and Hamas are expected to attend, a diplomatic source familiar with the discussions said. Discussions between Israel and Hamas would be indirect, in separate rooms. Israel has asked Hamas for a list of the hostages, including who is living and who is dead.

Persons: “, Ramadan –, –, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Giorgia Meloni, It’s, Kamala Harris, Benny Gantz, Harris, Gantz, Jake Sullivan, Biden, there’d, it’s, CNN’s MJ Lee, Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Biden, Hamas, White, Italian, Gaza, Command Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Paris, Doha, Qatar, Egypt, Cairo, Qatari

☆ Talks on an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal appear on track after killings at Gaza aid site, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Alex Marquardt | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN has reached out to several Hamas officials about the potential deal but has not gotten a response. In the immediate aftermath of the deaths of dozens of Palestinian civilians in Gaza on Thursday, US officials said the chaotic scenes injected added urgency into the hostage and ceasefire talks. On Thursday, Biden said the deaths at the aid site could make the ceasefire talks more difficult. Technical teams have been working on the key components of a potential deal this week in Doha, officials familiar with the talks say. During a truce, negotiations would take place over more sensitive topics like the release of Israeli soldiers who are hostages, Palestinian prisoners serving longer sentences, the withdrawal of IDF forces and bringing a permanent end to the war alongside the so-called “day after” issues.

Persons: Ramadan, Joe Biden, “, ” Biden, Giorgia Meloni, Ramadan –, Biden, Majed al, Ansari, ” It’s, Barak Ravid, Sameh Shukri, ” Organizations: CNN, Doha, Italian, Israel, CNN Foreign Affairs, Axios, Antalya Diplomacy, Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza, Gaza City, Paris, Qatar, Egypt, Rafah, Doha, Antalya, Turkey

Smoke billows above the Lebanese village of Bint Jbeil during Israeli bombardment on February 28. “We are operating in the assumption that an Israeli military operation is in the coming months,” one senior Biden administration official said. An Israeli military operation is a distinct possibility.”The leadership of Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed paramilitary group, has expressed support for Palestinians and condemned Israel’s offensive in Gaza. There have been months of daily, deadly cross-border strikes by both Israel and Hezbollah that have displaced tens of thousands of Lebanese and Israeli residents from their homes. That deal would likely postpone an Israeli incursion, US officials believe.

Persons: Bint Jbeil, Jalaa Marey, Biden, ”, “ Organizations: Getty, Biden, Hezbollah Locations: Lebanese, AFP, Israel, Lebanon, Israeli, Iran, Gaza

☆ Concern rising among Biden officials that Israel is planning incursion into Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“We are operating in the assumption that an Israeli military operation is in the coming months,” one senior Biden administration official said. That deal would likely postpone an Israeli incursion, US officials believe. “Some Israeli officials suggest that it is more of an effort at creating a threat that they can utilize. A second senior Biden administration official said there are elements inside the Israeli government and military in favor of an incursion. Benjamin Netanyahu Ariel Tagar/USA Today“Once the war is over, his expiration date arrives,” the first senior administration official said.

Persons: Biden, ”, “, let’s, Let’s, ’, Israel, Herzi, Amos Hochstein, Amos Hochstein Michael Brochstein, Amos, Hochstein, Yoav Gallant, It’s, ” Gallant, Ziv, Jalaa Marey, Benjamin Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu Ariel Tagar Organizations: CNN, Biden, “, Israel, US, Getty, Lebanese Armed Forces, United Nations, UNIFIL, Bibi Locations: Israel, Lebanon, Israeli, Gaza, “, Washington, The State, Beirut, Baalbek, Israel's, Safed, AFP, ” Israel, Golan

☆ Venice Biennale Says It Will Disregard Petition to Ban Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Alex Marshall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

In a sign of the deep divisions over the war in Gaza, thousands of artists signed an open letter urging the Venice Biennale to ban “any official representation of Israel” during the art world’s most important event. This week, they got an answer: The Biennale and Italy’s culture minister said that Israel would still be taking part. The Biennale said in a statement on Wednesday that any country recognized by Italy could request to participate. The Biennale would “not take into consideration any petition or call to exclude” countries, it added. The comments came a day after Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italy’s culture minister, issued a far stronger statement in support of Israel’s participation.

Persons: Israel ”, Gennaro Sangiuliano Organizations: Venice Biennale Locations: Gaza, Venice, Israel, Italy

☆ Criticism of Israel at Berlin Film Festival Stirs Antisemitism Debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Alex Marshall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When Yuval Abraham and Basel Adra walked onstage at the Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday night, they had come to talk about more than movies. Abraham and Adra, an Israeli and Palestinian filmmaking team, had just won the festival’s award for best documentary for “No Other Land,” a movie about Palestinian resistance to Israeli campaigns in the occupied territories. It was “very hard,” Adra said, to celebrate the award “when there are tens of thousands of my people being slaughtered and massacred by Israel in Gaza.”He called upon German lawmakers to “stop sending weapons to Israel,” before Abraham called for a cease-fire and an end to Israel’s occupation. The audience, which included the culture minister of Germany, Claudia Roth, applauded loudly, and there were whistles and cheers in the hall.

Persons: Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Abraham, Adra, ” Adra, ”, Claudia Roth Organizations: Berlin Locations: Palestinian, Israel, Gaza

☆ Hamas has softened some demands as Gaza hostage and ceasefire negotiations progress, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“Hamas’ requirements for the numbers of Palestinians [prisoners that] would have to be freed has declined,” the official added. A diplomatic source familiar with the discussions confirmed that Hamas softened its position ahead of an agreement on the first phase of a deal. “They have to come down to reality,” Netanyahu said of Hamas on Fox News. “And I think if that’s the case, we’ll be able to have a deal we certainly wanted, and I wanted. With or without a hostage deal, “We will do it anyway” Netanyahu told CBS News, because “total victory is our goal.”“We can’t leave the last Hamas stronghold without taking care of it,” Netanyahu said.

Persons: ”, Matt Miller, “, ” Miller, Miller, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, ” Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, we’ll, Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Biden, State, Doha, Israeli, Fox News, CBS Locations: Gaza, Paris, Rafah, Doha, Qatar, Egypt

CNN —Two American brothers who were detained in Gaza earlier this month by Israeli forces are being held in Ashkelon prison, a US official tells CNN. The brothers were “arrested for collaboration with Hamas,” Israel’s Consul General to the Midwest, Yinam Cohen, told CNN on Thursday. When asked for comment, the IDF told CNN the brothers are not in their custody, referring questions to the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As CNN previously reported, the brothers were among a group of roughly 20 men detained by IDF soldiers early on February 8, according to the brothers’ cousin Yasmeen Elagha. IDF did not respond to CNN’s request for comment at the time on the matter.

Persons: Alagha, Hashem Alagha, ”, Yinam Cohen, Maria Kari, Hashem, Borak’s, ” Kari, Yasmeen Elagha, –, Elagha Organizations: CNN, US, IDF, Israeli Security Agency, “ Locations: Gaza, Ashkelon, Israel, Chicago

☆ Negotiators race to secure Israel-Hamas hostage and ceasefire deal ahead of Ramadan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Mj Lee | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Looming over the hostage deal discussions is the threat by Israel to launch an offensive into Rafah in southern Gaza, where around 1.5 million displaced Gazans have fled. Israel appears dug inAs Israel appears dug in its position, negotiators expect Hamas to again respond in the coming days. The first hostage deal in late November saw the return of dozens of hostages taken captive by Hamas on October 7 and a week-long truce. Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, have continued to argue that “complete victory” is needed over Hamas. Supporting Tuesday’s UN resolution, proposed by Algeria, in the middle of the ongoing hostage talks would have jeopardized the ceasefire talks, White House said.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Ramadan, Israel, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden’s, Brett McGurk, Bill Burns ’, ” Gal Hirsch, Majed Al, Ansari, ” Al, Benny Gantz, White, “, John Kirby, – Organizations: CNN, Israel, CIA, Munich Security, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “ Qatar, United Nations, UN, Senior, United Nations Security Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Qatar, Egypt, United States, Cairo, Doha, Algeria

☆ Judge allows Sam Bankman-Fried to keep his new lawyers after prosecutors warn of conflict of interest
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewUS District Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that Sam Bankman-Fried could retain his new lawyers despite a noted conflict of interest. Questioned thoroughly by Kaplan, Bankman-Fried affirmed that he wanted to keep his new attorneys, waiving his right to "conflict-free representation," as Kaplan put it. They're expected to help Bankman-Fried with his sentencing hearing, scheduled for late March. In their February letter, prosecutors said Kaplan should hold a Curcio hearing, where the judge could ask Bankman-Fried and his lawyers questions to determine whether a legitimate conflict of interest exists and whether they would waive it for the sentencing hearing. This has the potential to create a conflict in the representation of Bankman-Fried and Mashinsky," prosecutors wrote in the letter.

Persons: —, Lewis Kaplan, Sam Bankman, Fried, Kaplan, Marc Mukasey, Torrey Young, waiving, Mukasey, Young, They're, Alex Mashinsky, Caroline Ellison, Mashinsky, Prosecutors, Michael Mukasey, George W, Bush, Eddie Gallagher, Eric Trump, Matt Gaetz, Alexandra Shapiro, Shapiro, Nicolas Roos Organizations: Service, Bankman, Business, Justice Department Prosecutors, Alameda Research, Prosecutors, Mashinsky, Navy, New, Trump Locations: Manhattan, Alameda, New York

CNN —The United States has vetoed a resolution at the United Nations calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an anticipated move that comes amid growing international clamor for Israel to pause its offensive against Hamas. The US had already signaled its intention to veto the Algerian resolution, but has grown increasingly critical of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and on Monday proposed its own Security Council draft resolution calling for a “temporary ceasefire” in the conflict. Attention will now turn to the progress of the American draft resolution, which falls short of the wishes of most other Security Council members but nonetheless highlights a hardening in the White House’s stance on the conflict. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, told the Security Council the Algeria-proposed resolution would negatively impact sensitive negotiations ongoing in the region. Algeria’s resolution, while doomed to ultimately fail, served to highlight the increasingly widespread global concern about the tenor of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)’s ground and bombing campaign in Gaza.

Persons: Linda Thomas, Greenfield, ” Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Hamas, US, UN, Security Council, Israel Defense Forces Locations: United States, Gaza, Israel, Algeria

☆ Speaker Mike Johnson faces critical decision on Ukraine aid as international pressure grows to act
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Melanie Zanona | Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Speaker Mike Johnson is facing international criticism over his lack of swift action on Ukraine aid, which is ratcheting up pressure to make a critical decision that will not only have massive implications for his rookie speakership but also for Ukraine’s ongoing war effort against Russia. “If there is a Mike Johnson plan, there aren’t any House Republicans that are aware of its existence.”The pressure cooker Johnson is facing has exposed some frustration over how he has approached his speakership. At a time when House Republicans are looking to their leader to make a decisive choice, the speaker has instead elevated members to bring forward their own ideas without articulating his own preferences. “Ukraine is in desperate need of the US aid, passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote on the floor of the United States Senate. “We’re looking at a number of options on our leadership team.”Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has repeatedly hammered Johnson over his inaction.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, –, Alexei Navalny, Kevin McCarthy, Donald Trump, Sen, J.D, Vance, Johnson —, Warren Davidson, ” Davidson, Virginia Sen, Mark Warner, ”, Ben Cardin, “, ” Cardin, It’s, Brian Fitzpatrick, someone’s, Mitch McConnell, Vladimir Putin, ” Johnson, Steve Scalise, Trump, ” Scalise, Joe Biden, ” Biden, NATO … I’ve, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Putin “, Vladimir Putin’s, ” Schumer, it’s, There’s, Mike Turner, ” CNN’s Alex Marquardt Organizations: CNN, Russia, Democratic, Congress, Global, Security, Republicans, Republican, NATO, GOP, Caucus, languishes, Senate Intelligence, United, United States Senate, Senate, NATO …, New, New York Democrat, House Intelligence, Ohio Republican, Press, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Warren Davidson of Ohio, “, Munich, United States, Russia, Pennsylvania, Baltic, Florida, New York, Washington

Munich, Germany CNN —Hamas’s demands for a hostage deal are “delusional” and need to be “close to reality,” Israel’s Coordinator for the Captives and the Missing, Gal Hirsch, told CNN Saturday. But Hamas’s demands are disconnected from reality - delusional,” the former Israel Defense Forces commander said in an interview with CNN’s Alex Marquardt at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. He suggested that, though Israel and Hamas had previously agreed on a deal to supply medication to Israeli hostages, the hostages did not receive this medication. Hamas will be dismantled, but we would like very much to make a deal and to bring our hostages back home. “They wanted very much to break the potential deal just as they did in the previous one,” he suggested.

Persons: Germany CNN —, ”, Gal Hirsch, CNN’s Alex Marquardt, counteroffer, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Hirsch, ” Hirsch, Khan Younis, “, Martin Meissner, Marquardt, Deir al Balah Organizations: Germany CNN, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Munich, Israeli, Minister’s, Hamas, Nasser, IDF, UN Locations: Munich, Germany, Gaza, Israel, Israel’s, Khan, The Hague, Netherlands, Rafah, Deir al

CNN —Talks on a hostage and ceasefire deal for Gaza appear to be at an impasse. During the process, Israeli troops would gradually withdraw from Gaza, hostages would be released and Palestinian prisoners in Israel – including those serving life sentences – would be freed. The Israeli leader has repeatedly said that the war in Gaza will continue until Israel destroys Hamas’ leadership and rescues the hostages. Even as talks continue in Cairo, the Israeli military has been conducting operations in Gaza designed to hunt down top Hamas figures. The Israeli prime minister on Wednesday said that Hamas must change its negotiating position before talks can continue in Cairo.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Israel –, Said Khatib, ”, ’, –, Netanyahu, “, Matthew Miller, Ronen Zvulun, Shin Bet, Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu –, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, “ We’re, we’re, Joe Biden, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, Hamas, CIA, Israeli, Getty, “, US State Department, ’, IDF, State Department, The Washington Post Locations: Gaza, Cairo, Israel, Rafah, Paris, AFP, Qatar, “ Qatar, Doha, Aqsa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, “, Egypt, Albania, The Washington, Palestinian, United States

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