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Media affiliated to Hamas said explosions and gunfire could be head in the northern part of the Gaza Strip ahead of the truce deadline. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report and there was no immediate comment from Israel or Hamas. Mark Regev, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel was open to continuing the ceasefire if Hamas committed to further hostage releases. Israel had previously set the release of 10 hostages a day as the minimum it would accept to pause its assault. [1/5]A helicopter carrying hostages released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel arrives at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv district, Israel, December 1, 2023.

Persons: Israel's Kan, Israel, Mark Regev, Benjamin Netanyahu, we're, Athit, Qatar's, Abdullah Al Sulaiti, I've, Mia Schem, Schem, Aisha al, BLINKEN, Jordan's King Abdullah, U.N, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Netanyahu, Nidal al, Mohammed Salem, Humeyra Pamuk, Ari Rabinovich, Emily Rose, Andrew Mills, Cynthia Osterman, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Gaza Hamas, Hamas, Media, Street, CNN, United Nations, Sheba Medical, REUTERS, Reuters, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, U.S, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Gaza GAZA, TEL AVIV, Qatari, Palestinian, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv district, ISRAEL, Amman, United States, Tel Aviv, Cairo, Jerusalem, Doha

But the three men topping Israel's hit-list remain at large: Deif, the head of Hamas' military wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades; his second in command, Marwan Issa; and Hamas' leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. The three leaders are directing Hamas' military operations and led negotiations for a prisoner-hostage swaps, possibly from bunkers beneath Gaza, three Hamas sources say. The objective of the war remains to dismantle Hamas' military and government capabilities, Michael said, which could involve a turbulent period in Gaza after the war. An Israeli military officer, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said the IDF viewed the elimination of such combat-level commanders as essential to dismantling Hamas' military capabilities. Israel has killed Hamas' leaders in the past, including the group's founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and its former leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantisi, assassinated in a 2004 air strike.

Persons: Ilan Rosenberg, Yoav Gallant, Mohammed Deif, Deen al, Marwan Issa, Yahya Sinwar, Issa, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gallant, Sinwar, Michael Eisenstadt, we've, Eisenstadt, Osama Hamdan, Joe Biden's, al, Kobi Michael, Michael said, Michael, Gilad Shalit, Shalit, Gerhard Conrad, Conrad, Al, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel, Aziz, Rantisi, Sheikh Yassin, Hamdan, Dan Williams, Samia Nakhoul, Daniel Flynn Organizations: REUTERS, Israeli, Hamas, Brigades, Qatar, Reuters, Military and Security, Washington Institute for Near East, Israel Defense Forces, Israel, Islamic, Israel's Ministry, Strategic Affairs, IDF, German Intelligence Agency, politburo, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Kibbutz Beeri, Israel, Tel Aviv, Deif, Gaza City, Lebanon, East, U.S, States, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Iran, United States, Iraq, Syria, Palestinian, Israeli, Sinwar, Al Jazeera, Rantissi, Jerusalem

The official told Gupta - who the prosecutors described as an Indian national involved in drugs and weapons trafficking - about a "target" in New York. The official wanted Gupta to orchestrate the target's murder, in exchange for getting criminal charges against him in India dropped. While prosecutors have not identified the alleged victim, a senior administration official told Reuters it was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a New York-based lawyer who leads a separatist group called Sikhs for Justice. U.S. prosecutors did not name the Indian official, who they described as a government employee responsible for intelligence and security matters. "We are all counting on you," Gupta told the purported hitman in a video call on June 12.

Persons: Nikhil Gupta, Gupta, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Pannun, Narendra Modi's, Gupta's, Jake Sullivan, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Nijjar, Modi, Joe Biden, Justin Trudeau, Luc Cohen, Krishn Kaushik, Trevor Hunnicut, Heather Timmons Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, Indian, Reuters, Justice, Administration, Manhattan, National Security, U.S, White, Canadian, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, DELHI, Indian, New York, India, India's Gujarat, United States, Washington, New Delhi, Vancouver, Prague, Delhi

☆ Alleged Plot to Kill Sikh Separatist Highlights Thorn in India’s Side
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Sameer Yasir | More About Sameer Yasir | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The federal indictment this week of an Indian citizen in an alleged murder-for-hire scheme targeting a Sikh separatist in New York threatens to damage ties between the United States and India just as the Biden administration has been courting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The charges are rooted in a decades-old dispute: the demand by some Sikhs for a sovereign state known as Khalistan carved out of northern India, which the Modi government opposes. In addition to directing the unsuccessful plot in New York, the federal indictment said, an Indian government official organized the killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada who was shot in June by masked gunmen outside a temple in Vancouver. The idea of Khalistan is rooted in Sikhism, a religion with 26 million followers around the world, of which about 23 million live in the state of Punjab in northern India. Sikhs make up less than 2 percent of India’s population of 1.4 billion.

Persons: Biden, Narendra Modi’s, Modi Locations: New York, United States, India, Canada, Vancouver, Punjab

☆ Israel resumes combat operations against Hamas as 7-day truce expires without renewal
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Helen Regan | Jerome Taylor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Israel’s military said it was resuming combat operations in Gaza on Friday morning after the temporary truce with Hamas that had paved the way for hostage releases broke down. The hard-negotiated temporary truce, which began last Friday, was extended by two days following the release of some captives held by Hamas. The truce brought temporary respite to the besieged enclave of Gaza, which had been relentlessly pounded by Israel’s military since the Hamas attack. As the truce expiration loomed, both Israel and Hamas indicated they were prepared for fighting to resume. Under the terms of the truce deal, Israel has to free three Palestinians for every Israeli hostage released.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Netanyahu, ”, Israel, Yoav Gallant, Al, ” Danny Danon, — Organizations: CNN, of Interior, Hamas, UN, Palestinian Ministry of Health, West Bank, Israeli, Qatari, Information Service, — Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt, “, Israeli

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday stepped up calls for Israel to comply with international law as it wages its war against Hamas in Gaza. But he also said it is imperative that Israel protect civilians if it starts major military operations in southern Gaza. Netanyahu said he told Blinken, “This is the same Hamas that carried out the terrible massacre on Oct. 7, the same Hamas that tries to murder us everywhere. Blinken told Abbas "he would continue to insist on full accountability for those responsible,” the State Department said. Blinken also told Abbas that “the United States remains committed to advancing tangible steps for a Palestinian state,” it said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Biden, Joe Biden's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken “, West Bank ”, Netanyahu, ”, —, ” Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas Organizations: —, Joe Biden's Democratic Party, Israeli, State Department, West Bank, United Arab Emirates Locations: TEL AVIV, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Jerusalem, Palestinian, United States, Dubai

Israeli officials obtained Hamas’s battle plan for the Oct. 7 terrorist attack more than a year before it happened, documents, emails and interviews show. But Israeli military and intelligence officials dismissed the plan as aspirational, considering it too difficult for Hamas to carry out. The approximately 40-page document, which the Israeli authorities code-named “Jericho Wall,” outlined, point by point, exactly the kind of devastating invasion that led to the deaths of about 1,200 people. Hamas followed the blueprint with shocking precision. The document called for a barrage of rockets at the outset of the attack, drones to knock out the security cameras and automated machine guns along the border, and gunmen to pour into Israel en masse in paragliders, on motorcycles and on foot — all of which happened on Oct. 7.

Organizations: The New York Times, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, paragliders

☆ ICC prosecutor to visit Israel at request of Oct. 7 Hamas attack victims
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan speaks during an interview with Reuters about the violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in The Hague, Netherlands October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 30 (Reuters) - International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan is visiting Israel at the request of Israeli survivors and the families of victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks from Gaza, the court said on Thursday. Khan will also visit Ramallah in the occupied West Bank to meet with senior Palestinian officials, the ICC said. The visit will not be investigative, the ICC said, adding that it "represents (an) opportunity to express sympathy for all victims and engage in dialogue." Last month, Israeli families of victims of the Hamas attacks appealed to the ICC to order an investigation into the killings and abductions.

Persons: Karim Khan, de, Khan, Israel, Rishabh, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Criminal Court, ICC, West Bank, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Israel, The Hague, Netherlands, Gaza, Ramallah, Bengaluru

[1/9] A vehicle carrying hostages released as part of a deal between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, drives by, in Ofakim, Israel, November 30, 2023. Israel, according to the reports, is demanding at least 10 hostages be released on Thursday, with women and children prioritised. Fighters should "remain on such footing unless an official statement is issued confirming the extension of the truce," the statement added. Two Palestinian officials earlier told Reuters that talks were continuing over a possible extension of the truce, but no agreement had yet been reached. Hamas released 16 more hostages on Wednesday, the final day of a two-day extension to the truce.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Antony Blinken, we'll, Blinken, prioritised, Joe Biden, Beinin, Majed Al, Ansari, Jordan, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Nidal al, Mohammed Salem, Emily Rose, Grant McCool, Lincoln, Cynthia Osterman, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, U.S, Brigades, Reuters, Health, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, . Security Council, Security, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Ofakim, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Brussels, Hamas, U.S, Dutch, Qatar, China, Cairo, Jerusalem

☆ Shooting in Jerusalem Kills at Least 3 People, Israeli Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire near a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem on Thursday morning, killing at least three people, according to the Israeli authorities. The Israeli police said in a statement that the gunmen, who were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun, were killed at the scene by two off-duty soldiers and an armed civilian. At least six people were wounded in the attack, according to Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency service. The Shaare Zedek Medical Center said it was treating four victims, three of whom were still in serious condition. Hamas did not immediately comment on the shooting, which came as a fragile truce between it and Israel was extended in Gaza.

Persons: Magen David Adom, Shin, Murad Nimr, Ibrahim Nimr Organizations: Medical, Hamas Locations: Jerusalem, East Jerusalem, Gaza, Israel

☆ Israel-Hamas War Israel and Hamas Say Cease-Fire Has Been Extended
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Ben Hubbard | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Hostages and Missing Families, via ReutersRaz Ben-Ami was kidnapped by Hamas from the Be’eri kibbutz on Oct. 7. Her brother Lior, 16, who was hiding with her, was murdered, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. His uncle, Dror Or, and his cousins, Noam, 17, and Alma, 13, were taken hostage at the same time. Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters, via Associated PressIrena Tati, a physician, and her daughter, Yelena Trupanob, immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union and are dual Israeli-Russian citizens, according to the hostages and missing families forum. Yelena’s son Sasha, 28, and his girlfriend, Sapir Cohen, 29, were also taken hostage and are still being held in Gaza.

Persons: Ra’aya Rotem, Reuters Ra’aya Rotem, Hila, Emily Hand, Ra’aya texted, Itay Regev, Associated Press Itay, Raz Ben, Ami, Ben, Ohad, Lior, Tarshansky, Reuma, Kamelia Hoter Ishay, ’ ”, ”, Gat, Roman Gat, Be’eri, Alon, Gefen, Liat Binin, Reuters Liat, Atzili, Aviv, Nir Oz, Moran, Yanai, Liam, Associated Press Liam, Dror, Noam, Alma, Ofir Engel, Associated Press Ofir Engel, Yuval Sharabi, Yossi Sharabi, “, ” Yael Engel Lichi, Amit Shani, Amit Shani Credit, Amit Shani’s, Tal Shani, ‘, Ms, Shani, Amit, ” Ms, ” Irena Tati, Yelena Trupanob, Irena Tati, Vitaly Trupanob, Yelena’s, Sasha, Sapir Cohen, Nadav, Talya Minsberg Organizations: Wednesday, Ra'aya Rotem Credit, Reuters, The, Associated Press, Hapoel Ashkelon, Marvel, Yad Vashem, Nova, Hapoel Tel Aviv soccer, Hamas, Associated, Soviet Locations: Russian, Be’eri, Israel, The Times, Re’im, Gaza, Gali Tarshansky, Tarshansky, Tel Aviv, ‘ Gali, United States, Jerusalem, India, Kibbutz Be’eri, Alma, Soviet Union

Hamas freed two Israeli hostages Thursday afternoon and they were brought back into Israel, with more expected to follow, the Israeli military said. Israel had agreed to extend the truce by one day for every 10 militant-held hostages who are freed. Roughly 240 hostages were captured by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. ISRAEL SAYS 2 MORE HOSTAGES RELEASED FROM GAZAJERUSALEM — The Israeli military said Thursday that two Israeli hostages were released from captivity in the Gaza Strip. The two hostages are among a larger group of Israelis expected to be released Thursday as part of the latest extension of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

Persons: Israel, — Jake Sullivan, — Israel, Schumer, Pedro Sánchez, Eli Cohen, Sánchez “, ” Cohen, “, Sánchez, ” Sánchez, Israel ´, Karim Khan, Israel “, Khan, ISRAEL, BLINKEN, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Biden, Blinken “, Mahmoud Abbas, Tzarfati, Israel —, ”, David Adom, Zaki Heller, Doron Turgeman, AHED TAMIMI Organizations: Qatar, Health Ministry, Islamic, U.S, MADRID —, Spanish, Spanish National Television, “, Belgian, ICC, Cross, HAMAS TEL, Israel — U.S, State Department, West Bank, MAN, Jerusalem police, Army, JERUSALEM, Qatari Foreign Ministry, Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza, —, israel, MADRID — Israel, Spain, Palestinian, Egypt, Belgian, Spanish, HAGUE, Netherlands, Ramallah, GAZA JERUSALEM, ISRAEL, HAMAS TEL AVIV, U.S, Jerusalem, JERUSALEM, TEL AVIV, Qatar, AHED TAMIMI Israel

☆ 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

☆ New report says the IDF's elite intelligence unit saw signs Hamas was preparing a terror attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A new report says an elite IDF intelligence unit warned that Hamas was practicing for a big attack. AdvertisementAn elite intelligence unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) saw signs that Hamas was preparing for a massive terror attack, but early warnings ultimately went ignored, according to a new report. Unit 8200 is part of the IDF's decades-old Military Intelligence Directorate, which is responsible for collecting and processing intelligence from enemy groups like Hamas. Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesAccording to Channel 12's reporting, the NCO's colleagues did not ignore the warnings, and they even collected intelligence on additional Hamas training a few days later. For example, Israeli intelligence was focused on other threats, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, and downplayed the dangers of Hamas.

Persons: —, Chris McGrath, Paul, didn't, Benjamin Netanyahu, Haim Zach, Handout, it's, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Hamas might've, Alisa Kaff Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Military Intelligence Directorate, Hamas, IDF, West Bank, Quincy Institute, Responsible, Government Press Office, REUTERS Locations: Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Bani Suheila, Gaza City, Kibbutz Be'eri, Lebanon, Washington, Tze'elim, what's

☆ Israel's president visits UAE, asks for help to free hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Alexander Cornwell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Herzog made the request during a meeting with Sheikh Mohamed in Dubai, according to a statement issued by the Israeli president's media office. "The President appealed to his friend Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to employ his full political weight to promote and speed up the return home of the hostages," it said. Israel has released 210 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages. A UAE state news agency report said the two presidents discussed relations between their countries and issues of mutual interest. Herzog was invited to attend the summit by Sheikh Mohamed earlier this year.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, SAUL LOEB, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Herzog, Sheikh Mohamed, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Abraham, Abu Dhabi, Alexander Cornwell, Grant McCool Organizations: U.S, State, Rights, Thursday, United Arab Emirates, Hamas, UAE, UAE ., Abraham Accords, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Rights DUBAI, Palestinian, Gaza, Dubai, Gulf, The UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Gaza's Rafah, UAE, United States

Hindu nationalists at a recent rally in New Delhi held a banner depicting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the alleged target of an assassination plot. Photo: arun sankar/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesAn Indian government employee tried to have a vocal Sikh critic of New Delhi assassinated in New York earlier this year, U.S. prosecutors alleged, a dramatic development that threatens to cause new rifts in the deepening relationship between Washington and New Delhi. The allegation, laid out in an indictment unsealed Wednesday, follows on suspicions Canada aired about a similar plot linked to Indian government agents in which masked gunmen murdered a Sikh activist in the parking lot of his British Columbia temple. Canada in part relied on U.S. intelligence to make that assessment, which was met with official outrage in India.

Persons: Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, arun sankar Organizations: Agence France, An, Canada Locations: New Delhi, Delhi, New York, Washington and New Delhi, British Columbia, Canada, India

☆ UN calls for 'irreversible' move toward two-state solution to Israel crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The comments coincide with the United Nations' International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which it observes annually. Calls for a two-state solution have grown in the wake of attacks on Israel on Oct. 7 in which Hamas gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages. A two-state agreement would create a state for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. Israel has said a Palestinian state must be demilitarized so as not to threaten its security. "The two-state solution is difficult after the (Israeli) settlement and shrinking (of territory), but still possible if there is a will," he said.

Persons: Mohammed Salem, Tatiana Valovaya, U.N, General Antonio Guterres, Assembly's, Ibrahim Khraishi, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Cécile, William Maclean Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations, of Solidarity, Palestinian, West Bank, Israel, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Khan, Gaza, Jerusalem, Geneva, Palestine, East Jerusalem

☆ At Israeli rave site hit by Hamas, music plays again for the dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Amir Cohen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Thousands of young people were partying in the dawn hours of Oct. 7 when the armed Palestinian infiltrators swept in. All that faced the five Israeli DJs on the stage this time were silent and unmoving placards showing pictures of the dead. Sadness for all his friends lost and happiness for bringing music back to the rave-goers, whom he described as people of love, peace and music. Another 40 people were taken hostage by Hamas back to the Gaza Strip, 5 km (2 miles) away, police said. It was the bloodiest incident in a shock cross-border assault by the Palestinian Islamist faction, and triggered a devastating Israeli counter-offensive in Gaza.

Persons: Amir Cohen, . Asher Swissa, Skazi, Dan Williams, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Palestinian Islamist, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Re'im, Israel, Reim, Palestinian

☆ US top diplomat Blinken visits Israel to discuss Gaza truce, aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Thomson Reuters | Humeyra Pamuk Is A Senior Foreign Policy Correspondent Based In Washington Dc. She Covers The U.S. State Department | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] US Secretary of State Antony Blinken disembarks from his airplane upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, on November 30, 2023. Washington's top diplomat is also expected to discuss Israel's looming offensive into southern Gaza. Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas, which rules Gaza. On Wednesday, 16 more hostages were released by Hamas on the final day of a two-day truce extension. Following Israel, Blinken will visit the United Arab Emirates to attend a regional meeting and attend the U.N. COP28 climate summit.

Persons: Antony Blinken disembarks, SAUL LOEB, Antony Blinken, Mahmoud Abbas, Washington's, Israel, we’ll, Blinken, Humeyra Pamuk, Ali Sawafta, Rami Ayyub, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Ben Gurion, REUTERS Acquire, West Bank, U.S, Israel, Health, United, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, TEL AVIV, Gaza, The U.S, Brussels, U.S, United Arab Emirates, Ramallah

Here’s what we know about the Israeli hostages released on Wednesday. Hostages and Missing Families, via ReutersRaz Ben-Ami was kidnapped by Hamas from the Be’eri kibbutz on Oct. 7. Her brother Lior, 16, who was hiding with her, was murdered, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Hostages and Missing Families Forum, via ReutersMoran Stela Yanai, a self-employed artist and jewelry designer from Be’er Sheva, had gone to the Nova music festival in Re’im to sell her handmade jewelry, according to the hostages and missing families forum. Hostages and Missing Families Forum, via Associated PressLiam Or, a kindergarten teacher in Kibbutz Be’eri, was taken hostage at the home of his uncle.

Persons: Ra’aya Rotem, Reuters Ra’aya Rotem, Hila, Emily Hand, Ra’aya texted, Itay Regev, Associated Press Itay, Raz Ben, Ami, Ben, Ohad, Lior, Tarshansky, Reuma, Kamelia Hoter Ishay, ’ ”, ”, Gat, Roman Gat, Be’eri, Alon, Gefen, Liat Binin, Reuters Liat, Atzili, Aviv, Nir Oz, Moran, Yanai, Liam, Associated Press Liam, Dror, Noam, Alma, Ofir Engel, Associated Press Ofir Engel, Yuval Sharabi, Yossi Sharabi, “, ” Yael Engel Lichi, Amit Shani, Amit Shani Credit, Amit Shani’s, Tal Shani, ‘, Ms, Shani, Amit, ” Ms Organizations: Wednesday, Ra'aya Rotem Credit, Reuters, The, Associated Press, Hapoel Ashkelon, Marvel, Yad Vashem, Nova, Hapoel Tel Aviv soccer, Hamas Locations: Russian, Be’eri, Israel, The Times, Re’im, Gaza, Gali Tarshansky, Tarshansky, Tel Aviv, ‘ Gali, United States, Jerusalem, India, Kibbutz Be’eri, Alma

☆ Fears Grow Over Fate of Bibas Family in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Talya Minsberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The Bibas family said in a statement that they hoped the claims would be “refuted by military officials,” and thanked the Israeli public for its support. The three — Shiri Bibas, 32; Ariel Bibas, 4; and Kfir Bibas, 10 months old — were among the roughly 240 people taken hostage by Hamas and other groups on Oct. 7. On Wednesday morning, Yifat Zailer, Ms. Bibas’s cousin, described waiting for the lists of hostages set to be freed as “this horrible mathematical equation.”“Our hearts skip a beat every time,” Ms. Zailer said. “It’s really hard to breathe.”When the cease-fire was extended on Monday, Ms. Zailer found herself losing a sense of time. On Monday, Admiral Hagari said the Bibas family was being held not by Hamas, but by other armed groups in Gaza.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, Ariel Bibas, Kfir Bibas, Shiri Bibas, Nir Oz, Yarden Bibas, Ariel, Yifat Zailer, Bibas’s, ” Ms, Zailer, “, Admiral Hagari, Adraee, Younis, Yosi Silberman, Margit Silberman Schnaider, ” Organizations: Al, Brigades Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv

Another two Thai workers were set free on Tuesday, bringing the total released to 23. He said they remain in contact with him and send him updates about the release of hostages even before the news breaks. The Thai foreign ministry said three Thais were being treated for wounds in hospital. On Wednesday night, four additional Thai hostages were released. Israel says Hamas killed 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages back to Gaza on Oct. 7.

Persons: Parnpree Bahiddha, Nukara, Thais, Parnpree, Lerpong Syed, Israel, Juarawee Kittisilpa, Howard Goller, Sandra Maler, Stephen Coates Organizations: Thai Foreign, Shamir Medical Center, Hamas, Iran, Reuters, Thomson Locations: TEL AVIV, Israel, Thailand, Palestinian, Gaza, Thai

☆ Man charged in alleged plot by Indian government official to assassinate U.S. citizen
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)Federal prosecutors on Wednesday announced murder-for-hire charges against a man related to an alleged plot by an Indian government official to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City. Nikhil Gupta, a 52-year-old Indian national, is charged in federal court in Manhattan with two criminal counts related to the ultimately foiled murder plot, a newly unsealed court filing shows. The Indian government official who allegedly directed the murder plot has called himself a "Senior Field Officer" with responsibilities in "Security Management" and "Intelligence," according to the DOJ. Gupta allegedly then helped broker a deal for the Indian government official to pay the purported hitman $100,000 for the assassination. The government official fed personal information about the victim to Gupta and asked for regular updates about the progress of the murder plot.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Biden's, Biden, Kevin Dietsch, Nikhil Gupta, Gupta, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Justin Trudeau, Nijjar, William Burns, National Intelligence Avril Haines Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, The Justice Department, ., Department of Justice, New York City ., New York Times, Washington Post, Justice, DOJ, Indian, Intelligence, U.S, Sikh, New, Canadian, CIA, National Intelligence, Indian Embassy Locations: WASHINGTON, DC, Washington ,, U.S, New York City, Manhattan, Czech Republic, Punjab, India, British Columbia, Canada, New Delhi

☆ Fact Check: Image shows Tel Aviv rally for release of Israeli hostages in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An aerial shot from a Nov. 11, 2023, protest in Tel Aviv demanding the release of Israeli hostages held by militant Palestinian group Hamas was falsely shared as footage from a pro-Palestinian protest held in Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. However, the image is a Reuters photograph taken on Nov. 11, 2023, showing a protest held in Tel Aviv demanding the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza who were seized in the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas gunmen. The demonstration took place in the square in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Separate anti-war protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza have also taken place in Israel, including in Tel Aviv. The aerial photograph of a large crowd shows a demonstration in Tel Aviv demanding the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, not a pro-Palestinian protest.

Persons: Reuven Rivlin, Shai Piron, Shlomo Artzi, Read Organizations: Gaza, Reuters, Facebook, Tel Aviv Museum of Art ., Google, Tel Aviv’s, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Palestinian, Israel, Gaza, Democracy

☆ Thailand welcomes release of two more Thai hostages held by Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Happy to personally welcome 2 additional Thai hostages just released and arrived at the hospital in Tel Aviv," Parnpree, who is also deputy prime minister, posted on social media platform X. Nineteen Thai hostages have so far been released, while the foreign ministry says 13 more remain in captivity. A Thai Muslim group that spoke directly with Hamas said on Monday its efforts were key to ensuring Thai hostages were among the first to be released. A Thai foreign ministry spokesperson said multiple actors were consulted. The Thai citizens released are slated to return home this week as Parnpree visits Israel.

Persons: Parnpree Bahiddha, Eli Cohen, Uriel Bosso, Nukara, Parnpree, Orathai Sriring, Panarat, Tom Hogue, Martin Petty Organizations: Thai Foreign, Israeli, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Gaza, BANGKOK, Israel, Tel Aviv

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