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☆ Hamas consolidates power under alleged Oct. 7 mastermind after spate of Israeli assassinations
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Ellison Barber | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

TEL AVIV — Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind of the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel, is the undisputed leader of Hamas after the militant group’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated and Israel confirmed it had killed Mohammed Deif, the military chief. Until now, Sinwar has remained largely out of the spotlight, a shadowy figure believed to be hiding in Hamas’ labyrinth of tunnels underneath the Gaza Strip. But his appointment as the group’s political leader has left many wondering what it could mean for the ongoing cease-fire and hostage release talks. For Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, Sinwar’s promotion suggests it’s business as usual for the group. “Whoever decided to assassinate Ismail Haniyeh does not care about the hostages,” said Thabeet Elhmour, a Palestinian political analyst and writer based in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, Israel, Mohammed Deif, Sinwar, Basem Naim, ”, Haniyeh, Masoud Pezeshkian, Haniyeh’s, “, Thabeet Elhmour, Khan Younis, Tariq Kenney, Kenney, Fathi Nimer, “ Sinwar, Gershon Baskin, Rather, ” Baskin, Joe Biden, Abdel Fattah el, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Baskin, Ahmed Shoraab, Abou Nasar El, ” Jon Polin, Rachel Goldberg, Hersh Goldberg, Polin, “ We’re, Goldberg Organizations: Hamas, NBC News, West Bank, Al, NBC, Shura Council, Sissi Locations: TEL AVIV, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Qatar, Palestinian, Gaza’s, Khan, “, United States, Egypt, Doha, Cairo

☆ Killing of Hamas leader leaves Gaza ceasefire hopes dangling by a thread
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The assassination of the political leader of Hamas has plunged the Middle East into fresh crisis and dented already slim hopes of an end to the war between Israel and the militant group that rules Gaza anytime soon. Here’s what the killing of the Hamas and Hezbollah leaders means for the Gaza war and the region. “Netanyahu has systematically sabotaged ceasefire talks because ending the war will likely end his political career,” said Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute, a US-based foreign policy think tank, in a post on X. A faltered negotiation process also extends the risk to the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza. “This is the time for a deal.”There are 111 hostages still in Gaza, including 39 believed to be dead, according to data from Netanyahu’s office.

Persons: Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, ”, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Benjamin Netanyahu, –, “ Netanyahu, “, Netanyahu, Jalaa Marey, Gershon Baskin, Baskin, ” Baskin, Gaza’s, Anwar, Antony Blinken, Biden, ” Hellyer, CNN’s Becky Anderson Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Quincy Institute, Palestinian, Getty, Families, Anwar Amro, Hellyer, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Royal United Services Institute for Defense, Security Studies, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Iran, Beirut, Golan, Qatar, Egypt, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani, Doha, US, Karmiel, AFP, Beirut's, United States, London

☆ Developments in Gaza ceasefire talks raise hopes but challenges persist. Here’s what to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Last week, a US official told CNN that a framework agreement is “in place” and talks resumed Friday in Doha. Hatem Khaled/ReutersOn Thursday, a senior US administration told CNN that the framework for a deal is “now in place,” following a call between Biden and Netanyahu. Hamas has long demanded that Israel agree to a permanent ceasefire before signing any deal, which Israel has so far refused. Netanyahu also said there will be “no return of thousands of armed terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip,” the statement said. “If the Americans are still optimistic (after Netanyahu’s Sunday statement), then they are really living in La La land,” Baskin told CNN.

Persons: ”, ” Israel, Israel, ” Gershon Baskin, Baskin, Joe Biden, “, who’ve, Khan Younis, Hatem Khaled, Biden, Netanyahu, –, Donald Trump, Yair Lapid, ” Lapid, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Ilan Rosenberg, Reuters Baskin, ” Baskin Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Reuters, Sunday, Trump, “ Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Doha, Cairo, ”, Egypt, Israeli, Rafah, Jerusalem, La La

☆ Gina Gershon on Her Best Movie Roles: 'Bound,' 'Showgirls,' 'Killer Joe'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Caralynn Matassa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

On defying her agents to star in 'Bound' and finding Corky's look in San Francisco lesbian barsJennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon in "Bound." I was hesitant to take on any role coming off of "Showgirls," just because, honestly, I was pretty burnt out. When the script for "Bound" was sent to us, my agents were pretty clear saying, "Listen, you are not doing this movie. On her 'Showgirls' PTSD and why she's come around on the movieGina Gershon in "Showgirls." I'm really into it."

Persons: Gina Gershon, —, It's, Gershon, Louie, who's, she's, Paul Verhoeven's, Corky, Jennifer Tilly's femme, Violet, Jennifer Tilly, Lana, Lilly Wachowski, They've, I've, Susie Bright, Jennifer, Tilly, Susie, couldn't, I'm, Let's, Elizabeth Berkley's, Lili Anolik, Paul, Verhoeven, Chekhov, I'd, That's, you've, she'd, Matthew McConaughey, Joe, Matthew McConaughey's, Tracy Letts, William Friedkin, Billy wasn't, Billy, Matthew, Nicolas Cage, Nicolas, John Woo …, John Woo, Nick Cassavetes, John, Jason Guerrasio, Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Hart Organizations: Business, Pride, LD Locations: San Francisco

☆ The Israel-Hamas truce is over. Here’s what could happen next
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Abu Dhabi, UAE CNN —The seven-day Israel-Hamas truce ended on Friday after negotiations reached an impasse and Israel accused the Palestinian militant group of violating the agreement by firing at Israel. Analysts say the war is bound to continue until Hamas is crushed, and it may be much fiercer this time. The Israeli military’s announcement about the resumption in fighting came moments after the truce between Israel and Hamas expired. The deal saw the warring parties exchange hostages held in Gaza for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. During its October 7 attack, Hamas killed more than 1,200 in Israel and kidnapped about 240 others, Israeli authorities said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Benny Gantz, Abir, Yaakov Amidror, Netanyahu, “, ”, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Frank Lowenstein, Barack Obama, Israel heeds, Mahmud Hams, Biden, ” Biden, Khan Younis, ” Khan Younis, Gershon Baskin, Riad Kahwaji, Kahwaji, Baskin, Lowenstein, Ashraf Amra, ” Kahwaji, ” Amidror Organizations: UAE CNN, Palestinian Ministry of Health, West Bank, Reuters, CNN, Jerusalem Institute, Strategic Studies, National Security, Palestinian, Getty, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Institute for Near, doesn’t Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Israel, Gaza, United States, Tel Aviv, Abir Sultan, Rafah, AFP, “, Institute for Near East, Gulf, Dubai, Deir Al Balah, Anadolu

☆ For Years, Two Men Shuttled Messages Between Israel and Hamas. No Longer.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | More About Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

After arriving in Israel, Mr. Baskin worked as a community organizer in an Arab village. As a Hamas loyalist, Mr. Hamad wanted to exchange Mr. Shalit for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel. Though Mr. Hamad never said so publicly, Mr. Baskin also believed that Mr. Hamad privately hoped to help Mr. Shalit, a 19-year-old conscript. More generally, Mr. Baskin believed that Mr. Hamad secretly sought a peace deal with Israel. “Gershon, u r good friend,” Mr. Hamad said during another round of violence, in a text that Mr. Baskin printed in his book.

Persons: Baskin, Hamad, Israel, Mr, ”, “ I’m, ” Mr, Shalit, “, Ghazi, “ Gershon Organizations: New York University, Mr, Israel Locations: New York, Eastern, Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Egypt

☆ Eli Roth Takes a Stab at Thanksgiving Horror
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Erik Piepenburg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For almost every holiday, there’s a horror movie, from “My Bloody Valentine” to “Black Christmas.” Thanksgiving, too. But the turkeys-beware holiday gets its own namesake movie with Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving,” featuring an ensemble cast that includes Addison Rae, Patrick Dempsey and Gina Gershon. In a recent phone interview, Roth said that he and Jeff Rendell, a childhood friend and his screenwriter on the new film, have been itching to make a Thanksgiving scary movie since they were kids. “There was that lull between October and mid-December when it was all family films,” said Roth, who’s from Newton, Mass. “We were just waiting for another horror movie to come out.

Persons: Valentine ”, Eli Roth’s, Addison Rae, Patrick Dempsey, Gina Gershon, Roth, “, ” Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez’s, John Carver, Jeff Rendell, ”, who’s Locations: Plymouth, Newton

CNN —Queen Rania of Jordan has accused Western leaders of a “glaring double standard” for failing to condemn the deaths of civilians under Israeli bombardment in Gaza, as Israel’s war on Hamas threatens to destabilize relations between US and Arab leaders. “This is the first time in modern history that there is such human suffering and the world is not even calling for a ceasefire,” Queen Rania added. Forcing Gaza civilians to relocate amounts “to the war crime of forcible transfer,” the Norwegian Refugee Council said. The people of Palestine should not, [the people] of Gaza should not, be forced to be moved again,” she said. Khalil Mazraawi/AFP/Getty ImagesEven before the war with Hamas, tensions were high between Palestinians and Israelis in the occupied West Bank.

Persons: Rania, Jordan, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, “, ”, Israel, we’ve, ” Rania, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ We’re, Strategic Communications John Kirby, we’re, Antony Blinken, Gershon Baskin, Gilad Shalit, Baskin, Gilad Schalit, Amanpour, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Gazans, Queen Rania, Alaa Al Sukhni, Khalil Mazraawi Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Ministry of Health, UN, United Nations, West, US, Palestinian Authority, National Security, Strategic Communications, UN Security, Baskin, Norwegian Refugee, West Bank, Palestine, Reuters, Getty, Protesters Locations: Gaza, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Washington, United Kingdom, Jerusalem, Palestine, Amman, AFP

☆ Opinion | How to Navigate a Hostage Situation Like No Other
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Gershon Baskin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Gilad Schalit, an Israeli soldier, had been a hostage for five years before Israel and Hamas were seriously willing to work toward his release. On Friday, Hamas released two of them — an American mother and daughter — but the fate of the others remains unclear. In May 1985, Israel released 1,150 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the return of three Israeli soldiers captured in Lebanon. Over the course of those painful episodes, the nation learned a great deal about how to work for its hostages’ release, whether through third-party negotiations, secret back channels or force. There need to be direct talks between Israel, Qatar and Hamas, and no one else.

Persons: Gilad Schalit, Ghazi Hamad, Hamas’s, Mr, Hamad, Schalit, Hamad’s, —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ron Arad, It’s, Sasson Nuriel, Netanyahu, Israel Organizations: Hamas, Gaza, Popular Front, Liberation, Palestine, An Air Force, Islamic, International Committee, United, American Locations: Israeli, Israel, Gaza, Gaza City, American, Maalot, Lebanon, ”, Qatar, United States, Iran

☆ The last time Hamas released a hostage, it took 5 years for him to be freed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The IDF said Hamas is holding nearly 200 people hostage after carrying out a deadly terror attack. The last time Hamas freed a hostage was in 2011, when it released the IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. AdvertisementAdvertisementHamas is holding nearly 200 people hostage after it carried out a deadly terror attack in Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The last time Hamas released a hostage was in 2011, when it freed the IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Israel has relentlessly bombarded the Gaza Strip since Hamas' October 7 terror attacks.

Persons: Gilad Shalit, —, Shalit, Mitzpe Hila, Gershon Baskin, Israel, Baskin, Osama al, Mia Schem, Schem Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, NPR, Israel, International Communities Organization, IDF, Nova Locations: Israel, Gaza, American

☆ A mediator who worked on a 2011 Israeli prisoner exchange says Hamas' hostage-taking is 'unprecedented': 'What do they even do with them now that they have them?'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gershon Baskin helped secure the release of an Israeli soldier from Hamas in 2011. He says Hamas' hostage-taking campaign is "unprecedented," per The Wall Street Journal. AdvertisementAdvertisementA mediator who helped negotiate the 2011 exchange of an Israeli soldier said Hamas' hostage-taking in its recent terror attacks was "unprecedented" due to the sheer number of people involved, according to The Wall Street Journal . "It's unprecedented, there's no doubt," Gershon Baskin, the Middle East director for International Communities Organization, a UK-based peace-building NGO, told the newspaper. Baskin, an American-Israeli peace activist, helped secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit from Hamas in 2011.

Persons: Gershon Baskin, —, Baskin, Gilad Shalit, He's, Abu Ubaida, Israel Organizations: Street, Service, Wall Street, International Communities Organization, Israel Defense Forces, Department, West Bank, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, American

☆ Getting hostages out of Gaza is likely a near-impossible task because it's unclear where Hamas is holding them and regions may be covered in traps
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Amy Teibel | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Getting hostages out of Gaza could be a difficult task for Israel, hostage experts said. It's unclear where Hamas is holding them and regions may be covered in traps, the experts said. Israel's ongoing counterattack on Gaza could made it even more difficult to reach the hostages. As Israel pummels neighborhood after neighborhood in Gaza, Elbag and his wife have been glued to the television, looking for any sign of her. He said the captives have likely already been dispersed throughout Gaza, and their hiding places and perhaps even the hostages themselves are likely to be laden with traps.

Persons: —, Gershon Baskin, Gilad Schalit, that's, Eli Elbag, Liri, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Biden, Kirby, Bruce Hoffman Organizations: Israel, Service, Hamas, Palestinian, International Committee, United, National, White, Israel's, Council, Foreign Relations Locations: Gaza, JERUSALEM, Israel, Israel pummels, Elbag, United States

She refers to the overhaul as a “judicial coup,” saying it risks facilitating the “de facto annexation of the West Bank without any critique or any review” from the Supreme Court. The cabinet includes a number of West Bank settlers in powerful positions, and the agreement that brought together the government calls for extending Israel’s sovereignty in the West Bank, effectively a call for annexation. Under Netanyahu’s far-right government, Israel has approved a record number of housing units in West Bank settlements, Peace Now said in a July report. “Did the Supreme Court protect Palestinian rights in the West Bank? More recently in 2017, Israeli security forces bulldozed nine homes built on private Palestinian land in the West Bank settlement of Ofra.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, West Bank haven’t, Sawsan, Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Israel, Israel doesn’t, ” Zaher, Eliav, ” Lieblich, Zaher, Ahmed Tibi, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir, Tibi, ” Tibi, ” Gershon Baskin, Bond, ” Baskin, “ Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Legal Center, Arab, Rights, United Nations, Israel Democracy Institute, Tel Aviv University, Palestinian Authority, Supreme Court, Court of Justice, Israel’s, Israeli, Court Locations: Palestinian, Israel, West Bank, East Jerusalem, Jerusalem, West, The Hague, Dura, Qara, Ofra

☆ There’s No Such Thing as a Bad Movie Accent
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Kyle Buchanan | More About Kyle Buchanan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Red, White & Royal Blue” waits just seven and a half minutes to get to the good stuff, and by that I’m not referring to the movie’s big romance, between a hot British prince and the hot son of the American president, but to its even bigger accent, a syrupy Southern drawl from Uma Thurman that may be this season’s most audacious special effect. Imagine Gina Gershon in “Showgirls” crossed with Ross Perot and you’ll get halfway there — the rest of the distance must be traveled holding a mint julep that’s in constant, delicious danger of spilling. President Uma Thurman (the actual character name is incidental, since you will never not be thinking “President Uma Thurman” when she’s onscreen) is introduced accent-first, with her back to the camera, because encountering this voice head-on would surely be too much for the unprepared Prime Video viewers who stumbled upon the movie after bingeing “Bosch.” We meet her as she’s busy lecturing her hot son about his initial clash with the hot prince. “Darlin’,” President Uma Thurman says, “yew’ve dun some pretty stupid things in yur day, buh this …”To say my ears perked up is an understatement: It was as though Arianna Huffington had appeared before me reciting a monologue from “True Blood.” This is not an accent you should attempt while operating heavy machinery, but Thurman ladles it on so thick that you have to admire the movie-star chutzpah. I even started to miss her whenever “Red, White & Royal Blue” cut back to the hot boys’ romantic misadventures: Why are we spending time on these tedious hunks when the most suspenseful thing about the movie is how President Uma Thurman will pronounce any given word?

Persons: ”, I’m, Uma Thurman, Gina Gershon, “, Ross Perot, you’ll, Uma Thurman ”, bingeing “ Bosch, “ Darlin, Arianna Huffington, Thurman ladles

☆ Woody Allen announces his retirement
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Woody Allen has announced his retirement from filmmaking. While in Europe to work on his 50th film, Woody Allen told Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia that he intended to retire from making movies and to dedicate more time to writing during his twilight years. What is now set to be his final film is set in Paris and will be shot entirely in French in a couple of weeks. Allen has been shooting more often in Europe as his support in the U.S. has plunged given the abuse accusations against him. In 2020, he opened the San Sebastian Film Festival with “Rifkin’s Festival,” shot in and around the tony city of San Sebastian.

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