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☆ Washington’s Arab allies engage with Iran as US efforts to stem Middle East violence falter
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Abu Dhabi, UAE CNN —Growing unease over the United States’ inability to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East is prompting some of Washington’s closest Arab allies to significantly increase engagement with its primary regional adversary: Iran. Arab nations that had spent decades brawling with Iran for regional influence are now opting to engage with it again. Despite seeing an opportunity to weaken Iran’s regional influence, Arab nations are now signaling neutrality. “The Gulf (Arab) monarchies’ priority is not to be directly involved in a proper regional conflagration. Still, regional states rely heavily on their military relationship with the US.

Persons: State Anthony Blinken, Yahya Sinwar, Israel, Blinken’s, Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hitler, ”, Abbas Araghchi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Abdel Fattah Al, ” Araghchi, Crown Prince Sabah, Cinzia Bianco, ” Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh, ” Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al, Hamad Al, ” Hasan Alhasan, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Anwar Gargash, Joe Biden’s, Abu, ” Bianco, Jake Sullivan Organizations: UAE CNN, State, Saudi Arabia’s, Iranian, Saudi, Bahraini, Crown, CNN, European Council, Foreign Relations, ” Kuwaiti Crown, Kuwait News Agency, Reuters, Middle, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Israeli, United Arab Emirates, US, US National, Atlantic Festival Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, United States, Washington’s, Iran, Republic, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Tehran, Riyadh, Tehran’s, Amman, Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Cairo, Doha, Muscat, Manama, Crown Prince, Crown Prince Sabah Al, Sabah, Kuwait City, Islamic Republic, ” Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Washington, Yemen, China, Washington ,

☆ Israel-Hamas War and Gaza Cease-Fire Proposal: Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Isabel Kershner | Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Image Smoke billowing after an Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday. In a statement on Sunday, the group said it objected to “more rounds of negotiations” and the introduction of any new proposals or conditions. Officials in Gaza said over the weekend that dozens of people had been killed in Israel’s strike on the school compound. The authorities in Gaza do not distinguish between combatants and civilians in reporting death tolls. Israel’s political and military leaders have argued that it is essential to keep up the military pressure on Hamas, to force it to come to terms on a cease-fire deal.

Persons: Biden, Khan Younis, Bashar Taleb, Abdel Fattah el, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Tisha B’Av Organizations: Lebanese Hezbollah, ., Agence France, Getty Locations: Beirut, Tehran, Israel, Iran, Gaza, Egypt, Qatar, Thani, Cairo, Doha, Jerusalem, Aqsa

☆ 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

☆ Palestinian-American sues Meta, alleging speech discrimination on platform
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A Palestinian-American engineer has sued the social media giant Meta, accusing his former employer of discriminating against pro-Palestinian speech on its platforms and of wrongfully firing him after he investigated the issue as part of his official duties. “The employee was dismissed for violating Meta’s data access policies, which we make clear to employees will result in immediate termination,” Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a statement to CNN. When Hamad flagged the matter late last year to colleagues within the same team, he allegedly began to receive communications from Meta employees outside of the team pressuring him to drop the investigation. The firing took place against the backdrop of other examples of company bias against pro-Palestinian speech, Hamad alleges. The lawsuit also cites a December 2023 report by Human Rights Watch documenting claims that Meta unreasonably suppressed peaceful pro-Palestinian speech.

Persons: Ferras Hamad, Ukraine —, Meta, Hamad, Andy Stone, “, ” Weeks, Hamad “ Organizations: CNN, Meta, Human Rights Locations: Gaza, Ukraine, California, Santa Clara County

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, two Israeli hostages rescued as dozens of Palestinians killed in Rafah
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Mahmoud Abbas during a meeting in Amman, Jordan, on October 17, 2023. Jacquelyn Martin/AP/FilePalestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived on Sunday in Doha, Qatar, which has been a key mediator in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The Palestinian Authority is a government body with limited self-rule in the West Bank. The visit comes as CIA director Bill Burns is expected to travel to Cairo for a Tuesday meeting to push for a hostage release deal, according to two sources familiar with the plans. One of the sources said Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Israel's Mossad Director David Barnea are also expected to be in attendance.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Jacquelyn Martin, Abbas, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Bill Burns, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, David Barnea Organizations: Palestinian, West Bank, Qatari Locations: Amman, Jordan, Doha, Qatar, Israel, Cairo, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani

But no deal has been struck, and it is not clear how Israel will respond to Hamas’s counterproposal. “The reply includes some comments, but in general it is positive,” he said. He declined to offer further details, but said the counteroffer had been delivered to Israeli officials. “We are optimistic,” Sheikh Mohammed said. Mr. Blinken said that he planned to discuss Hamas’s response with Israeli leaders on Wednesday.

Persons: Hamas’s, Israel, Antony J, Blinken, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, ”, ” Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Abdel Fattah el Locations: Gaza, U.S, Israel, Rafah, Egypt, Doha, Thani, Qatar, Cairo

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

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

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

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

CNN —Efforts to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza and broker a prolonged pause in fighting are at an important juncture as President Joe Biden deploys his point person on hostage talks to Europe for multiparty talks on the contours of a possible agreement. He said on Friday, Biden had spoken to Egypt’s President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as well as Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss ongoing hostage talks. “We continue to do everything we can to facilitate another hostage deal just like we did back in November,” Kirby said. Each stage would come with a pause in fighting and the delivery of aid to the North and South of Gaza. The White House on Thursday reiterated its gratitude for Qatar — which has acted as a key mediator in hostage talks — in response to the leaked recording.

Persons: Joe Biden, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Abbas Kamel, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Burns, Barnea, John Kirby, “, ” Kirby, Biden, Abdel Fatah al, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Al Thani, Kirby, Brett McGurk, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Betsy Klein, Katie Bo Lillis Organizations: CNN, CIA, White House, Qatari, White, National Security, Hamas, Biden, Qatar Locations: Gaza, Europe, Israel, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, France, Washington, Qatar, Egypt, South, Palestinian, Gulf

☆ Qatar emir calls on U.N. to force Israel into talks to end Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Buildings lie in ruin in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from southern Israel, December 4, 2023. Qatar, where several political leaders of Hamas are based, has been leading negotiations between the Palestinian militant group and Israel. Those talks led to a truce that ultimately lasted for seven days before hostilities resumed on Friday. During the truce, Hamas released dozens of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and Israel allowed humanitarian aid to flow into the coastal strip. Sheikh Tamim said Qatar was working with both sides to repair the deal.

Persons: Athit, Israel, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Thani, Sheikh Tamim, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Nayera Abdallah, Andrew Mills, Alex Richardson, Miral Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, . Security Council, Qatari, Doha, UN, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Qatar

☆ At climate summit, Turkey, South Africa hit out at Israel over Gaza war
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Alexander Cornwell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan delivers a national statement at the World Climate Action Summit during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 1, 2023. "The current situation in Gaza constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity; those responsible must be held accountable under international law," he said. The war against the innocent people of Palestine is a war crime that must be ended now," he said in his address. The "international youth delegate" said he would try to raise awareness at the COP28 conference of the Palestinian cause. The assault sparked outrage in the Arab world, though most Western leaders have supported what they say is Israel's right to defend itself.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Al Sudani, Israel, Cyril Ramaphosa, Jordan's King Abdullah, Mohammed Ursof, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Rishi Sunak, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Isaac Herzog, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Herzog, Oded Joseph, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Abdul Latif Rashid, Gustavo Petro, Alexander Cornwell, Nadine Awadalla, Jana Choukeir, Huseyin Hayatsever, Mai Shams El, Richard Valdmanis, William Maclean Organizations: United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Hamas, United, U.S, State Department, Palestinian Authority, Dubai, UAE, Foreign Ministry, Reuters COP28, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Africa, Palestine, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, COP28

☆ 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

☆ Euro zone inflation dents euro, dollar rises from three-month low
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Samuel Indyk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A New Zealand dollar coin sits atop a United States one dollar bill in this photo illustration taken on March 11, 2016. Consumer price growth in the 20 nations that share the euro currency dropped to 2.4% in November from 2.9% in October, well below expectations for a fall to 2.7%. The euro dropped as much as 0.5% against the dollar to $1.0910. The Japanese currency has firmed almost 3% against the dollar in November and is on course for its strongest month this year. Sterling was last at $1.2646, down 0.39% on the day, while the Australian dollar fell 0.1% to $0.6610.

Persons: David Gray, Matthew Landon, disinflation, Landon, ECB policymaker Fabio Panetta, Mohamad Al, Jerome Powell, Christopher Waller, Christopher Wong, Toyoaki Nakamura, Sterling, It's, Samuel Indyk, Ankur Banerjee, Vidya Ranganathan, Kim Coghill, Miral Fahmy, Susan Fenton Organizations: New Zealand, REUTERS, European Central Bank, Morgan Private Bank, ECB, ECB policymaker, Danske Bank, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: States, Europe, U.S, London, Singapore

Thirty-three Palestinian prisoners released by Israel arrived early Tuesday in east Jerusalem and the West Bank town of Ramallah. Political Cartoons View All 1267 ImagesCurrently:— Israel and Hamas extend their truce, but it seems only a matter of time before the war resumes. So far, Hamas has released 69 hostages, including 51 Israelis, and Israel has released 150 Palestinian prisoners. Fifty Israeli hostages have been freed under the terms of an initial four-day truce, which has been extended to Wednesday. Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released.

Persons: Israel, — Israel, — Freed, — Blinken, Israel —, “, Israel — Kfir Bibas, Ariel, Eylon, Kfir’s, ”, William Burns, David Barnea, Burns, Barnea, Isabel Debre, Jon Gambrell, Eli Cohen, Parnpree, Thais, ” Parnpree, Cohen, GAZA WASHINGTON —, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Constantinos Letymbiotis, Nikos Christodoulides, Christodoulides, Qatar’s, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Catherine Colonna, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, ” Israel, ” Elad Levy, Levy’s, Roni Eshel, ” Levy, Antony Blinken, John Kirby, Jason J, Eaton, General Merrick Garland Organizations: Hamas, West Bank, Health Ministry, —, TEL, CIA, DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Officials, U.S, The Washington Post, Shamir, Thais, GERMANY BERLIN, White, Israeli Defense Forces, Cyprus ’, Cypriot, AP, UNIT, Gaza Health Ministry, Shifa, World Health Organization, PARIS, Foreign, RTL, UN, UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, Palestinian, of Solidarity, AS US, FIRE BRUSSELS, State Department, NATO, Organization for Peace, Security, National Security, MEN, UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT, BURLINGTON , Vermont —, University of Vermont, U.S . Department of Justice Locations: Israel, Gaza, Jerusalem, Ramallah, East, israel, ISRAEL, TEL AVIV, Israeli, Tel Aviv, QATAR, United Arab, Qatar, Egypt, ___, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, JERUSALEM, GERMANY, Germany, Berlin, GAZA WASHINGTON, CYPRUS, GAZA NICOSIA, Cyprus, CAIRO, Shifa, Europe, France, CANBERRA, Australia, Australia’s, Canberra, Ukraine, Brussels, Skopje, North Macedonia, UNIVERSITY, BURLINGTON , Vermont, Vermont, Burlington

☆ Biden Hopes to Alter the Trajectory of the War as Hostages Are Released
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Peter Baker | More About Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

In seeking to extend the pause and hostage releases, Mr. Biden has American interests to consider as well as those of Israel. Mr. Biden hopes an extension of the pause in exchange for the release of more hostages will result in the rest of the Americans being freed. “We’ll continue to remain personally engaged to see that this deal is fully implemented and work to extend the deal as well,” Mr. Biden told reporters. The release of Avigail gave Mr. Biden a small but emotionally powerful victory amid all the tumult in the region. “She’s been through a terrible trauma,” Mr. Biden said.

Persons: Biden, Idan, Mr, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, “ He’s, ” Jake Sullivan, Abigail, “ We’ll, Netanyahu, “, ”, Sullivan, Israel, ” Mr, Biden’s, Chris Christie, Christie, can’t, Tom Cotton, Cotton, Avigail, “ She’s, God she’s Organizations: Sunday, Hamas, Israel, “, NBC, Mr, ”, CNN, Republicans, Republican, “ Fox, European Union Locations: Israel, Gaza, Nantucket, Massachusetts, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Thani, Qatar, United States, “ State, New Jersey, Arkansas

"The released hostages are on their way to hospitals in Israel, where they will re-unite with their families," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. Israel released 39 Palestinians - six women and 33 minors - from two prisons, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said. Saturday's swap follows the previous day's initial release of 13 Israeli hostages, including children and the elderly, by Hamas in return for the release of 39 Palestinian women and young people from Israeli prisons. On Friday Hamas also released a Philippine national and 10 Thai farm workers. Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continued to release at least 10 hostages a day.

Persons: Israel, WAFA, Srettha Thavisin, Thais, Thongkoon Onkaew, Natthaporn Onkaew, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Osama Hamdan, Majed Al, Ansari, Maya Regev, Emily Hand, Hila Rotem, Emily, Raya Rotem, Shorouk Dwayyat, Emily Rose, Bassam Masoud, James Mackenzie, Maayan Lubell, Emma Farge, Aidan Lewis, Adam Makary, Nidal, Moaz Abd, Ali Sawafta, Sybille de La Hamaide, Jeff Mason, Humeyra Pamuk, Leslie Adler, Clarence Fernandez, William Mallard Organizations: Sunday, International Committee, Israel Defense Forces, West Bank, Hamas, Reuters, Brigades, IDF, United Nations, CNN, Al, Thomson Locations: Israel Egypt, Qatar, West Bank GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Palestinian, Rafah, Al, Bireh, Ramallah, Philippine, U.S, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Al Jazeera, Nantucket , Massachusetts

☆ Israel-Hamas war live updates: Israel and Hamas begin temporary pause in Gaza fighting, with first hostage release expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The 50 hostages, among about 240 taken by Hamas in their Oct. 7 raid on Israel, are expected to be released in batches, probably about a dozen a day, during the four-day ceasefire. The pause will be extended by a day for each additional batch of 10 hostages released, Israel said in a statement. The group said Israel agreed not to attack or arrest anyone in Gaza, and people can move freely along Salah al-Din Street, the main road along which many Palestinians have fled northern Gaza where Israel launched its ground invasion. Hamas has not released a full list of names of those being held in Gaza. Not all the hostages taken on Oct. 7 were being held by Hamas fighters.

Persons: Israel, Salah al, Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Benjamin Netanyahu, — Organizations: Hamas, State, Foreign Ministry, U.S, Qatar, Qatari, United Locations: Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Gaza ., Doha, United States, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Israeli, Egypt

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: | 2023-11-22 | 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

☆ Israel–Hamas war: The hostage deal and ceasefire explained
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Israeli tanks take position near a border with Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, November 22, 2023. The pause will be extended by a day for each additional batch of 10 hostages released, Israel said in a statement. Qatar's chief negotiator in ceasefire talks, Minister of State at the Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, said that under the deal there would be "no attack whatsoever. The deal was announced 46 days after the start of the war, one of the most fierce conflicts to erupt between the two sides. The initial negotiations for a deal between Israel and Hamas, both sworn enemies, began within days of the Oct. 7 attack but progress was slow.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Israel, Salah al, Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Mahmoud Abbas, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's, Edmund Blair, Howard Goller Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, State, Foreign Ministry, Committee, WHO, U.S, Palestinian Prisoners Society, West Bank and, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Qatari, United, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Gaza ., Argentina, Britain, Chile, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, U.S, West Bank and Jerusalem, Doha, United States, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Israeli, Cairo

☆ Terrible Choices and Deep Distrust: The Path to the Hostage Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Peter Baker | More About Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The Israelis were insisting that it was not enough to free just 50 of the roughly 240 hostages. Mr. Biden told the emir of Qatar, who was serving as the intermediary with Hamas, that four was all they would get for now. The path to the hostage deal was painful and painstaking, one marked by fitful progress, deep mistrust, terrible choices and moments when the whole thing was on the verge of unraveling. Mr. McGurk, who has wide contacts in the region, held early morning phone calls each day with the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and then briefed Mr. Sullivan, who kept Mr. Biden informed. Mr. Sullivan stayed in touch with Ron Dermer and Tzachi Hanegbi, two of Mr. Netanyahu’s closest advisers.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, ” Mr, Jake Sullivan, Brett McGurk, Joshua Geltzer, McGurk, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Sullivan, Ron Dermer, Tzachi Hanegbi, Netanyahu’s Organizations: Hamas, United, Biden, White, National Security Council Locations: Qatar, United States, Thani

☆ 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

CNN —Hamas has demanded that Israel stop flying surveillance drones over Gaza as part of its request that Israel pause its military operations in exchange for freeing hostages held by the terrorist group, according to two Israeli officials and a third source familiar with the ongoing negotiations. The Israeli military has been flying drones in the skies over Gaza for hours on end virtually every day during their military operation, using them as a primary means of surveillance to monitor the battlefield. The Pentagon has also been flying American surveillance drones over Gaza in its support of Israel’s efforts to find the hostages, which includes an estimated 10 Americans. The negotiating parties – Israel, Hamas and the US, with Qatar mediating between them – continue to grind away, as they try to reach an agreement on a number of sticking points. Other demands made by Hamas during the negotiations are more aid and fuel into Gaza, sources say, as well as allowing Palestinians who have fled south for safety to return to northern Gaza, where Israel now has control.

Persons: Israel, – Israel, Joe Biden, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al, “ It’s, –, Tzachi Hanegbi, ”, —, ” Hanegbi, Jake Sullivan, Brett McGurk, Bill Burns, McGurk, ” Biden, CNN’s Tamar Michaelis Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Pentagon, Israel’s National Security, Senior Biden, National, CIA Locations: Israel, Gaza, Washington, Qatar, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

U.S. President Joe Biden holds a bilateral meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2022. "The two leaders agreed that all hostages must be released without further delay," the statement said. Hamas fighters surged across the border from Gaza into Israel on Oct.7, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Reuters last week reported that Qatar, where several political leaders of Hamas are based, has been leading mediation efforts between Hamas and Israeli officials over the hostages. Washington has rejected calls from Arab leaders and others for it to insist that Israel halt its assault on the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip.

Persons: Joe Biden, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Leah Millis, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Biden, Jake Sullivan, CNN's, Sullivan, Brett McGurk, Biden's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Al Thani, Washington, Andrea Shalal, Ahmed Tolba, Steve Holland, Hugh Lawson, Noeleen Walder, Diane Craft Organizations: White, REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, Reuters, CNN, U.S, East, Israel, Israeli, Biden, Thomson Locations: Thani, Washington , U.S, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, United States, Brussels, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Rafah

[1/6] A satellite image shows Al-Shifa hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Gaza November 7, 2023. Israel says it is homing in on Palestinian Hamas militants who launched deadly attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, and says the group has command centers under and near the hospitals. "Tragically, the number of patient fatalities has increased significantly," he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, adding that Shifa was "not functioning as a hospital anymore." The Israeli military response has also prompted anger, with hundreds of thousands protesting in capitals around the world demanding a ceasefire. "Al Quds hospital has been cut off from the world in the last six to seven days.

Persons: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros, Israel, Josep Borrell, Jake Sullivan, we've, Sullivan, Biden, Joe Biden, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Ashraf Al, Shifa, Ahmed El Mokhallalati, Crescent, Tommaso Della Longa, Nidal al, Dan Williams, Adam Makary, Ahmed Tolba, Sabine Siebold, Andrea Shalal, Simon Lewis, Diane Craft Organizations: Hamas, Maxar Technologies, REUTERS Acquire, World Health Organization, WHO, United Nations, European Union, Union, White, National, Israeli Defense Forces, CBS News, United, Reuters, Gaza's Health Ministry, Health Ministry, Palestinian, International Federation of Red, Red Crescent Societies, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Shifa, United States, Washington, U.S, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Al, Quds, Al Quds, Jerusalem

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