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Washington had pressed its ally in the hopes of ending the cycle of attacks and avoiding escalation into a wider war. Blinken said the U.S. is tracking the aid deliveries very carefully and “absolutely essential” that Israel comply. "Israel has achieved most of its strategic objectives when it comes to Gaza,” Blinken said in Tel Aviv. (It also signed off on $9.5 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza, as well as the conflict zones of Ukraine and Sudan.) But far-fetched as it might seem, it came up during Blinken’s meeting with the Saudi crown prince during this trip.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, it’d, Yahya Sinwar, Isaac Herzog, Nathan Howard, Amos Hochstein, Donald Trump, Netanyahu —, Netanyahu, Blinken, Israel, ” Blinken, “ It’s, Ibrahim Fakhroo, Sinwar, William Burns, Khalil al, “, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Joe Biden, Ayman Safadi, we’ve, ” It’s Organizations: State Department, Getty, Israel, Hamas, Trump, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign, CIA, Qatari, Senior, Palestinian Authority, Saudi Crown, U.S, U.S . Locations: United States, Israel, Iran, Washington, Gaza, Egypt, Lebanon, Blinken, Tel Aviv, AFP, U.S, Beirut, Saudi Arabia, Doha, Qatar, Riyadh, Ukraine, Sudan, Saudi, Palestinian, Jordanian, London

But during that time, Netanyahu was soliciting input from Trump, the Republican nominee. Trump claimed during a rally in Georgia that Netanyahu had called him at least twice in recent days. Trump’s allies also privately played up the Netanyahu-Trump phone calls as demonstrating that Netanyahu is seriously eyeing the possibility of a Trump victory. Still, the Biden administration is publicly signaling it hopes to advance efforts to bring the hostages home and to end a war that is threatening to tarnish Biden’s foreign policy legacy. Both Qatar and Egypt have reengaged with the group, which has not publicly named a new leader.

Persons: Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar, Netanyahu –, Biden, Antony Blinken, Netanyahu, Trump, “ Bibi, ” Trump, “ We’re, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, “, Bibi, ”, Harris, stoke, Trump’s, Netanyahu didn’t, Biden demurred, ’, ” Biden, ” Blinken, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Sinwar, Khalil al, Khaled Mashal, Mousa Abu Marzook, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Trump, Republican, Democrat, White House, Netanyahu, East, Arab, CIA, Qatari Locations: Gaza, United States, Israel, Qatar, Doha, Washington , DC, Georgia, American, Washington, Michigan, Egypt

Yet days after Sinwar was killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza, the fundamentals of the deadlocked talks remain unchanged. “Their internal dynamics will take some time,” a regional diplomatic official told CNN. The regional diplomatic source called it a “safe bet” that Sinwar’s brother Mohammed could take the lead for the hostages inside Gaza. To lead the overall organization, top Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, who is based in Doha, is getting backing from pro-Iran, pro-Gaza corners, the regional official said. Blinken is expected to meet with top Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, on Tuesday, amid tempered expectations he will return to Washington having made any significant progress on the hostage talks.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Yahya Sinwar, Joe Biden, Sinwar, isn’t budging, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, ” Biden, Israel, ”, John Kirby, Mohammed, Mohammed Sinwar’s, it’s, Yahya Sinwar’s, “, ” Mohammed Sinwar, Mohammad Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, Khalil al, Ismail Haniyeh, Blinken, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Blinken’s, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israeli, Diplomats, Sinwar, National Security, UN Security Council, US, Saudi Crown Locations: Israel, United, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Doha, Cairo, Tehran, Qatar, Egypt, Washington, Tel Aviv, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Palestinian, Russia, United States

☆ Sinwar's killing is a win for Israel — but many Palestinians are proud of his defiant last stand
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Alex-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Alexander Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The Hamas leader was “the caring father and the leader of the Palestinian cause,” Moslah added. “May God have mercy upon him.”For others, Sinwar’s death was an unsurprising outcome for a hardened jihadi militant. He spent years in an Israeli jail learning Hebrew and studying the inner workings of Israeli politics and military tactics. It showed a man, identified by Israel as Sinwar, sitting in a chair in a destroyed apartment as an Israeli drone buzzed around him. Moments later, the Israeli military would fire its kill shot — a missile destroying the building.

Persons: Sinwar, “, ” Abaad, Moslah, ”, Ziad Maqdad, “ Yahya Sinwar, Burcu, Khalil Al, Hayya, Yahya Sinwar, lamely, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Omar Dajani, David, Sinwar “, Dajani, John Wessels, Ahmed Yossef, Benny Gantz, Gaza “, Belazel Smotrich, Frank Lowenstein, Barack Obama, Mohammed, ” Lowenstein, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Rashid Khalidi, Netanyahu Organizations: NBC News ’, Royal United Services Institute, Israel Defense Forces, NBC, AFP, Getty, Palestinian Center, Policy, Research, University of, Columbia University, “ Locations: Palestinian, Beit Hanon, Gaza, Israel, United States, London, Jerusalem, Iranian, Palestine, Stockton , California, Sinwar, “ Israel

☆ Analysis: Sinwar’s killing brings end of Gaza war within reach – if Israel can seize the chance
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

And it could bring the devastating war in Gaza closer to an end, experts say – if Israel and its allies can seize the opportunity. Before the war, power in Hamas was decentralized – with Gaza political chief Sinwar just one of many leaders, Chorev said. Shira Efron, a senior director of policy research at the Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation said Sinwar’s killing gives Netanyahu the chance to claim a victory. Sinwar’s killing could also pave the way for a hostage and ceasefire agreement, since he was believed to be one of the main blockers of a deal. Chorev, from Tel Aviv University, added that Netanyahu could see Sinwar’s killing as a moment to cement his legacy.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar’s, Harel Chorev, Moshe Dayan, Sinwar, Chorev, “ Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, ”, Mohammed, Khalil Al Hayya, ” Chorev, Netanyahu’s, ’ Netanyahu, Shira Efron, Diane, Guilford, Netanyahu, “, Einav Zangauker, Matan, Uzi Rabi, Critics of Netanyahu, Joe Biden, clawing, Rabi, Yoav Gallant, Efron, ” Efron Organizations: CNN, Israel, Moshe, Tel Aviv University, Gaza, Hamas ’, Hamas, Guilford Glazer Foundation, ” Locations: Israel, Gaza, Cairo, “ Israel, United States, Lebanon, Rafah, ”, Gaza’s

☆ Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is dead. Here’s who could head the group next
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But while Sinwar’s death is a huge blow for Hamas, it does not signal the immediate demise of the group. Mousa Abu Marzouk, the deputy chief of Hamas’ political bureau who helped found Hamas, could also be a contender to become Sinwar’s replacement. Israel has killed Hamas’ previous leaders: In 2004 they killed Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Sinwar had consolidated power during the war, becoming Hamas’ sole decision maker in Gaza following the killing of the other two top Hamas officials there. Sinwar became Hamas’ most senior leader after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran in July.

Persons: Tel Aviv CNN — Israel, Yahya Sinwar, Sinwar –, Sinwar’s, Khalil al, Khaled Mashal, Sinwar, Mohammed Sinwar, Mohammed, Mohammed Sinwar’s, ”, Mousa Abu Marzouk, Khaled Meshaal, Meshaal, Jimmy Carter, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Bashar al Assad, Khalil Al Hayya, Hazem Bader, Al Hayya, Israel, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, Mohammed al, Masri, Mohammed Deif –, Al, Deif’s, Marwan Issa, Ismail Haniyeh Organizations: Tel, Tel Aviv CNN, Hamas, Anadolu, Israel Defense Forces, Israeli, CNN, FBI, United, Iran’s, West Bank, Getty, Brigades Locations: Tel Aviv, Palestine, United States, Iran, Cairo, Qatar, Hebron, Jordan, Gaza, Tehran, Israel

☆ Israel-Hamas War and Gaza Latest News
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-15 | by ( Riley Mellen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

The strike, which the Israeli military says targeted a Hamas leader, took place in an area designated as a humanitarian zone. Earlier assassination attempts against Mr. Deif are believed to have left him disabled, and he may be missing an eye and limbs. They became more confident that Mr. Deif might enter Mr. Salameh’s compound after a growing cache of evidence suggested that he placed unusual trust in his subordinate. The official, Khalil al-Hayya, who lives in exile, said in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic that Mr. Deif was listening to Mr. Netanyahu’s words and “mocking” them. Mr. Netanyahu himself, in a televised news conference on Saturday night, said there was still no “absolute certainty” that Mr. Deif had been killed.

Persons: Israel, Muhammad Deif, Deif, Shin, Rafa Salameh, Khan Younis, Salameh’s, Salameh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Izzat, Rishq, Mkhaimar Abusada, ”, Scott Anderson, Anderson, Khalil al, Netanyahu, Bet, Isabel Kershner Organizations: Hamas, The New York Times, Israel Defense Forces, Analysts, Gaza’s Al, Azhar University, Fatah, Gaza Health Ministry, Al Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Khan, Rafa Salameh ., Al Jazeera, Jerusalem

☆ Israel-Gaza News: Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Isabel Kershner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

But it remained unclear on Sunday if the primary target, Muhammad Deif, the leader of the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, was among the dead. A Hamas official, Khalil al-Hayya, who lives in exile, said in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic television that Mr. Deif had not been killed and was listening to Mr. Netanyahu’s words and “mocking” them. Hamas has not offered evidence that Mr. Deif survived. Mr. Deif is the second most senior Hamas figure in Gaza, after its leader in the territory, Yahya Sinwar. But it made no mention of the fate of Mr. Deif and Mr. Salameh.

Persons: Israel, Muhammad Deif, Benjamin Netanyahu, Rafa Salameh, Khan Younis, Khalil al, Deif, Yahya Sinwar, Izzat Al, Salameh, Scott Anderson, ” “, Mr, Anderson, “, Netanyahu, ”, Tamir Hayman Organizations: Gaza Health Ministry, Qassam, Hamas, Al Jazeera, United Nations, Nasser, Institute for National Security, Tel Aviv University Locations: Gaza, Israel, Khan

☆ Hamas Says It Is Reviewing Israeli Proposal on Cease-Fire Deal.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Hamas said on Saturday that it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, a move that comes amid efforts to break a deadlock in the talks between the armed group and Israel. In a statement, Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, said the group had received an Israeli response to a proposal it delivered to Egyptian and Qatari mediators two weeks ago. Mr. al-Hayya did not provide any details included in the Israeli proposal, but he said Hamas would respond to it after the group finished studying it. Hamas has demanded a permanent cease-fire, whereas Israel has expressed openness to a temporary pause. Hamas officials have said Palestinians should be able to go back en masse, while Israeli officials have said Israel wants to put limits on who can return, where and how.

Persons: Khalil al, Hayya, Israel Organizations: Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah

CNN —An Egyptian delegation is in Israel in an effort to advance stalled negotiations aimed at releasing hostages and implementing a ceasefire in Gaza, Egyptian and Israeli officials told CNN on Friday. The delegation is also set to continue discussions with Israeli officials on security coordination around a potential Israeli operation in Rafah, another Israeli official said. Despite months of talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas and Israel have failed to reach an agreement over differences on key demands. Abed Rahim Khatib/picture-alliance/dpa/APAnother sticking point in the negotiations is the number of Israeli hostages set for release in the first phase of the agreement. A senior Hamas official criticized the statement as a show of “ironic international politics” and called for the signatory countries to put pressure on Israel to accept a deal.

Persons: Al Jazeera, Khalil Al, Hayya, –, Israel –, “, ”, Abed Rahim Khatib, Basem Naim, Hersh Goldberg, Polin, ” Goldberg, ” Matthew Hollingworth Organizations: CNN, US, UN, Al, Hamas, Food Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Egypt, Qatar, United States, Tel Aviv

☆ Hamas officials say group willing to disarm if Palestinian state is established
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Abbas Allawati | Abbas Al Lawati | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The Palestinian militant group has long called for the Jewish state to be destroyed. Basem Naim, an Istanbul-based member of Hamas’ political bureau, told CNN on Thursday that the group would agree to disarm if an independent Palestinian state was established. Hamas has traditionally rejected a two-state solution that would see a Palestinian state established alongside Israel and has instead advocated the creation of a Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine that today encompasses Israel, the occupied West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem and Gaza. Barghouti said Hamas indicated as far back as 2007, when it led a Palestinian national unity government, that it is willing to accept a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders. Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said at a news conference in the Qatari capital Doha that Hamas is willing to function solely as a political party once a Palestinian state is created, citing meetings between the group and Turkish officials.

Persons: Basem Naim, Al Qassam, ”, Mustafa Barghouti, Efraim Inbar, Israel ”, Israel “, Netanyahu, Khalil al, Hayya, ” Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hayyah, Barghouti, Naim, Hakan Fidan, “ Organizations: CNN, Palestinian, Hamas, Israel, West Bank, Palestinian National Initiative, Jerusalem Institute for Strategy, Security, Associated Press, AP, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, Oslo Accords, Turkish, Qatari Locations: Israel, Gaza, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Palestinian, Palestine, East Jerusalem, United States, Israeli, Oslo, Doha, Turkish

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired more than 100 rockets into northern Israel on Tuesday morning, according to Israel’s military. Israel’s military said its fighter jets had retaliated by striking a number of sites linked to Hezbollah in Lebanon. The group is a key ally of Hamas, whose Oct. 7 attacks on Israel led to the war in Gaza. Since Israel’s bombardment of Gaza began, Hezbollah has been firing rockets into northern Israel on a near-daily basis. The Israeli military regularly responds with strikes against Hezbollah-linked targets inside Lebanon.

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, Khalil al, Euan Ward, Adam Sella Organizations: Hamas’s Locations: Lebanese, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Lebanon’s Bekaa, Cairo, United States, Egypt, Qatar, Iran

☆ Oil edges up with slim progress in Gaza peace talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A pump jack at an oil lot connected to the Petroleos del Peru SA Talara refinery in Piura, Peru, on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. Oil prices rose on Thursday after Israel rejected a ceasefire offer from Hamas, as talks continued to try to end the Gaza conflict and wider Middle East tensions that have kept the market on edge since October. A Palestinian Hamas delegation led by senior official Khalil Al-Hayya was due to travel on Thursday to Cairo for ceasefire talks with Egypt and Qatar. On the demand side, a much stronger-than-expected drawdown in gasoline stocks in the U.S. reported on Wednesday continued to buoy the market. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported U.S. gasoline stocks fell by 3.15 million barrels last week compared with analysts' estimates for a build of 140,000 barrels.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Khalil Al, Hayya Organizations: del, del Peru SA Talara, Brent, . West Texas, Hamas, U.S . Energy Information Administration, ANZ Research Locations: del Peru, Piura, Peru, Gaza, Palestinian, Cairo, Egypt, Qatar, U.S

☆ Gaza Ceasefire Hopes Alive With More Talks Planned
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

"Continued military pressure is a necessary condition for the release of the hostages," Netanyahu said. Israel began its military offensive after Hamas militants from Gaza killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Netanyahu rejects a Palestinian state, which Saudi Arabia says is a requirement for the kingdom to normalise relations with Israel. But last week Israel said it would expand its campaign into Rafah, where about half the enclave's 2.3 million people are penned against the border with Egypt. On the ground in southern Gaza, residents said Israel stepped up its assault on Rafah in the early hours of Thursday.

Persons: Nidal, Humeyra Pamuk, Antony Blinken, Khalil Al, Hayya, Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar, Israel, Washington, Khan Younis, Nidal al, Andrew Mills, Bassam Massoud, Cynthia Osterman, Howard Goller Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Israeli, Hamas, NBC News, Israel Democracy Institute, Nakhoul Locations: Humeyra Pamuk DOHA, TEL AVIV, U.S, Qatar, Egypt, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Cairo, Tel Aviv, Saudi Arabia, ISRAEL, RAFAH Israel, Gaza's, Rafah, Tel Al, Doha

☆ Can Hamas Locate Remaining Hostages in Mayhem of Gaza War?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

One Israeli source with knowledge of the issue said Hamas was estimated to be holding 90% of the hostages. Hamas and Israel were expected to release more hostages and prisoners on Wednesday, the last day of an extended six-day truce in the Gaza war. Israel has said the truce could be prolonged further, provided Hamas continues to free at least 10 Israeli hostages per day. Palestinian sources said Hamas was able to gather some hostages with smaller groups, but it is unclear whether the Islamic Jihad would carry its own swaps or conduct them through Hamas. Israeli spokesman Eylon Levy said on Wednesday the government held Hamas fully responsible for the abduction of everyone held inside Gaza.

Persons: Nidal, Andrew Mills, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Islamic Jihad, Khalil Al, Hayya, Israel, Gilad Shalit, Shalit, Eylon Levy, Maayan Lubell, Michael Georgy, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Hamas, Islamic, HAMAS, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, West Bank, Palestinian Prisoners, Palestinian Locations: Ahmed Mohamed Hassan GAZA, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Egypt, Iran, Doha, Qatar, Hamas, Jerusalem

Hamas says it is working to locate them in a Gaza Strip shattered by weeks of Israeli bombardment. One Israeli source with knowledge of the issue said Hamas was estimated to be holding 90% of the hostages. Hamas and Israel were expected to release more hostages and prisoners on Wednesday, the last day of an extended six-day truce in the Gaza war. Israel has said the truce could be prolonged further, provided Hamas continues to free at least 10 Israeli hostages per day. Israeli spokesman Eylon Levy said on Wednesday the government held Hamas fully responsible for the abduction of everyone held inside Gaza.

Persons: Abed Sabah, Islamic Jihad, Khalil Al, Hayya, Israel, Gilad Shalit, Shalit, Eylon Levy, Maayan Lubell, Michael Georgy, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Islamic, HAMAS, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, West Bank, Palestinian Prisoners, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Beach, Gaza City, GAZA, Gaza, Egypt, Iran, Doha, Qatar, Hamas, Jerusalem

☆ Hamas, Israel signal possible expansion of hostage-deal criteria
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The remarks by Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya late on Monday came as Israel expanded the roster of Palestinian detainees it could release in exchange for hostages - another signal that a revision of truce terms was being considered. Accordingly, Israel had originally pre-cleared 300 Palestinian women and teenaged male detainees for prospective release. Hamas seized some 240 people during its Oct. 7 cross-border killing spree that sparked the Gaza war. Among hostages it still holds are fathers and husbands of those it has freed in recent days. Writing by Nadine Awadalla and Dan Williams; editing by Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Khalil al, Hayya, Al Jazeera, spokespeople, Nadine Awadalla, Dan Williams, Lincoln Organizations: International Committee, Palestinian, Qatari, Thomson Locations: Israel, DUBAI, JERUSALEM, Gaza

A deal for a temporary cease fire was inching into view in Israel's war against Hamas, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tempered expectations by vowing that the war would continue even if a deal is reached. “We are at war, and we will continue the war,” he said. Israel has vowed to continue the war until it destroys Hamas’ military capabilities and returns all hostages. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government maintains ties with Hamas officials, said Turkey’s foreign minister and intelligence chief were working with Qatari officials to negotiate releases. Hamas has released four hostages, Israel has rescued one, and the bodies of two were found near Shifa.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, Gaza — Israel, NETANYAHU, ”, “, Mostafa Madbouly, ” Madbouly, Israel —, Hadas Kalderon, Kalderon, John Kirby, Kirby, “ We’ve, ” NETANYAHU, ‘, ” Netanhayu, Khalil al, Hayya, Valdis Dombrovskis, ” BIDEN, WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, ” “, ” Biden, Biden's, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Tebboune, ” Tebboune, ” Erdogan, Israel’s, Asad, Assad, Qassim Abdul, Bassem, Tara Copp, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Sergey Lavrov, Lavrov, ” Lavrov, Ziad Makary, Farah Omar, Rabih Maamari, Kfar Kila, Laiqa Serhan, Reuters videojournalist, Abduallah, Qatar’s Al, Izzat, Ismail Haniyeh, Goren, Tal Chaimi, ” Netanyahu, Mosab Abu Toha, Hamza Abu Toha, Mosab, Hamza, ” Mosab Abu Toha, Abu, Abu Toha Organizations: Hamas, Senior, Palestinian, Troops, Health Ministry, West Bank, WAR, JERUSALEM, CAIRO —, Israel, White, National Security, Israel —, European Union, ” EU, HIT ISRAEL, Algerian, International Criminal, Hezbollah, Cabinet, MUSLIM, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, United Nations Security Council, Lebanese, National News Agency, Reuters, Agence France, Jazeera, SEA DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Galaxy Leader, U.S . Navy, OFFICIAL, PEN, Yorker Locations: Israel, United States, Qatar, Gaza, Gaza City, Gaza —, Iran, Yemen, Egypt, Cyprus, israel, Israeli, EGYPT, CAIRO, TEL AVIV, HAIFA, Beirut, EU, STRASBOURG, France, TURKEY, ALGERIA, GAZA ALGIERS, Algeria, Turkey, Turkish, BAGHDAD, Iraq, U.S, al, Baghdad, Anbar, Syria, Zahra, Bassem Mroue, Washington, JERUSALEM, “, Russian, Moscow, Russia, LEBANON, ISRAEL, BEIRUT, Lebanon, Kibbutz Manara, Kfar, IRAN, YEMEN, United Arab, Tehran, American, Red, Persian, Hormuz, Shifa

[1/5] An Israeli soldier operates amid the ongoing ground invasion against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, November 8, 2023. Hamas' armed wing on Wednesday released a video that appeared to show intense street battles alongside bombed out buildings in Gaza City. Israeli tanks have met heavy resistance from Hamas fighters using underground tunnels to stage ambushes, according to sources with Iran-backed Hamas and the separate Islamic Jihad militant group. ISRAEL BOMBS TUNNELSChief Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Wednesday that "Hamas has lost control in the north" of Gaza. The Israeli military has repeatedly told residents to evacuate the north or risk being trapped in the violence.

Persons: Ronen, Israel, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Khalil al, Saleh al, Daniel Hagari, Colonel Ido, Hagari, U.N, Nidal al, Angel, Emily Rose, Maayan, Rami Amichay, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Cynthia Osterman, Michael Perry Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, West Bank, Jihad, Palestinian Authority, Israel's, ABC News, New York Times, Israel, Reuters, Wednesday, Journalists, 401st Brigade, Thomson Locations: Israeli, Gaza, Gaza City, West, Gaza WASHINGTON, GAZA, JERUSALEM, United States, Hamas, Iran, Israel, Washington, Tokyo, Palestinian, Aqsa, ISRAEL, Gaza's, Qatar, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv

☆ Hamas leaders say they have no regrets after the October 7 attack and that the goal was to 'overthrow' the status quo
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hamas officials say they do not regret the October 7 attack on Israel and would do it again. The Israeli response has killed thousands of Palestinians, but Hamas says the price is worth it. The goal was to "overthrow" the status quo, not "improve the situation in Gaza," one official said. In fact, Hamas leaders say their goal was to trigger that very response and that they're still hoping for a bigger war still. In an interview this week with the Lebanese newspaper Al-Liwaa, another Hamas leader, Osama Hamdan, reiterated that the group has no regrets for attacking Israel.

Persons: —, they're, Saudi Arabia —, Khailil, Israel —, Hayya, Taher El, Nounou, Osama Hamdan, Hamdan Organizations: Service, New York Times, West Bank, United, Times, Lebanese, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, Saudi Arabia, United Nations

☆ Soccer Moroccan fans scramble for World Cup flights
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Ahmed Eljechtimi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RABAT, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Moroccans scrambled on Friday to get seats on the seven additional flights that state carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has announced to help soccer fans get to Qatar for the World Cup quarter final against Portugal. A source at Morocco's soccer federation said it had agreed with RAM that fans seeking tickets on the additional flights should have tickets for the Saturday match and a Hayya card - Qatar's temporary entry visa for World Cup visitors. However, several fans at a RAM office in Rabat said they were able to get air tickets with only the Hayya card and hoped to buy match tickets on arrival in Doha. Fans attending the Casablanca stadium zone need to get there three hours early for a place, one of the organisers said. "Looking at how many T-shirts I have sold, I wish the World Cup lasted forever,” said Zouhir Sabir, a shop keeper in the old centre of Rabat.

☆ Exclusive: Soccer-765K World Cup visitors fall short of Qatar's expected 1.2M influx
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The influx of visitors represents a 25% boost to the country's resident population of 3 million, of which only about 10-12% are Qataris. More visitors are expected to flock to Qatar for popular matches and after the country lifted entry restrictions for nationals and residents of fellow Gulf states. Previously, world soccer's governing body FIFA said that stadium attendance in Qatar had surpassed attendance at stadiums during a corresponding period at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. On Tuesday, hundreds of Moroccan fans flew into Qatar on special flights arranged ahead of their team's victory over Spain. Visitors to Qatar must obtain a Hayya identification card ahead of travel as it doubles as a mandatory entry visa during the tournament period.

☆ Hamas leaders meet Assad in Damascus to 'turn the page'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DAMASCUS, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Syria's President Bashar al-Assad met a delegation from Hamas on Wednesday, with the Sunni Palestinian Islamist faction saying the meeting could help "turn the page" after shunning Damascus for a decade. Hamas leaders publicly endorsed the 2011 Sunni street uprising against Assad's rule and vacated their Damascus headquarters in 2012, a move that angered their common ally, Iran. Normalising ties with Assad could help restore Hamas's inclusion in a so-called "axis of resistance" against Israel, which includes Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, natural allies of Assad, whose Alwaite group is a Shi'ite offshoot. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterA small delegation visited Assad in Damascus on Wednesday "to turn all the pages of the past," according to the head of delegation and Hamas politburo member Khalil Al-Hayya. Palestinian political analyst Mustafa Sawwaf said Hamas's reconciliatory move towards Syria aims to create new ground for the Islamist faction.

GAZA, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Hamas leaders will visit Syria on Wednesday, in a move by the Palestinian Islamist group to rebuild ties after shunning President Bashar al-Assad for years over his violent crackdown on protests. Hamas leaders publicly endorsed the 2011 street uprising against Assad's dynastic rule and vacated their Syria headquarters in Damascus in 2012, a move that angered their common ally, Iran. Palestinian political analyst Mustafa Sawwaf said Hamas’s reconciliatory move towards Syria aims to create new ground for the Islamist faction. In June, two Hamas officials told Reuters the group had decided to restore relations with Syria. Hazem Qassem, a spokesman for Hamas, told Reuters the delegation to Syria would be led by senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya, as part of a wider delegation made up of leaders of other factions.

☆ EXCLUSIVE Qatar planning for World Cup fans to avoid prosecution for minor offences - Sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterQatar's World Cup organisers, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Leagacy, did not respond to a request for comment. "Remember, while you're in Qatar, you are subject to local laws," U.S. diplomat Morgan Cassell said in a YouTube video. While Qatari authorities have not confirmed this approach, special legislation taking effect during the tournament gives Qatar's World Cup security chief - known as the Gold Commander - significant leeway in tackling violations of Qatar's laws. Police plan tougher action when the safety of people or property is under threat, World Cup organisers told diplomats in a briefing a few months ago, several diplomats said. Security is just one challenge facing Qatar, the first Middle East country to host a soccer World Cup and the smallest nation to do so.

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