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☆ As crowds surge for bread in Gaza, a boy helps his younger brother to drink
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Hannah Peart | Hannah Peart Is An Intern In The Nbc News London Bureau. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The 3-year-old in a frayed and holey T-shirt, appears unfazed by the destruction and dust, remnants of what was once a functioning store, now reduced to rubble in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis. “We came here to get bread for the house,” Ibrahim told an NBC News crew on Wednesday, adding that his family had 11 people. The boys watch as women and children crowd around outside Qala Bakery, the only functioning bread shop in the city of Khan Younis. Tense scenes as women fight for position to receive food at a bakery in Khan Younis. Long lines outside Qala Bakery in Khan Younis.

Persons: Khan Younis, Ibrahim, “, ” Ibrahim, Antony Blinken, Israel, Blinken, Lloyd Austin Organizations: NBC News, NBC, United Nations, State Department, U.S . Locations: Gaza’s, Khan, Qala, Gaza, Israel, U.S

How to strike a hostage and ceasefire deal, and with whom, is now a matter of uncertainty for American officials, who spent the hours after Sinwar’s death trying to determine if he had a successor. But US officials stopped short of saying Thursday that his death will result in a deal overnight. For long stretches, American officials couldn’t even say definitively whether he was alive or dead. “By all accounts, Sinwar has been the biggest obstacle within Hamas to a ceasefire-hostage release deal in Gaza. Depending on who would take his place, Sinwar’s death could revive hope for an agreement to end the war.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Antony Blinken, Hamas —, ”, Biden, Joe Biden’s, Kamala Harris ’, Harris, Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sinwar, “, Jonathan Panikoff, ” Panikoff, Aaron David Miller, Miller, ’ ” Sinwar, couldn’t, Andrew Miller, ” Biden, Lloyd Austin Organizations: CNN, Hamas, US, Sinwar, State Department, “, Michigan Locations: Gaza, Israel, Sinwar, fatalistic, Palestinian, Lebanon

☆ Israel has given no assurances it won’t target Iran’s nuclear facilities, top State Department official tells CNN
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —Israel has not given assurances to the Biden administration that targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities is off the table in retaliation for the Iranian ballistic missile strikes earlier this week, a top US State Department official told CNN on Friday. The official added that it is “really hard to tell” if Israel will use the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attacks to retaliate. “We hope and expect to see some wisdom as well as strength, but as you guys know, no guarantees,” the official said when asked by CNN if Israel has assured the US that Iran’s nuclear sites are off the table. US officials have voiced support for Israel responding to Iran’s missile attack earlier this week, with multiple officials publicly saying there must be consequences. President Joe Biden said earlier this week the US would not support Israel targeting Iran’s nuclear program.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Bolton, Biden's, Israel, “, ”, Kurt Campbell, ” Campbell, ‘ let’s, ’ ” Campbell, CNN’s Nikki Carvajal Organizations: Washington CNN, US State Department, CNN, senior State Department, Carnegie Endowment, International Locations: Washington CNN — Israel, Israel, East, Iran, United States

We’ve had challenges getting the prime minister across the line. “We stay up nights trying to figure out a way to get across the line on this ceasefire and hostage deal. And we have spoken out directly about our concern when we’ve seen the prime minister not take steps that we think are necessary to get to that deal,” he said. Vice President Kamala Harris has frequently cited the importance of reaching a ceasefire and hostage deal but hasn’t detailed any new approach in reaching an agreement. “Ultimately the thing that is going to unlock everything else in that region is getting this deal done,” she said last week.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, State James Baker, George Mitchell’s, “, ”, Bill Burns, Antony Blinken, Brett McGurk –, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, We’ve, we’re, Jake Sullivan, we’ve, Sinwar, they’re, it’ll, Kamala Harris, “ I’m, I’ve, Yahya Sinwar Organizations: CNN, Hamas, State, United Nations, State Department, CIA, MSNBC, UN Locations: Gaza, Lebanon, East, Northern Ireland, New York, Israel, United States, American, Saudi Arabia

☆ What happened in Lebanon and why is Israel attacking Hezbollah?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

On Monday, Israel intensified its air campaign on Hezbollah, launching “extensive strikes” targeting the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon. It is unclear how many of the casualties were civilians or Hezbollah militants, but many of the locations described by Israel as Hezbollah targets are also residential neighborhoods and villages. The nearly 500 killed on Monday alone is roughly half the number of Lebanese killed throughout the entire 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006. Why is Israel attacking Lebanon? The US believes that neither Israel nor Hezbollah are interested in a full-scale war, but a major concern is that Iran, a key backer of Hezbollah, will get involved, US officials told CNN.

Persons: CNN — Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Isarel, Daniel Hagari, Mahmoud Zayyat, Amos, Stringer, Mohamed Hamayda, Firass Abiad, ” Hagari, Netanyahu, Fadel Itani, ”, Halevi, Leon Panetta Organizations: CNN, Hezbollah, Getty, Ramat, United Nations General Assembly, Reuters, Agence France, Presse, Lebanon’s, Hamas, UN Security Council, Former US Defense, CIA, UN, Assembly, State Department Locations: Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Lebanon’s, Syria, Lebanese, Sidon, AFP, Tyre, Beirut, Meggido, Afula, Deir, Gaza, Palestinian, Tehran, Yemen, Iraq, Beirut's, ”, Qatar, France, New York, United States

“We are the closest we’ve been to spiraling to a regional war” since Hamas’ October 7 attack, one of the officials said. The US assesses that neither Israel nor Hezbollah are interested in a full-scale war, officials said. On Monday, Nasser Kanaani, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, warned of “dangerous consequences” following Israel’s strikes. Israel has told the US that a full-scale war is not the intent of its strikes, according to an Israeli official. The goal is a diplomatic solution through escalation, the Israeli official said.

Persons: “, Israel, Nasser Kanaani, “ They’ve, Joe Biden’s, ” “, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, ” Hagari, Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Masoud Pezeshkian, “ Ismail Haniyeh, ” Pezeshkian, “ Israel Organizations: CNN, Ramat David, State Department, UN, Assembly, Pentagon, General Assembly, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Hezbollah Locations: Israel, Lebanon, East, Beirut, Ramat, Haifa, Iran, Tehran, New York, “, Gaza

☆ 'Spook the West': Turkey's bid for BRICS both a strategic and symbolic step, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends the BRICS+ session on a two-day BRICS foreign ministers summit held in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia on June 11, 2024. BRICS, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is a group of emerging market countries that seek to deepen their economic ties. Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their joint press conference on September 4, 2023, in Sochi, Russia. The fact that it's led by China makes some in the West wary, who see this as a potential win for Beijing. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (not seen) is welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of the 11th G20 Leaders' Summit in Hangzhou, China, on September 3, 2016.

Persons: Hakan Fidan, Sefa, It's, George Dyson, Dyson, Matthew Bryza, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, Russia —, Arda Tunca, Tunca, it's, Xi Jinping, Mehmet Ali Ozcan Organizations: Turkish, Anadolu, Getty, AK Party, NATO, Control, CNBC, EU, White House, Senior State Department, United Arab, Russia, West, China, Beijing, Anadolu Agency Locations: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, Western, Turkey, Europe, U.S, Ankara, Istanbul, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Russian, Sochi, United States, BRICS, Turkish, Hangzhou

The Russian officials took the proposal back to Moscow. It was a remarkably swift conclusion to years of painstaking negotiations between the US and more than half a dozen countries. Key to the deal was President Biden’s ability to persuade German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to release Krasikov, the Russian prisoner most keenly sought by Putin. Officials worked quietly throughout this year to get the German government to agree to release Krasikov — including entreaties from both Biden and Harris. President Biden sent a letter to Scholz in April, and the Germans at last agreed to release Krasikov in early June.

Persons: CNN —, Vadim Krasikov, who’d, who’s, Vladimir Putin, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Bill Burns, Gershkovich, Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Kurmasheva, Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Serdar Ozsoy, Biden’s, Olaf Scholz, Putin, Krasikov, Brittney Griner, Burns, –, Viktor Bout, Alexey Navalny, Brendan Smialowski, Antony Blinken, James Rubin, Blinken, Annalena Baerbock, Jake Sullivan, Harris, Scholz, “ Chancellor Scholz, “, Jake, ‘, ’, Sullivan, Navalny, Paul, Evan, ”, Ronald Wittek, Kara, Robert Golob, Kurmasheva’s, Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, Carstens, Jeff Flake, ” Flake, Flake, ” Sullivan Organizations: CNN, CIA, Wall Street, White, Base Andrews, Aircraft, Ankara Esenboga Airport, US Marine, WNBA, State Department, National Security Council, Krasikov, Getty, German, National, Biden, Munich, Conference, US, Munich Security, Aspen Security, Street, Hostage Affairs Locations: Eastern, Russia, Russian, Berlin, Moscow, American, Turkey, Ankara, Chechen, Slovenia, Norway, Poland, Washington , DC, AFP, Germany, ”, Munich, Washington, Slovenian, Mordovia, “

Washington CNN —The White House on Wednesday said reports of the assassination of a Hamas political leader in Iran “don’t help with the temperature going down,” while repeating calls for a ceasefire deal that would see the release of hostages held by Hamas. “These reports over the last 24-48 hours certainly don’t help with the temperature going down. I’m not going to be Pollyannaish about it; we’re obviously concerned about escalation,” White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told reporters during the White House press briefing. In both conversations, according to the State Department, the officials emphasized the need for a ceasefire in Gaza. “It’s too soon to know what impact any of this is going to have on the ceasefire deal,” Kirby said at the briefing.

Persons: I’m, we’re, John Kirby, Kirby, Biden, Antony Blinken, Aaron David Miller, Haniyeh, “ Blinken, ” Miller, ”, “, Blinken, Israel, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Thani, “ It’s, ” Kirby, Hezbollah’s, Fu’ad Shukr, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Netanyahu’s, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, John Kirby’s, CNN’s Abeer Salman, Jennifer Handler, Niamh Kennedy Organizations: Washington CNN, House, White House, senior State Department, CNN, State Department, Qatari, Haniyeh, Hezbollah, Hamas, United, Zionist Locations: Iran, Tehran, Singapore, Israel, Qatar, Jordan, Gaza, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Egypt, United States, Golan, Beirut, Washington

☆ Blinken says Iran’s nuclear weapon breakout time is probably down to 1-2 weeks
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said that Iran’s breakout time – the amount of time needed to produce enough weapons grade material for a nuclear weapon – “is now probably one or two weeks” as Tehran has continued to develop its nuclear program. “Iran, because the nuclear agreement was thrown out, instead of being at least a year away from having the breakout capacity of producing fissile material for a nuclear weapon, is now probably one or two weeks away from doing that,” he said. Blinken said the policy of the US is to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and that the administration would prefer to stop that from happening through diplomacy. The State Department also said that there is no anticipation that the recent election in Iran will change the country’s behavior. “We have no expectations that this election will lead to a fundamental change in Iran’s direction or its policies,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said earlier this month.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ”, “, Blinken, Biden, Trump, Matthew Miller, it’s, that’s Organizations: CNN, Aspen Security, US Defense Department, US, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, UN, State Department, The State Department, ”, “ Locations: Tehran, Iran, “ Iran, “

“Hamas could have answered with a single word – yes,” he said. “It’s time for the haggling to stop and a ceasefire to start. Hamas submitted its reply to the multi-phased ceasefire and hostage release proposal to mediators on Tuesday. According to a senior State Department official, Blinken, who was in Amman at the time, dispatched two of the senior staff traveling with him to retrieve Hamas’ response from Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, who was also in the Jordanian capital. Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, described their response as “responsible, serious and positive.”CNN’s Becky Anderson, Hamdi Alkhshali and Benjamin Brown contributed to this report.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, ”, “ Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Jake Sullivan, ’, Israel, Blinken, Abbas Kamel, ” CNN’s Becky Anderson, Hamdi Alkhshali, Benjamin Brown Organizations: CNN, US National, UN, State Department, Egyptian Locations: Gaza, Doha, Israel, ”, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Amman, Jordanian, Izzat

YouTube YouTube TikTok TikTok TikTok TikTok YouTube Visual Investigations How a Haitian Gang Is Trying to Turn Itself Into a Militia Dozens of 5 Segonn members dance in a music video. It’s typically carried by militaries and hasn’t been seen being used before by the 5 Segonn gang. It’s typically carried by militaries and hasn’t been seen being used before by the 5 Segonn gang. A group of 5 Segonn gang members dressed in tactical gear. TikTok TikTok TikTok TikTok YouTube YouTube YouTube TikTok TikTok On social media, Izo often posts videos of himself dancing and drinking.

Persons: hasn’t, Jovenel Moïse, Ariel Henry, Johnson André, TikTok, Izo, They’ve, Gustavo Petro, Moïse’s, Dimitri Hérard, Hérard, Izo’s Organizations: YouTube YouTube, Kenyan, The New York Times, Gang, PORT, PRINCE, Prince Bay Gang, Prince, Global, Transnational, Rights, Human Rights Defence Network, Human Rights, Integrated, YouTube, of, Los Angeles Crips, Toyota, Haitian National Police, Haitian Army, Times, Associated, The Justice Department, State Department, Facebook Locations: Belgian, Haiti, Port, Dominican Republic, Prince Bay HAITI, PRINCE HAITI, U.S, America, Dieu, Izo’s, United States, Colombia, Haitian, South, Central America, Brazil, Latin America, Europe, Izo, Western

☆ Biden admin says it’s ‘reasonable to assess’ Israel used American weapons in Gaza in ways ‘inconsistent’ with international law
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Biden administration said Friday that it is “reasonable to assess” that US weapons have been used by Israeli forces in Gaza in ways that are “inconsistent” with international humanitarian law but stopped short of officially saying Israel violated the law. Although the report does not find Israel in violation of either of the terms of the memorandum, it is sharply critical of the toll of Israel’s military campaign. The findings of the report mark another stark moment in US-Israeli relations in the same week President Joe Biden threatened to restrict weapons transfers if Israel goes ahead with a major offensive in Rafah. The administration was required to make a determination on those two matters under a February national security memorandum, which Biden issued under pressure from Democratic lawmakers. That official said the report would be shared with the Israeli government.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, “, Joe Biden, Israel, ” Organizations: CNN, State Department, USG, Hamas, Capitol, Democratic Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah

☆ U.S. Seeks to Build World Pressure on Russia Over Space Nuclear Weapon
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | David E. Sanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

American officials are trying to increase international pressure on Russia not to deploy an antisatellite nuclear weapon in space, and have obtained information that undermines Moscow’s explanation that the device it is developing is for peaceful scientific purposes, a senior State Department official said on Friday. Concern over the Russian development of a new generation of space nuclear weapons has been growing in Washington, especially since Moscow’s veto last month of a U.N. measure aimed at keeping space free of such weapons. Some Republicans believe that the Biden administration is not doing enough to deter Russian work on the device, and others are concerned about China’s apparent decision not to pressure Moscow to stop. On Friday, Mallory Stewart, the assistant secretary of state for arms control, said that while the United States had been aware of Russia’s pursuit of such a device for years, “only recently have we been able to make a more precise assessment of their progress.”Ms. Stewart, speaking at the nonpartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the orbit the Russian satellite would occupy is in a high-radiation region not used by other satellites, information that undercuts Russia’s defense that it is not developing a weapon.

Persons: Biden, Mallory Stewart, “, Ms, Stewart Organizations: State Department, Strategic, International Studies Locations: Russia, Washington, Moscow, United States

☆ Blinken Goes to China With Potential Trouble on Horizon
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Vivian Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will arrive in China on Wednesday to try to preserve the recent and delicate stabilization of ties between the United States and China, as tensions over trade, territorial disputes and national security threaten to derail relations again. Even as Mr. Blinken’s plane approached Shanghai, the challenges ahead were apparent. The political season in the United States also looms as a complication. With the presidential election nearing, Democrats and Republicans are vying to appear tougher on China. And if former President Donald Trump is re-elected, he could reverse Beijing’s and Washington’s efforts to steady the relationship.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Blinken’s, Biden, Donald Trump Organizations: U.S . Senate, Republicans, State Department Locations: China, United States, Shanghai, Taiwan, Beijing, Russia, South China

The top US diplomat landed in Shanghai where he is expected to meet local officials and business leaders, and he will then travel to Beijing for meetings with senior Chinese officials. “We are in a different place than we were a year ago when the bilateral relationship was at an historic low point,” a senior State Department official said. “Russia is no longer kind of on its back foot,” a second senior State Department official said. Blinken will make the case that China should weigh in “more directly” with Iran to be less provocative in the region, the second senior State Department official said. “In both cases the Chinese have taken some early steps,” said the second senior State Department official, adding that there is still “much more” that needs to be done on both fronts.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Janet Yellen, Biden, Xi, ”, “, ” Blinken, Matthew Miller, Leah Millis, China’s, ” Xi, Blinken, ” Miller, it’s, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, David Lin Organizations: CNN, State Department, Ukraine, US, Foreign Ministry, of, People, Biden, Chinese Foreign Ministry, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Beijing, Party, Taiwan, Communist, Taiwan Relations, White Locations: China, Ukraine, Shanghai, Beijing, California, Russia, Moscow, Italy, “ Russia, ”, Europe, United States, South China, Philippine, Washington, Philippines, South, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, East, Iran

☆ Blinken to warn China over its support for Russia’s military during this week's visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang shake hands ahead of a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will warn China about its support for Russia's military during his visit to the country this week, according to a senior State Department official. Blinken is expected to convey Washington's "deep concerns" over China's aid for Russia's defense industrial base, during his three-day visit starting Wednesday. "And I think we've demonstrated our willingness to do so regarding firms from a number of countries, not just China," he added. During his visit to Beijing and Shanghai, Blinken is expected to meet senior Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to the State Department.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Qin Gang, Blinken, We're, Wang Yi, Xi Jinping Organizations: China's Foreign, State Department Locations: Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, Ukraine, Europe, U.S, Shanghai, Blinken

☆ Blinken will travel to China amid concerns of global issues
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Blinken will meet with senior Chinese officials in both Shanghai and Beijing during his April 24-26 visit, the official said. The official said Blinken has “three primary objectives for his trip to China.”“First, making progress on key issues; second, clearly and directly communicating concerns on bilateral regional and global issues; and third, responsibly managing competition,” the official said. Blinken, he continued, “will also reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”During Blinken’s trip to China last June, he met in Beijing with top officials, including President Xi Jinping. The call came amid heavy global turbulence — the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, were topics of discussion. The two also spoke about issues that have strained the Washington-Beijing relationship, including Taiwan, China’s recent provocations in the South China Sea and Beijing’s human rights abuses.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Xi, “, ”, Blinken, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, MJ Lee, Donald Judd Organizations: CNN, Biden, Russia, State Department, US Locations: China, Washington, Beijing, American, Shanghai, Iran, Israel, South China, ”, Taiwan Strait, Gaza, Ukraine, Taiwan, South

☆ Haiti’s prime minister is resigning. Will that bring calm to the gang-ravaged country?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Caitlin Stephen Hu | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In Henry’s place, a transitional council will be established and endowed with some powers of the presidency – including the ability to name a new interim prime minister. It is unclear how long it could take to establish a transitional council to begin the transfer of power, though Haiti’s former PM Claude Joseph told CNN that it could be created within 24 hours. The big question is whether these changes can bring calm to Haiti, and put a stop to the terrible violence tearing apart Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince. Talks with regional leaders continued, leading into the emergency CARICOM meeting on Monday. The United States will contribute $300 million to the Kenyan-led multinational security mission, Blinken said after attending the CARICOM meeting on Monday.

Persons: CNN —, Ariel Henry, Henry, Claude Joseph, Jimmy “, Henry’s, Cherizier, Odelyn Joseph, Romaine LeCoeur, Fanmi, Petit, Jimmy Cherizier, Viv Ansanm, “ ’ Viv Ansanm ’, ” Cherizier, Guy Philippe, Philippe, ”, “ we’re, State Anthony Blinken, William Ruto, “, ” Blinken, Mia Mottley, Will Ariel Henry, Blinken Organizations: CNN, CNN — Haiti’s, Caribbean, US State Department, AP, United Nations, Initiative, Transnational, CARICOM, Montana Group, Petit Dessalinnes, United Nations Security, Kenyan, senior State Department, State, State Department Locations: Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Kenya, Port, Prince, Swiss, EDE, CARICOM, “, Barbados, United States

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

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

☆ Blinken holding crucial meetings in Israel as efforts to free hostages and halt Gaza fighting intensify
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel Wednesday for meetings with key government officials to press for a “humanitarian pause” as international and domestic US pressure to end the conflict in Gaza continues to mount. Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a little over an hour. He is meeting with Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Herzi Halevi and set to meet with other key officials. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, but we continue to believe that an agreement is possible and, indeed, essential. And we will continue to work relentlessly to achieve it,” Blinken said at a news conference in Doha Tuesday.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Herzi Halevi, “ There’s, ” Blinken, Biden, Joe Biden, ”, Netanyahu, ’, “ We’re, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince, Israel, we’ll Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Doha Tuesday, State Department, Monday, Palestinian Authority, Saudi Crown, Doha Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Iranian, Iraq, Syria, United States, Rafah, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, ”, Palestinian

President Joe Biden and other senior U.S. officials have warned repeatedly that Israel must act to stop violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, which has increased since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. “We have underscored to the Israeli government the need to do more to hold accountable extremist settlers who have committed violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank,” Blinken said. Any Israeli with an existing U.S. visa who was targeted would be notified that their visa was revoked, Miller said. Since a 1967 Middle East war, Israel has occupied the West Bank, which Palestinians want as the core of an independent state. A senior State Department official said last week the U.S. wants Israel to prosecute individuals responsible for the West Bank violence but had yet to see such a step.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Joe Biden, “, ” Blinken, Washington, Matthew Miller, Miller, Simon Lewis, Daphne Psaledakis, Humeyra Pamuk, Rami Ayyub, Doina Chiacu, Franklin Paul, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S . State Department, West Bank, State Department, Palestinian Authority, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Washington

☆ U.S. to impose visa bans soon on Israeli extremist settlers for West Bank violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | 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: +2 min

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The Biden administration has informed Israel that Washington will impose visa bans in the next few weeks on Israeli extremist settlers engaged in violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank, a senior State Department official said. The West Bank, among the territories where Palestinians seek statehood, has experienced a surge of violence in recent months amid expanding Jewish settlements and a nearly decade-old impasse in U.S.-sponsored peacemaking. The United States has repeatedly expressed its concern over the rising violence in the West Bank, saying it must stop. "I have been emphatic with Israel’s leaders that extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank must stop and that those committing the violence must be held accountable. The United States is prepared to take our own steps, including issuing visa bans against extremists attacking civilians in the West Bank," Biden wrote.

Persons: Joe Biden, Eisenhower, Evelyn Hockstein, Biden, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel hurtled, Eylon Levy, Israel, Washington, Humeyra Pamuk, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, West Bank, State Department, Israeli, The West Bank, United, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Israel, Washington, United States, Gaza, U.S, Israel's

☆ 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

☆ Turkey Told NATO That Sweden Ratification Could Come Before Year-End, US Official Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told NATO counterparts on Tuesday he was working hard on Sweden's NATO ratification which is currently being debated by the Turkish parliament and provided a likely timeline of before year-end for the Nordic country to formally join the alliance, a senior State Department official said.

Persons: Hakan Fidan Organizations: Turkish, NATO, Nordic, State Department Locations: BRUSSELS, Turkish

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