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Martin pleaded guilty in October to using a hammer to smash the glass of the museum door and display case to take the slippers. Martin had no idea about the cultural significance of the ruby slippers and had never seen the movie. Garland wore several pairs of ruby slippers during filming of the classic 1939 musical, but only four authentic pairs are known to remain. The slippers were on loan to the museum from Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw when Martin stole them. The Judy Garland Museum, located in the house where she lived, says it has the world’s largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.

Persons: Judy Garland, Oz ”, Terry Jon Martin's, Martin wasn't, Martin, Dane DeKrey, hadn't, Terry, ’, DeKrey, ” DeKrey, Terry ”, “, Martin's, ”, Martin didn't, Garland, Michael Shaw, Dorothy, Frances Gumm Organizations: Judy Garland Museum, FBI, Defense, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Smithsonian Museum of Locations: Grand Rapids , Minnesota, Duluth , Minnesota, Minneapolis, Hollywood, Kansas, Grand Rapids, Los Angeles

☆ Air Traffic Climbs at Israel's Tel Aviv Airport in 2023 but War Weighs
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Steven ScheerJERUSALEM (Reuters) - Air travel to and from Israel plunged in the last three months of 2023 amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, but the number of passengers travelling through Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv still rose 10% in 2023. The number of international travellers reached 21.1 million in 2023, up from 19.2 million in 2022, the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) said in a report on Sunday. But since then, traffic has plunged, culminating in a 78% drop in November and 71% dive in December, the IAA said. Ryanair was third with a 5.4% share, although its number of passengers dipped 12% in 2023. In 2023, 3 million tourists visited Israel, up from 2.7 million in 2022.

Persons: Steven Scheer JERUSALEM, Ben Gurion, Oz, Israel . Bar Oz, Steven Scheer, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Ben Gurion, Israel Airports Authority, Palestinian, Hamas, IAA, Al Israel Airlines, Ryanair, Israel ., Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Tel Aviv . Air France Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza, El Al, United States, York's JFK, France, Britain, Austrian, Aegean

☆ Kfir Bibas: Family marks first birthday of the youngest hostage in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | Mick Krever | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

His name is Kfir Bibas, and he is the youngest of the 253 hostages taken into Gaza by Hamas and other militant groups during the terror attacks against Israel on October 7. Friends and relatives of the Bibas family held a small event at Nir Oz on Tuesday, commemorating Kfir’s birthday with a large balloon display and a cake featuring the famous photo of Kfir with the pink elephant. “Kfir Bibas is not the enemy of the Hamas. The Hamas don’t have any rules,” Jimmy Miller, cousin of the Bibas family, told CNN on Wednesday. Following hostage releases and one rescue, the Prime Minister’s Office says 132 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom 105 are alive and 27 dead.

Persons: Kfir, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Yarden, Ariel, Nir Oz, “, Jimmy Miller, ”, Kfir’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bibas, ” Israel, Minister’s Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Israeli Locations: Gaza, Israel, Tel Aviv

☆ Sharon Aloni Cunio: Freed Israeli hostage says she was held in Gaza hospital with dozens of others
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Emma Cunio, 3, was separated from her family during the October 7 attack. Aloni Cunio was taken into Gaza on a tractor with David and Yuli and held in a home guarded by two Hamas militants. At first, she thought she was hallucinating but someone walked in with Emma and handed her to Aloni Cunio “like a package,” she said. Aloni Cunio spoke of the harsh living conditions they endured in captivity. Days later, the Red Cross ushered Aloni Cunio and her daughters back to Israel.

Persons: Sharon Aloni Cunio, I’m, ”, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, David Cunio, Cooper, Aloni Cunio, Nasser, “, Emma, David, Emma Cunio, Nir Oz, Aloni Cunio’s, – Danielle Aloni, Amelia, Yuli, Aloni, ‘, Israel Organizations: CNN, Nasser Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ Gold extends slide as dollar firms on hawkish Fedspeak
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices extended losses on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar strengthened after hawkish comments from a Federal Reserve official dampened expectations for a March interest rate cut, while traders awaited comments from more Fed speakers this week. Spot gold was down 0.2% at $2,023.49 per ounce, as of 0415 GMT, after stooping 1.3% in the previous session - its biggest single-day decline since Dec. 4, 2023. Flow of funds to the U.S. dollar have been a key driver impacting the gold price, said Michael Langford, chief investment officer at Scorpion Minerals Ltd, forecasting bullion to trade around $2,000/Oz in the near term. With geopolitical tensions escalating, safe-haven flows could provide a floor for the gold price. However, "the short-term fate of the gold price is likely in the hands of the bond market," Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, wrote in a note.

Persons: Michael Langford, Christopher Waller, Tim Waterer Organizations: U.S ., Federal Reserve, Scorpion Minerals Ltd, Treasury, KCM, U.S Locations: U.S

☆ Saudi Arabia isn’t ruling out befriending Israel. But it may come at a higher price
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +70 min

Fatima Shbair/AP Mourners collect the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza, on December 24. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa/picture-alliance/AP Relatives and friends bid farewell to the body of Al Jazeera camera operator Samer Abu Daqqa in Khan Younis, Gaza, on December 16. Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images Israeli soldiers form an honor guard at the funeral of Israeli reserve soldier Master Sgt. Mohammed Saber/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Children use candles for lighting in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Friday, October 20. Maya Alleruzzo/AP A boy carries salvaged belongings from the wreckage of his family's home in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 11.

Persons: UAE CNN —, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, ”, “, “ There’s, ” Prince Khalid bin Bandar, ” Ali Shihabi, Shihabi, Israel, Blinken, Evelyn Hockstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Abraham, Biden, Yousef Al Otaiba, Israel “, ” Otaiba, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Firas Maksad, Abir, Prince Khalid, Maksad, Jamal Khashoggi, ” Maksad, ” Prince Khalid, Isaac Herzog, Oded, Abed Rahim Khatib, Noam Galai, Majdi, Sufian Dagash, Ohad, Abed Zagout, Harel Ittah, Ariel Schalit, Khan Yunis, Stringer, Elisha Yehonatan Lober, Mount Herzl, Maja Hitij, Fatima Shbair, Ahmad Hasaballah, Mohammed Salem, Yaacov Elian, Boris Dunavetski, Amir Levy, Mohammed Abed, Mahmud Hams, Alon Lulu Shamriz, Ilia Yefimovich, Abu Daqqa, Khan, Khan Younis, Ben Shelly, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Eviatar Cohen, Mostafa Alkharouf, Mohammed Dahman, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Atef Safadi, Gal Meir Eisenkot, Eisenkot, Gadi Eisenkot, Leo Correa, Alexi Rosenfeld, Alleruzzo, Amir Cohen, Gil Cohen, Menahem Kahana, Sergeant Aschalwu Sama, Tsafrir, John MacDougall, Ahed Tamimi, Nasser Nasser, Viktor, Helena Brodski, Kiril Brodski, Ammar Awad, Jack Guez, Jabel Mukaber, Mahmoud Illean, Alexander Ermochenko, Younis, Mustafa Hassona, Asher, Raz, Doron, Schneider, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, Majed Al, Ansari, Mohammed Hajjar, Said Khatib, Jalaa Marey, Victor R, Liron Snir, James Oatway, Ashraf Amra, Ahmad Gharabli, Rizek Abdeljawad, Major Jamal Abbas, Shir Torem, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Christopher Furlong, Hatem Ali, Avraham Fetena, Sgt, Raz Abulafia, Fadel Senna, Nasser, Matan Meir, Haitham Imad, Roni Eshel, Eshel, Kenzo Tribouillard, Sadi Berek, Salah al, Varda Goldstein, Nir Oz, Bernat, Tomer Appelbaum, Mohammad Abu Elsebah, Khaled Ibn Al, Walid, Ya'akov Ozeri, Ronen Zvulun, Mohammed Alaloul, Neil Hall, Saeed Jaras, Mohammad Abu Hattab, Mohammed Talatene, Ditza Heiman, Salman Habaka, Yuval Zilber, Jalaa Merey, Ahmad Salem, Ali Jadallah, Anas al, Yosef Vahav, Kiryat Shmona, Albert Miles, Ilan Rosenberg, Manna, Tamar Chaya Torpiashvili, Abed Khaled, Tamir Kalifa, Yoav Gallant, Jehad Al, Kafarnah, Teddy, Dan Kitwood, Dima Vazinovich, Sagiv Ben Zvi, Omar El, Yasser Qudih, Francisco Seco, Mohammed Saber, Ali Mohmoud, Mai Yaghi, Yam Goldstein, Nadav, Khaled Joudeh, Samar Abu, Leon Neal, Hatem Moussa, Wolfgang Schwan, Yousef Masoud, Shadi Tabatibi, Belal al Sabbagh, Janis Laizans, Gallant, Ofir Libstein, Aza, Belal Khaled, Hod, Ayal Margolin, Brendan Smialowski, Netanyahu, Kenny Holston, Kfar Aza, Mahmoud Khaled, Dor Reder, Violeta Santos Moura, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Antonio Macías, Macías, Eli Albag, Liri, Sergey Ponomarev, Dor Kedmi, Saher, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Yuri Cortez, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Agha, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Oren Ziv, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Tali Touito, Ahmad Hasballah, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Lana Nusseibeh, “ That’s, Abu Dhabi, Anwar Gargash, ” Gargash Organizations: UAE CNN, Hamas, BBC, CNN, Palestinian, West Bank, Reuters, United Arab, Abraham Accords, Israel, UAE, Arab League, Saudi, Fox News, Washington Institute for Near East, Middle East Institute, Israeli, Getty, of Health, Congressional, Republicans, United Nations Security, AP, European Hospital, Mount, Rockets, UN, Anadolu, Museum of Art, Security, Nova, Magen, Getty Images, Kiryat, Islamic Jihad, Red, Tel, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical, Young, AP People, Schneider Children's Medical, Sisters, Schneider Children's, Ofer, Cross, Foreign, Artillery, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Al, Unicef, AP Journalists, Israel Defense Forces, Modern, Nasser Hospital, Nasser Medical, Najjar, Israel Defence Forces handout, Shutterstock, Reuters United Nations, Shifa, Palestine, Pictures, Bloomberg, Israeli Apache, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, IDF, EyePress, New York Times, Nasser Medical Hospital, Deir Al, Tel Aviv University, Reuters Civil, AP Rockets, AP Israel's, Regional, Israel's, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Ben Gurion International, Aris Messinis, Haim, Puma, Mount Herzl Military, Anadolu Agency, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, United Nations, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, Wall, Shihabi Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi, United Kingdom, Gaza, United States, ”, Palestinian, East Jerusalem, Al Ula, Reuters Israeli, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Washington , DC, Jerusalem, Abir Sultan, AFP, Turkey, Gulf, Tel Aviv, Israeli, Rafah, Maghar, Anadolu, Netanya, Khan, Khan Younis, Shaul, Shefayim, Jazeera, Kidron, Kfar Saba, Nahal Oz, Herzliya, Ashkelon, Petah Tikva, Ramallah, Egypt, Ofakim, Jabel, Khezaa, Gazan, Sisters Aviv, Beitunia, Gaza City, Galilee, Lebanon, Al, Aqsa, Al Bureij, Deir Al Balah, Xinhua, Pekiin, Mavki'im, Haifa, Sderot, Beit Hashmonai, Europe, Rishpon, Odem, Gaza's Al, Deir Al, Balah, Bureij, Kfar Aza, Meron, Jerusalem's, City, Jerusalem's Old City, Deir Balah, Mahmud, Southern Israel, Yanuh Jat, Netaim, Golan Heights, Shareef, Beit Guvrin, Kiryat, Al Aqsa, Kibbutz Be'eri, Ashdod, Holon, Najjar, Ichilov, Kibbutz Shefayim, Deir, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Deir al, Kibbutz Kissufim, Zahra City, Ras, Israel's, Yehuda, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Shmona, Ahli, Gan, Kfar, North Sinai, Beit Kama, Cyprus, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Modiin Maccabim, Mount Herzel, Yassin, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion, Dhabi, Dubai, Al Arabiya

☆ Gold retreats to three-week low ahead of U.S. inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bars of gold are seen at Krastsvetmet, one of the world's largest producers of precious metals, in Moscow, January 31, 2023. Gold prices fell to a three-week low on Monday, pressured by elevated Treasury yields as expectations for an imminent Federal Reserve interest rate cut faded, with investors looking ahead to this week's U.S. inflation data for more clarity. Higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion. The market currently sees a 69% chance of a rate cut at the Fed's March 19-20 policy meeting, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. "If and when a recession becomes apparent, the Fed can be expected to cut rates, likely weakening the dollar and benefiting the dollar gold price," Heraeus Metals said in a note.

Persons: Daniel Pavilonis, Heraeus Organizations: Treasury, Metals, Palladium, Heraeus Metals Locations: Moscow, U.S

☆ Panera hit with another wrongful death suit over caffeinated lemonade
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

A loyal Panera customer, he started regularly ordering “charged lemonade” in late September, according to the suit. The complaint resembles another wrongful death suit filed earlier this year by the parents of Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old woman who died in September 2022 after drinking Panera’s charged lemonade. “Panera Charged Lemonade is a juice beverage marketed to children and adults alike,” the suit claims. Katz, who died last year, may have believed the caffeinated drink was regular lemonade, her parents alleged in the suit they filed against Panera. Now, a 30-ounce charged Panera drink has no more than 237 milligrams of caffeine, according to Panera’s site.

Persons: New York CNN —, Dennis Brown, Brown, Sarah Katz, Katz, Panera, “, Brown’s, Kline, Specter, ” Panera, — CNN’s Eva Rothenberg Organizations: New, New York CNN, ”, CNN, Food and Drug Administration Locations: New York

☆ Mentalist Oz Pearlman surprises with 'market magic'
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMentalist Oz Pearlman surprises with 'market magic'The Wall Street mentalist Oz Pearlman, joins 'Closing Bell' for some market magic.

Persons: Oz Pearlman

☆ Bitcoin and gold are smashing through key levels. Here's what's driving the moves
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Both gold and bitcoin kicked off the week by hitting new milestones — spot gold hit a record high above $2,100 per ounce, and bitcoin topped $42,000 to hit its highest level since April 2022. The digital currency appears to have broken through key technical levels and could continue to rally through the end of the year, according to Joel Kruger, market strategist at LMAX Group. "A Bitcoin ETF allows easy access to Bitcoin via broker accounts, RIAs and wealth/private banking channels. Think of Bitcoin ETF as the largest pipe ever built between traditional financial markets and crypto financial markets," the note said. XAU= 5D mountain Gold retreated from the record high reached on Sunday evening in New York.

Persons: bitcoin, Joel Kruger, Kruger, Bernstein, Gautam Chhugani, Chhugani, Bitcoin, Maximilian Layton, Layton, Gold, Craig Erlam Organizations: LMAX, CNBC, Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, BlackRock, ETF Locations: Bitcoin, U.S, New York

☆ Gold soars past $2,100 to new record — and analysts don't expect it to stop there
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Gold prices notched a new record on Monday for a second day in a row — with spot prices touching $2,100 as the global rush for bullion appears set to continue. Gold prices are on course to hit fresh highs next year and could remain above $2,000 levels, analysts said, citing geopolitical uncertainty, a likely weaker U.S. dollar and possible interest rate cuts. Gold tends to perform well during periods of economic and geopolitical uncertainty due to its status as a reliable store of value. He estimated that gold prices could reach up to $2,200 by the end of 2024. "There is simply less leverage this time around vs 2011 in gold ... taking prices through $2,100 and putting $2,200/oz in view," said Nicky Shiels, head of metals strategy at precious metals firm MKS PAMP.

Persons: Heng Koon, Nicky Shiels Organizations: Markets, Global Economics, Markets Research, CNBC Locations: Israel

☆ Major events during eight weeks of war between Israel and Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Following is a timeline of the war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip. Oct. 7: Hamas gunmen carry out a surprise attack on southern Israel, crossing over from Gaza and rampaging through nearby communities. The women had been taken from Nahal Oz kibbutz in southern Israel. Israel says the hospital sits atop tunnels housing a headquarters for Hamas fighters using patients as shields, which Hamas denies. The Gaza health ministry says the enclave's death toll has risen above 15,000.

Persons: Bassam, Mohammad Deif, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Joe Biden, Biden, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie, Nurit Cooper, Yocheved, Nir, shalom, Netanyahu, General Antonio Guterres, Al Shifa, Al, Kamala Harris, Mark Heinrich, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Hamas, Arabi Baptist, Israel, Gaza, Al Shifa Hospital, Thomson Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Egypt, Gaza City, al, Ahli, Arabi, Jordan, Nahal

Weeks after Hamas attacked southern Israel, Sharone Lifschitz stood in the charred ruins of her parents’ home in the Nir Oz kibbutz and listened to the bombs falling on the nearby Gaza Strip. Five bullet holes scarred the door of the safe room where her mother and father—both longtime peace activists and founding members of the kibbutz—sheltered for hours until Hamas militants broke through on Oct. 7 and took them hostage. Her mother was released weeks later; her 83-year-old father is still being held in Gaza.

Persons: Weeks, Sharone Lifschitz, ’, Nir, — Organizations: Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza

☆ Israel-Hamas War Top U.S. Officials Urge Israel to Protect Gazans Amid Intensified Fighting
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Andrés R. Martínez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Yelena Trupanob, right, and her mother, Irena Tati, who were recently released from captivity in Gaza, appearing at a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday. Ms. Trupanob’s son, Sasha, is still being held hostage in Gaza. “I came to say thank you,” Ms. Trupanob said. Ms. Trupanob, her son, Sasha, 28, and Ms. Tati were kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7. “Now, we have to continue, to return my Sasha, and everyone,” Ms. Trupanob said at the demonstration.

Persons: Yelena Trupanob, Irena Tati, Trupanob’s, Sasha, “, Ms, Trupanob, ”, —, Tati, Nir Oz, Vitaly Trupanob, ” Ms, Michal Lebenthal, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Amit Shem Tov, Omer, Shem Tov, ” Mr Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Russian, Israel, Jerusalem

☆ What to know about the controversial real-life relationship between Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau that loosely inspired 'May December'
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Aspects of the story are similar to the real-life scandal involving Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau. AdvertisementTodd Haynes' latest film "May December" is now streaming on Netflix, and its similarities to the real-life sexual abuse scandal between Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau are evident. AdvertisementIn the years since the scandal, Letourneau had insisted that she was unaware that her and Fualaau's relationship was illegal. In a TV special that aired on A&E in 2018 titled "Mary Kay Letourneau: Autobiography," she said that there was "nothing going on at all when he was a student of mine." Mary Kay Letourneau in February 1998.

Persons: Mary Kay Letourneau, Letourneau, —, Todd Haynes, Elizabeth Berry, Natalie Portman, Gracie Atherton, Yoo, Julianne Moore, Joe Atherton, Charles Melton, Gracie, Elizabeth pries, Fualaau, Joe Yoo, Joe, Mary, Charlie, It's, Ron Wurzer, Steve Letourneau, Audrey, Alan Berner, Vili Fualaau, Haynes, Samy Burch's, Burch Organizations: Service, Netflix, Fualaau, Columbia, Daily, New York Film, Business Locations: Savannah , Georgia, Letourneau, Georgia, Washington, Ocotber, Woodinville , Washington

☆ John Woo Has Seen a Lot in Hollywood. He’s Finally Back for More.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Brandon Yu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When John Woo was a child, living in the dangerous slums of Hong Kong, he had two sanctuaries: the church and the movie theater. Both provided respite from a world of poverty and intense violence. He’d use a flashlight to illuminate the glass and, shifting the light, project moving images onto the wall. That 1989 film, starring his frequent collaborator Chow Yun-fat, proved a major work that established both Woo’s style and our notion of modern action cinema. And yet, even as his so-called “bullet ballet” films went on to influence an array of popular culture makers, including the Wu-Tang Clan and Quentin Tarantino, Woo said he never particularly cared for action films.

Persons: John Woo, Woo, Oz ”, it’s, Chow Yun, Wu, Wu - Tang Clan, Quentin Tarantino Organizations: Wu - Locations: Hong Kong, Wu - Tang

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

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

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

CNN —The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday it was assessing a Hamas claim that the youngest Israeli hostage, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, his brother and his mother are dead. The Bibas family later confirmed it had “learned of Hamas’ latest claims,” according to a statement from the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum. The Bibas family, pictured in this undated family handout photo, were kidnapped from Nir Oz by Hamas militants on October 7. In an interview with CNN Tuesday, Eylon Keshet pleaded for the release of his cousin, Yarden, and the rest of the Bibas family. Ofri Bibas Levy, aunt of Kfir Bibas, holds with her friend Tal Ulus pictures of her relatives taken hostage by Hamas, November 13, 2023.

Persons: Bibas, Kfir, Ariel, Al, ”, “, Jimmy Miller, Shiri’s, ” Miller, Hamas ’, Nir Oz, Maurice Shnaider, Daniel Hagari, Shiri, Yarden, Eylon Keshet, Ofri Bibas Levy, Tal Ulus, Denis Balibouse Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Israel’s, Hamas, IDF, Qatari, Qatar Locations: Gaza, Israel, Israeli

☆ Israeli ex-hostage says she confronted Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar in Gaza tunnel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, an Israeli grandmother who was held hostage in Gaza looks on after being released by Hamas militants, at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, Israel October 24, 2023. Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, was taken from her Kibbutz Nir Oz home in Israel to Gaza. She told the Israeli newspaper Davar she confronted Sinwar when he visited the hostages in an underground tunnel where Hamas was holding them captive. "Sinwar was with us three to four days after we arrived," Lifshitz told the Hebrew-language Davar newspaper. Speaking with reporters following her release from Hamas captivity last month, Lifshitz said that she "went through hell" during her two weeks as a hostage in the Gaza Strip.

Persons: Yocheved Lifshitz, Janis Laizans, Yahya Sinwar, Nir Oz, Sinwar, Lifshitz, Oded, Howard Goller, William Maclean Organizations: Hamas, Ichilov, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel

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

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

☆ This 10-month old is among the children still held captive or missing in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Ariel Bibas, 4, was kidnapped from his home in southern Israel by Hamas militants on October 7. The children do not cry, nor make a sound as Hamas militants surround their shaken mother, a blanket wrapped around her body. It’s so scary.”Hamas is believed to have held more than 200 hostages in Gaza prior to the releases negotiated with Israel. On Monday, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that the Bibas family is not currently held hostage by Hamas, which further complicates release efforts. An estimated eight children are still being held by Hamas, and their faces have galvanized a mourning nation clamoring for their return.

Persons: Bibas, Israel’s, Kfir’s, ” Eylon, ” Kfir, Ariel, Yarden, Nir Oz, Ariel Bibas, Yosi, Keshet, Yarden’s, ” Keshet, “, Daniel Hagari, Kfir, Shiri, “ Ariel, ”, Yifat Zailer, Zailer, gaunt Organizations: CNN, Israel, Palestinian Ministry of Health, West Bank, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas Locations: Israel, Israeli, Gaza, Tel Aviv, ”

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

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

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

Hostages and Missing Families ForumAda Sagi, 75, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, has taught Hebrew and Arabic, according to the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum. Hostages and Missing Families ForumRimon Kirsht, 36, and her husband, Yagev Buchshtab, 34, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nirim on Oct. 7. Hostages and Missing Families ForumOfelia Roitman, 77, moved to Israel from Argentina in 1985, according to a Facebook post by the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum. She lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz and has nine grandchildren. She worked in education in the kibbutz for many years, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

Persons: Marman, Nir Yitzhak, Luis Norberto Har, Fernando Marman, Gabriela Leimberg, Leimberg’s, Mia Leimberg, Moshe Leimberg, Mia’s, Leimberg, “, ”, Mia, “ We’re, ” Mr, Har, Ditza Heiman, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Gideon Heiman, Heiman, Sharon Kleitman, Mr, Neta Heiman, ” Ms, ” “, ” Neta Heiman, ” Tamar Metzger, Tamar Metzger, Yoram Metzger, Tamar, Noralin Babadila, Kibbutz Nirim, Gideon Babani, Babadila, Ada Sagi, Nir Oz, Meirav Tal, Yair Yaakov, Rimon Kirsht, Rimon, Yagev Buchshtab, Kirsht, Buchshtab, Adit, Roitman, Natalie Madmaon, Kan, Madmaon, Johnatan Reiss Organizations: LinkedIn, Jersualem, School of, Arts, International Committee, Hamas, Haaretz, Kibbutz, Associated Press, Forum, Mr Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, Eden, of Israel, Philippines, Yehud, Israel, The Times, Poland, London, Maslan, Argentina

☆ Baby remains hostage in Gaza as others go free in Israel-Hamas deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Kfir is the youngest of the 240 hostages Israel says were captured. Video of the incident showed a terrified Shiri clutching the children in a blanket as they were bundled into captivity. Another clip showed Yarden with a head injury from hammer blows, Ofri Bibas, Yarden's sister, said. She told reporters the family was not to be included in the expected release of 10 hostages on Tuesday. Another military spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Avichay Adraee, said the family was in the area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Persons: Bibas Levy, Yarden, Shiri, Kfir, Tal Ulus, Bibas, Ariel, Israel, Ofri, Daniel Hagari, Avichay Adraee, Khan Younis, Jimmy Miller, doesn't, hasn't, Yosi Shnaider, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Dan Williams, Janet Lawrence Organizations: Reuters, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Egypt, Qatar

☆ Israeli hostage, 84, released by Hamas in 'fight for her life'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Emily Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Elma Avraham, 84, who was released after being taken hostage during the October 7 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas, appears in this undated handout image, obtained by Reuters on November 26, 2023. When Hamas released her on Sunday, she was in a "fight for her life", according to hospital staff. The great-grandmother was freed with 16 other hostages, including a four-year-old American girl named Abigail Edan, on the third day of a truce between Israel and Hamas. "She was kept in harsh conditions," Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said. They said a medical doctor had accompanied Avraham as she and hostages were taken out of Gaza.

Persons: Elma Avraham, Abigail Edan, Avraham's, Tali Amano, Daniel Hagari, Amano, Hagai Levine, we're, Avraham, Emily Rose, Christina Fincher, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Reuters, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, ICRC, Thomson Locations: Kibbutz, Israel, Beersheba, Gaza

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