Israel and Hamas are preparing for a fourth exchange of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, as mediators seek to extend a cease-fire in Gaza that is set to expire after Monday. On Sunday, Hamas freed 17 more hostages — 14 Israelis and three Thais — in a third exchange under the four-day truce. In turn, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners. Of the roughly 240 hostages captured by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that ignited the war, 62 have been released, one was freed by Israeli forces and two were found dead inside Gaza. Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. Hamas has also said it hopes to extend the truce, which was mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt. With the truce deal has come increased shipments of fuel and supplies into Gaza — though aid groups say it’s still barely enough to dent the needs of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment. More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, roughly two thirds of them women and minors, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will press ahead with the war after the cease-fire expires. Some 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mostly during the initial incursion by Hamas. At least 77 soldiers have been killed in Israel’s ground offensive.
Quick Read
- Fourth Hostage Exchange: Israel and Hamas are preparing for a fourth exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, as efforts continue to extend the cease-fire in Gaza.
- Third Exchange Completed: On Sunday, Hamas released 17 hostages (14 Israelis and three Thais), and Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners.
- Status of Hostages: Of the approximately 240 hostages taken by Hamas, 62 have been released, one rescued by Israeli forces, and two found dead in Gaza.
- Cease-Fire Extension Terms: Israel will extend the cease-fire for each 10 additional hostages released. Hamas also hopes to extend the truce, mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt.
- Humanitarian Situation in Gaza: Despite increased aid shipments, the needs of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza remain critical after weeks of Israeli bombardment.
- Casualty Figures: Over 13,300 Palestinians, mostly women and minors, have been killed. In Israel, the conflict has claimed about 1,200 lives, including at least 77 soldiers.
- Netanyahu’s Stance: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu plans to continue the war if the cease-fire expires.
- Elon Musk’s Visit to Israel: Elon Musk visited a kibbutz attacked by Hamas and met with Israeli leaders. Discussions included a deal with Starlink for satellite internet in Israel.
- Palestinian Foreign Minister’s Remarks: Riad al-Malki emphasized the need to extend the truce to prevent further deaths in Gaza.
- UN Experts on War Crimes: U.N. experts called for investigations into crimes committed by all parties in the conflict.
- China’s Role in Security Council Meeting: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will lead a U.N. Security Council meeting on the war in Gaza.
- Germany’s Support for Reconstruction: Germany pledged financial aid for rebuilding communities in Israel destroyed by Hamas.
- Hezbollah’s Compensation to Lebanese: Hezbollah will compensate Lebanese residents for homes damaged by Israeli shelling along the Lebanon-Israel border.
- Trial of Teenagers in French Teacher’s Beheading: Six teenagers are on trial in Paris for involvement in the 2020 beheading of a teacher who showed caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Shooting Incident in Vermont: Three men of Palestinian descent were shot near the University of Vermont, potentially a hate crime.
The Associated Press has the story:
Israel, Hamas prepare for fourth swap as mediators seek to extend cease-fire
Newslooks- (AP)
ELON MUSK VISITS A KIBBUTZ THAT WAS ATTACKED BY HAMAS
Elon Musk, who’s been under fire over accusations of antisemitism flourishing on his social media platform X, paid a visit Monday to Israel, where he toured a kibbutz that was attacked last month by Hamas militants.
The billionaire and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured the Kfar Azza kibbutz, which was stormed by Hamas militants on Oct. 7. Musk, wearing a protective vest and escorted by a phalanx of security personnel, used his phone to take photos or videos of the devastation, according to video released by Netanyahu’s office.
Musk also was due to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Benny Gantz, a former defense minister who’s now part of a special war Cabinet.
Government spokesperson Eylon Levy declined to say whether Musk was invited or came on his own. X, formerly known as Twitter, did not respond to a request for comment.
Israel’s communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, posted on X earlier Monday about a deal that his ministry had reached with Musk’s Starlink satellite internet company.
“As a result of this significant agreement, Starlink satellite units can only be operated in Israel with the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Communications, including the Gaza Strip,” Karhi wrote, without providing further details.
Musk responded on X this month to a user who accused Jews of hating white people and professing indifference to antisemitism by saying, “You have said the actual truth.”
PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS TRUCE MUST BE EXTENDED
BARCELONA, Spain — Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riad al-Malki says the pause in fighting that is about to expire in the Israel-Hamas war must be extended to avoid more deaths in Gaza.
“We have work so that this truce continues … so that Israel does not continue attacking,” al-Malki said Monday at a meeting of delegations from members of the European Union and countries from north Africa and the Middle East in Barcelona, Spain.
“The truce went into effect with 15,000 deaths. If we see the war resume, then the number of deaths will double because the concentration of the population is now twicefold,” he said.
“The population of Gaza has concentrated in the south of Gaza,” he said, speaking in Spanish. “So any attack that before killed one child will now kill two. That is why it is important to extend this truce.”
Al-Malki is one of 42 representatives of different countries and territories attending the Union for the Mediterranean meeting, which is focused on the war that has raged since Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7.
The pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas continued Sunday with a third day of releases of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. It was scheduled for four days and neither side has made fully clear what comes after Monday.
UN EXPERTS CALL FOR A FULL INVESTIGATION OF ANY WAR CRIMES
BERLIN — Experts from the United Nations have called for full and independent investigations into any crimes committed by Israel and Hamas in their ongoing conflict.
The U.N. experts, Morris Tidball-Binz, special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions, and Alice Jill Edwards, special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, said in a joint statement in Geneva on Monday that “independent investigators must be given the necessary resources, support and access required to conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into crimes allegedly committed by all parties to the conflict.”
They urged all parties involved in the conflict to protect civilians, comply with their obligations under international law, and cooperate fully with investigations.
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER TO LEAD SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
BEIJING — China’s top diplomat will travel to New York to lead a U.N. Security Council meeting on the war in Gaza on Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the meeting, spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced Monday. China currently holds the Security Council presidency.
“China hopes that by holding this high-level meeting, we can … contribute to alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, realizing a cease-fire and cessation of hostilities, protecting civilians and ultimately promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue through a two-state solution,” Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing.
The Chinese government has joined Arab states in calling for a cease-fire as Israel mounted counterattacks in response to the initial Hamas attack and taking of hostages. Hamas has released some hostages during a truce that began Friday in return for Israeli releases of Palestinian prisoners.
“The pace towards peace, no matter how small, should be encouraged, and the difficulty in protecting civilians, no matter how daunting, should be overcome,” Wang Wenbin said of the hostage and prisoner releases. “We have repeatedly emphasized that violence cannot create real security and the use of force cannot bring lasting peace.”
GERMANY TO HELP RECONSTRUCT HAMAS-DESTROYED COMMUNITIES IN ISRAEL
BERLIN — Germany says it will provide financial support for the reconstruction of communities destroyed by Hamas in Israel.
During a visit on Monday to Kibbutz Beeri, which was brutally attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said his country would provide 7 million euros ($7.6 million) for the kibbutz in 2024. The money is for reconstruction of a cultural center and a meeting center for senior citizens, German news agency dpa reported.
“It is far too early to think about reconstruction now,” Steinmeier said during his visit, adding that nonetheless many residents who are currently staying elsewhere in Israel are already thinking about returning to Beeri.
“Beeri and the many other kibbutzim deserve not only to be part of Israeli history, but above all to be part of Israel’s future,” the German president said.
HEZBOLLAH WILL COMPENSATE LEBANESE WHOSE HOMES WERE DAMAGED BY ISRAEL, LAWMAKER SAYS
BEIRUT — A senior Hezbollah legislator said Monday that the Iran-backed group will compensate Lebanese whose homes along the Lebanon-Israel border were damaged by Israeli shelling and strikes.
Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops have clashed along the border since Oct. 8, stoking fears that the Hamas-Israel war in the Gaza Strip will spill over into the rest of the region. Though the clashes have been intense, with both combatants and civilians killed on both sides, they have remained largely contained to areas near the border. Hezbollah was not officially a party to the four-day truce between Hamas and Israel that took effect Friday, but calm has largely prevailed on the Lebanon-Israel border since then.
“What we are offering those affected is money and the efforts and capabilities of Hezbollah, and that is part of our battle,” said parliament member Hassan Fadlallah, who made the announcement at an event honoring a slain Hezbollah militant in the border town of Aita al-Shaab.
Fadlallah said the group surveyed most of the damaged areas in southern Lebanon, widely seen as a political and military stronghold for the group.
Israel and Hezbollah fought a monthlong war in 2006 that ended in a draw. Israel sees Hezbollah as its most direct threat and estimates that the group has about 150,000 precision-guided missiles pointed at it.
SIX TEENAGERS GO ON TRIAL IN THE 2020 BEHEADING OF A FRENCH TEACHER
PARIS — Six teenagers go on trial Monday in Paris for their alleged roles in the beheading of a teacher who showed caricatures of the prophet of Islam to his class, a killing that led authorities to reaffirm France’s cherished rights of expression and secularism.
Samuel Paty, a history and geography teacher, was killed on Oct. 16, 2020, near his school in a northwest Paris suburb by an 18-year-old of Chechen origin who had become radicalized. The attacker was in turn shot dead by police.
Paty’s name was disclosed on social media after a class debate on free expression during which he showed caricatures published by the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which triggered a newsroom massacre by extremists in January 2015.
THREE MEN OF PALESTINIAN DESCENT ARE SHOT NEAR UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
Three young men of Palestinian descent who were in Burlington, Vermont, for a Thanksgiving holiday gathering were shot and injured, one seriously, near the University of Vermont, police said.
The attack may have been a hate crime, authorities said.
Police were searching for the suspect after the attack Saturday evening near the UVM campus, Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad said in a statement Sunday.
Two of the men were in stable condition and the other suffered “much more serious injuries,” Murad said. The three, all age 20, were walking during a visit to the home of one of the victim’s relatives when they were confronted by a white man with a handgun, police said.
The victims are of Palestinian descent and two are U.S. citizens and one is a legal resident. Two of the men were wearing the black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, Murad said.
Currently:
— The cease-fire is back on track as Hamas frees 17 more hostages and Israel releases 39 Palestinian prisoners.
— As freed hostages return to Israel, details of captivity emerge.
— US Navy seizes attackers who held an Israel-linked tanker.
— Israeli forces kill at least 8 Palestinians in West Bank violence, health officials say.
— Syria says an Israeli airstrike hit the Damascus airport and put it out of service.
— With antisemitism rising as the Israel-Hamas war rages, Europe’s Jews worry.
— Tens of thousands march against antisemitism in London including ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
— Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
