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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, believed to be the chief architect of the Oct. 7 attacks, was killed by Israeli forces in a surprise battlefield encounter on Wednesday, the Israeli military confirmed yesterday. The IDF said its soldiers had been patrolling in Rafah when the man, since identified as Sinwar, “ran alone into one of the buildings” and was killed after being located with a drone. Graeme Baker reports for BBC News; Ronen Bergman, Aaron Boxerman, Raja Abdulrahim, Patrick Kingsley, and Michael Levenson report for the New York Times.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sinwar’s death marked “the beginning of the end.” He was the third of three Hamas leaders to be killed since the International Criminal Court issued warrants for their arrest. The Washington Post reports; Matthew Mpoke Bigg reports for the New York Times.
An Israeli airstrike on a U.N. school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza killed at least 22 people and wounded dozens, according to local medics and the Hamas-run Civil Defense Agency. The Israeli military said it had “conducted a precise strike on an operational meeting point for Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists.” David Gritten reports for BBC News.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
President Biden congratulated Netanyahu on Sinwar’s death in a phone call yesterday. A White House readout said that Biden and Netanyahu “discussed how to use this moment to bring the hostages home and to bring the war to a close.” Eugenia Yosef, Sophie Tanno, and Kevin Liptack report for CNN.
Sinwar’s death creates an opportunity to resume Gaza hostage release and ceasefire negotiations, U.S. and Israeli officials say. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who spoke with the Qatari prime minister and Saudi Arabia foreign minister yesterday, said that Washington would “redouble its efforts with partners to end this conflict.” Barak Ravid reports for Axios; the Washington Post reports.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
World leaders are reacting to the death of Sinwar, with the U.K’s foreign secretary calling for a ceasefire leading to “a new chapter in the Middle East.” Canada’s prime minister said that “Sinwar’s death ends a reign of terror,” while Germany’s foreign minister called for Hamas to “lay down its weapons.” Sammy Westfall and Andrew Jeong report for the Washington Post.
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH WAR
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said today it is transitioning “to a new and escalating phase in the confrontation with Israel.” Iran also said that “the spirit of resistance will be strengthened” after Sinwar’s death. James Mackenzie, Nidal Al-Mughrabi, and Samia Nakhoul report for Reuters.
Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister said today that “he rejected Iranian interference in a Lebanese matter, after the speaker of Iran’s parliament said Tehran was ready to negotiate with France on implementing a U.N. resolution concerning southern Lebanon.” Reuters reports.
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
The Biden administration yesterday announced temporary legal status for Lebanese citizens already in the United States, citing efforts to achieve “lasting stability and security across the Israel-Lebanon border.” AP News reports.
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
At least 30 election deniers and 2020 “fake electors” are serving as former President Trump’s official electors in battleground states this year, a CNN survey shows. Marshall Cohen, Danya Gainor, Alison Main, Majlie de Puy Kamp, Casey Tolan, and Bob Ortega report.
Oregon temporarily shut down its election phone line yesterday after the “system was overwhelmed” by out-of-state misinformation. Filip Timotija reports for The Hill.
A Michigan judge suggested yesterday that a Republican lawsuit seeking to disqualify some U.S. citizens who live abroad from voting in the state was filed too late and too close to the election. Josh Gerstein reports for POLITICO.
Georgia Republicans yesterday announced that they intend to appeal Wednesday’s ruling that deemed election rules recently passed by Georgia’s State Election Board “illegal, unconstitutional, and void.” Kate Brumback and Jeff Amy report for AP News.
TRUMP LEGAL MATTERS
A federal judge yesterday rejected Trump’s request to postpone today’s release of evidence behind special counsel Jack Smith’s case for continuing Trump’s 2020 election-related criminal prosecution. Spencer S. Hsu reports for the Washington Post.
OTHER U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
A landmark bipartisan review released yesterday found that the Secret Service needs “fundamental reform” and suffers from a lack of “critical thinking.” In an interview with NBC News, the Secret Service’s acting director also expressed concern about the wellness of agents “demoralized” by the difficult working conditions. Kelly O’Donnell and Melissa Chan report; Eileen Sullivan reports for the New York Times.
The United States yesterday charged an Indian government employee with directing a foiled plot to assassinate an American Sikh independence advocate, days after Canada’s expulsion of Indian diplomats over similar allegations. Cherylann Mollan reports for BBC News.
A fourteen-year-old boy and his father were indicted yesterday on murder charges related to last month’s deadly Georgia high school shooting, with the father accused of giving his son the rifle. Rick Rojas reports for the New York Times.
The man charged with attempting to assassinate Trump at his Florida golf course yesterday asked Judge Aileen Cannon to recuse herself, alleging that Trump’s praise for her handling of the former president’s classified documents indictment could create an appearance of partiality. Zach Schonfeld reports for The Hill.
U.S. FOREIGN RELATIONS
Pentagon officials are concerned about the flow of U.S. weapons to allies hurting the United States’ ability to respond to a new conflict, Army officials said at an annual conference this week. Helene Cooper and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times.
The United States yesterday imposed sanctions on two China-based drone companies and their alleged Russian partners, accusing the Chinese firms of direct involvement in supplying arms used in the Ukraine conflict. Nectar Gan reports for CNN.
Biden is set to visit Germany today in a rescheduled visit focused on the German-U.S. relationship and Ukraine war strategy. Christopher F. Schuetze and Jim Tankersley report for the New York Times.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he has intelligence that 10,000 troops from North Korea are being prepared to join Russian forces in Ukraine. Mike Corder, Lorne Cook and Raf Casert report for AP News.
Canada will give Ukraine CA$64.8 million (US$47 million) in a military aid package, the Canadian defense minister said today. Ismail Shakil and David Ljunggren report for Reuters.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Kenya’s deputy president was impeached yesterday while hospitalized. The country’s interior minister has been nominated as his replacement. Basillioh Rukanga reports for BBC News.
Pakistani police yesterday fired tear gas and charged at students protesting over an alleged on-campus rape, prompting the government to shut schools, colleges, and universities for two days. Babar Dogar and Munir Ahmed report for AP News.
A Bangladeshi court yesterday ordered an arrest warrant for former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August after being ousted by mass protests. Nick Marsh reports for BBC News.
Seven people died and six others were injured in a suicide bomb attack in Somalia’s capital. An al-Qaeda linked militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility. Omar Faruk reports for AP News.