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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the weekend. Here’s today’s news:
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Prospects for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ran aground on Friday, as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 68 people in Gaza. The Israeli military claimed the strikes killed one of the last surviving high-ranking members of Hamas. Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Timour Azhari, and Laila Bassam report for Reuters.
Israel today said it terminated the agreement facilitating the work of the U.N. aid agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), appearing to take steps to implement the legislation passed last month that would prevent the agency from operating in the Palestinian territories. AP News reports.
Nearly 100,000 children in Gaza City received a second dose of the polio vaccine this weekend, the Hamas-run health ministry said, adding that around 15,000 children in northern towns “remain inaccessible.” Hiba Yazbek reports for the New York Times.
Israeli fire yesterday hit a polio vaccination center and the car of a U.N. official involved in the campaign despite a promised “humanitarian pause” in bombardment, the World Health Organization chief said. At least four children were reportedly injured. Julian Borger reports for the Guardian.
An AP investigation into Israel’s allegations of Hamas presence in hospitals raided by Israeli troops found little evidence supporting the claims. Isabel Debre reports for AP News.
Israeli authorities yesterday arrested one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close aides on suspicion of having leaked “classified and sensitive” IDF intelligence that could have caused “significant damage” to efforts to free hostages held in Gaza. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
Israel is falling far short of meeting the Biden administration’s ultimatum to surge the level of aid to Gaza or face restrictions on U.S. military funding, an AP News review of U.N. and Israeli data shows. Ellen Knickmeyer reports.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
The entire population of northern Gaza is “at imminent risk” of death from disease, famine, and ongoing bombardments amid an “apocalyptic” situation in the territory, leaders of 15 U.N. aid agencies said in a joint statement on Friday. Michelle Nichols reports for Reuters.
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH WAR
The Israeli military said it captured a senior Hezbollah operative in a naval raid on Friday. The kidnapping angered Lebanese authorities, with Prime Minister Najib Mikati saying the country will submit a complaint to the U.N. Security Council. Tom Bennett reports for BBC News.
A U.S. push to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has stalled after the U.S.-drafted ceasefire proposal was found to be “unrealistic” and Israel insisted on being able to enforce a truce directly, sources say. Maya Gebeily reports for Reuters.
Israeli airstrikes killed at least 52 people across Lebanon’s northeast on Friday, the Lebanese Health ministry said. Wafaa Shurafa and Sally Abou Aljoud report for AP News.
ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed Saturday to give a “crushing response” to Israel’s attack on Iran, suggesting a possible involvement of Iranian-backed groups. Adam Taylor, Mustafa Salim, Bryan Pietsch, Suzan Haidamous, and Heidi Levine report for the Washington Post.
The Israeli military yesterday said its troops seized a Syrian citizen involved in Iranian networks during a ground raid in Syria, the first announcement of Israeli operations on Syrian territory in the current war. Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy report for AP News.
ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT — U.S. RESPONSE
The United States is sending bomber aircraft, fighter jets, and more Navy warships to the Middle East to bolster its presence in the region, the Pentagon announced Friday.Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor report for AP News.
The Biden administration warned Iran in recent days against another attack on Israel, stressing that it “won’t be able to hold Israel back,” U.S. and Israeli sources say. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
An Iranian-American journalist is believed to have been detained by Iran for months now, the State Department confirmed Sunday. Jon Gambrell reports for AP News.
HOUTHI DEVELOPMENTS
Arab states are resisting U.S. appeals to do more about the Houthis’ campaign against the United States and its regional allies amid anger over the Gaza war. Abigail Hauslohner and Ellen Nakashima report for the Washington Post.
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
The Proud Boys are mobilizing in support of former President Trump, amplifying election-cheating claims and making threats about the presidential election. The group previously played a central role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Tawnell D. Hobbs and Jennifer Levitz report for the Wall Street Journal.
The Pentagon is preparing to counter foreign attempts to threaten or destabilize the United States during the presidential transition period, senior defense officials say. Missy Ryan, Ellen Nakashima, and Dan Lamothe report for the Washington Post.
Security fencing was erected yesterday around White House, U.S. Capitol, and the Vice Presidential residence, as federal and District authorities brace for potential unrest following tomorrow’s presidential election. Spencer S. Hsu reports for the Washington Post.
Washington state is activating some members of the National Guard to be on stand-by following “general and specific information” regarding the potential for election-related violence, Governor Jay Inslee said Friday. Costas Pitas reports for Reuters.
The Justice Department announced on Friday it will send election monitors to 86 jurisdictions in 27 states. David Nakamura reports for the Washington Post.
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a Republican bid to block the counting of provisional ballots by voters whose mail-in ballots were deemed invalid in Pennsylvania. Separately, a state judge in Erie County found that thousands of voters may not have received their ballots on time. Abbie VanSickle reports for the New York Times.
A federal judge on Friday denied Elon Musk’s bid to move the Pennsylvania lawsuit over his $1mn swing state sweepstakes to a federal court. Luc Cohen reports for Reuters.
OTHER U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
A federal jury on Friday found the former detective who fired 10 shots through Breonna Taylor’s apartment in a deadly 2020 raid guilty of violating her civil rights by using excessive force. Orlando Mayorquín reports for the New York Times.
U.S. Army criminal investigators are reviewing an “incident” involving the top general overseeing military affairs in the Middle East, defense officials said Friday. Dan Lamothe reports for the Washington Post.
A New York judge ruled on Friday that a Taliban leader charged with orchestrating the killing of three U.S. soldiers and kidnapping of an American journalist was not entitled to certain war-related immunities. Shayna Jacobs reports for the Washington Post.
U.S. FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The United States flew a long-range bomber in a Sunday trilateral drill with South Korea and Japan in response to North Korea’s recent launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile, South Korea’s military said. Hyung-Jin Kim reports for AP News.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
South Korea’s foreign minister said on Friday “all possible scenarios” are under consideration for aiding Ukraine. Meanwhile, North Korea and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to a June strategic partnership accord. David Ljunggren reports for Reuters.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Moldova’s pro-EU president claimed a second term early today in a tense election seen as a choice between Europe and Russia. Paul Kirby reports for BBC News.
Nigeria charged 76 people, including 30 minors, with treason and inciting a military coup following the deadly August protests against economic hardship, according to court documents released Friday. Chijioke Ohuocha reports for Reuters.