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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the weekend. Here’s today’s news:
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
An Israeli strike on a school and mosque in Gaza on Saturday killed at least 93 displaced Palestinians, according to local officials. Palestinian Civil Defense said people had been performing dawn prayers. Israel confirmed it carried out the strike, saying it eliminated “at least 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists.” Irene Nasser, Abeer Salman, Ibrahim Dahman, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Lex Harvey, and Allegra Goodwin report for CNN.
Hamas yesterday rejected the invitation by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to attend Thursday’s final round of ceasefire negotiations. In a statement, Hamas said there were several reasons, including new Israeli conditions, Israel’s assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and recent deadly Israeli airstrikes. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
The Israeli military yesterday ordered civilians to evacuate from part of the humanitarian zone it established in Khan Younis, saying it was planning to fight in the area because Hamas had “embedded terrorist infrastructure” there. Vivek Shankar and Matthew Mpoke Bigg report for the New York Times.
Gunmen opened fire from a passing car at Israelis traveling along the main road in the occupied West Bank yesterday, killing a civilian and wounding another, according to the Israeli military and emergency services. Searches are underway for the assailants. The New York Times reports.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
An Israeli security unit found to have committed gross human rights violations will continue to receive U.S. funding, the Biden administration announced Friday, saying its actions have been “effectively remediated.” The determination ends a lengthy investigation of the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion. John Hudson reports for the Washington Post. Readers may be interested in Charles O. (Cob) Blaha’s analysis of the State Department’s decision for Just Security.
Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the Israeli strike on a school compound in Gaza, saying “far too many civilians” had been killed in the enclave. Sofia Ferreira Santos reports for BBC News.
The United States has sent a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, with Defense Secretary Lloyed Austin saying the United States would “take every possible step” to defend Israel. Francesca Gillett reports for BBC News.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
In a joint statement today, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom endorsed calls for a ceasefire, the return of hostages, and the unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid.
ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT
New Israeli intelligence suggests Iran is preparing to attack Israel within days, two sources with direct knowledge of the issue told Axios. Barak Ravid reports.
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH CONFLICT
Lebanon’s Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets toward northern Israel yesterday after an Israeli strike on southern Lebanon injured 12 people, state media reported. Jeremy Diamond, Lauren Izso, Irene Nasser, and Eyad Kourdi report for CNN.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Russia today evacuated civilians from parts of a second border region, just days after Ukraine launched its most significant incursion since Moscow’s invasion in 2022. Apparently caught by surprise, Russia stabilized the front in the Kursk region yesterday, according to Russian bloggers. Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly report for Reuters.
Russia started a fire on the grounds of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday, adding, “Currently, radiation levels are within norm.” Russia captured the plant shortly after its invasion. Joe Stanley-Smith reports for POLITICO.
Belarus sent military reinforcements to its border with Ukraine Saturday after several Ukrainian “attack drones” crossed its airspace and were intercepted, the country’s defense minister said. Mariya Knight reports for CNN.
U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
In secret talks, the United States offered amnesty to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for ceding power, as overwhelming evidence emerges that he lost last month’s election. Washington has discussed pardons for Maduro and top lieutenants of his who face Justice Department indictments. Juan Forero, Patricia Garip, and Kejal Vyas report for the Wall Street Journal.
The United States is restarting offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia after a years-long ban, according to senior administration officials. Karen DeYoung reports for the Washington Post.
The United States is waging a hidden campaign to contain a resurgence of the self-styled Islamic State group in northeastern Syria, as the group is seemingly rebounding amid conflict in the Middle East. Michael M. Phillips reports for the Wall Street Journal.
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Former President Trump’s presidential campaign said on Saturday it had been hacked, suggesting Iranian actors were involved. Experts and cybersecurity professionals say the hack echoes the Russian attacks on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, and warned further attacks are likely. Iran’s mission to the U.N. has denied all wrongdoing. Bill Barrow reports for AP News; Maggie Miller reports for POLITICO.
OTHER U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
A California man who pled guilty to assaulting police officers during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was sentenced to 20 years. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth said his conduct was “exceptionally egregious.” Madeline Halpert reports for BBC News.
A Defense Department contractor was arrested on Friday with dozens of highly classified documents as he prepared to depart for a trip to Mexico, prosecutors say. Turkish-born contractor Gokhan Gun, who became a U.S. citizen in 2021, is charged with illegally obtaining and retaining national defense secrets. Glenn Thrush and Seamus Hughes report for the New York Times.
Jury selection is underway in Nevada today for an ex-politician accused of killing a Las Vegas investigative reporter who wrote critical articles about him. NBC News reports.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
The Islamic State today claimed responsibility for an explosion in Afghanistan’s capital yesterday that killed at least one person and wounded 13. AP News reports.
The Venezuelan authorities have launched a nationwide operation targeting dissenters or anyone even perceived to be challenging Maduro’s reelection. Frances Robles reports for the New York Times.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian yesterday proposed a former nuclear negotiator as the country’s new foreign minister. Pezeshkian also sought to appoint a woman as housing minister. If approved, she would be Iran’s first female minister in over a decade. ABC News reports.
Hong Kong’s top court today “unanimously dismissed the bid to overturn the convictions of media tycoon Jimmy Lai and six other pro-democracy campaigners for an unauthorized assembly in 2019.” Reuters reports.
Tens of thousands protested in Belgrade on Saturday against lithium mining in Serbia. President Aleksandar Vučić accused the demonstrators of being part of a Western-backed “hybrid” warfare against his government. Dusan Stojanovic reports for AP News. Readers may be interested in Valery Perry’s analysis of the challenges of mineral mining in the Western Balkans for Just Security.
Paul Kagame was sworn in for a fourth term as Rwanda’s president after securing 99% of the vote in last month’s election. Joseph Winter reports for BBC News.
Twenty-four soldiers in Sierra Leone were sentenced to lengthy prison terms on Friday after being convicted for their roles in an attempted coup. Kemo Cham reports for AP News.
Clashes between two heavily armed militia groups in Libya’s capital killed about a dozen people on Friday, according to officials. Samy Magdy reports for AP News.