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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
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday defended his contentious plans for a continued Israeli presence on the Philadelphi corridor, a demand that has delayed a ceasefire and hostage deal. In a rare news conference, Netanyahu apologized for not bringing the six hostages recovered from Gaza home alive, but said a withdrawal from the area would signal to Hamas that killing hostages leads to concessions. Hamas has warned that more hostages could be “returned to their families in shrouds” if a ceasefire isn’t reached. Jack Burgess reports for BBC News; Steve Hendrix and Shira Rubin report for the Washington Post.
Hamas has been operating under new instructions since June on how to handle hostages should Israeli forces approach their locations in Gaza, the group’s armed wing said yesterday. The announcement comes days after the Israeli military said six hostages were shot dead by their captors as Israeli forces got close. Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Jaidaa Taha report for Reuters.
Israeli union leaders agreed to halt the nationwide labor strike yesterday afternoon, over eight hours after it began. The decision followed an Israeli court ruling yesterday that they had not given enough notice for the work stoppage. Patrick Kinsgley reports for the New York Times.
The Israeli military said it has killed a Hamas commander who appeared in a video from Oct. 7. AP News reports.
Extremist Israeli settlers are rapidly seizing West Bank land, according to a new BBC analysis. Jake Tacchi, Ziad Al-Qattan, Emir Nader and Matthew Cassel report.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
The United Kingdom yesterday suspended some arms sales to Israel, saying there is a “clear risk” the equipment could be used to commit serious international law violations. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the move suspends 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel. Netanyahu today called the decision “shameful” and said it “will only embolden Hamas.” Joshua Nevett and James Landale report for BBC News.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – U.S. RESPONSE
President Biden told reporters yesterday that Netanyahu is not doing enough to get a ceasefire and hostage deal. Biden spoke shortly after a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and their national security team, where they “discussed next steps in the ongoing effort to secure the release of hostages, including continuing consultations with co-mediators Qatar and Egypt.” Netanyahu said during a press conference yesterday he was not aware of Biden’s comment. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; David E. Sanger reports for the New York Times.
U.S. FOREIGN RELATIONS
A nationalist Turkish youth group yesterday physically assaulted two U.S. marines in western Turkey, officials in both countries said. Video footage shows the attackers chanting “Yankee go home,” with one assailant placing a bag over the head of a marine. Authorities said 15 people have been detained and that an investigation is underway. Ece Toksabay and Kanishka Singh report for Reuters; Elif Ince, Patrick Smith, Courtney Kube, Tim Stelloh and Jean Lee report for NBC News.
The United States has seized an airplane used by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whose government remains under U.S. economic sanctions. Officials say the aircraft was illegally purchased and “smuggled” out of Florida for use by Maduro. Joel Achenbach and Samantha Schmidt report for the Washington Post; Priscilla Alvarez and Abel Alvarado report for CNN.
The United States and allies captured a leader of the self-styled Islamic State group who helped members of the militia escape from a detention center in Syria, CENTCOM announced yesterday. U.S. troops, together with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, captured Ahmed al-Dandal on Sunday, days after five ISIS members escaped from the Raqqah Detention Facility. Rebecca Falconer reports for Axios.
Chinese diplomats and U.S.-based pro-China groups organized demonstrations in San Francisco that “harassed and silenced protesters opposed to Beijing’s policies, including through violence, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to the city in November,” according to a Washington Post investigation. Shibani Mahtani, Meg Kelly, Cate Brown, Cate Cadell, Ellen Nakashima and Chris Dehghanpoor report.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Mongolia late yesterday for his first state visit to a member of the International Criminal Court since a warrant was issued for his arrest in March 2023. While Ukraine and the E.U. have reminded Mongolia of its obligation to act upon the court’s warrant, Russian officials say they have “no worries” about Putin’s visit. Valerie Hopkins and David Pierson report for the New York Times; Joe Stanley-Smith and Csongor Körömi report for POLITICO.
Brazil’s Supreme Court yesterday unanimously upheld the decision by one of its justices to block the social media platform X nationwide. It will stay suspended until it complies with court orders and pays outstanding fines, according to the decision. David Biller and Gabriela Sá Pessoa report for AP News.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González. The warrant, authorized by Judge Edward Briceño, follows a request by the public prosecutor’s office, which is loyal to Maduro. Will Grant and Ali Abbas Ahmadi report for BBC News.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz yesterday urged mainstream parties to boycott the far-right Alternative for Germany after its election wins in two eastern states. The party came in first in state elections in Thuringia, and a close second in Saxony. All other parties in Germany have ruled out forming alliances with the AfD, but its recent victory in both state parliaments will make coalition building particularly difficult. Kate Brady reports for the Washington Post.
The Congolese government said at least 129 people were killed in an attempted prison break in the capital Kinshasa late on Sunday. A provisional assessment showed that 24 inmates were shot dead by “warning” gunshots as they tried to escape, while most of the inmates died in a stampede, the country’s interior minister said. Reuters reports; Jean-Yves Kamale reports for AP News.
Tunisia’s electoral authority yesterday approved only two candidates to challenge current President Kais Saied in October’s election. One candidate remains in custody in an investigation into allegations of falsification of signatures from voters. Massinissa Benlakehal reports for AP News.
Iran’s Supreme Court upheld a death sentence imposed on a member of the volunteer wing of the country’s Revolutionary Guard Corps “who stormed a house during the 2022 protests over the death of Mahsa Amini and killed a 60-year-old man,” a lawyer said today. AP News reports.
The United Arab Emirates president has pardoned 57 Bangladeshi citizens who were convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms for protesting in the Gulf country, state media reported today. Reuters reports.
HOUTHI ATTACKS
Yemen’s Houthis attacked two crude oil tankers, one Saudi-flagged and another Panama-flagged, in the Red Sea yesterday, the U.S. military said. The militant group claimed responsibility for targeting the Panama tanker, but did not mention the Saudi tanker. No major damage or casualties were reported. Jonathan Saul and Kanishka Singh report for Reuters.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
At least 41 people have been killed today and 180 more wounded in a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Poltava, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The Guardian reports.
U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
A 10-year-old boy is in custody after he confessed to fatally shooting a former Louisiana mayor and his daughter on Sunday, a police official said yesterday. Tim Stelloh reports for NBC News.