A new report from Amnesty International accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza has drawn sharp criticism. Legal and geopolitical experts have challenged the report’s claims, calling them biased and lacking a balanced analysis.
President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, held high-stakes meetings in November with leaders in Qatar and Israel to advance a potential ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza before Trump’s January 20 inauguration, according to sources briefed on the discussions.
Hamas issued a stark warning against further Israeli rescue operations, threatening to "neutralize" its hostages if such actions occur. The threat came in an internal statement dated November 22, obtained by Reuters, and disseminated by the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing.
Iran reportedly paused plans for a retaliatory attack on Israel following President-elect Donald Trump’s November victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. The New York Times reported that Iranian officials adopted a more diplomatic tone after the election, including halting military escalation and engaging in cease-fire discussions with regional actors.
Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday killed at least 14 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to medics, as the military continued its operations against Hamas in the densely populated enclave. The strikes primarily targeted the northern town of Beit Lahiya, where eight people were reported killed, with additional casualties in Gaza City and Jabalia, a refugee camp in northern Gaza.
President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stern ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the release of all hostages held in Gaza before his inauguration on January 20, 2025. Failure to comply, he warned, would result in unprecedented consequences in the Middle East.
Hamas announced readiness for a cease-fire in Gaza on Wednesday, following a truce between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The group stated its willingness to end the 13-month conflict, provided conditions are met, including a halt to Israeli military operations, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of displaced residents, and a hostages-for-prisoners exchange.
Israeli warplanes conducted strikes in Beirut’s suburbs and the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on Tuesday as Israel’s security Cabinet prepared to vote on a U.S.-brokered cease-fire proposal with Hezbollah. The deal, aimed at ending over a year of conflict, includes a two-month halt to hostilities. It also requires Hezbollah to withdraw its armed forces from southern Lebanon while Israeli troops return to their side of the border.
