Israel, Hamas reach deal on release of six remaining live hostages, Axios reports
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An agreement has been reached with Hamas to release on Saturday the six remaining hostages who are alive, Axios reported on Tuesday, citing an unnamed senior Israeli official.
The move would be part of the phase one of the Gaza hostage deal, Axios said, and comes as Israel this week prepared to begin indirect negotiations with Hamas on the second phase of the deal.
(Writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Alison Williams)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
25 minutes ago
- Axios
Republicans scramble to avoid a war with Elon Musk
House Republicans, dismayed by Elon Musk's harsh criticism of President Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill," are now trying to talk their erstwhile ally down from the ledge. Why it matters: With over $400 billion at his disposal, the Tesla and SpaceX owner could drown Republicans in opposition cash. And he's saying GOP lawmakers who voted for the bill should be "fired." House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he called Musk on Tuesday but that the recently departed Trump lieutenant "didn't answer," adding that he hopes to "talk to him today." What we're hearing: Coming out of their closed-door conference meeting, House Republicans projected optimism they can get Musk back on side. "There's a sense that Elon is still learning about the full number of wins in the One Big, Beautiful Bill," another House Republican, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations, told Axios. The lawmaker said House Republicans have "talked to him in the last 24 hours" and "have helped him understand the big picture." Another House Republican told Axios: "I think he'll recognize maybe more than most the challenge that we face when we're trying to cut spending. He simply wants more spending as I understanding. He should know how hard that is." State of play: Musk slammed the bill as a "disgusting abomination" on Tuesday, writing in a post on X, "Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it." In another post, Musk responded to another user's criticism of the bill writing, "In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people." All but five House Republicans voted for the reconciliation bill last month. Between the lines: Johnson said he had a "great conversation" with Musk on Monday morning, before his social media rampage, and that "it's curious to me what happened this week." The House speaker said Musk told him in that conversation that he would lend support to Republicans in the 2026 elections. Zoom in: There is also simmering anger behind the scenes, with Johnson telling colleagues in the conference meeting that Trump is "pissed off" at Musk, according to a source familiar with his comments. A third House Republican argued that the bill benefits "middle class families and taxpaying, working-class people" and that "maybe that upsets the billionaire class, I don't know." "I think he's flat wrong," Johnson said at his press conference. "I think he's way off on this and I've told him as much."
Axios
26 minutes ago
- Axios
House GOP expands its investigation of Biden's health
House Republicans are expanding their investigation into President Biden's health with a new tranche of requests to interview top White House aides, including former Chief of Staff Ron Klain and senior advisor Anita Dunn. Why it matters: House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.), citing Axios' reporting, noted that Klain, Dunn and the other aides whose testimony he is seeking made up the ex-president's inner circle. Axios' Alex Thompson and CNN's Jake Tapper, in their new book "Original Sin," implicate what they dub Biden's "politburo" in a coordinated campaign to hide details of Biden's deteriorating health from public view. Biden's spokespeople have pushed back on the claim that there was a cover-up around his health, arguing that he was mentally and physically capable of serving as president through the end of his term. Driving the news: In addition to Klain and Dunn, Comer sent letters requesting testimony from former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, senior advisor Mike Donilon and counselor Steve Ricchetti. "The Committee requests your testimony to evaluate your eye-witness account of former President Biden's decline," Comer wrote in each letter. Comer said the aides must agree by June 11 to testify before his panel in July — or else he will subpoena them. Zoom out: Comer sent letters last month requesting testimony from Biden's personal physician, Kevin O'Connor, as well as former White House officials Neera Tanden, Anthony Bernal, Annie Tomasini and Ashley Willians. Many of those aides were also mentioned in "Original Sin" as being part of a select group who had up-close access to the president. Comer said in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity that "our staff attorneys have been communicating with their attorneys" and that he expects each of the ex-officials to testify voluntarily. What they're saying: " These five former senior advisors were eyewitnesses to President Biden's condition and operations within the Biden White House," Comer said in a statement.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
US House plans quick action on Trump cuts to foreign aid spending
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives said on Wednesday they would act quickly on President Donald Trump's request to slash $9.4 billion in spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting, hoping to file a bill as soon as Thursday. "Yesterday the White House sent the rescissions package. It's the first, maybe, of many. We are now putting that in bill format. We'll file that bill, hopefully by tomorrow, and then bring it up to the floor quickly," Representative Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, told a news conference. Scalise spoke a day after Trump sent Congress his formal "rescissions" memo requesting the elimination of $9.4 billion in spending already approved by lawmakers, opening a 45-day window for lawmakers to decide whether to back Trump in overturning spending plans many of them voted for in the past. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Scalise and other Republican House leaders issued a statement encouraging House members to support the measure, saying it would eliminate wasteful spending. Presidential rescissions packages have not passed in years, because previous Congresses have not wanted to give up their constitutionally mandated control of government spending. For example, lawmakers rejected Trump's request to revoke $15 billion in spending in 2018, during his first term. However, the current Republican leaders of the House and Senate have shown little appetite for opposing Trump, even those who in the past have been strong advocates for foreign aid. The rescissions package can pass with a simple majority in both chambers, so it would not need Democratic votes. Codifying the cuts into law will lessen the chances that reductions in government spending, which have been led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) this year, will face legal challenges. Trump began slashing foreign assistance programs as soon as he began his second term on January 20, in his drive to ensure all government spending is in line with his America First policies, eliminate waste and stamp out "diversity, equity and inclusion" efforts. Critics have said the deep cuts in funding by the United States, the world's largest single donor, mean people around the world will die of starvation and from preventable diseases, undermine American leadership, and leave a vacuum for adversaries like Russia and China to fill. Trump himself said last month his administration's cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development have been "devastating." The cuts include rescinding $496 million of the $4 billion Congress approved for international disaster assistance, $460 million appropriated to assist former communist countries in Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia; $400 million of $6 billion for global health programs like fighting HIV/AIDS, and $142 million designated for UNICEF, the United Nations' children's fund. The package also includes $1.1 billion in cuts to funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
