Hamas responds to U.S. ceasefire plan for Gaza
Hamas's statement also alludes to a prisoner exchange: 10 living Israeli prisoners as well as 18 bodies to be swapped for an undetermined number of Palestinian prisoners. Further details around Hamas's counter-proposal were not immediately available.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
2 minutes ago
- The Hill
Sexual violence in conflicts worldwide increased by 25% last year, UN says
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Sexual violence in conflicts worldwide increased by 25% last year, with the highest number of cases in the Central African Republic, Congo, Haiti, Somalia and South Sudan, according to a U.N. report released Thursday. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' annual report said more than 4,600 people survived sexual violence in 2024, with armed groups carrying out the majority of the abuse but some by government forces. He stressed that the U.N.-verified figures don't reflect the global scale and prevalence of these crimes. The report's blacklist names 63 government and non-government parties in a dozen countries suspected of committing or being responsible for rape and other forms of sexual violence in conflict, including Hamas militants, whose attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, sparked the war in Gaza. Over 70% of those listed have appeared on the report's blacklist annex for five years or more without creating steps to prevent the violence, the U.N. chief said. U.N. warns Israel and Russia about allegations For the first time, the report includes two parties that have been notified the U.N. has 'credible information' that could put them on next year's blacklist if they don't take preventive actions: Israel's military and security forces over allegations of sexual abuse of Palestinians primarily in prisons and detention, and Russian forces and affiliated armed groups against Ukrainian prisoners of war. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon, who circulated a letter Tuesday from Guterres about the country's forces being put on notice, said the allegations 'are steeped in biased publications.' 'The U.N. must focus on the shocking war crimes and sexual violence of Hamas and the release of all hostages,' he said. Russia's U.N. mission said it had no comment on the secretary-general's warning. The 34-page report said 'conflict-related sexual violence' refers to rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, forced sterilization, forced marriage and other forms of sexual violence. The majority of victims are women and girls. 'In 2024, proliferating and escalating conflicts were marked by widespread conflict-related sexual violence, amid record levels of displacement and increased militarization,' Guterres said. 'Sexual violence continued to be used as a tactic of war, torture, terrorism and political repression, while multiple and overlapping political, security and humanitarian crises deepened.' The toll of sexual violence in conflict The U.N. says women and girls were attacked in their homes, on roads and while trying to earn a living, with victims ranging in age from 1 to 75. Reports of summary executions of victims after rape persisted in Congo and Myanmar, it said. In an increasing number of places, the report said armed groups 'used sexual violence as a tactic to gain and consolidate control over territory and lucrative natural resources.' Women and girls perceived to be associated with rival armed groups were targeted with sexual violence in the Central African Republic, Congo and Haiti, it said. In detention facilities, the report said sexual violence was perpetrated 'including as a form of torture,' reportedly in Israel and the Palestinian territories, Libya, Myanmar, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen. 'Most of the reported incidents against men and boys occurred in detention, consistent with previous years, and included rape, threats of rape and the electrocution and beating of genitals,' the report said. U.N. report details where abuse is occurring The U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic documented cases of rape, gang rape, forced marriage and sexual slavery affecting 215 women, 191 girls and seven men. In mineral-rich eastern Congo, the peacekeeping mission documented nearly 800 cases last year, including rape, gang rape, sexual slavery and forced marriage, 'often accompanied by extreme physical violence,' the report said. The number of cases involving the M23 rebel group, now controlling the main city Goma, rose from 43 in 2022 to 152 in 2024, it said. In Sudan, where civil war is raging, the report said that groups providing services to victims of sexual violence recorded 221 rape cases against 147 girls and 74 boys since the beginning of 2024, 'with 16% of survivors under five years of age, including four one-year-olds.'
CNN
3 minutes ago
- CNN
Former Ukrainian FM explains what Putin's ‘land swap' proposal means
Former Ukrainian FM explains what Putin's 'land swap' proposal means Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke with CNN's Christiane Amanpour about Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposed "land swap" with Ukraine ahead of the summit in Alaska between President Donald Trump and the Russian leader. 02:00 - Source: CNN Putin praises Trump for 'sincere' efforts to end war Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the Trump administration's 'energetic and sincere' efforts to stop the war in Ukraine and hinted that Moscow and Washington could strike a deal on nuclear arms control during their summit on Friday in Alaska. 01:37 - Source: CNN Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners before Trump-Putin meeting 84 Ukrainian prisoners and 84 Russian servicemen were exchanged on Thursday, ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with President Donald Trump in Alaska. The exchange, mediated by the United Arab Emirates, included Ukrainian POWs held captive since 2014, according to Ukrainian officials. 01:26 - Source: CNN Zelensky arrives in Berlin ahead of Trump-Putin summit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Berlin for high-level talks with European leaders and President Trump, just days before Trump's face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The virtual meeting is seen as a strategic move to shape Trump's stance ahead of the historic sit-down. 00:36 - Source: CNN Heavy rain shuts down airport in Mexico City Heavy rain on Sunday caused flooding and traffic disruptions in several areas of Mexico City. The rain forced suspension of activities at the Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City for the second time in a row on Tuesday, airport officials reported. 00:35 - Source: CNN Gaza's journalists who never quit Journalists in Gaza have continued reporting under extraordinary conditions—amid danger, displacement, hunger, and personal loss. With international media barred from entering, their work has been the world's only window into the war. Anas Al-Sharif, with Al Jazeera, was among those killed in a recent targeted attack. CNN Producer Abeer Salman reflects on the risks these journalists have taken and the stories they've reported on for the world to see. 02:30 - Source: CNN Can hockey help heal US-Russia relations? Ahead of Presidents Trump and Putin meeting in Alaska this week, Russian hockey stars tell CNN's Fred Pleitgen they hope sport could help bring the two nations -- and people -- closer. 01:38 - Source: CNN Journalists killed in targeted Israeli strike on Gaza Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sharif was killed in a targeted strike in Gaza on Sunday alongside multiple other journalists. The Israeli military accused Al-Sharif of leading a Hamas cell, an allegation Al-Sharif had previously denied. 01:50 - Source: CNN Australia will recognize Palestine in September Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday that Australia will recognize a Palestinian state at the General Assembly of the United Nations in September. Australia joins the UK, France and Canada in announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state. The move leaves the US increasingly isolated from some of its closest allies in its defense of Israel's escalating military campaign that's decimated the besieged enclave after almost two years of war. 00:29 - Source: CNN Wildfires rage across Europe amid heatwaves Wildfires have been raging across Europe over the past few days, with several countries, such as Italy and Spain, experiencing severe heatwaves. 00:48 - Source: CNN Gazan boy struck and killed by falling aid A 14-year-old boy was killed by an airdropped aid package in Gaza on Saturday, according to Al-Awda hospital. The UN has warned that airdrops of aid are ineffective, expensive and dangerous in heavily populated areas. 01:30 - Source: CNN Hundreds arrested at Palestine Action protest In the UK, hundreds have been arrested by London police for protesting the British government's decision to ban the group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws. The group, which opposes weapons sales to Israel, is challenging the ban. Earlier, police had cautioned they would arrest anyone showing support for the proscribed group. CNN's Isobel Yeung reports. 01:26 - Source: CNN Ukrainians in Kyiv react to Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska As US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin prepare to meet in Alaska to discuss a potential end to the war in Ukraine, residents in Kyiv told CNN how they felt about the meeting that, so far, excludes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 00:43 - Source: CNN Israelis protest Netanyahu's Gaza policies CNN's Matthew Chance is in Tel Aviv, where thousands of protesters are gathering to call on the Israeli government to end the war in Gaza 01:49 - Source: CNN Inside a military raid deep in Ecuador's gang territory CNN follows a military raid in Duran, Ecuador as they go door to door deep inside gang territory. Senior National Correspondent David Culver is with the authorities as they seize drugs, uncover explosive devices, and make a gruesome discovery. Watch 'Ecuador: The Narco Superhighway' on 'The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper' Sunday August 10 at 9pm ET on CNN. 01:55 - Source: CNN Ukrainians in Kyiv react to Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska As US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin prepare to meet in Alaska to discuss a potential end to the war in Ukraine, residents in Kyiv told CNN how they felt about the meeting that, so far, excludes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 00:43 - Source: CNN Analysis: Why Alaska signals a slow defeat for Ukraine President Donald Trump said he'll be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine that could include 'some swapping of territories.' But as CNN's Nick Paton Walsh explains, the conditions around Friday's summit so wildly favor Moscow, it's hard to see how a deal emerges that does not eviscerate Ukraine. 01:18 - Source: CNN Zelensky rejects territorial concession with Russia Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address after President Trump's announcement to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine is "ready to work together with President Trump," but quashed the idea of any territory concessions. 01:22 - Source: CNN Israel 'brutally determined' to capture Gaza in new escalation plan Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military escalation in Gaza, which he claims will capture the city and eliminate Hamas, brings doubtful Israeli citizens to the streets in protest. Palestinians in Gaza scramble for safety and brace for impact as the war intensifies. 02:33 - Source: CNN Balcony collapses in Gaza under weight of crowd scrambling for aid As Palestinians rushed toward an aid package airdropped in Gaza City, a balcony collapsed under the weight of the crowd. It is not clear how many people were injured in this incident. 00:41 - Source: CNN Palestinians and Israelis react to plan to take over Gaza City Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to take over Gaza City. The deadline for the first phase of the offensive is October 7, according to an Israeli source. Hear how Israelis and Palestinians have reacted to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans for occupation. 01:52 - Source: CNN
New York Post
32 minutes ago
- New York Post
Craven and dishonest: Behind the Toronto bid to censor an Oct. 7 documentary
The folks in charge of the Toronto International Film Festival now claim they were never going to prevent the screening of a documentary that tells the truth about Hamas' horrific Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks — but the disclaimers are so hedged (and dishonest) that you still can't be sure the show will go on. First and foremost is the absurd excuse that TIFF's lawyers supposedly thought the filmmaker needed 'legal clearance' to use clips of the savagery as filmed and livestreamed by the terrorists on their GoPros. That is, permission from Hamas to use footage of the terrorists mauling women and slaughtering innocents. Nonsense: Several other movies have already used such footage; one of them, 'We Will Dance Again,' won an Emmy in June! Rather, this was obviously a wormy way to get out of showing Canadian director Barry Avrich's 'The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,' which shows how retired Israeli Gen. Noam Tibon rescued his family and other survivors of the Oct. 7 attacks. Because the truth might make viewers more sympathetic to Israel. Of course the TIFF folks carefully didn't complain about that, though they did say the risk of protests against the movie might also make it impossible to show. (We've also heard suggestions that festival staff were threatening to walk off the job if the documentary wasn't scrubbed.) Sorry: Admitting you'll censor in the face of such threats makes a mockery of TIFF's vow that 'we will defend artistic excellence and artistic freedom.' And falling back on spurious worries about terrorists' intellectual-property rights is still blatantly knuckling under to the hecklers' veto. Cameron Bailey, the TIFF CEO, denies 'censorship' was ever in play, claims he's 'committed' to showing the film and has his legal team 'considering all options available' to somehow show it after all. We understand not wanting to admit that Israel-haters are running the show at your festival, but Bailey's careful hedging shows that he's not even certain he can defy the antisemites' wishes.
