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Hamas Hostages’ Whereabouts Unknown, Complicating Negotiations for Release

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The Argentine news outlet Infobae reported on Sunday, citing “sources familiar with the details of the [hostage] agreement,” that the jihadist terrorist organization Hamas does not know the location of some of the estimated 240 people abducted from Israel on October 7, complicating the group’s ability to negotiate for their release.

The Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani appeared to verify that report on Sunday, telling the Financial Times that some of the hostages were “missing” and that Hamas would allegedly use the time bought in a truce Israel agreed to in exchange for the release of hostages to find others they have allegedly lost. Qatar allows Hamas, a genocidal jihadist terror organization, to maintain its “political” operations base in Doha and has been helping Hamas communicate with the government of Israel and its allies.

The whereabouts of the hostages not in direct Hamas custody remain unknown. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a rival terrorist group, reportedly claimed to be keeping 30 of those hostages imprisoned. Some reports have suggested that organized crime syndicates in Gaza, which Hamas controls, may be keeping individual hostages or families in captivity independent of direct Hamas control.

Hamas took its hostages on October 7 as part of a massive, unprecedented terror assault it has dubbed the “al-Aqsa flood.” On that day, the jihadists invaded Israel and began indiscriminately killing civilians, raiding residential communities and executing entire families in door-to-door attacks. The terrorists filmed themselves abducting people, killing them, torturing them, desecrating the bodies of victims, and posted many of the videos to social media, including the profiles of their victims. Eyewitness and forensic evidence indicate that the terrorists engaged in multiple acts of gang rape, including at least one killing in which a woman was shot in the head in the middle of a gang rape. Authorities have also found evidence of Hamas terrorists killing and mutilating children, including decapitated and charred bodies of babies. Israeli officials estimate the death toll of the “al-Aqsa flood” to be upwards of 1,200 people. (Read more from “Hamas Hostages’ Whereabouts Unknown, Complicating Negotiations for Release” HERE)

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Israeli Hostages Released in Ceasefire: Families Reunited After Ordeal With Hamas Terrorists

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A third group of Israeli hostages arrived back in Israel on Sunday evening as part of a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas terrorists.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that based on information from the Red Cross, which has acted as an intermediary between the IDF and the terrorists, the group of hostages that were released included 14 Israelis and three foreign nationals.

The Times of Israel reported that the group of released Israeli hostages included Abigail Idan, 4; Hagar Brodetz, 40, and her children Ofri, 10, Yuval, 9, and Oriya, 4; Chen Almog Goldstein, 48, and Agam, 17, Gal, 11 and Tal, 9; Alma Avraham, 84; Aviva Siegel, 64; sisters Ela, 8 and Dafna, 15, and Elyakim; Roni Krivoi, 25, a dual Russian-Israeli national.

One of the hostages that was released, Abigail Idan, who turned 4 while being held hostage by Hamas terrorists, is a dual U.S. citizen. Both of her parents were murdered by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza kibbutz during the October 7 attacks. (Read more from “Israeli Hostages Released in Ceasefire: Families Reunited After Ordeal With Hamas Terrorists” HERE)

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U.S. Navy Foils Terrorist Hijacking Attempt of Israeli-Owned Tanker

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In a dramatic turn of events, a U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Mason, successfully thwarted a terrorist hijacking attempt on the Liberian-flagged Central Park chemical tanker, which is owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group. The incident occurred in the Gulf of Aden, where five armed gunmen attempted to seize control of the vessel.

Upon responding to a distress call from the tanker’s crew, the USS Mason intercepted the attempted hijacking, pursuing the ship towards Yemen. According to Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin, warning shots were fired by the U.S. Navy personnel during the pursuit, leading to the apprehension of the five armed hijackers. The terrorists had reportedly boarded the tanker from a skiff, attempting to break into the ship’s Citadel (safe room) where the crew had secured themselves.

This marks the second hijacking attempt on the same vessel in recent days, with Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists previously making a similar effort. In this latest incident, a Japanese destroyer provided assistance to the USS Mason during the interdiction, while two Chinese Navy warships in the vicinity did not offer support.

Despite the hijackers’ attempt to gain access to the safe room, the crew remained secure, prompting the terrorists to exit the vessel and attempt an escape back to Yemen. The U.S. Navy personnel, along with the support of a U.S. helicopter gunship, successfully apprehended the hijackers, who are currently under questioning by the U.S. military under counter-piracy authorities. The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by maritime vessels in the strategically vital waters of the Gulf of Aden.

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Professor Barred from Campus Due to Misleading Video: Anti-Israel Activists Misrepresent Statements on Hamas (VIDEO)

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University of Southern California (USC) economics professor John Strauss, who is Jewish, has been barred from campus because of a doctored video circulated by anti-Israel activists who claim he said all Palestinians should be killed.

In fact, as the full video (clumsily included here by an anti-Israel activist) shows, Strauss was referring specifically to the Hamas terrorist organization. Video 1: ” … should be killed, and I hope they are.”

Video 2: ” You people are ignorant. Really ignorant. Hamas are murderers. That’s all they are. Every one of them should be killed, and I hope they are.”

Anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian, and Muslim activists only cited the former video in pushing for USC to take against Strauss.

The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday:

As [Strauss’s] remarks raced across the internet, his condemnation of Hamas was often excised, leaving only his “hope” for “all” to be killed. Captions and comments online framed his demand for “every one” to be killed in myriad, at times deceptive, ways. One Instagram post shared to millions of users claimed falsely that Strauss told the students, “[I] hope you get killed….”

(Read more from “Professor Barred from Campus Due to Misleading Video: Anti-Israel Activists Misrepresent Statements on Hamas (VIDEO)” HERE)

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President Biden Addresses Hostage Situation with Hamas, Considers ‘Conditional Aid’ for Israel

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President Joe Biden Friday made his first public comments on the hostages released by Hamas after its Tuesday negotiated four-day ceasefire with Israel. . .

“From the moment Hamas kidnapped these people, I, along with my team, have worked around the clock to secure their release,” said Biden. . .

The Israeli government approved a deal Tuesday night that will see the Palestinian Hamas terror group release at up to 80 female, child, and elderly hostages over four days, in return for a pause in the fighting in the Gaza Strip. . .

Inside his own party, calls to condition U.S. aid to Israel on deescalation of Israeli attacks against the terrorist organization are growing.

Biden expressed his openness to consider conditional aid.

(Read more from “Another State Is Banning the Sale of New Gas-Powered Cars” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

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Biden Says His Own Diplomacy May Have Triggered Hamas Attack

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President Joe Biden said Friday that his own diplomacy may have pushed the terrorist organization Hamas to launch its brutal Oct. 7 attack on Israel which resulted in the raping, kidnapping and murdering of Israeli civilians.

Hamas released its first wave from what is expected to be a total of about 50 hostages Friday, including 13 Israeli civilians as well as 12 Thai nationals, in exchange for a pause in fighting with Israel. Biden gave a brief speech Friday about the release and touted the deal that followed negotiations between U.S., Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials. Following his speech, the president was asked what he was hearing from Arab leaders.

“I cannot prove what I’m about to say, but I believe one of the reasons Hamas struck when they did is because they knew I was working very closely with the Saudis and others in the region to bring peace to the region by having recognition of Israel and Israel’s right to exist,” the president said.

During former President Donald Trump’s administration, deals were struck between Israel and several Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa to establish formal diplomatic relations. Those countries included Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Bahrain. Throughout his presidency, Biden had been working to expand the deal to establish formal recognition between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which has long been a friend of the Palestinian cause.

The president said last month he believes Hamas attacked Israel in an effort to stop Biden from striking a deal with Saudi Arabia, the Associated Press reported. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also speculated such motives could have been behind Hamas’ attack. (Read more from “Biden Says His Own Diplomacy May Have Triggered Hamas Attack” HERE)

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Israeli Intelligence Minister Proposes Controversial Plan to Resettle Gazans Worldwide

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Israeli Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel has penned an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post advocating for a global refugee resettlement initiative aimed at relocating approximately 2 million Gazans outside of Israel. In her article, Gamliel asserts that Gaza, with its population that includes Hamas supporters, is a breeding ground for extremism, and a new approach is necessary to ensure the safety of Israeli communities.

The proposed scheme envisions moving Gazans to various countries around the world, with the expectation that once they are gone, Israeli communities can return to their homes and live securely. Gamliel frames this as a “win-win” solution, benefiting both Israelis and Gazans who would potentially live in wealthier countries.

However, Charlie Kirk raises concerns about the implications for the international community, especially cities like Paris, London, or Detroit, which would be expected to host individuals with diverse political affiliations, including those sympathetic to Hamas. His tweet criticizes Gamliel for attempting to shift the burden of dealing with Hamas sympathizers onto other nations, characterizing it as an attempt to make these individuals “our problem instead.”

Charlie Kirk expresses skepticism about the proclaimed benefits of the plan, emphasizing that it may strain the support for Israel among Western conservatives if such ideas persist. His remarks sparked controversy and discussions about the feasibility, ethics, and potential consequences of such a large-scale resettlement initiative.

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Israeli Soldiers Given Specific Instructions for Hostage Transfer, Addressing Children’s Trauma

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Israeli soldiers have been given explicit instructions ahead of the planned transfer of hostages from Gaza back to Israel — particularly relating to the children who have been held by Hamas terrorists since the massacre that those same terrorists carried out on October 7.

According to an X post shared by geopolitical and security analyst Michael Horowitz, the Israeli soldiers were specifically told that until they had all been brought back to Israel safely, no one was to answer any questions the children might have about their parents — primarily because many of those children lost either one or both of their parents that day, and may or may not be aware of that.

“Israeli soldiers who are due to escort the children hostages to be released in the agreement with #Hamas have received specific instruction drafted by the Welfare Ministry to deal with the psychological trauma they suffered,” Horowitz posted. “Among these instructions is one not to respond to their questions about their parents and wait until they are in Israel. This is because many of them have lost at least one of their parents, if not both.”

(Read more from “Israeli Soldiers Given Specific Instructions for Hostage Transfer, Addressing Children’s Trauma” HERE)

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Will New NBC Poll Cause Biden to Abandon Israel?

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More polls have been released, and that means more bad news for President Joe Biden. That includes polls from NBC News and Fox News, with the former being particularly telling when it comes to how the headline from NBC chalks it up to the Israel-Hamas war. As Townhall has covered ever since the October 7 terrorist attack, polls show that Americans overall support Israel, but that that support is dwindling, and that support from Democrats and young people is particularly lacking.

“President Joe Biden’s approval rating has declined to the lowest level of his presidency — 40% — as strong majorities of all voters disapprove of his handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, according to the latest national NBC News poll,” the write-up began by mentioning. While just 40 percent approve of how Biden is handling his presidency, 57 percent disapprove.

To be sure, young people weren’t only quoted discussing what support Biden has had for Israel, but it was still mentioned, with the write-up noting that the 70 percent of those voters ages 18 to 34 who disapprove of Biden’s handling of the war is a “whopping” figure. . .

It’s worth wondering what that will take, though. Will Biden give up on Israel? His administration has already announced aid to Gaza, despite how it could be intercepted by Hamas, as well as renewed a waiver on sanctions so as to grant funding to Iran via purchases from Iraq. This is despite how Iran supported Hamas in the October 7 terrorist attack perpetrated against Israel. . .

There are also reports of Democrats now demanding that aid to Israel be conditioned, despite how every Senate Democrats and many House Democrats haven’t even approved such aid yet. While a standalone bill providing aid and paid for with IRS funding cuts passed the House with bipartisan support, Senate Democrats have blocked the bill multiple times. Biden has also threatened to veto such a bill if it’s not tied to funding Ukraine. (Read more from “Will New NBC Poll Cause Biden to Abandon Israel?” HERE)

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Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Rejects Biden’s Gaza Proposal (VIDEO)

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his opposition Saturday night to a proposal by U.S. President Joe Biden to restore control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA) once Hamas is removed from power and destroyed.

On Saturday, Biden published an op-ed in the Washington Post in which he supported Israel, though once again joining the Israeli cause to the Ukrainian one, putting Hamas and Russia in the same category as enemies of the United States.

Biden also reiterated his support for a “two-state solution” as the only answer to the conflict, and added: “As we strive for peace, Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited under a single governance structure, ultimately under a revitalized Palestinian Authority, as we all work toward a two-state solution.” . . .

“In Gaza, after the destruction of Hamas, and for a long time thereafter, there will not be a regime that encourages terror, that teaches terror, that funds terror — that also indoctrinates about the destruction of Israel and the murder of Jews — this will not be,” Netanyahu vowed at a press conference on Saturday night.

He was alluding to the PA’s record of encouraging terror, including the practice of “pay-to-slay,” in which the PA provides stipends to terrorists in Israeli prisons, and pensions to the families of terrorists killed by Israel. (Read more from “Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Rejects Biden’s Gaza Proposal (VIDEO)” HERE)

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