No Place Like Home
The Israel-Hamas ceasefire could be extended by at least two days which will mean that more women and children will join those hostages released over the weekend. No freed hostage exemplifies the horror of October 7 more than Abigail Mor Edan, an Israeli-American girl who spent her fourth birthday in captivity, before being released to return to a place very different from where she grew up. She’s free, but not home. “On Oct. 7, she watched her mother, Smadar, get shot and killed by Hamas militants who broke into their home. Her father was shielding her but was gunned down moments later. She crawled out from under his body and sought refuge at a neighbor’s house. But militants found her there and took her hostage along with the family of five living next door.” WaPo (Gift Article): Abigail Edan, 4, is symbol of hope after ‘terrible trauma.’ Here’s the latest on the cease-fire from CNN, BBC, and Times of Israel.
+ “Biden called Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the emir of Qatar. It was the first call between the two since the Israel-Hamas war had begun. A U.S. official said the call was difficult — and that Biden’s message was: ‘Enough is enough.'” President Biden has been remarkably hands-on when it comes to the hostage negotiations. Inside Biden’s push for the Israel-Hamas hostage deal.
+ Israel has said its goal is to destroy Hamas. But after weeks of war, Hamas is still running the hostage negotiations. A lot of people have been killed in the war so far, but they’re the wrong people. NYT: Gaza Civilians, Under Israeli Barrage, Are Being Killed at Historic Pace. “More than twice as many women and children have already been reported killed in Gaza than have been confirmed killed in Ukraine, according to United Nations figures, after almost two years of Russian attacks.”
+ “Subsequently, five armed individuals debarked the ship and attempted to flee via their small boat … The Mason pursued the attackers resulting in their eventual surrender.” US Navy seizes attackers who held Israel-linked tanker. (Another US skirmish with another Iran-backed group.)
+ Suspect in shooting of 3 Palestinian college students in Vermont pleads not guilty. Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad says police are still working to establish a motive in the potential hate crime. “We still do not know as much as we want to know. But I would urge the public and you in the media to avoid making conclusions based on statements from people who know even less than we currently do.” (That sounds like some pretty good general life advice.)
+ Elon Musk visited Israel. He wants to resuscitate his advertising business following his antisemitic leanings became too much for some brands. Israel wants him to limit the use of his Starlink internet service in Gaza. (Since he doesn’t own an internet communications service, Kanye wasn’t invited…)
