(WASHINGTON) — Special counsel Jack Smith filed a brief Wednesday urging the Supreme Court to deny former President Donald Trump’s request to stay his federal election subversion case from moving forward as Trump appeals his claim that he should be immune from prosecution.
In the filing, Smith requested if the Supreme Court does intend to hear Trump’s appeal that they grant the review now and go into an expedited briefing schedule that would have them issue their ruling during this term.
“The charged crimes strike at the heart of our democracy. A President’s alleged criminal scheme to overturn an election and thwart the peaceful transfer of power to his successor should be the last place to recognize a novel form of absolute immunity from federal criminal law,” Smith’s team said in the filing.
“Applicant seeks a stay to prevent proceedings in the district court from moving towards trial, which the district court had scheduled to begin on March 4, 2024, before applicant’s interlocutory appeal necessitated postponement of that date. Applicant cannot show, as he must to merit a stay, a fair prospect of success in this Court,” the filing continued.
The Supreme Court had asked for the special counsel to file his response by the afternoon of Feb. 20.
After that filing, Trump’s legal team will get a chance to file a reply, after which the court can act on Trump’s request at any time, at its discretion.
Trump pleaded not guilty to charges of undertaking a “criminal scheme” to overturn the results of the 2020 election in August and is seeking the dismissal of the case on the grounds that he has “absolute immunity” from prosecution for actions taken while serving in the nation’s highest office.
Last week, a three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s claim of presidential immunity, clearing the way for Trump to seek to appeal the issue to the Supreme Court.
(KANSAS CITY) — One person has died and at least 21 others were injured by gunfire when a shooting broke out in Kansas City, Missouri, following the parade and rally for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win, officials said Wednesday.
The shooting took place west of Union Station, outside near the garage, as Chiefs fans were leaving, according to Kansas City police.
Paradegoer Arnold Sauther said when the rally ended, the Chiefs went into Union Station, and fans followed the players to get autographs.
“Then, all of a sudden they all started running out, and you see all these policemen come running in there — and you knew something happened in the station,” Sauther told Kansas City ABC affiliate KMBC-TV.
One woman told KMBC that they hid near an elevator and “prayed.”
“There was yelling, and we didn’t know if it was safe to leave, so we tried to block the doors. We heard the elevator start to move, so we opened the doors and ran out — there were officers there,” she told the station. “I’ve never been so glad to see an officer in my life.”
Gunshot victims were transported to several hospitals in the area, including eight with “immediately” life-threatening injuries and seven with life-threatening injuries, according to Interim Kansas City Fire Chief Ross Grundyson.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City Hospital treated 12 total patients from the rally, including 11 children between the ages of 6 and 15, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Stephanie Meyer told reporters Wednesday. Nine of the patients were gunshot victims and three were being treated for “incidental injuries,” she said. All are expected to make a full recovery.
Authorities are still working to determine the total number of victims in the incident.
On Wednesday night, KKFI 90.1 FM confirmed Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a DJ at the station, had been killed in the incident.
“It is with sincere sadness and an extremely heavy and broken heart that we let our community know that KKFI DJ Lisa Lopez, host of Taste of Tejano lost her life today in the shooting at the KC Chiefs’ rally. Our hearts and prayers are with her family. We encourage anyone who feels they saw something to reach out to law enforcement at 816 234 5111,” the station’s statement read.
“This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community,” KKFI’s statement concluded.
Three suspects have been detained, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said at a media briefing Wednesday, calling the shooting a “tragedy.”
At least one firearm has been recovered, the chief said. A motive remains unclear.
Authorities said Wednesday the scene would remain active as investigators had a “large ground to cover.”
About one million paradegoers had been expected at Wednesday’s celebration.
The police chief said 800 law enforcement officers were at the parade and rally.
“I am angry,” Graves said. “The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment.”
All Chiefs players, coaches and staff were safe, officials confirmed later in the afternoon.
Chiefs’ players, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, linebacker Drue Tranquill, guard Trey Smith and tight end Travis Kelce spoke out on social media about the shooting.
Mahomes wrote, “Praying for Kansas City… 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽,” on his X page.
“Please join me in prayer for all the victims in this heinous act,” Tranquill wrote on X. “Pray that doctors & first responders would have steady hands & that all would experience full healing.”
Smith thanked the first responders “who ran towards the sound of danger.”
“You’re the ones who should be celebrated today,” he posted.
Travis Kelce wrote on X, “I am heartbroken over the tragedy that took place today. My heart is with all who came out to celebrate with us and have been affected. KC, you mean the world to me.”
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he and first lady Teresa Parson were present at the celebration when shots broke out.
“Thanks to the professionalism of our security officers and first responders, Teresa and I and our staff are safe and secure,” he said in a statement.
“We commend local first responders and our state Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team for their quick actions to stop the threat and treat those in need,” his statement continued. “State and local law enforcement were prepared, they had a plan, and they ran towards danger when presented, undoubtedly saving lives. … As we wait to learn more, our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of this senseless violence.”
President Joe Biden said in a statement Wednesday night that the Kansas City shooting “cuts deep in the American soul,” and should “shame us into acting.”
“We have to decide who we are as a country,” Biden wrote. “For me, we’re a country where people should have the right to go to school, to go to church, to walk the street — and to attend a Super Bowl celebration — without fear of losing your life to gun violence.”
The president said he and the first lady are praying for the victims and the country.
(WASHINGTON) — Two protesters dumped red powder on the encasement protecting the U.S. Constitution at the National Archives, prompting the closure of its rotunda and galleries Wednesday afternoon.
Around 2:30 p.m., two men poured red powder on themselves and the encased Constitution in the Archives’ rotunda. D.C. police responded to the scene where they arrested them for destruction of federal property.
There was no damage to the Constitution.
In a video posted on X, two men covered in the red powder are standing in front of the Constitution, one of them saying, “We all deserve clean air, water, food and a livable climate.”
Climate protesters have recently targeted works of art and other landmarks to draw attention to their cause. On Tuesday, two climate activists attached images of recent flood damage in the Tuscany region on the protective glass of Botticelli’s masterpiece “The Birth of Venus” hanging at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery.
The National Archives released a statement condemning the vandalism on the sacred documents.
“The National Archives Rotunda is the sanctuary for our nation’s founding documents. They are here for all Americans to view and understand the principles of our nation. We take such vandalism very seriously and we will insist that the perpetrators be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Dr. Colleen Shogan, archivist of the United States, said in the statement.
The rotunda houses the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.
The National Archives said the rotunda will be closed for clean up and is set to open at its scheduled time Thursday.
(MIAMI) — An activity permission slip for a reading of a Black author’s book at a Miami-Dade public school library stoked anger and confusion among parents and school board members.
In a now-viral post on social media, a parent posted a photo of a required permission slip for an event in which “students will participate and listen to a book written by an African American” hosted during Black History Month, the slip read.
The district told ABC News that officials “realize that the description of the event may have caused confusion, and we are working with our schools to reemphasize the importance of clarity for parents in describing activities/events that would require parental permission.”
The district clarified that permission slips were sent home because of the guest speakers who would be participating in the school-authorized education-related activity.
In a Feb. 13 hearing about the incident, Dr. Jose L. Dotres, superintendent of the Miami Dade Public Schools, said he spoke to leaders of the school that issued the permission slip.
“There is absolutely no need for any parent permission slip. Absolutely none,” he said at the hearing.
He said he is working with educators and administrators in what will be “an ongoing process to make sure that we seek the clarity that’s required to make sure that we only use parent permission slips for when they’re needed.”
The permission slip request highlighted the ongoing scrutiny of the state’s restrictions concerning education on race.
The state’s 2022 Individual Freedom Act, also known as the Stop WOKE Act, restricts race-related curriculum in schools, including topics like unconscious bias and privilege. Classroom lessons can’t cause students to feel any responsibility, guilt, or anguish, in relation to past actions committed by people of their race, according to the legislation.
Critics of these policies have said they are too vague and cause teachers to avoid or self-censor subjects that relate to race for fear of violating the law.
Supporters of the bills argue it protects students from “indoctrination,” according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration.
The Florida Board of Education has also come under scrutiny for changing the state’s standards on African American history in July 2023, requiring that students be taught that “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”
The standards also conflate incidents of race-based violence against Black Americans with “acts of violence perpetrated … by African Americans,” the new standards read.
The Florida Department of Education told ABC News in 2023 that the version of the course at the time was “inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.”
Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. defended the move in a tweet at the time, writing, “Florida is focused on teaching true and accurate African American history.”
DeSantis’ administration also rejected an AP African American history course in 2023. The Florida Department of Education told ABC News the version of the course at the time was “inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.”
The decision stoked criticism from educators across the country and even the White House.
“The state chooses to block a course that is meant for high-achieving high school students to learn about their history of arts and culture,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters during a press briefing at the time. “It is incomprehensible.”
Law enforcement and medical personnel respond to a shooting at Union Station during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade, Feb. 14, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) — A celebration turned into chaos on Wednesday in Kansas City, Missouri, after gunfire erupted following the parade and rally for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win.
One person was killed and at least 21 people injured by gunfire in the shooting, according to Kansas City police.
The incident occurred west of Union Station, outside near the garage, as Chiefs fans were leaving, according to police. Three people have been detained for investigation in the shooting, police said.
About one million paradegoers were expected at Wednesday’s celebration. Several recounted the fear and panic that pervaded following the shooting.
Julie Mobley told ABC News that the Chiefs players had just finished speaking when she thought she heard fireworks. Then her daughter pulled her to the ground.
“It was very scary,” said Mobley, who took off work to attend the parade with her daughter. “To have something like this was absolutely horrible.”
Mary Althiser, who was at the parade with Mobley, also ducked to the ground.
“At first it didn’t seem like anything but then you saw this huge rush of crowd trying to jump in to where you were,” Althiser told ABC News.
Paradegoer Arnold Sauther said when the rally ended the Chiefs went into Union Station, and fans followed the players to get autographs.
“Then, all of a sudden they all started running out, and you see all these policemen come running in there — and you knew something happened in the station,” Sauther told Kansas City ABC affiliate KMBC-TV.
“People started crashing forward, everybody started running, there was screaming,” one woman visiting from New Hampshire told KMBC. “We didn’t know what was happening, but in this day and age when people run, you run.”
She said they sought shelter near an elevator and “prayed.”
“There was yelling and we didn’t know if it was safe to leave, so we tried to block the doors. We heard the elevator start to move so we opened the doors and ran out — there were officers there,” she said. “I’ve never been so glad to see an officer in my life.”
Witness Jennifer Wilbers told KMBC she heard gunshots and started running.
“We look over and there’s a guy next to us on the ground,” she told the station.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves called the shooting a “tragedy.” Authorities are still working to determine the number of victims in the incident, she said.
A motive remains under investigation, the chief said.
Gene Hamilton told ABC News he is worried about how gun violence will impact young paradegoers.
“I look at the children. They have to grow up with this — very disturbing,” Hamilton said. “This is a celebration.”
Paradegoer Zachary Dial told ABC News he and his family were stranded and unable to get to their car due to a lockdown following the shooting.
“I just wanted to make sure that my woman was good, my niece was good and that we could get home safely. I feel sorry for the ones that didn’t,” Dial said.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who was at the parade with his wife and mother, was also among those who ran for safety.
“We never would have thought that we, along with Chiefs players, along with fans, hundreds of thousands of people, would be forced to run to our safety today,” he said during a press briefing on Wednesday.
He said he is “heartbroken” for the victims and their families.
“This is a day that a lot of people look forward to, something they remember for a lifetime,” he said. “And what they shouldn’t have to remember is the threat of gun violence marring a day like this, injuring them and their families.”
(GREENSBORO, N.C.) — The family of Marissa Carmichael say they are devastated as they’ve marked one month since her disappearance and police in Greensboro, North Carolina, are sharing new information about the search for the missing mother of five.
Carmichael, 25, vanished on Jan. 14 from an Exxon gas station in the 800 block of E. Market St. in Greensboro shortly after making a distressed call to 911, according to police.
Police said in a statement on Tuesday night that they have reviewed surveillance footage that shows Carmichael getting into the car of a man at the Exxon gas station where she was last seen shortly after she called 911.
Police say they have identified and interviewed the driver of that vehicle, who is currently considered a witness in this case.
Carmichael called 911 from the Exxon gas station and told the dispatcher that a man drove off with her cell phone, leaving her stranded, according to a recording of the call obtained by ABC News. In the call, Carmichael asked police for help finding a ride home.
Carmichael’s younger sister and only sibling, Emma Villegas, shared an emotional message with ABC News on Tuesday night, hoping it would reach her sister.
“If Marissa is possibly seeing this, you know for a fact that we’re not going to stop looking for you. We’re never going to stop looking for you until you are found safely,” Villegas said. “The kids are worried about you, the kids miss you so much. We’re going to drive ourselves crazy looking for you. But we are going to find you. And whoever has her, you are just evil.”
Sara Carmichael, Marissa’s mother and who filed a missing person’s report, told ABC News that the family is “devastated” and believes that her daughter is being “held against her will.”
Police declined comment on whether they believe foul play is involved, saying it’s an ongoing matter, but they urged the public in a statement on Feb. 6 to share any information about Marissa Carmichael’s whereabouts and said that they have received “limited leads” in this case and were becoming “increasingly concerned for her welfare.”
According to police, Carmichael contacted Guilford Metro 911 at 3:40 a.m. on Jan. 14 from the Exxon and told the dispatcher that a man who took her phone left her there and she asked police to help her find a way to get home.
Guilford Metro dispatched the police department at 4:19 AM, police said, but when an officer arrived at 4:21 a.m. Carmichael had already left the immediate area.
Sara Carmichael expressed frustration about the police’s response time after she reported her daughter missing on the afternoon of Jan. 14, saying that she was told police had to wait 48 hours before they considered her daughter a missing person.
“[Police] didn’t even start doing anything until the middle of that week. By then I had already been to the Airbnb. I had already been to the Exxon [ to conduct] on my own investigation,” Sara Carmichael said. “Now they’re taking it serious, but those first few days are critical,” she added.
Sara Carmichael said that the family last saw Marissa on Saturday, Jan. 13 and were with her all day, but since Jan. 14, her daughter — an avid social media user — has not been active on her accounts and her phone has been turned off, and goes straight to voicemail.
According to Carmichael, on the night before her disappearance, Marissa told her sister Emma that she is going to the club and asked her not to tell her mother because she didn’t want her to worry.
Sara Carmichael said after talking to her daughter’s friends, she learned that Marissa went to One17 SofaBar & Lounge, and then later went to an Airbnb for an after party, after which she was dropped off at the Exxon station.
“When I woke up around lunchtime, Sunday (Jan. 14), and she wasn’t home, and then I found out she didn’t go to work, and that’s just not like her at all,” she said when asked what prompted her to report her daughter missing. “She’s always in touch with me. So, I had a feeling.”
She added that she also grew more suspicious about her daughter’s whereabouts because she noticed missed calls from an unfamiliar number at around 5 a.m. and thought it could have been Marissa trying to reach her. However, when she contacted the number, she said she had a concerning conversation over text with someone who tried to reassure her that Marissa was okay.
“He told me Marissa’s asleep. And then I said ‘Let me speak to her.’ And then he said well, ‘she walked up to the store.’ And then he just kept, you know, any reason to not get her on the phone,” Sara Carmichael said. “So I said well what’s the address that I can come or send somebody to get her, and the address that he sent me was a Sheets store … and she was not at no Sheets, she was nowhere to be found.”
Sara Carmichael said that the family set up a GoFundMe account and hopes to raise enough money to hire a private investigator.
“I feel like if I’m not spending my time investigating, searching, that I’m failing her,” she said. “There’s days I just don’t want to get up out of bed. I just don’t want to do life, but I have to … she needs help. She needs us, and I have to find answers.”
Carmichael is described as a 5’4″ biracial female and is approximately 260 pounds with long black and blonde braids, police said. She also has a heart tattoo on her face and a butterfly near her eye and was wearing a white Tweety Bird T-shirt, blue jeans, and yellow sneakers when she was last seen.
Police are asking anyone with information about her whereabouts to call Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000.
People take cover during a shooting at Union Station during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade, Feb. 14, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) — Bystanders sprung into action as gunfire rang out at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade on Wednesday, which left one person dead and at least 21 others injured, according to authorities.
Alyssa Marsh-Contreras told ABC News her father, Paul Contreras, tackled a man believed to be a shooting suspect who appeared to be fleeing on foot; Contreras could be seen as one of the bystanders who tackled the man in a video obtained by ABC News.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves confirmed three people are detained and under investigation, in a press conference after the deadly shooting, which she called a “tragedy.”
In video posted to X, two individuals can be seen tackling the suspect to the floor, pinning them down and repeatedly punching them until two police officers ran up and detained the suspect.
The shooting took place west of Union Station, near the garage, as Chiefs fans were leaving, according to Kansas City police.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said there were 600 Kansas City, Missouri Police Department officers and 250 officers from outside agencies present at the scene.
The mayor has spoken to the Kansas City Chiefs who clarified that their prayers are with everyone at the parade today and that their players, coaches and staff are all accounted for and safe.
About one million paradegoers were expected at Wednesday’s celebration.
Paradegoer Arnold Sauther told KMBC-TV that when the rally ended, the Chiefs players went into Union Station, and fans followed to get autographs.
“I am angry,” Graves said. “The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment.”
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson released a statement following the deadly shooting, saying, “I want to start with a thank you to Kansas City Police along with other state and local first responders who were able to quickly take two individuals into custody and provide critical care to victims following today’s shooting.”
“This was a tragic conclusion to a celebration we had all looked forward to,” he wrote.
The mayor, who was at the parade with his wife and mother, was among the many who ran for safety.
(LOS ANGELES) — Ali Zacharias said she has such a bond with her French bulldog Onyx that she went to extremes when the 1-year-old pup was snatched last month.
Zacharias told “Nightline” that she was completely caught off guard when the dognapper allegedly took Onyx while Zacharias was eating lunch in downtown Los Angeles and put the bulldog in a car. But at that moment, which was caught on camera and went viral, she said she went into guardian mode and chased after the alleged thief.
“I ran in front of the car. I just sort of grab onto the windshield wipers and I just decide to [be] like, ‘Hold on, you’re not driving anywhere,'” she said. “I just didn’t expect to be in the fight mode like Indiana Jones.”
Zacharias is recovering from injuries after she was flung from the suspect’s car. A woman was arrested last week in connection with the dognapping, but Onyx’s whereabouts remain a mystery.
“They must be desperate, and I feel for them, but if I don’t get this dog back I’m going to be so upset,” Zacharias said.
Her ordeal has become part of a growing list of nightmare stories that many dog owners across the country are fearing as the number of dognappings of expensive French bulldogs has skyrocketed.
The crimes are leaving many dog owners on edge fearing they could be next.
Tom Sharp, the CEO of American Kennel Club Reunite, told “Nightline” that owner-reported dognappings to his nonprofit have risen 140% since 2020.
“In 2023, twice as many French bulldogs were reported stolen to us as the next breed,” Sharp said.
“Frenchies” have become more popular among pet owners over the last couple of years. In 2022, they nudged out Labradors to become the country’s top favorite breed, according to data from the American Kennel Club.
The dogs have been popular among celebrities and have even become influencers on social media.
Sharp noted that French bulldogs can carry a higher price tag than other breeds.
“So a bulldog puppy can go anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 to try to buy one. And that’s beyond a lot of people’s means, yet they still want one,” he said.
Several factors behind their cost: most female French bulldogs need artificial insemination and cesarean sections to have puppies. And the average litter produces just three pups, which is typically fewer than other breeds.
Law enforcement experts say the pricey pups can fetch top dollar when they’re resold or when a ransom is paid by desperate owners.
In 2021, a man shot Lady Gaga’s dogwalker and stole two of her French bulldogs in Los Angeles. James Howard Jackson pleaded guilty a year later and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
The dogwalker survived the shooting nad has been recuperating from his injuries. The dogs were returned to Lady Gaga.
Teffiney Worthy of Washington, D.C., recalled the terror she faced last November when a man holding a Taser demanded she give up her Frenchie, Hendrix.
“He left on his way down the stairs and put [Hendrix], in the backseat,” Worthy told “Nightline.” “He was just laughing and drove away.”
Worthy turned to social media for help and, two days later, she received a message on Instagram from a woman who claimed she bought Hendrix for $900.
D.C. Metro Police and a private investigator helped her coordinate Hendrix’s safe return home. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
Sharp said there are steps that Frenchie owners can take to protect themselves, including getting a microchip for their pets that contain the owner’s information and not taking them outside without strict supervision.
He emphasized that owners should also be wary about the information they put on social media about their dogs.
“[If] you say, ‘Hey, I’ll be at the park at 2:00 today with my beautiful little French bulldog puppy,’ you’re almost inviting strangers to take that dog from you,” Sharp said.
Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first medication to treat severe frostbite on Wednesday.
Aurlumyn, manufactured by Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc., is an injection to treat severe frostbite in adults to reduce the risk of finger or toe amputation.
“This approval provides patients with the first-ever treatment option for severe frostbite,” Dr. Norman Stockbridge, director of the division of cardiology and nephrology in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a release. “Having this new option provides physicians with a tool that will help prevent the lifechanging amputation of one’s frostbitten fingers or toes.”
Frostbite is an injury that occurs when the skin and the underlying tissues are damaged by cold temperatures. Treatment typically involves placing the skin in warm water or placing blankets over affected skin area.
Frostbite typically occurs in three stages, with the final stage being severe frostbite, which results in numbness and skin that turns hard and black due to skin cells dying. Large blisters will appear on the skin a day or two after cold exposure and skin may be permanently damaged, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
If underlying tissues are frozen and blood flow has stopped, the frostbitten extremity may need to be amputated.
Iloprost is the active ingredient in Aurlumy and is a vasodilator, a type of drug that dilates vessels so blood can flow easily and prevents clotting. It was originally approved in 2004 for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
In a controlled trial, researchers examined 47 adults with severe frostbite, all of whom received aspirin by vein and standard of care. They were separated into three groups.
The first group received the drug intravenously for six hours daily for up to six days. The two remaining groups received medications that are unapproved for frostbite. The second group was given those medications with iloprost and the third group without it.
The patients received bone scans seven days after their initial frostbite to predict the need for amputation of at least one finger or toe.
On the seventh day, none of the patients in the first group receiving iloprost alone had bone scans that indicated potentially needing an amputation compared to 19% of patients in group two and 60% of patients in group three.
Additionally, abnormalities in the bone scan were significantly lower in the groups receiving iloprost alone or the iloprost combination.
“Most patients had follow-up information on whether they subsequently underwent at least one finger or toe amputation,” the FDA release said. “The need for amputation was consistent with the bone scan findings.”
During the trial, the most common side effects of Aurlumyn included flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, heart palpations, increased heart rate and low blood pressure.
(NEW YORK) — More than 100 days since Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, the Israeli military continues its bombardment of the neighboring Gaza Strip.
The conflict, now the deadliest between the warring sides since Israel’s founding in 1948, shows no signs of letting up soon and the brief cease-fire that allowed for over 100 hostages to be freed from Gaza remains a distant memory.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Feb 14, 5:50 PM
Biden defers removal of most Palestinians in the US for 18 months
President Joe Biden issued a memo Wednesday deferring the removal of most Palestinians in the United States for an 18-month period, citing the “deteriorated” humanitarian conditions in Gaza since Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack, and Israel’s retaliatory military operations.
“While I remain focused on improving the humanitarian situation, many civilians remain in danger,” Biden wrote in the memo.
The president added that this move is “in the foreign policy interest of the United States.”
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement this will give Palestinians in the U.S. “a temporary safe haven.”
The so-called deferred enforced departure status Biden granted would not apply to convicted felons, Palestinians who are subject to extradition or those who voluntarily leave the country, according to the memo.
-ABC News’ Fritz Farrow
Feb 14, 2:15 PM
US asks for ‘credible plan’ to protect civilians in Rafah
National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the White House wants to see a “credible plan” from the Israelis for how they would avoid civilian casualties during a potential military operation in Rafah in southern Gaza, where so many residents have fled for safety.
Sullivan said the Israelis are facing “three realities”: They must evacuate more than 1 million people to a safe place; they need to avoid disrupting the flow of humanitarian aid; and they need a “clear answer” to what a potential military operation in Rafah would mean for Egypt, which borders Rafah.
Sullivan also made a point to highlight that Hamas “has to account for itself, as well.”
“Hamas is hiding amongst civilians, embedding itself among civilians in ways that also put those civilians at risk. And so, some of the international community’s questions and pressure, should be on Hamas,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday, “We will fight until complete victory, and this includes a powerful action also in Rafah — after we allow the civilian population to leave the battle zones.”
ABC News’ Justin Gomez
Feb 14, 1:48 PM
FBI director makes unannounced trip to Israel
FBI Director Christopher Wray made an unannounced trip to Israel Wednesday where he met with officials to discuss the “threat landscape” facing the U.S. and Israel, the FBI said.
“Director Wray’s key focus is the work the FBI continues to do to confront the elevated threat as foreign terrorist organizations have expressed support and praise for the attacks on Israel and threatened to attack U.S. interests both abroad and in the homeland,” the FBI said in a statement. “The FBI has and will continue to be responsive to requests from the Government of Israel to provide support in their ongoing efforts to keep their citizens safe from the threats and acts of terrorism.”
Feb 14, 1:25 PM
Netanyahu says negotiations can ‘move forward’ when Hamas drops ‘delusional demands’
The delegation that Israel sent to Egypt to take part in negotiations on Tuesday over a potential cease-fire or hostage deal with Hamas will not return for more talks this week, an Israeli political source told ABC News on Wednesday.
Officials from Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been mediating talks between Israel and Hamas since war broke out on Oct. 7.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that negotiations “can move forward” when “Hamas drop[s] their delusional demands.”
But Israeli labor leader Merav Michaeli is criticizing the prime minister, saying, “Netanyahu’s refusal to send a delegation to the follow-up talks on the hostage deal shows, once again, that he really does not see an urgent need to bring the hostages home. We must not allow Netanyahu to abandon our hostages for the benefit of his political survival.”
ABC News’ Jordana Miller and Morgan Winsor
Feb 14, 9:29 AM
Israeli delegation won’t return to Egypt for more talks this week, source says
The delegation that Israel sent to Egypt to take part in negotiations on Tuesday over a potential cease-fire or hostage deal with Hamas will not return for more talks this week, an Israeli political source told ABC News on Wednesday.
Officials from Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been mediating talks between Israel and Hamas since war broke out on Oct. 7.
Feb 13, 5:11 PM
US confirms death of another American in the West Bank
A U.S. citizen has died in the West Bank, the State Department confirmed on Tuesday — marking what is potentially the second killing of an American in the occupied territory in recent weeks.
State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a press briefing on Tuesday that the administration was “still in the gathering information stage.” He did not provide additional details, including identifying information for the deceased or the apparent cause of death.
The death comes after a 17-year-old Palestinian-American was fatally shot in the West Bank on Jan. 19. Israeli police said at the time that its internal affairs department was investigating a firearm discharge involving an off-duty law enforcement officer, a soldier and a civilian.
-ABC News’ Shannon K. Crawford
Feb 13, 4:06 PM
Israel still ‘acting in good faith’ on hostage talks: State Department
The U.S. believes Israel is still “acting in good faith” on hostage negotiations, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller told reporters during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Miller was mostly tight-lipped on the latest round of discussions with Egypt, the U.S. and Qatar in Cairo, though he did say that the U.S. assesses that Israel still shares the administration’s interest in reaching an agreement despite its potentially looming Rafah offensive and reports of the country’s limited involvement in the talks.
“We have seen public statements from the government of Israel that they want to secure the release of hostages,” Miller said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also reiterated to Secretary Antony Blinken last week in Israel that it is a “top priority” for him to secure the release of the hostages, Miller continued.
“So yes, we do believe they’re acting in good faith,” he said.
-ABC News’ Shannon K. Crawford
Feb 13, 3:42 PM
No hostage deal reached as Netanyahu rejects parameters
Top intelligence officials from Israel, the U.S., Qatar and Egypt are meeting in Cairo Tuesday for a new round of hostage deal discussions.
The Israeli delegation will not present a revised proposal to negotiators; they have come only to listen to possible options by the other partners, according to Israeli sources close to the negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the draft proposal his own team came up with hours before they departed for Egypt.
-ABC News’ Jordana Miller
Feb 13, 12:41 PM
Kirby: Renewed hostage negotiations ‘moving in the right direction’
National security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the renewed hostage negotiations have “been constructive” and are “moving in the right direction.”
Officials from Israel, the U.S. and Qatar are in Egypt Tuesday for discussions.
ABC News’ Noah Minnie
Feb 13, 8:13 AM
Israel sends delegation to Egypt for truce talks
A delegation from Israel is in Egypt on Tuesday for negotiations regarding the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an Israeli political source told ABC News.
Egyptian state-owned television channel Al-Qahera News reported that Israeli, Qatari and U.S. officials are meeting with their Egyptian counterparts in Cairo on Tuesday to “discuss a truce in Gaza.”
Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been mediating talks between the warring sides.
Feb 12, 4:25 PM
Gaza hostage talks may be hitting new snag: US officials
CIA Director Bill Burns will head to Egypt this week to try to move Hamas and Israel closer to a deal to free all hostages in Gaza for an extended pause and humanitarian aid, but two U.S officials said Burns may face a fresh challenge: So far, Israel hasn’t committed to sending representatives to the table.
If Israeli intelligence officials don’t attend the planned talks, a U.S. official said Burns would still press on, working with Egyptian and Qatari partners, even though it would mean none of the main players are directly represented at the meeting.
The official also said that while American and Israeli officials are frequently engaged in high-level talks, the U.S. does not have a clear understanding of Israel’s red lines for a hostage deal.
After two hostages were rescued from Gaza overnight, the official said there could be more targeted rescue missions in the days to come. But, the official said the U.S. believes the vast majority of hostages can only be recovered through diplomacy.
ABC News’ Shannon Crawford
Feb 12, 3:33 PM
State Department downplays Israeli military action in Rafah
State Department spokesperson Matt Miller on Monday downplayed recent Israeli military operations in Rafah, saying the U.S. did not assess that the overnight strikes were a prelude to a full ground incursion in the southern Gaza city.
The Israelis “have conducted airstrikes against Rafah, really, since going back to the original days of the campaign,” Miller said. “It is not our assessment that this airstrike is the launch of a full-scale offensive happening in Rafah.”
Miller again stressed that the U.S. wanted to see “a credible plan that they can actually execute” to address humanitarian concerns before Israel undertakes any kind of military campaign in Rafah, and that the State Department was looking forward to receiving briefings on the evacuation preparations Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered last week.
The Israel Defense Forces said details of a civilian evacuation from Rafah are being planned and will take some time.
Miller also dismissed the notion that Israel’s strikes on Rafah could have a detrimental impact on hostage talks.
“I don’t think it should and I think that Israelis are well within their rights to do everything in their power to try to get back the hostages that were taken from Israel and continue to be held and held for far too long now,” he asserted. “It should in no way impact the negotiations.”
ABC News’ Shannon Crawford
Feb 12, 1:01 PM
Hostage families commend rescue but say ‘time is running out’ for remaining hostages
Two hostages, Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, who were among those kidnapped in Israel on Oct. 7, were rescued during a special operation in Rafah in southern Gaza early Monday, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Monday, “We will continue to make every effort in every way to create the conditions for the return of the abductees, including … the possibility of a deal.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters said in a statement, “We commend the IDF soldiers who demonstrated strength and bravery to secure the release of the two hostages, and wish them all to return home safely and speedily. Time is running out for the remaining hostages held captive by Hamas. Their lives are at risk with each passing moment. The Israeli government must exhaust every option on the table to release them. The lives of 134 hostages still hang in the balance.”
Feb 12, 11:21 AM
2 Israeli soldiers killed during hostage rescue mission
Two Israeli soldiers were killed during the mission to rescue two hostages from Gaza on Monday, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said.
“We are in a day of joy mixed with sadness,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “Joy for the release of our hostages and sadness for the fall of our fighters. But I want to tell you that the release of Luis and Fernando is one of the most successful rescue operations in the history of the State of Israel.”
The two hostages — Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, who were among those kidnapped in Israel on Oct. 7 — were rescued during a special operation in Rafah in southern Gaza early Monday, according to the IDF.
Hagari said Monday, “We will continue to make every effort in every way to create the conditions for the return of the abductees, including … the possibility of a deal.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters said in a statement, “We commend the IDF soldiers who demonstrated strength and bravery to secure the release of the two hostages, and wish them all to return home safely and speedily. Time is running out for the remaining hostages held captive by Hamas. Their lives are at risk with each passing moment. The Israeli government must exhaust every option on the table to release them. The lives of 134 hostages still hang in the balance.”
Feb 12, 9:09 AM
Israel knew location of 2 rescued hostages in Gaza for weeks, source says
The location of two hostages rescued early Monday from the Gaza Strip was known for weeks, but the special operation was delayed several times due to fears it would cost the hostages their lives, an Israeli source told ABC News.
It took Israeli forces about 40 minutes from the time they entered the building in Rafah in southern Gaza, where the two hostages were being held, to placing them on a helicopter that flew them out of the area, according to the Israeli source.
ABC News’ Jordana Miller and Morgan Winsor
Feb 12, 9:00 AM
Netanyahu vows ‘continued military pressure, until total victory’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday hailed the military’s announcement that two Israeli hostages were rescued from the war-torn Gaza Strip.
“Fernando and Louis, welcome home,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “I salute our brave fighters for the daring action that led to their release. Only continued military pressure, until total victory, will bring about the release of all of our hostages.”
“We will not miss any opportunity to bring them home,” he added.
The two hostages — Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70 — were among those kidnapped in southwestern Israel and taken across the border to Gaza amid the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terror attack. They were rescued during a special operation in Rafah in southern Gaza early Monday, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
ABC News’ Jordana Miller and Morgan Winsor
Feb 12, 12:41 AM
IDF spokesperson details hostage rescue
Members of the Israeli forces that saved two hostages from Rafah, shielded the hostages from gunfire with their own bodies during the rescue operation, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari told reporters during a briefing early Monday morning.
“Police SWAT team members protected the hostages with their own bodies” during the firefight that ensued when Israeli forces entered the room where the hostages were being held, Hagari said.
The rescue operation began at 1:49 a.m. local time on Monday, when IDF forces “breached the building,” he said. Armed Hamas militants were on the second floor, Hagari told reporters.
Israeli forces had been preparing for the operation to save the two hostages “for a while,” Hagari said.
ABC News’ Dana Savir
Feb 11, 3:48 PM
What we know about the conflict
The latest outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs the Gaza Strip, has passed the four-month mark.
In the Gaza Strip, at least 28,176 people have been killed and 67,611 others have been wounded by Israeli forces since Oct. 7, according to Gaza’s Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.
In Israel, at least 1,200 people have been killed and 6,900 others have been injured by Hamas and other Palestinian militants since Oct. 7, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
There has also been a surge in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israeli forces have killed at least 383 people in the territory since Oct. 7, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The ongoing war began after Hamas-led militants launched an unprecedented incursion into southern Israel from neighboring Gaza via land, sea and air. Scores of people were killed while more than 200 others were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. The Israeli military subsequently launched retaliatory airstrikes followed by a ground invasion of Gaza, a 140-square-mile territory where more than 2 million Palestinians have lived under a blockade imposed by Israel and supported by Egypt since Hamas came to power in 2007. Gaza, unlike Israel, has no air raid sirens or bomb shelters.
Feb 11, 3:19 PM
Biden speaks with Netanyahu about possible military operation in Rafah
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Sunday in their first call since Biden delivered his strongest rebuke yet of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, with Biden calling the Israeli forces’ actions “over the top.”
In their Sunday call, Biden told Netanyahu a military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where many Palestinians have fled to for safety, “should not proceed without a credible and executable plan for ensuring” civilian safety, the White House said in a statement.
More than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has sought refuge in Rafah after being displaced from their homes since Israel’s military offensive began, according to the United Nations.
When asked about Biden’s remark in a Sunday interview with ABC News’ “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl, Netanyahu said, “I don’t know exactly what he [Biden] meant by that, but put yourself in Israel’s shoes. We were attacked. … I think we’ve responded in a way that goes after the terrorists and tries to minimize the civilian population.”
A senior administration official told reporters that Biden’s “over the top” comment was “not specifically addressed” during the two leaders’ call on Sunday. Biden instead reiterated that he wants to see Hamas defeated, though it “must be done while ensuring that operations are … conducted in a way that ensures innocents are protected to the extent possible,” the official said.
When pressed on if Israel has indicated whether moving more than 1 million civilians in Rafah out of harm’s way is feasible, the senior official said that Israel has “made clear they would not contemplate an operation without it.”
The official added that plans to get enough U.S.-procured flour to feed nearly 1.5 million Gazan residents over six months are “coming along,” but that logistical issues need to be worked out.
In Biden’s nearly 45-minute phone call with Netanyahu, the two leaders spent about two-thirds of the conversation discussing the ongoing hostage deal negotiations, the senior official said.
The official said a framework for the hostage deal, which has been “a primary focus” for Biden over the last month, is now in place, though there are gaps that need to be worked through. Later, the official conceded that some of those gaps are “significant,” but said progress has been made in the last three weeks.
-ABC News’ Fritz Farrow
Feb 11, 11:41 AM
Biden Netanyahu to speak Sunday, US official says
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plan to speak Sunday in their first call since Biden delivered his strongest rebuke yet of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, a U.S. official confirmed to ABC News
Biden called the Israeli forces’ actions “over the top.” When asked about Biden’s remark in a Sunday interview with ABC’s “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl, Netanyahu said, “I don’t know exactly what he [Biden] meant by that, but put yourself in Israel’s shoes. We were attacked. … I think we’ve responded in a way that goes after the terrorists and tries to minimize the civilian population.”
-ABC News’ Fritz Farrow
Feb 11, 11:24 AM
Netanyahu defends Gaza bombardment after Biden criticizes ‘over the top’ defensive
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending the Israeli military’s continued bombardment of Gaza, targeting Hamas fighters, after President Joe Biden criticized the campaign as “over the top” given the dire conditions and high death toll in the Palestinian territory.
When asked about Biden’s remark in a Sunday interview with ABC News’ “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl, Netanyahu said he appreciated the president’s support thus far and laid the blame for civilian casualties on the Hamas terrorist group, which launched an unprecedented surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
“I don’t know exactly what he [Biden] meant by that, but put yourself in Israel’s shoes. We were attacked. Unprovoked attack, murderous attack on Oct. 7,” Netanyahu said, adding, “I think we’ve responded in a way that goes after the terrorists and tries to minimize the civilian population in which the terrorists embed themselves and use them as human shields.” The Israel Defense Forces has said it is only targeting Hamas and other militants in Gaza and alleges that Hamas deliberately shelters behind civilians, which the group denies.
Karl pressed Netanyahu on the number of deaths, with the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health estimating more than 28,000 killed. Netanyahu acknowledged many civilians had been killed but claimed — without presenting evidence — that Israel’s military is currently killing more Hamas fighters than civilians.
Feb 10, 4:49 PM
IDF says it killed 120 Hamas terrorists, claims tunnels found in northern Gaza
The Israeli Defense Forces said it killed approximately 120 Hamas terrorists and destroyed 20 Hamas infrastructure sites in Shati and Tel al-Hawa in northern Gaza.
The IDF said it found a tunnel shaft near an UNRWA school which led to an underground tunnel which passes under the UNRWA’s headquarters in the Gaza Strip. The tunnel was over 2,296 feet long, according to the IDF. The IDF alleged that Hamas militants used the space under the UNRWA’s headquarters as an electrical supply room.
The UNWRA said it had no knowledge of the facility’s underground, but the “recent media reports” merit an “independent inquiry,” which the agency is unable to perform due to the ongoing war.
-ABC News’ Edward Szekeres
Feb 10, 6:34 AM
More deaths in Rafah as ‘disastrous’ invasion looms
Israeli airstrikes killed at least 28 Palestinians in Rafah early Saturday, just hours after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he asked the military to plan for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from the southern Gaza city ahead of a ground invasion.
Netanyahu did not provide details or a timeline but the announcement set off widespread panic as more than than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are packed into Rafah, many after being uprooted repeatedly by Israeli evacuation orders that now cover two-thirds of Gaza’s territory.
It’s not clear where much of that population could turn to next as word of the potential invasion plans capped a week of increasingly public friction between Netanyahu and the Biden administration.
U.S. officials have said an invasion of Rafah without a plan for the civilian population would lead to disaster.
Feb 09, 2:58 PM
Hostage may have been killed from IDF attack in Gaza, Israeli forces say
The Israel Defense Forces presented information to the family of hostage Yossi Sharabi, who died in Gaza, telling the family that Sharabi may have been killed when a building adjacent to an IDF target in Gaza collapsed, ABC News has learned. It’s also possible Sharabi may have been killed by Hamas, the IDF said.
Sharabi was confirmed dead in mid-January, but this is the first time the IDF has presented their findings on how Sharabi may have died to his family.
The IDF has determined that the buildings its forces hit was a “legitimate target,” but also found “lessons” that were “learned regarding target approval processes and the required dialogue between all relevant military authorities for the approval of a target,” when reviewing how Sharabi died, ABC News has learned.
Feb 09, 10:16 AM
Israel says it will come up with plan to evacuate civilians in Rafah
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israel Defense Forces to come up with a “dual plan” to evacuate the civilian population in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip before “disbanding” Hamas battalions allegedly located there, according to his office.
“It is impossible to achieve the war objective of eliminating Hamas and leaving four Hamas battalions in Rafah,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Friday. “On the other hand, it is clear that a massive operation in Rafah requires the evacuation of the civilian population from the combat zones.”
“That is why the Prime Minister directed the IDF and the defense establishment to bring to the cabinet a dual plan for both the evacuation of the population and the disbanding of the battalions,” the office added.
Rafah is the southernmost governorate of Gaza, where more than half of the 2.3 million population has sought refuge after being displaced from their homes amid Israel’s military offensive in the Hamas-ruled enclave, according to the United Nations. The U.N. and other aid organizations have expressed concern over where civilians would go if Rafah, which the IDF previously designated a safe zone, becomes the next target in Israel’s war against Hamas.
-ABC News’ Jordana Miller and Morgan Winsor
Feb 09, 7:16 AM
‘Thousands more could die’ if fighting escalates in Rafah, UNICEF warns
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund on Friday urged Israel and Hamas to refrain from escalating fighting in Rafah, the southernmost governorate in the war-torn Gaza Strip, where more than a million people have sought refuge after being displaced from their homes.
“UNICEF is urgently calling on the parties to refrain from military escalation in Rafah Governorate in Gaza where over 600,000 children and their families have been displaced — many of them more than once,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement. “An escalation of the fighting in Rafah, which is already straining under the extraordinary number of people who have been displaced from other parts of Gaza, will mark another devastating turn in a war that has reportedly killed over 27,000 people — most of them women and children.”
“Thousands more could die in the violence or by lack of essential services, and further disruption of humanitarian assistance,” she added. “We need Gaza’s last remaining hospitals, shelters, markets and water systems to stay functional. Without them, hunger and disease will skyrocket, taking more child lives.”
ABC News’ Nasser Atta, Edward Szekeres and Morgan Winsor
Feb 08, 4:06 PM
US wouldn’t support Israel entering Rafah if civilians aren’t considered: Kirby
The U.S. would not support Israel sending its military into the southern Gaza city of Rafah — where many Gaza residents have fled for safety — if Israel does not consider the impact to civilians, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.
“More than a million Palestinians are sheltering in and around Rafah. That’s where they were told to go,” Kirby said. “The Israeli military has a special obligation, as they conduct operations there or anywhere else, to make sure that they’re factoring in protection for civilian life — particularly civilians that were pushed into southern Gaza by operations further north.”
“Given the circumstances and the conditions there that we see right now, we think a military operation at this time would be a disaster for those people,” Kirby said.
Kirby noted that the U.S. has not seen any Israeli plans “that would convince us that they are about to or imminently going to conduct any kind of major operations in Rafah.”
-ABC News’ Fritz Farrow
Feb 08, 3:29 PM
State Department aware of reports of 2 US citizens detained in Gaza
State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel acknowledged Thursday that the U.S. was aware of reports that two American citizens had been detained by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza but said he couldn’t share anything more.
“We have no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens overseas,” Patel said. “We are aware of these reports, and we are currently seeking additional information. But I don’t have any additional information to share and would not be able to at this point, given the privacy considerations.”
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters, “Obviously, this is the kind of thing to take very seriously. So, we’ll be talking to our Israeli counterparts and trying to get information, more context here, about what happened.”
-ABC News’ Shannon Crawford
Feb 08, 12:30 PM
Netanyahu will likely send negotiators to Cairo in coming days, source says
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will likely send negotiators to Cairo in the coming days, an Israeli political source told ABC News.
Egypt and Qatar are co-hosting a new round of negotiations on the proposed hostage and cease-fire deal on Thursday in Cairo, according to Egyptian state TV.
-ABC News’ Jordana Miller
Feb 08, 7:33 AM
Aid groups sound alarm as Israeli troops advance toward Rafah
Aid organizations are sounding the alarm as Israeli troops advance toward Rafah, the southernmost governorate of the war-torn Gaza Strip, where more than a million people are displaced.
The Norwegian Refugee Council warned Thursday that expanded military operations on overcrowded Rafah would “lead to more civilian deaths and risk the aid system in Gaza coming to a halt.”
“An expansion of hostilities could turn Rafah into a zone of bloodshed and destruction that people won’t be able to escape. There is nowhere left for people to flee to,” Angelita Caredda, regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Norwegian Refugee Council, said in a statement. “Conditions in Rafah are already dire, and a full-scale Israeli military operation will lead to even more loss of civilian life. Aid workers have been grappling with insecurity and insufficient aid for months. Attacks in areas where they provide food, water and shelter means this life-saving support will be impeded, if not entirely stopped.”
“Repeated relocation orders issued by Israeli authorities over four months of hostilities have forced tens of thousands of people to flee multiple times to areas that are not safe and where shelter is not available,” Caredda added. “Palestinians are being pushed into tiny corners, narrow alleys, and overcrowded shelters while residential areas continue to be pounded.”
The Israel Defense Forces originally designated some of the relocation areas in Gaza as “safe zones,” but they have been heavily bombarded, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. The United Nations estimates that 67% of the coastal enclave, or 246 square kilometers, has been placed under evacuation orders amid the latest outbreak of war between Israel and Gaza’s militant rulers, Hamas.
Meanwhile, the International Rescue Committee warned Wednesday that more military operations in Rafah would “significantly disrupt aid transfers from Egypt and prevent aid agencies from delivering even the most basic services to the Palestinian people who were told by Israel they would be safe there.”
“More than half of Gaza’s 2.2 million population are seeking refuge in Rafah, with the majority residing in temporary shelters, tents, or exposed to the elements,” Bob Kitchen, vice resident of emergencies at the IRC, said in a statement. “Within the last 48 hours, airstrikes on residential zones in Rafah have killed at least 11 Palestinians, two of them children. If Israel expands its operations further south, it would mean the renewed forced displacement of more than a million people who have nowhere left to go; and it would end the humanitarian lifeline from Egypt.”
“If they aren’t killed in the fighting, Palestinian children, women and men will be at risk of dying by starvation or disease,” Kitchen added. “There will no longer be a single ‘safe’ area for Palestinians to go to as their homes, markets, and health services have been annihilated.”
Both the IRC and the Norwegian Refugee Council are calling for the warring sides to agree to an immediate cease-fire.
Feb 07, 5:00 PM
Blinken: Hamas counteroffer has ‘clear nonstarters,’ but there’s ‘space for agreement’
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he believes a hostage deal is still within reach, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s earlier comments rejecting Hamas’ counteroffer.
“We had an opportunity to discuss with the Israeli government the response that Hamas sent last night to the proposal that the United States, Qatar and Egypt have put together to bring the remaining hostages and extend the humanitarian pause,” Blinken said at a news conference in Israel Wednesday. “What I can tell you about these discussions is that while there are some clear nonstarters in Hamas’ response, we do think it creates space for agreement to be reached and we will work at that relentlessly until we get there.”
Blinken later added, “These things are always negotiations. It’s not flipping a light switch.”
Blinken said he plans to meet with the families of hostages on Thursday.
As for Israel’s growing offensive in Gaza, Blinken stressed that “any military operation that Israel undertakes needs to put civilians first and foremost in mind.”
Blinken said he had outlined specific measures the U.S. expected to see during his “extensive” talks with Netanyahu and Israeli national security leaders.
He said Israel should open a border crossing between Israel and northern Gaza to help improve the flow of humanitarian aid.
-ABC News’ Shannon Crawford
Feb 07, 3:23 PM
Freed hostages react to Netanyahu rejecting deal
Freed Israeli hostages and families of those still being held hostage by Hamas are speaking out, pleading for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a hostage deal, after the prime minister on Wednesday rejected the current proposed deal.
Netanyahu called the deal “delusional,” and described it as a “surrender” that would lead to another massacre.
Adina Moshe, who was released after being held hostage for 49 days, said Wednesday, “We love our country. … But I want my country back and its morality that is gone.”
“I fear for the lives and fates of the hostages,” Moshe said. “I’m afraid we’ll have nothing to pass on to our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Please, prime minister: If you continue on this path, there will be no more hostages to release. Restore our trust — release them now.”
Sahar Calderon, a 16-year-old who was released after being held hostage for 54 days, said, “Every hour there was hell. . … A terrorist glared at me for 24 hours with murder in his eyes, and every minute I feared being raped.”
Calderon’s father is still being held hostage.
“I am grateful to the government for bringing me back, but what about my father, who is abandoned anew every day, uncertain if he will live or die?” she said. “Bring him back — do not make me lose faith in our country a second time.”
Feb 07, 1:45 PM
Israeli prime minister rejects hostage deal proposal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rejected the current proposed hostage and cease-fire deal, calling it “delusional,” and describing it as a “surrender” that would lead to another massacre. But Netanyahu did not say negotiations were closed.
To the families of the hostages, Netanyahu said in Hebrew, “Your loved ones are always standing before my eyes. … We do not stop working for the release of our abductees — even now.”
“The continuation of military pressure is a necessary condition for the release of the abductees,” he said. “Surrendering to the delusional demands of Hamas … not only will not lead to the release of the abductees, it will only invite another massacre.”
Netanyahu also said it would be “a matter of months” to reach Israel’s objectives and achieve “total victory” of completely dismantling Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu said he told Secretary of State Antony Blinken in their meeting Wednesday, “We are within touching distance of a complete victory, which will also be the victory of the entire free world — not only of Israel.”
Netanyahu also said the Israeli military operation will expand to the city of Rafah, where thousands of Gaza residents have fled and are living in makeshift shelters.
-ABC News’ Anna Burd and Jordana Miller
Feb 07, 12:20 PM
New round of hostage negotiations to take place in Cairo: Egyptian state TV
Egypt and Qatar will co-host a new round of negotiations on the proposed hostage and cease-fire deal on Thursday in Cairo, Egyptian state TV reported.
Feb 07, 10:41 AM
Blinken meets with Netanyahu on latest trip to Israel
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
First, Netanyahu and Blinken “held a long and in-depth meeting in private” before having “an extended meeting” with other Israeli and U.S. officials, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
During the meeting, Blinken reaffirmed Israel’s right to eliminate the threat posed by Hamas and the need to protect civilians in Gaza, according to the State Department. Blinken also stressed the importance of a two-state solution — a prospect Netanyahu has vocally opposed.
It’s Blinken’s fifth trip to the Middle East since Oct. 7 when war erupted between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that rules the neighboring Gaza Strip. The United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, has been involved in negotiations between the warring sides.
ABC News’ Jordana Miller, Shannon Crawford and Morgan Winsor
Feb 07, 7:22 AM
Blinken meets with Netanyahu on latest trip to Israel
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
First, Netanyahu and Blinken “held a long and in-depth meeting in private” before having “an extended meeting” with other Israeli and U.S. officials, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
It’s Blinken’s fifth trip to the Middle East since Oct. 7 when war erupted between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that rules the neighboring Gaza Strip. The United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, has been involved in negotiations between the warring sides.
Feb 06, 7:33 PM
US House fails to pass Israel aid bill
The U.S. House failed to pass a $17.6 billion standalone bill to provide aid to Israel.
The bill failed 250-180 during a vote Tuesday evening.
The GOP measure was being considered under suspension, which required a two-thirds majority to pass.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who unveiled the standalone bill over the weekend, blamed President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for its failure.
“The decision by President Biden and Leader Schumer to torpedo this bill to aid the Israeli people in their fight against Hamas is a disappointing rebuke to our closest ally in the Middle East at their time of great need,” Johnson said in a statement following the vote.
The Biden administration had issued a veto threat to the bill on Monday, saying it “strongly opposes” the measure after a bipartisan group of senators came to an agreement on a national security supplemental that includes Israel aid.
Schumer said he was against the bill and wanted Israel aid coupled with aid for Ukraine, Taiwan and the border.
Feb 06, 4:50 PM
Qatari prime minister: Hamas has responded to hostage deal framework
Hamas has formally responded to the proposed framework for a deal exchanging hostages remaining in Gaza for an extended cease-fire, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said Tuesday during a press conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“The reply includes some comments, but in general it is positive,” he said via a translator. “However, given the sensitivity of the circumstances we will not tackle details. We are optimistic and we have delivered the response to the Israeli party.”
Hamas in a statement did not say they had agreed to the deal but said they “dealt with” the proposed hostage deal “with a positive spirit.”
However, after receiving the response from Hamas, Israeli officials indicated a deal is still “far off,” according to Israeli political sources.
While Blinken didn’t express the same level of optimism as the Qatari prime minister, he maintained that a hostage deal was within reach, saying now that they had a response from Hamas, negotiators would be “intensely focused on that.”
“We’re reviewing that response now, and I’ll be discussing it with the government of Israel tomorrow,” Blinken said. “There is still a lot of work to be done, but we continue to believe that an agreement is possible and indeed, essential, and we will continue to work relentlessly to achieve it.”
When asked about the amount of time it took for Hamas to deliver an answer, the Qatari prime minister said “communication was presenting some challenges” and that “it took some time to get them to a place where we get that response,” adding, “we are hoping to see it yielding very soon.”
Feb 06, 4:02 PM
31 hostages are dead and remain in captivity in Gaza, Israeli sources say
The bodies of 31 hostages remain in Gaza, according to Israeli sources. The 31 hostages either died while being held captive by Hamas or were killed on Oct. 7, the sources said.
-ABC News’ Ellie Kaufman
Feb 06, 1:31 PM
Qatari prime minister: Hamas has responded to hostage deal framework
Hamas has formally responded to the proposed framework for a deal exchanging hostages remaining in Gaza for an extended cease-fire, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said Tuesday during a press conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“The reply includes some comments, but in general it is positive,” he said via a translator. “However, given the sensitivity of the circumstances we will not tackle details. We are optimistic and we have delivered the response to the Israeli party.”
Hamas in a statement did not say they had agreed to the deal but said they “dealt with” the proposed hostage deal “with a positive spirit.”
While Blinken didn’t express the same level of optimism as the Qatari prime minister, he maintained that a hostage deal was within reach, saying now that they had a response from Hamas, negotiators would be “intensely focused on that.”
“We’re reviewing that response now, and I’ll be discussing it with the government of Israel tomorrow,” Blinken said. “There is still a lot of work to be done, but we continue to believe that an agreement is possible and indeed, essential, and we will continue to work relentlessly to achieve it.”
When asked about the amount of time it took for Hamas to deliver an answer, the Qatari prime minister said “communication was presenting some challenges” and that “it took some time to get them to a place where we get that response,” adding, “we are hoping to see it yielding very soon.”
ABC News’ Shannon Crawford
Feb 06, 9:48 AM
Blinken meets with Egypt’s president amid push for new truce
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss Israel’s ongoing war in the neighboring Gaza Strip.
Their “meeting focused on developments in unyielding efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, exchanging detainees and providing access of needed relief aid to end the severe humanitarian catastrophe in the sector,” according to a readout from Egypt’s presidency.
It’s Blinken’s fifth trip to the Middle East since war erupted between Israel and Gaza’s militant rulers, Hamas. Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been involved in negotiations between the warring sides.
Feb 05, 11:54 AM
UN secretary-general opens independent review into UNRWA
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced Monday that he has appointed an independent review group to determine whether the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is “doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of serious breaches when they are made.”
The probe comes amid Israel’s allegations that a dozen UNRWA employees were involved in the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terror attack.
“These accusations come at a time when UNRWA, the largest U.N. organization in the region, is working under extremely challenging conditions to deliver life-saving assistance to the 2 million people in the Gaza Strip who depend on it for their survival amidst one of the largest and most complex humanitarian crises in the world,” Guterres said in a statement.
The independent review group will begin its work on Feb. 14 and will provide an interim report by late March. A final report is due April 2024, according to Guterres.
The probe is separate from an investigation the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight is conducting into the allegations.
UNRWA has said it is investigating the allegations and took swift action against those accused of participating in the attack. However, the United States and other top donors have suspended their funding to the agency, which is the biggest humanitarian aid provider in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
ABC News’ Ellie Kaufman and Morgan Winsor
Feb 05, 8:43 AM
Food convoy hit by Israeli naval gunfire in Gaza, UNRWA says
A food aid convoy waiting to move into the north of the Gaza Strip was struck by Israeli naval gunfire on Monday morning, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
“Thankfully no one was injured,” Tom White, director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, wrote in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
There was no immediate comment from the Israel Defense Forces.
-ABC News’ Morgan Winsor
Feb 03, 4:52 PM
House plans vote on standalone Israel aid bill next week
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Saturday the House will vote on a standalone $17.6 billion Israel aid package next week.
“Next week, we will take up and pass a clean, standalone Israel supplemental package. During debate in the House and in numerous subsequent statements, Democrats made clear that their primary objection to the original House bill was with its offsets. The Senate will no longer have excuses, however misguided, against swift passage of this critical support for our ally,” Johnson said in a letter to colleagues obtained by ABC News.
This news is a major reversal after House Republicans previously approved a $14.3 billion Israel funding package that included cuts to IRS funding. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did not bring this legislation to the floor for vote because of Democrats’ opposition to IRS funding cuts.
Johnson again emphasized the Senate negotiated supplemental will face an uphill battle in the House and attacked Senators for excluding him and the House from the bipartisan talks.
-ABC News’ Lauren Peller
Feb 03, 3:21 PM
IDF deploys 3 divisions to northern border amid Hezbollah attacks
The Israeli military has deployed three divisions to the northern border amid Hezbollah’s attacks on northern Israel, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said at a press conference Saturday.
He said the IDF is working to “reshape the security reality” on the northern border, so that some 80,000 Israelis displaced by Hezbollah’s attacks can return to their homes.
“We do not choose war as our first option but are certainly ready, and preparing for it all the time, if need be,” Hagari said.
The IDF has struck more than 150 cells, killing some 200 terror operatives, mostly members of Hezbollah, and targeted more than 3,400 Hezbollah sites since the beginning of the war in Gaza, according to Hagari.
