Hamas Official Says Group Ready for 'Immediate' Ceasefire
+ South Asia' pollution spotted in space, Donald Trump announces cabinet nominations, Israel continues genocide, & more.
In an appearance on The World With Yalda Hakim, Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim said the Palestinian group would accept a ceasefire if it receives a proposal that Israel honors.
Speaking to the AFP news agency, Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, called on President-elect Donald Trump to push Israel to “end the aggression.”
“Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a ceasefire proposal is presented and on the condition that it is respected. We call on the US administration and Trump to pressure the Israeli government to end the aggression,” he said.
Naim added: “Hamas informed the mediators it is in favor of any proposal submitted to it that would lead to a definitive ceasefire and military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, allowing the return of displaced people, a serious deal for a prisoner exchange, the entry of humanitarian aid and reconstruction.”
Naim claimed no “serious proposals” for a ceasefire were ever offered.
When asked if Hamas regretted the attacks Israel made on Oct. 7, 2023, he said no because Israel is guilty of “big massacres” in the Palestinian enclave and called the incident “an act of self defense,” adding: “It’s exactly as if you’re accusing the victims for the crimes of the aggressor.”
He continued: “I’m a member of Hamas, but at the same time I’m an innocent Palestinian civilian because I have the right to live a free and dignified life and I have the right to defend myself, to defend my family.”
⤵️ WEEKLY NEWS RE-CAP 🗞️💨
💔 ISRAEL STRIKES AGAIN An Israeli airstrike killed at least 12 Lebanese rescue workers on Thursday night inside a civil defense center in the eastern city of Baalbek, according to health and rescue officials, hours after Israeli airstrikes killed dozens in Gaza and Syria.
Lebanese emergency workers continued searching through the rubble on Friday for colleagues still trapped under the destroyed rescue center, according to a statement.
🚨 THE PAST 24 HOURS: At least 28 Palestinians have been killed and 120 injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza in the past 24 hours, according to the enclave’s health ministry.
Israel’s military has bombed Syria, Lebanon and Gaza in the last 48 hours back to back killing hundreds. According to Al Jazeera, a number of evacuation orders for the southern suburbs of Beirut have been issued followed quickly by devastating air attacks in the Ghobeiry and Burj al-Barajneh neighborhoods.
🏥 DIALYSIS MACHINES DESTROYED: A doctor accused Israeli forces of destroying all the dialysis machines “on purpose” at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Al Jazeera reported. There were at least 60 machines catering to 350 patients, including children.
🇮🇩 MOUNT LEWOTOBI LAKI-LAKI ERUPTS AGAIN: Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano erupted for the tenth time this week displacing 15,000 in one of its biggest explosions on Thursday, three days after one that kiled nine and injured dozens, the AP reported.
According to Save the Children, a dangerous ash cloud caused by the eruption has also forced many airlines flying to and from the nearby tourist island of Bali to cancel their flights.
👋 TURKEY SAYS, BYE, BYE, BYE: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday that Turkey has cut all ties with Israel.
"A Republic of Turkey that is headed by Tayyip Erdogan can't continue to develop its relationship with Israel. We have no such intention," Erdogan said according to TRT Harber. "We have cut trade and ties with Israel, period."
💨 CLIMATE CRISIS: Air pollution in Pakistan and India has gotten so thick it is now visible from space.
Satellite imagery from NASA Worldview depicts most of northern and eastern Pakistan and parts of western India covered in fog and gray clouds. The smog has caused air quality to deteriorate to toxic levels in the majority of Lahore, Multan, Delhi, and Chandigarh, forcing authorities to shut down schools, parks and public places in attempts to limit exposure and curb further pollution, Reuters reported.
More than 40,000 people have been treated for respiratory ailments due to the smog. Breathing air in Hyderabad, India is equivalte to smoking 1.4 cigarettes daily.
According to the Swiss IQ Air index, Lahore in Pakistan and Delhi in India have the highest levels of fine particulate matter in the air, known as PM2.5, of any city—the only two to be rated as "hazardous."
💚 PAINT THE TOWN GREEN: Greek basketball fans displayed Palestine and Lebanon flags during a basketball game against Israel Tuesday during Turkish Airlines EuroLeague basketball game in the Greek capital, Athens.
Fans raised huge banners reading “Stop Genocide” and “Freedom to Palestine” in solidarity with Palestine and Lebanon at Oaka Altion.
Security measures were increased in the area after Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans wrecked havoc in Amsterdam last week, attacking Palestinian taxi drivers, damaging private property and chanting racist slurs.Related: Israeli Football Fans Cause Chaos in Amsterdam, and are Now Claiming AntiSemitism
🇸🇦 ‘THIS IS GENOCIDE’: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has accused Israel of carrying out “collective genocide” in Gaza.
During a gathering of leaders of Islamic nations hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Monday, the country’s de facto leader said: “The Kingdom reiterates its condemnation and absolute refusal of the collective genocide committed by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people.”
Per CNN, the statement is some of the harshest public criticism of Israel by a Saudi official since the start of Oct. 7
President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly chosen people for a handful of Senate-confirmed Cabinet-level jobs, and he’s picked a White House chief of staff and a national security adviser, two key roles that don’t require confirmation.
Attorney general and secretaries of defense, state and homeland security are top priorities for Trump, according to The New York Times.
⤵️ HERE IS A LIST OF HIS CABINET NOMINATIONS
INTERIOR SECRETARY: DOUG BURGUM
Trump announced his selection of North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as secretary of the interior, at an event Thursday.
VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY: DOUG COLLINS
Trump picked former Rep. Doug Collins as his secretary for veterans affairs. Collins served as a congressman from 2013 to 2021 and was known as a vocal backer of Trump in the chamber during his first administration.SOLICITOR GENERAL: DEAN JOHN SAUER
Trump tapped Dean John Sauer for solicitor general Thursday. Sauer has been credited with helping win Trump’s presidential immunity case.U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK: JAY CLAYTON
Trump nominated former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: TODD BLANCHE
Known as Trump’s hush money trial lawyer Blanche was applauded as “an excellent attorney who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department.”PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: EMIL BOVE
Trump picked attorney Emil Bove as his administration’s principal associate deputy attorney general.HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.
Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department, per his promise to give him power over public health decisions.PRESIDENTIAL PERSONNEL OFFICE DIRECTOR: SERGIO GOR
President and co-founder of Donald Trump Jr.’s Winning Team Publishing company, Sergio Gor, has been nominated to lead the Presidential Personnel Office, multiple outlets reported Thursday. Trump has not officially announced the appointment.ATTORNEY GENERAL: MATT GAETZ
Trump said Wednesday he nominated Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, to serve as attorney general. A controversial figure in Congress, if appointed Gaetz would be the most high-profile appointmentDIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: TULSI GABBARD
Announced Wednesday Tulsi Gabbard will serve as his Director of National Intelligence, a role that puts her at the head of the U.S. intelligence community.SECRETARY OF STATE: MARCO RUBIO
Announced Wednesday he nominated Sen. Marco Rubio, as secretary of state, confirming multiple reports earlier in the week that Trump was expected to nominate the Florida senator for the top foreign policy job.DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: DAN SCAVINO
Trump announced Wednesday former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino will return to his role, and also serve as an assistant to the president.DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR LEGISLATIVE, POLITICAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS: JAMES BLAIR
Blair who spearheaded Trump’s grassroots voter outreach efforts will serve as campaign political director Trump said Wednesday.DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND PERSONNEL: TAYLOR BUDOWICH
Trump announced Taylor Budowich, who ran the Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. super PAC before rejoining Trump’s campaign in August, for the role on Wednesday.HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISER AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR POLICY: STEPHEN MILLER
Trump confirmed Wednesday previous reports that he was expected to announce Stephen Miller as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy.DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY: ELON MUSK AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY
Trump announced Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, will run a new Department of Government Efficiency (or “DOGE”) alongside investor and former Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: PETE HEGSETH
Trump selected Pete Hegseth as his secretary of defense Tuesday, praising his status as a combat veteran and role as a co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend.CIA DIRECTOR: JOHN RATCLIFFE
Former Director of National Intelligence and Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe will serve as the CIA’s director. Ratcliffe acted as Trump’s primary intelligence adviser during his last presidency.WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: WILLIAM JOSEPH MCGINLEY
Trump picked former White House cabinet secretary and top GOP lawyer William McGinley as his White House Counsel.SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST: STEVEN C. WITKOFF
Steven Witkoff, a GOP donor and real estate investor, will be Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East.UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: MIKE HUCKABEE
Trump announced Tuesday he appointed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to serve as his envoy to Israel on Tuesday.NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: MIKE WALTZ
Trump confirmed Tuesday he appointed Rep. Mike Waltz to serve as his national security adviser.HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: KRISTI NOEM
Trump has picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for the role of secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, CNN reported early on Tuesday.ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ADMINISTRATOR: LEE ZELDIN
Trump announced Monday he’s nominating former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA, citing his “very strong legal background.”BORDER CZAR: TOM HOMAN
Trump appointed his former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan to the role, he announced Monday, as Trump plans a mass deportation of undocumented migrants during his second term.UN AMBASSADOR: ELISE STEFANIK
Trump announced Sunday he’d nominate GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik for the United Nations ambassador role, she told the New York Post she had accepted the offer.CHIEF OF STAFF: SUSIE WILES
Trump named his campaign co-manager Susie Wiles chief of staff two days after his election win. Wiles will be the first woman to hold the position.
Related: What A Donald Trump Presidency Means For American Muslims
⤵️ THE WATCH LIST 🚨
U.N. Report Says Israel’s Actions Toward Palestinians Qualify As Genocide
Israel’s actions in Gaza are consistent with methods of genocide, according to a new report by the United Nations Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices released Thursday.
“Since the beginning of the war, Israeli officials have publicly supported policies that strip Palestinians of the very necessities required to sustain life — food, water, and fuel,” the report said. “These statements along with the systematic and unlawful interference of humanitarian aid make clear Israel’s intent to instrumentalize life-saving supplies for political and military gains.”
In response to the report, Israel’s army accused the Human Rights Watch of ‘blatant misrepresentations’ and ‘anti-Israel bias and factual distortion.’
The report will be presented to the General Assembly on Nov. 18.
Since October 7, 2023, 43,736 Palestinians have been killed and more than 103,370, wounded in Israeli attacks across Gaza, according to the enclave’s health ministry— several of them journalists and media workers.
SEE THE UPDATED LIST OF JOURNALISTS KILLED HERE
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