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Middle East conflict

Israel rejects Hamas’ new proposal involving release of Gaza hostages — Axios portal

According to them, on Sunday, Hamas through Qatari and Egyptian mediators gave Israel a new proposal for a deal that would involve the release of the hostages in three phases

© AP Photo/Leo Correa

WASHINGTON, January 2. /TASS/. The Israeli leadership rejected a new proposal from the radical Palestinian movement Hamas for a deal involving the release of hostages, the Axios portal reported citing sources.

According to them, on Sunday, Hamas through Qatari and Egyptian mediators gave Israel a new proposal for a deal that would involve the release of the hostages in three phases.

Each phase would include a pause in fighting for more than a month in exchange for the release of hostages. However, Hamas representatives demanded that, at the first phase of implementation of the agreements, Israel begin pulling its forces out of the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of 40 hostages. According to Axios sources, the implementation of the third phase of the deal, which provided for the release of prisoners of war, implied the end of the conflict.

Israel rejected the proposal, but one of the Israeli officials said the offer shows Hamas is now ready to engage in negotiations on a new hostage deal, even as the fighting in Gaza continues. Hamas has said Israel must end the war before the group would negotiate a new hostage deal.

Axios notes that Hamas representatives previously insisted that they would be ready to negotiate a new deal only if the fighting in the Palestinian enclave ended.

An unnamed Israeli official told Axios that Israeli officials considered the proposal to be "was totally off base and we asked the mediators to try and produce a more acceptable proposal." According to him, work in this direction is underway.

The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated following an incursion of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7. Hamas has cast the attack as a response to Israeli actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel has declared a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and started a military operation there.

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Palestine Israel

US decision on strikes inside Russia stems from malice rather than strategy — journalist

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Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine makes defeat over its army impossible — SVR chief

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Moscow won’t allow US to silence UNSC as Washington backs Israel — Russian UN envoy

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Six European countries accuse Russia of allegedly attacking security architecture

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Putin sends message to those seeking to 'add fuel to fire' before Trump’s return — expert

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Zelensky admits Ukraine can't fight its way back to 1991 borders

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UK police say no video evidence of Russians’ involvement in Salisbury case

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Freezing Ukrainian conflict unacceptable for Russia, says Kremlin

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Training Ukrainian troops makes France direct participant in combat — top Russian diplomat

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Moscow’s response to strikes with Western arms on Russian soil to be felt — diplomat

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Ukraine’s former top commander sought to blow up Turkish Stream pipeline, report says

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Media from unfriendly states will be admitted to Putin's annual press conference — Kremlin

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Putin orders protection of critical infrastructure, including Crimean Bridge — Kremlin

Kiev has not accepted the legitimate results of the 2014 referendum, in which the people of Crimea and Sevastopol voted to become part of Russia, and is displeased by the operation of the Crimean Bridge, which connects the Kerch Strait with the Krasnodar Region

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Dmitry Peskov added that there have been no contacts via this new channel lately

Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

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Indonesia accepts invitation to become partner state in BRICS, ambassador announces

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US uses veto right to block new UN Security Council draft resolution on ceasefire in Gaza

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Russia monitors situation in Kursk Region after reports of ATACMS missiles — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that "it is hardly possible to be guided by the reports of a TV channel"

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Russia must be able to defend itself — Erdogan on revised nuclear doctrine

The Turkish leader reiterated that "both Russia and Ukraine are Turkey’s neighbors"

Russian forces gain foothold in central Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

While Ukrainian commanders have been making every effort to stabilize the situation in Chasov Yar, Kiev does not have enough soldiers, weapons or military hardware for that, Andrey Marochko said

Ex-UK Labor party leader wants PM to clarify situation with Storm Shadow missiles

Jeremy Corbyn called for de-escalation of the situationin Ukraine and the search for a diplomatic solution to achieve peace

Biden’s actions increase likelihood of escalation in Ukraine — PM

Viktor Orban asserted that the government’s mission is to prevent Hungary from being dragged into the Ukrainian conflict

French Foreign Ministry refuses to disclose number of SCALP missiles shipped to Ukraine

Ministry Spokesman Christophe Lemoine also avoided answering if Paris supports strikes with these missiles on Russian territory, only saying that the missiles were shipped to Ukraine, and Ukraine

Xi Jinping calls for unification of more voices for peace in Ukraine

"We need to bring together more voices of peace and pave the way for a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis," Chinese president said

Bitcoin price exceeds $96,000, sets new historical record — Binance platform

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Lavrov says EU goes through deep crisis as more countries refuse to support US policies

The minister mentioned the import duties that the EU imposed on cheaper and higher-quality electric cars from China, as well as the purchases of low-quality Ukrainian grain to the detriment of its own farmers and consumers

FACTBOX: What is known about Russian nuclear deterrence policy

The first Russian nuclear doctrine was ratified and published by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 21, 2000

Russian army traps Ukrainian troops in Chasov Yar — intelligence center

The official reported that fighters from the 98th Airborne Division were engaged in fierce battles

Russia to use revenues from frozen assets of Western investors — Finance Minister

Tit-for-tat measures will be implemented after receiving information about unfriendly actions of Western countries, Anton Siluanov noted

Ukraine, not Russia, posing a threat to the Baltic region — Kremlin

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

Hezbollah says Israel should halt aggression against Lebanon to achieve truce

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem also mentioned that Hezbollah had earlier agreed to a US-French proposal for a 60-day truce, but Israel responded by assassinating the group’s former leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, on September 27

Press review: Russian air defenses can down Western missiles as EU conducts live exercise

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, November 19th

Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Russia to more actively build icebreaker fleet — PM

The Northern Sea Route is among the key priorities, being the shortest and the safe route to countries of the Asia-Pacific Region, Mikhail Mishustin noted

World Aquatics withdraws ban on participation of Russian athletes in relay races

Previously, Russian and Belarusian athletes were authorized to compete only in individual disciplines

Pentagon refrains from commenting on Ukraine’s missile attack on Bryansk region

Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh also declined a request to comment on the US permission to use ATACMS missiles for deep strikes on Russia

Putin's direct line-press conference to be held on one of December Thursdays — Kremlin

"The direct line and press conference are being prepared," Dmitry Peskov said

Up to allies to decide whether or not to authorize strikes inside Russia — NATO chief

"I would generally say let’s not communicate too much and not make our adversaries more wise than is necessary," Mark Rutte added

Russia to address NATO’s engagement in strikes deep inside country — SVR

Sergey Naryshkin observed that the military and political elites in the West are increasingly recognizing the gravity of Russia's intentions and the need for greater caution in their actions

Official declines to say if US gives Ukraine targeting data for Storm Shadow missiles

US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller also declined to discuss the presumed first strike on Russia with the missiles

Biden’s ATACMS decision aimed at tying his successor’s hands — expert

In his opinion, Russia "should not fall for this gambit," and "just keep on winning"

US admiral says Washington should be ready for talks with Russia, China

The Department of State and other US agencies "should continue to engage our competitors in real and substantive dialogue," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

Biden's decision to use ATACMS on Russia threatens to kill Americans — Tucker Carlson

The journalist also criticized US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (a Republican representing the state of Louisiana) for "not even mentioning it in public or in leadership meetings" with factions in the lower house of Congress

Pentagon confirms that US authorized use of antipersonnel landmines in Ukraine

Ukrainian side had committed to not using the mines in areas populated by civilians

Allowing Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with US weapons irresponsible — Slovak PM

Robert Fico noted that authorizing the use of long-range weapons for strikes against Russia would not alter the balance of power in the conflict zone

At least 66 people killed in Gaza Strip by an Israeli strike — Al Jazeera

It was also reported that over 100 people were wounded

Railroad development to strengthen ties with foreign partners — Russian PM

Mikhail Mishustin added that "it is necessary to modernize border crossings in coming years, including introduction of practice of electronic paperwork"

Press review: Biden OKs long-range missile use as backlash to Scholz’s Putin call grows

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, November 18th

US sees no preconditions for Russia to use nuclear weapons — news agency

According to the report, the updated nuclear doctrine did not come as a surprise for Washington

US Senate refuses to block arms supplies to Israel

More than 60 out of 100 senators voted against the three corresponding resolutions, while 17 legislators supported them

No laymen in Western intel agencies despite decline of ruling class — Russian spy chief

Sergey Naryshkin emphasized that irrationality had particularly affected leading European countries, where presidents, prime ministers, and chancellors unfailingly served the interests of globalist capital

Ukraine creates 'sabotage manual' showing former citizens how to get Russia — lawmaker

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US senator labels Biden’s approval for ATACMS strikes on Russia as unconstitutional

The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

Potential adversaries, criteria for use: Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine

Russia will also engage in nuclear deterrence against those countries that offer their territory, maritime zones, airspace, and resources for aggression against it

Belarusian security agency says Minsk aware of Poland’s efforts to prepare terrorist cells

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Ukrainian losses, captives, aid to civilians: situation in Kursk Region

Russian tactical and operational/tactical aircraft, missile forces hit enemy manpower and equipment in the Kursk and Sumy regions, the Defense Ministry reported