Kazakhstan joining Abraham Accords, US official confirms
Kazakhstan is expected to join the Abraham Accords , officials confirmed to Fox News on Thursday.The Abraham Accords, first signed in 2020, currently include three countries that have formalized normalization agreements with Israel: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.Sudan signed a U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords declaration in January 2021 but efforts to formalize diplomatic relations with Israel have since been derailed by internal political unrest.U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff told Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier that he would return to Washington, D.C., on Thursday night to announce the addition of another country to the accords. Witkoff shared the update during his remarks at the America Business Forum in Miami. NETANYAHU TO SKIP TRUMP'S MIDDLE EAST PEACE SUMMIT IN EGYPT AS NEW REGIONAL DYNAMICS TAKE SHAPE "This is going to show that the Abraham Accords is a club that many countries want to be a member of and it will be a step for turning the page on the war in Gaza and moving forward toward more peace and cooperation in the region," a U.S. official told Axios.The outlet also reported that Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to make the announcement during a meeting with President Donald Trump .Trump had recently signaled that more nations may soon be joining the Abraham Accords, with Syria and Saudi Arabia at the forefront of efforts to expand the historic Israel-Arab normalization pact. Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected to meet with Trump at the White House next week, followed by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin-Salman on Nov. 18.

Israel says it is striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that it had started striking Hezbollah military targets in southern Lebanon.The IDF said it struck terrorist infrastructure and several weapon storage facilities that belonged to Hezbollah's Radwan Force on Thursday. The military also alleged that the Radwan Force was working to "reestablish terrorist infrastructure" that was "intended to harm the State of Israel.""The weapons storage facilities were constructed in the center of civilian-populated areas. This is yet another example of the Hezbollah terrorist organization's strategy to cynically and brutally exploit Lebanese civilians as human shields as it operates out of civilian areas," the IDF said in a press release.An unmanned aircraft reportedly struck a Hezbollah construction unit's facility near Tyre, a coastal city in southern Lebanon, Israeli news outlet Ynet reported , citing the IDF. Ynet also noted that the IDF claimed the facility was used to produce equipment for restoring terror infrastructure that Israel destroyed in previous operations. ISRAEL WARNS HEZBOLLAH 'PLAYING WITH FIRE,' PRESSES LEBANON TO ACT ON WEAPONS PLEDGE In preparation for the strikes, the IDF urged residents of al-Taybeh and Tayr Debba to flee. Israel included maps marking areas that would become dangerous for civilians once the strikes began."You are located near buildings used by Hezbollah, and, for your safety, you are required to evacuate them immediately and stay away from them by a distance of at least 500 meters," the IDF said in an announcement to the residents of the villages.The announcement comes after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, "Hezbollah is playing with fire, and the president of Lebanon is dragging his feet.""The Lebanese government's commitment to dismantle Hezbollah's weapons and remove it from southern Lebanon must be realized. Enforcement will continue and deepen - we will not allow a threat to the residents of the north," Katz added. TRUMP ADMIN PRESSURES LEBANON TO DISARM HEZBOLLAH AS ENVOY CALLS NATION 'FAILED STATE' The IDF claimed that it had killed "approximately 20 Hezbollah terrorists whose activities violated the understandings between Israel and Lebanon."On Wednesday, the IDF said it killed Hussein Jaber Dib, a member of Hezbollah's Radwan Force. Israel alleged that Dib had "advanced terror attacks against Israel and its citizens."Additionally, on Monday, the IDF confirmed it had killed two Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon. Muhammad Ali Hadid, a senior member of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, was eliminated in Nabatieh, while another operative was struck in Ayta ash Shab after being seen collecting intelligence on Israeli positions, according to the Israeli military.A senior IDF officer stationed on the northern border told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that Hezbollah remains fully armed and funded by Iran ."Hezbollah didn't give up their heavy weapons," the officer said. "They're still trained, still financed by Iran, and still trying to re-establish their positions. Our job is to make sure they don't succeed."Over the summer, Israel took an unprecedented step and launched sweeping strikes against Iran, which it dubbed "Operation Rising Lion." The 12-day war with Iran eventually involved the U.S., which was able to destroy the regime's Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities .

Parents of Kayla Mueller ask President Trump to bring daughter's remains home from Syria in letter
EXCLUSIVE: The parents of slain American aid worker Kayla Mueller, Carl and Marsha Mueller, have written an emotional open letter to President Donald Trump , asking him to use his upcoming meeting with Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to bring their daughter's remains home 10 years after she was killed by ISIS.The letter, shared exclusively with Fox News Digital, comes just days before al-Sharaa's first visit to Washington since taking power following the collapse of the Assad regime. The Muellers called the encounter "a providential opportunity" to close one of the most painful chapters of the war in Syria . SYRIA'S NEW PRESIDENT TAKES CENTER STAGE AT UNGA AS CONCERNS LINGER OVER TERRORIST PAST "Ten long years have passed since our daughter's body found its resting place, unmarked and unknown, somewhere in the crimson folds of Syria's hills," the Muellers wrote. "Kayla's body has not been returned home to us; her story remains incomplete.Kayla Mueller was a 26-year-old humanitarian aid worker from Arizona who was kidnapped by ISIS in 2013 while helping Syrian refugees near the Turkish border. She was enslaved by ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who reportedly abused and murdered her in 2015. Her body was never recovered.The family's letter recounts how, in 2019, Operation Kayla Mueller - ordered by President Trump - led to the death of al-Baghdadi in northern Syria. Standing with Trump at the 2020 Republican National Convention, the Muellers credited him for "delivering the iron fist of justice against unspeakable evil." RUBIO, HUCKABEE MEET WITH FAMILIES OF US CITIZENS WHOSE REMAINS ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE IN GAZA With Assad's ouster and Syria now under an interim government, the Muellers say the political landscape has shifted dramatically. They praised growing regional cooperation to locate missing Americans and cited Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., who has personally visited Damascus to advocate for her return.In a statement to Fox News Digital, Hamadeh said, "I was sworn into Congress with my hand resting on Kayla Mueller's Bible, with my family and Kayla's parents standing by my side. I vowed to them that I would do everything I could to bring her home. In their letter to President Trump, Kayla's parents wrote about how Kayla was killed attempting to 'bring light to the darkest corner of the earth - and in her own darkest hour her spirit refused to break.' That is why I refuse to give up on bringing this remarkable young woman home to her family."" The Assad regime has fallen , and with new leadership brings new opportunity to write the final chapter on Americans still missing in Syria," the Muellers wrote. "Through your leadership, we believe the torch Kayla was forced to drop has roared back to life."The Muellers described Trump's meeting with al-Sharaa as a defining moment - both for U.S. foreign policy and for their family's decade-long quest for closure.They ended the letter with a plea: "Your meeting is sure to inspire real hope across Syria's war-torn streets. Bringing Kayla's body home will do the same for every American heart, and together we will slam shut the era of terror's reign in Syria and finally bring closure to Kayla's story. This is a moment to reaffirm America's resolve: that we never abandon our own. One more push could bring Kayla home."

As Trump admin pushes Gaza peace plan, history shows UN peacekeeping's mixed record
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations , Mike Waltz, presented a draft U.N. Security Council resolution on Wednesday to partner nations aimed at advancing President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, including authorization for an international security force, according to a senior U.S. official. Waltz recently met with representatives from Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, who are expected to coordinate humanitarian and reconstruction efforts around the proposal. The draft resolution seeks to authorize a two-year international stabilization force in Gaza under U.N. oversight - part of what officials describe as "phase two" of the broader postwar plan.According to Reuters and the Associated Press, the draft would empower the mission to "use all necessary measures" to secure Gaza, protect civilians and begin the demilitarization of armed groups once large-scale combat ends. The plan includes forming a transitional "Board of Peace" to coordinate with Egypt, Israel and a vetted Palestinian police force. US MILITARY TO OVERSEE NEXT PHASE OF PEACE DEAL FROM COORDINATION BASE IN ISRAEL Washington has ruled out sending U.S. combat troops but has asked Muslim-majority countries, including Indonesia, Egypt, the U.A.E. and Turkey, to contribute. Israeli officials have already said they will not allow Turkish troops on their borders.The meeting, in which the Palestinian Authority took part, marked a rare diplomatic engagement, notable because the U.S. plan envisioned handing authority back to the PA after reforms, a condition Israel opposes, Axios reports.In an interview with Fox News Digital, John Spencer, executive director of the Urban Warfare Institute, said the concept can work - but only if it follows successful precedents. "For Gaza, I personally would like people to think Kosovo, not Lebanon ," he said. "History shows exactly what determines success: a clear mandate, enough troops and the authority to act."After the 1999 NATO campaign, the Kosovo Force (KFOR) deployed under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 with about 50,000 troops to stabilize the region, separate combatants and rebuild governance."Kosovo gives you the best example," Spencer said. "It had a clear disarmament mandate, a capable coalition and enough troops to enforce peace." EXPERTS URGE TRUMP TO BAN TERROR-LINKED UN AGENCY FROM HIS GAZA PEACE PLAN He warned that Gaza will require similar patience. "If somebody believes this will just disappear from the news in six months, that's not reality," he said, noting that KFOR remains in place decades later, albeit with fewer troops.The 1995 Dayton Accords ended the Bosnian war and authorized the NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR), followed by the Stabilization Force (SFOR). About 60,000 troops were deployed to enforce the peace, separate armies and support reconstruction."These were significant forces with clear mandates for disarming," Spencer said. "That's what success looks like - a mission with both muscle and legitimacy." FRENCH-DRAFTED UNIFIL RESOLUTION COULD SHIELD HEZBOLLAH AS US STAYS SILENT He added that Gaza's mission must mirror Bosnia's strong command structure and clear legal authority, not rely on unarmed observers.In East Timor, an Australian-led mission entered under U.N. authority in 1999 after post-independence violence. It restored order and laid the groundwork for local governance."East Timor shows how quickly you can start rebuilding governance when the force has legitimacy and local trust," Spencer said. "That legitimacy must exist from day one in Gaza." MIKE WALTZ SEES TRUMP'S GAZA PLAN AS 'ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION OPPORTUNITY FOR PEACE' By contrast, the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), established in 1978 and expanded after the 2006 war, is what Spencer calls a failure."Southern Lebanon was not a success story," he said. "They were glorified observers without a mandate to demilitarize anything."Israel has long criticized UNIFIL for allowing Hezbollah to entrench under its watch. Spencer said the same mistake cannot be repeated in Gaza. "It has to be seen as liberating areas from militant rule, not occupying them," he said. NETANYAHU'S SECURITY CABINET TO MEET ON GAZA WAR, AS SOME IN ISRAEL CALL TO RESETTLE ENCLAVE Spencer described an "inkblot strategy" - stabilizing cleared districts while combat continues elsewhere. "You can create safe areas where a stabilization force, under the right mandate and equipped correctly, is stabilizing areas while you are also conducting operations against Hamas," he said.He predicts that the Israel Defense Forces will continue high-intensity operations while the international force focuses on humanitarian aid, demining and restoring order in secured zones. "Part of the lesson is giving people a vision of life after Hamas," Spencer said.During a recent visit to Gaza, Spencer said he saw "a glimmer of hope" in newly established humanitarian zones inside cleared areas. "If you start quickly, even on a small scale, success builds success," he said.About 200 U.S. personnel are already on the ground in a civil-military coordination center managing logistics and planning for the proposed transition in Israel. Spencer said this small presence will be vital to coordinating aid, reconstruction and stabilization without engaging in combat.He warned that the mission will face disinformation and attacks from groups opposed to peace. "There are people who do not want this to succeed," he said. "Thinking through how they'll try to undermine it - especially online - is vital."He added that stabilization must move alongside local capacity-building. "You have to start training a vetted Palestinian police force and governance team," he said. "That's how you build legitimacy."

Mexican President Sheinbaum to press charges after man gropes her on walk
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum decided to press charges against a man who was seen groping and trying to kiss her while she was on a short walk in o City on Tuesday.In a post on X, Sheinbaum said she would "review the legislation so that this crime is punishable in all 32 [Mexican] states." In a video accompanying the post, she remarked that "if this can happen to the president, what can we expect for all the young women in our country?"Sheinbaum, 62, was seen in a video that has since gone viral speaking with locals when a man approaches the president from behind and puts his hands on her body before leaning toward her face. The Mexican president later described the man as being "totally drunk." MEXICAN SENATORS BRAWL ON CAMERA DURING DEBATE OVER US TARGETING CARTELS In the video, Sheinbaum, who is immediately and visibly startled, turns toward the man and gently pushes his hands away, while managing to maintain a stiff smile.A government official is seen in the video quickly stepping in to separate the two as the president backs away. The man was then led off as onlookers watched in disbelief.The incident reportedly took place as Sheinbaum was walking between Mexico's National Palace and the Education Ministry. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada announced Tuesday night that the man had been arrested, The Associated Press reported. JUDGE TELLS CUOMO TO STOP USING TAXPAYER MONEY TO 'RESURRECT HIS PUBLIC IMAGE' IN LEGAL CASE While speaking at her daily news conference on Wednesday, Sheinbaum framed the moment as symbolic of a broader issue facing Mexican women."This is something I experienced as a woman , but it is something that all women in our country experience," she said.When addressing the video of the incident, Sheinbaum said posting it was "completely unethical and immoral." SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SCREAMS DURING VIRAL DC ARREST: 'WHAT I VOTED FOR' In the wake of the incident, Sheinbaum announced a plan to launch a campaign to educate men on respecting women's rights."This is an issue of dignity for women and of recognizing our rights," she said. "We have published a women's rights booklet, and this is connected to that. It's a matter of defending all Mexican women."Sheinbaum, who took office in October 2024 as o's first female president , emphasized that the incident would not deter her from engaging directly with citizens."We cannot distance ourselves from the people," she said. "That would be to deny where we come from and who we are."Before becoming president, Sheinbaum was head of government of Mexico City until 2023.Fox News Digital has reached out to Sheinbaum's office for comment. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Chinese astronauts stranded in space after debris strikes return capsule during mission
A Chinese space crew is stranded at the country's Tiangong space station after tiny pieces of space debris were believed to have struck their return capsule, China's spaceflight agency said Wednesday.The three-member Shenzhou-20 team had been scheduled to return to Earth on Wednesday, but their mission has been temporarily extended as engineers conduct impact analysis and risk assessments on the damaged spacecraft, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said in a statement.Their return date has been postponed indefinitely, according to state broadcaster CCTV, which offered no further details.The crew's return capsule is believed to have been hit by tiny fragments of space junk - an increasing hazard in low Earth orbit. CMSA has not specified the extent of the damage or what repairs, if any, will be required. If the spacecraft cannot be repaired, protocol states the Shenzhou-20 crew will use the Shenzhou-21 team's capsule to return to Earth. NASA AT A CROSSROADS: TRUMP'S PLAN TO REFOCUS, EXPLORE AND BEAT CHINA The Shenzhou program regularly sends crews of three Chinese astronauts to and from the Tiangong space station for six-month missions, where they carry out tasks ranging from scientific experiments to repairing debris damage.The Shenzhou-20 astronauts - mission commander Chen Dong, fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui and engineer Wang Jie - arrived at Tiangong in April for a six-month rotation. They were nearing the end of their mission when the issue occurred. NASA ASTRONAUTS BUTCH WILMORE, SUNI WILLIAMS GIVE FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE RETURN TO EARTH IN FOX NEWS EXCLUSIVE Their replacements, part of the Shenzhou-21 mission, successfully docked with the station on Saturday. That crew consists of astronauts Zhang Hongzhang, Wu Fei and Zhang Lu.Since launching its crewed spaceflight program in 2003, China has steadily expanded its capabilities - building its own space station and setting its sights on landing astronauts on the moon by 2030. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Star of David erased in shocking attack on Hamas victims memorial of Jewish mother, 2 young sons
A mural in Milan, Italy, honoring the lives of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons - Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 10 months - who were senselessly murdered by Hamas - was destroyed this week, just weeks after it was vandalized.The Star of David was removed, and the damage to Shiri's face has rendered her almost unrecognizable."Those who committed this vile act are cowards who despise the West and our values of freedom," contemporary artist AleXsandro Palombo told Fox News Digital. HAMAS VICTIM MEMORIAL FEATURING SHIRI BIBAS AND SONS TARGETED BY VANDALS IN MILAN, ITALY "Removing the Star of David and obscuring Shiri's face means attempting to erase history, to deny the existence of a people, to impose an ideology that rejects democratic coexistence and attempts to rewrite the present with the ink of fear."The artwork outside the Qatari consulate in Milan was covered with a print last month during a memorial service for the victims of the attacks on Oct. 7, 2023 .Shiri's face was obscured by an image originally created by Vancouver street artist iHeart. The artwork depicted a crying boy, emotional over a lack of social media attention. The vandal used the image as a base for creative liberties, adding "No War" and a red bull's-eye to the photo over Shiri's face.Palombo called the vandalism an " antisemitic act " last week to Fox News Digital. ANTISEMITIC GRAFFITI PROMPTS HATE CRIME PROBE AT ISRAELI-AMERICAN COUNCIL HQ IN LOS ANGELES "Striking the Israeli flag that shielded the children is a way of saying that no place is safe for Jews, not even in the heart of Europe," Palombo said."The flag, in the mural, was not just a cloak that protected the children; it was also the sign of their belonging, the symbol of an identity that embraces them and, at the same time, exposes them. In that gesture of protection lay the tenderness of a people defending its children, but also the fragility of those who, precisely because of who they are, become targets of hatred."The children's likenesses were also damaged. ISRAEL ELIMINATES GAZA TERRORIST WHO TOOK PART IN OCT. ATTACK ON KIBBUTZ, TOOK YARDEN BIBAS HOSTAGE Palombo learned of the complete defacement through private messages on his social media channels.It is unclear if the artwork will be restored or recreated."I will respond as I always have, by continuing with my art without taking a single step back, because every attempt at erasure will be an opportunity to reaffirm who we are," Palombo told Fox News Digital.Other works of art by Palombo, including murals dedicated to Auschwitz survivor Sami Modiano, Italian Holocaust survivor Liliana Segre and Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor Edith Bruck, have been ruined in the past."Free, present, and determined not to retreat even a millimeter before this tsunami of fanaticism, fundamentalism and mad radicalism," Palombo said.

Passengers stunned as shark leaps from ocean and lands on their fishing boat
A viral video captured the moment a shark leaped out of the water in New Zealand and landed on a fishing boat, stunning the passengers on board.The incident happened in Whitianga, New Zealand, in early November 2022, according to Storyful.In the video, the mako shark bursts from the water and lands on the bow of the boat, flopping around before coming to rest near the front of the vessel. 75-FOOT BOAT SURFS WAVE, RUNS AGROUND IN HAWAII After several moments, the shark managed to wriggle free and return to the ocean unharmed. BEACH BLISS TURNS CHAOTIC AS SHARK LUNGES AT SNORKELER: 'HE COULD HAVE RIPPED MY ARM OFF' The shocked passengers on the boat were also unharmed.

Nursery apologizes for alleged antisemitic remark to jobseeker in rejection text message: 'Repugnant'
Public outrage erupted after a young Israeli jobseeker received a rejection message that civil rights activists condemned as "repugnant," sparking a protest outside an Australian plant nursery and prompting the business to publicly apologize for its co-owner's alleged antisemitic remarks .A 24-year-old Jewish woman, who wished to remain anonymous, received the rejection text after applying for a job at The Garden of Eden Nursery in Albert Park in Melbourne, the Herald Sun reported on Saturday.Brett Dahan allegedly told the woman that the position had been filled by "someone with a semblance of humanity" and that she should leave the country - just weeks after she had moved to Australia."Unfortunately, the position has been filled by someone with a semblance of humanity and who cares for plants, animals, and the environment. Good luck on your journey and I hope you leave Melbourne soon! Free Palestine and end genocide NOW. You're complicit in IT," the text read. IRAN'S PROXY WAR ON JEWS IS AN ALL-OUT ATTACK ON WESTERN CIVILIZATION. AUSTRALIA GETS IT Having expected a warm welcome after her move, the woman said she was "shocked and deeply disappointed" by the hostility of the response, the Herald Sun reported."I came to Australia believing it was a fair and welcoming country but reading those words - so full of hostility - was heartbreaking," she said. "I was judged, not as a person, but as an Israeli."In a phone call with the Herald Sun, Dahan said he "did not know" why he had sent the message. The local outlet added that he repeatedly failed to answer any follow-up questions. ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVIST CONFRONTS FORMER IDF SOLDIER ON NEW YORK BEACH, GETS QUESTIONED IN RETURN The incident has sparked widespread backlash from the Jewish community, with protesters gathering outside the nursery, news.com.au reported.According to Australia's Equal Opportunity Act, discriminating against a job applicant based on their nationality is illegal.In a statement shared by the company on Sunday, the nursery, run by twin brothers Brett and Scott Dahan, later issued a statement apologizing to the Jewish community and expressing regret over the message sent "by a staff member.""The Garden of Eden Nursery would like to express its regret and extend its sincere apologies to the community in regards to the recent message sent to a member of the public by a staff member," the company said, adding that the matter is being addressed internally. NETANYAHU SLAMS AUSTRALIA PM, SAYS HE 'BETRAYED ISRAEL AND ABANDONED AUSTRALIA'S JEWS' "We are deeply upset and disappointed by the content of the message, which in no way reflects the values, standards, or spirit of our business or team," the company continued.The country's Anti-Defamation Commission Chairman Dr. Dvir Abramovich criticized the apology Sunday and said true accountability would be to close the business."Mr. Dahan's repugnant text wasn't a slip. It was a deliberate, written act meant to humiliate and degrade," Abramovich said in a statement on social media. "Apologizing 'to the community,' blaming 'a staff member,' and saying it will be handled 'internally' is not accountability."Abramovich emphasized that the woman deserves a direct and personal apology from Dahan.The Garden of Eden Nursery did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

From Africa to Iran: Mamdani's mayoral win draws praise from unexpected quarters, sharp criticism
Zohran Mamdani's historic win as New York City's first Muslim mayor has sparked global reactions - from pride in Uganda to anxiety in Israel, to jubilation among leftists in Europe, and even praise from an Iranian lawmaker and a Hamas social media channel.The 34-year-old Democratic Socialist, born in Uganda to Indian parents, has become a symbol of a new, intersectional left - and a flashpoint for debates over socialism, Israel and U.S. foreign policy. In Uganda's capital of Kampala, Ugandans told Fox News Digital that Zohran Mamdani's victory as New York City's first Muslim mayor "felt like a homegrown win." Although his family left Uganda when he was an infant, many in the East African nation say they view him as one of their own - proof that Ugandans and immigrants alike can rise to global leadership.Siraje Kifamba Nsamba, a social worker at Uganda's Islamic Center for Education and Research, said Mamdani "has made history for Uganda." MAMDANI TAKES COMMANDING 22-POINT LEAD OVER CUOMO IN NEW POLL "He did not hide his identity as Ugandan by birth," Nsamba said. "Against all odds, he broke every record. He showed the world that you can come from here and lead anywhere."Nsamba added that Mamdani's campaign - built on promises of rent freezes, free public transit, and affordable living - resonated not only with struggling New Yorkers but also with Ugandans who saw in him an example of immigrant success."It motivates so many young people here," he said. "He's an example that you can come from home and become a leader in any field."Another Ugandan citizen said: "I want to cry out load because we lost such a great leader to New York. We've missed out because we believe in a system where there is a classless society where rich work for the poor... New York, I want to tell you there are more Mamdani here in Kampala, more for you".A Kampala rapper and local politician echoed that pride, calling Mamdani's victory "a triumph for artists, dreamers, and immigrants." Tom Mayanja, a musician known by his stage name The Mith UG, recalled interviewing Mamdani years ago and remembering him as "focused, witty, and deliberate." MAMDANI RIPPED BY RIVALS FOR UNPOPULAR STANCE DURING FIERY NYC DEBATE: 'YOU WON'T SUPPORT ISRAEL' Elsewhere, global reactions to Mamdani's win were mixed, reflecting both admiration and alarm.Jusoor News, a pan-Arab media outlet, shared content from Hamas-affiliated Telegram channels hailing Mamdani's win as "a moral victory for humanitarian politics."The Hamas-linked channel Kol al-Hakika described Mamdani as "a supporter of Hamas and a hater of Israel," claiming "everyone is cheering after the great winning of Mamdani." Other terrorist-affiliated accounts framed the result as "a change in Western power structures." SOCIALIST SHOCKWAVE: ZOHRAN MAMDANI STUNS NYC AS VOTERS HAND POWER TO DEMOCRATS' FAR-LEFT FLANK In Israel, reactions were far more severe. Amichai Chikli , Israel's Minister of Diaspora Affairs, said New York "handed over its keys to a supporter of Hamas," warning that "New York will no longer be the same, especially for its Jewish community," and urging Jewish New Yorkers to move to Israel.Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that Mamdani's election "will be remembered forever as a moment when antisemitism triumphed over common sense," calling him "a supporter of Hamas" and "a hater of Israel."In Iran, lawmaker Abolqasem Jarareh told Iran International that Mamdani's win was "a sign of the strength of the slogan 'Death to Israel.'"In the U.K., London's Mayor Sadiq Khan congratulated Mamdani on X stating, "New Yorkers faced a clear choice - between hope and fear - and just like we've seen in London - hope won."Former Labour Party leader and hard-left politician Jeremy Corbyn, who has been embroiled in accusations of antisemitism and who volunteered for Mamdani's campaign, wrote, "This is a seismic victory - not only for the people of New York, but for all those who believe that humanity and hope can prevail."French MEP Manon Aubry, co-chair of the Left bloc in the European Parliament, called the victory "a huge breath of hope in the world of Trump.""He overcame the media, economic, and political establishment that spent tens of millions of dollars to block his path," Aubry wrote, praising his refusal to "turn a blind eye to racism and Gaza," she wrote. In Canada , leader of the leftist NDP, Jagmeet Singh tweeted, "At a time when the odds feel so stacked against working-class people, the people of New York made history." Adriana James-Rodil contributed to this article.

Trump admin ramps up Sudan peace effort as civil war leaves tens of thousands dead
President Donald Trump 's global roller coaster of peace moves - led by him and his team to end wars around the world - is now picking up speed in Sudan, where a 30-month war has left tens of thousands dead, and some 14 million displaced from their homes."Ending wars is a priority for President Trump, and the United States remains focused on working with our partners and other stakeholders to resolve the crisis in Sudan," a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Wednesday, adding, "Engagement with all relevant stakeholders is essential to achieving this goal. Given the immediate urgency of de-escalating the violence, we will continue to engage with the belligerents to end the conflict."Talks to end the fighting between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, led by Gen. Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo Musa, known as Hemedti, and the Khartoum government's Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), under the control of Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, began during the Biden administration but failed to make headway. They have since gained momentum under President Trump, with the U.S. forming a so-called international Quad in September with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. 'PEACEMAKER' TRUMP CAN END AFRICA'S BIGGEST WAR, FORMER WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR SAYS Since the weekend, the pace of peace talks has become positively frenetic. The White House's senior advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, fresh from brokering a ceasefire in the 30-year war between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, held talks with Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Cairo on Sunday.On Monday, Boulos met with the Arab League, with the League stating that Trump's envoy had briefed them on U.S. efforts to "halt the war, expedite aid delivery, and initiate a political process."The Sudan Tribune then quoted Boulos as saying later on Monday, "Both parties have agreed in principle, and we have not recorded any initial objection from either side. We are now focusing on the fine details."But the two sides are still fighting. On Tuesday, Sudan's Defense Minister Hassan Kabroun talked to the country's state television network, following a government council meeting in Khartoum, saying, "We thank the Trump administration for its efforts and proposals to achieve peace," but added: "Preparations for the Sudanese people's battle are ongoing. Our preparations for war are a legitimate national right."Also on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt weighed in, telling reporters, "The United States is actively engaged in efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution to the terrible conflict in Sudan. We remain committed to working with our international partners, including Quad members - Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE - as well as others to lead a negotiated peace process that addresses both the immediate humanitarian crisis and the longer-term political challenges."Leavitt continued, "I actually spoke with Secretary Rubio about this, this morning, as, of course, there's been, you know, kind of an uptick in recent reporting on the matter. And he assured me that the administration is very much engaged. We're in pretty frequent communication with those Arab partners that I just mentioned. And we want to see this conflict come to a peaceful end, just as we have with so many others. But it's - the reality is - it's a very complicated situation on the ground right now." 'GOD HAVE MERCY ON US': SUDAN'S CHRISTIANS STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE UNDER SIEGE Analysts say last week's fall of the Sudanese city of El-Fasher, and with it the Darfur region to RSF fighters, effectively cutting the country in two, may have spurred all parties into action. "The RSF's full control of the Darfur region could have dangerous and worrying consequences in the future in terms of partition," Boulos told Al Jazeera.On Tuesday U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan. Speaking on the sidelines of a conference in Qatar, Guterres said the war was "spiraling out of control.""The fall of El-Fasher to the RSF is a defining moment in Sudan's brutal civil war", Mariam Wahba, research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Fox News Digital. Wahba continued: "It marks the militia's full control of the Darfur region and leaves Sudan effectively split in two."The human cost is staggering. On Monday, the U.N. reported that "over 21 million people across Sudan are facing high levels of acute food insecurity - the largest such crisis in the world." The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) found that famine is ongoing in the now-captured El-Fasher and in Kadugli, South Kordofan, with families trapped and surviving on leaves, animal feed and grass. 'NO MEANS OF ESCAPE': SUDANESE REBELS CREATE KILL ZONES AROUND BESIEGED CITY The Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Lab released satellite images taken over El-Fasher over the last week, stating Tuesday, "Evidence of body disposal activities include at least two earth disturbances consistent with mass graves at a mosque and the former Children's Hospital; there is one new instance of removal of objects consistent with bodies. This activity appears consistent with RSF conducting cleanup of their alleged mass atrocities."Sources say intense negotiations led by the U.S. team are continuing. Details of what's on offer have not been revealed, but it's understood an agreement would start with a three-month humanitarian truce, to allow aid delivery in, followed by a permanent ceasefire and a civilian-led transition."For Washington, the stakes in Sudan are rising by the day," the FDD's Wahba told Fox News Digital, adding, "The more time the RSF has to cement its control over Darfur and push toward Khartoum again, the harder it will become to prevent the country's permanent collapse. What happens next in Sudan will shape the balance of power across the Horn of Africa and signal to America's adversaries whether the United States still has the will to confront instability before it spreads in this critical region of the world."

Hegseth applauds South Korea's plan to take larger role in defense against North Korean aggression
U.S. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Tuesday lauded South Korea's plans to boost its military spending and take on a larger role in defending itself from North Korea's aggression.The U.S. has wanted South Korea to increase its conventional defense capabilities so that Washington can center its attention on China.Hegseth spoke to reporters after annual security talks with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul, where he said he was "greatly encouraged" by Seoul's commitment to raising defense spending and making greater investments in its own military capabilities.He said the two allies agreed that the investments would boost South Korea's ability to lead its conventional deterrence against its northern foe. US, CHINA AGREE TO OPEN DIRECT MILITARY HOTLINE AFTER XI-TRUMP SUMMIT South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, in a speech to parliament Tuesday, asked lawmakers to approve an 8.2% increase in defense spending next year. The president said the increase in spending would help modernize the military's weapons systems and reduce its reliance on the U.S.Hegseth noted defense cooperation on repairing and maintaining U.S. warships in South Korea, stressing that the activities harness South Korea's shipbuilding capabilities and "ensure our most lethal capabilities remain ready to respond to any crisis.""We face, as we both acknowledge, a dangerous security environment, but our alliance is stronger than ever," Hegseth said. TRUMP ARRIVES IN SOUTH KOREA FOR KEY TALKS AHEAD OF APEC SUMMIT, XI MEETING - NO KIM JONG UN REUINION Hegseth said the South Korea-U.S. alliance is primarily meant to respond to potential North Korean aggression , but other regional threats must also be addressed."There's no doubt flexibility for regional contingencies is something we would take a look at, but we are focused on standing by our allies here and ensuring the threat of the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] is not a threat to the Republic of Korea and certainly continue to extend nuclear deterrence as we have before," he said.In recent years, the U.S. and South Korea have discussed how to integrate nuclear weapons and South Korean conventional weapons.South Korea has no nuclear weapons, and Ahn denied speculation that it could eventually seek its own nuclear weapons program or that it is pushing for redeployment of U.S. tactical weapon weapons that were removed from South Korea in the 1990s.Earlier Tuesday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the country detected North Korea test-firing around 10 rounds of artillery toward its western waters on Monday, shortly before Hegseth arrived at an inter-Korean border village with Ahn to begin his two-day visit to South Korea.Hegseth visited the Demilitarized Zone on the border with North Korea earlier in the week.

Body of final US hostage Itay Chen, held by Hamas terrorists, brought home after 2 years in captivity
The body of the last U.S. citizen held by Hamas, Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, a 19-year-old dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, has been returned from Gaza for burial , the Israel Defense Forces confirmed Monday. Seven more hostages' bodies remain in Gaza."Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family that Itay had been returned for burial," the military said.Chen served as a combat soldier in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade. He was killed on the morning of October 7, 2023, while fighting near Kibbutz Nahal Oz-one of the hardest-hit communities in Hamas's brutal attack. Chen's tank was struck during the battle, and his body was taken into Gaza. His death was officially confirmed on March 10, 2024. BODY OF ISRAELI HOSTAGE WHO WAS HELD FOR NEARLY 700 DAYS IN GAZA IS RECOVERED Itay was the middle of three brothers. He grew up in Netanya, a city in central Israel, studied in an advanced academic program, and was known for his warmth, humor, and dedication. He loved basketball, hiking, and rock climbing, and before joining the army worked as a camp counselor. Even after sustaining an injury at camp, he insisted on finishing the summer to set an example for the kids he led. Later he enlisted as an armored-corps soldier, driven by a deep sense of duty to protect others. He leaves behind his parents, Ruby and Hagit, and his brothers Roi and Alon.Over the past year, his parents led an unrelenting campaign to bring their son home. They met with senior officials in Israel and Washington, including President Trump , advocating for the return of all hostages and the remains of the fallen.Ruby and Hagit Chen shared in a statement: "For 760 days, our dear and beloved son Itay, a hero of Israel, was held captive by Hamas. Last night, we received the bittersweet news of his return home to Israel. Even in this difficult moment, we remember that there are still seven hostages who must be brought back: Hadar Goldin, Ran Gvili, Meny Godard, Dror Or, Lior Rudaeff, Joshua Loitu Mollel and Sudthisak Rinthalak."Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the Chen family shortly after being notified of the identification. The prime minister offered his heartfelt condolences to the family, asked about the well-being of Roy and Alon, Itay's brothers, and vowed to continue the fight without relenting until the last hostage is returned. The family thanked the Prime Minister for bringing Itay home for a proper burial in Israel. Ruby Chen told Netanyahu that Itay's sacrifice must not be in vain, and that there could be no return to the mindset of Oct. 6. He emphasized the need to establish a commission of inquiry, noting that the people of Israel deserve answers about what happened on that terrible day - answers for the 2,000 bereaved families and tens of thousands wounded in body and spirit.President Trump's special envoy for Peace Missions, Steve Witkoff , also called the Chen family for an extended conversation. Witkoff expressed his admiration for how the family had conducted their campaign to bring Itay home, and underscored their pivotal role in highlighting the urgency of returning all remaining hostages. He added that the family helped President Trump grasp the critical importance of bringing home both the living and the deceased hostages and reinforced American determination and commitment to press forward until the last hostage is returned.The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said, "The return of Itay brings a measure of relief to a family that lived in agonizing uncertainty for more than two years. We will not rest until the last hostage is returned."Chen's funeral will take place this week with full military honors.

Hamas hands over another Israeli hostage's remains as Gaza ceasefire exchanges continue
Hamas handed over another coffin with the remains of an Israeli hostage to the Red Cross, who in turn delivered the body to Israeli officials, the Israeli military said on Tuesday.The Red Cross brought the coffin to Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed. The remains are set to be transferred into Israel, where a military rabbi will perform a military ceremony, Netanyahu's office added. Following the ceremony, the National Center of Forensic Medicine will conduct an identification process, and then the hostage's family will receive notification.Hamas earlier said that it found the body of an Israeli soldier who had been held hostage in Gaza, Reuters reported. Hamas said the body was found in Shejaia, an eastern suburb of Gaza City in an area still occupied by Israeli forces, after Israel granted access to the location for teams from Hamas and the International Committee of the Red Cross. ISRAEL RECEIVES 2 MORE HOSTAGE COFFINS FROM GAZA THROUGH RED CROSS OPERATION AS IDENTIFICATION BEGINS This follows Sunday's release of the bodies of three Israeli hostages, including American Omer Neutra. RED CROSS TO RECEIVE 'SEVERAL COFFINS OF DECEASED HOSTAGES' IN GAZA STRIP, IDF SAYS had agreed per the ceasefire to hand over the remains of 28 dead hostages in exchange for the bodies of 360 Palestinian militants who were killed in the Gaza war.Before Tuesday, Hamas had released the remains of 20 hostages, with eight remaining in Gaza. Fox News' Yael Kuriel, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Israel warns Hezbollah 'playing with fire,' presses Lebanon to act on weapons pledge
As Hezbollah rebuilds its forces and Lebanon is accused of failing to enforce the ceasefire terms brokered last year, Israel's defense minister has fired off a warning to Beirut.On Sunday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said, "Hezbollah is playing with fire, and the president of Lebanon is dragging his feet," he said. "The Lebanese government's commitment to dismantle Hezbollah's weapons and remove it from southern Lebanon must be realized. Enforcement will continue and deepen - we will not allow a threat to the residents of the north."His warning comes as Fox News Digital has learned that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is weighing broader operations against the Iran-backed terrorist group after repeated violations of the truce.A senior IDF officer stationed on the northern border told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that Hezbollah remains fully armed and funded by Iran. TRUMP ADMIN PRESSURES LEBANON TO DISARM HEZBOLLAH AS ENVOY CALLS NATION 'FAILED STATE' "Hezbollah didn't give up their heavy weapons," the officer said. "They're still trained, still financed by Iran , and still trying to re-establish their positions. Our job is to make sure they don't succeed."On Monday, the IDF confirmed it had killed two Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon. Muhammad Ali Hadid, a senior member of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force , was eliminated in Nabatieh, while another operative was struck in Ayta ash Shab after being seen collecting intelligence on Israeli positions."The terrorists' activities violated the understandings between Israel and Lebanon," the IDF said in a statement. "The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel."The senior officer said the operations reflect Israel's new, proactive security doctrine. "If somebody threatens us, we take control of the situation and make the threat go away," he said. "We pushed Hezbollah back, so civilians could return. Now we're fortifying those gains and acting to prevent their recovery."That, he added, is the lesson Israel learned from Oct. 7. "Until then, we sometimes looked the other way. That's over. We're not sitting and waiting for the next rocket."The officer said the IDF's 91st Division recently completed its largest exercise since the start of the war, designed to strengthen operational readiness for both defense and offensive operations along the Lebanese border - at sea, in the air, and on land."We tested our defensive systems, coordination, and rapid-response capabilities," he said. "We're applying every lesson from Oct. 7 so our response next time will be immediate."According to Israel's Haaretz newspaper, intelligence officials believe Hezbollah is rapidly rebuilding its arsenal with Iranian assistance. The group has partially restored its weapons supply chain through Syria and Iraq, despite disruptions following the collapse of the Assad regime last year.The Trump administration has also expressed frustration over Beirut's failure to curb Hezbollah. U.S. Special Envoy Thomas Barrack recently described Lebanon as "a failed state" because of its "paralyzed government," and that Hezbollah pays its fighters more than the national army soldiers earns. EXCLUSIVE: A LOOK AT HEZBOLLAH'S PLAN TO TERRORIZE AND INVADE NORTHERN ISRAEL Responding to Israel's preemptive strikes last week, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi urged his visiting German counterpart on Friday to "help pressure Israel to halt its attacks.""Only a diplomatic solution, not a military one, can ensure stability and maintain calm in the south," Raggi said, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).He added that the Lebanese government "is gradually moving forward with its decision to bring all weapons under state control."The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Thursday voiced "deep concerns", urging all parties "to fully commit to the cessation of hostilities."UNIFIL added that it remains in contact with the Lebanese Armed Forces and emphasized that extending state authority "is at the very core of Resolution 1701."Despite diplomatic criticism, Israeli commanders insist they will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild."We won't wait for another Oct. 7," the Israeli officer said. "We're vigilant, we're rebuilding, and we're ready. The quiet we have now depends on Hezbollah's choices - not on our willingness to defend ourselves."

Zelenskyy: Ukraine 'confidently moving toward' EU membership after European Commission progress report
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country is making key progress toward becoming a member state of the European Union (EU) ."The European Commission's Enlargement Package Report confirms: Ukraine is confidently moving toward EU membership and ready to open Clusters 1, 2, and 6," Zelenskyy wrote Tuesday on X."This is the best assessment to date-proof that even as we defend against Russia's full-scale aggression, Ukraine continues to reform and transform according to European standards."Ukraine has been an EU candidate country since it applied for membership in February 2022, days after Russia's invasion began. EUROPEAN LEADERS WILL JOIN TRUMP-ZELENSKYY MEETING, SIGNALING SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINE The European Commission released its 2025 Enlargement Package Report Tuesday, providing a status update on the progress of Montenegro, Albania , Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Turkey and Georgia in meeting the conditions for EU membership.The commission praised Ukraine for showing "remarkable resilience" in the face of Russia's invasion and a "strong commitment" to its EU accession path, but noted concerns about the country "ensuring a robust and independent anti-corruption framework ."Zelenskyy signed a controversial bill into law in late July that critics said would undermine the independence of Ukraine's key anti-corruption agencies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. Following public protests across Ukraine and international pressure, he signed a new law on July 31 reversing the changes.The commission called on Ukraine in its report to preserve the independence of anti-corruption institutions and to expand the jurisdiction of NABU."Ukraine has adopted roadmaps on the rule of law, public administration, and the functioning of democratic institutions, as well as an action plan on national minorities, which the Commission assessed positively. Ukraine has met the conditions required to open clusters: one (fundamentals), six (external relations), and two (internal market)," read a press release from the European Commission."The Commission expects Ukraine to meet the conditions to open the remaining three clusters and works to ensure that the Council is in a position to take forward the opening of all clusters before the end of the year." ZELENSKYY ARRIVES IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR TRUMP MEETING, URGES LASTING PEACE WITH RUSSIA It added that the Ukrainian government has signaled its objective to provisionally close accession negotiations by the end of 2028."The Commission is committed to support this ambitious objective but considers that, to meet it an acceleration of the pace of reforms is required, notably with regards to the fundamentals, in particular rule of law," the press release continued.Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's prime minister, wrote on X that the report showed the country's best result in three years."The course toward EU membership remains among the top priorities of our President, Parliament, and Government," she said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán , who has blocked Ukraine's EU accession progress, told reporters in October that he's proposed a "strategical agreement" with Kyiv instead of advancing talks toward full EU membership."Membership is too much," Orbán explained. "We need [a] strategic agreement only."

UN under fire as USAID investigators probe Hamas diversion of aid to Gaza
As the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues to play out, the USAID Office of the Inspector General (USAID OIG) pursues its investigation into allegations of U.S. taxpayer dollars being diverted to foreign terrorist organizations.A U.S. diplomatic official briefed on USAID OIG's ongoing investigations told Fox News Digital that the OIG's office "received and continues to receive reports directly from aid workers and other parties on the ground that counters the sanitized narrative that Hamas was never involved in the theft of American funded aid." The official reported that reports are still being "sent in by whistleblowers and aid workers who are fed up with the U.N.'s failure to identify Hamas as the culprit."USAID OIG issued its first warnings about the possible diversion of American aid to Gaza in Nov. 2023, noting that it was an "investigative priority to ensure that assistance does not fall into the hands of foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), including, but not limited to, Hamas."In a July 30 update, USAID OIG reported that it was "investigating credible allegations of Hamas interference, diversion, and theft of humanitarian aid in Gaza, as well as allegations of smuggling contraband into Gaza through humanitarian aid shipments." EXCLUSIVE: WHISTLEBLOWER ALLEGES MISCONDUCT BY UNITED NATIONS IN GAZA The United Nations has admitted that most of the aid it sent into Gaza after May 2025 was diverted by armed actors and hungry Gazans. Yet the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has stated that Hamas was not responsible for widespread aid diversion.In July, Reuters reported that a USAID analysis found little evidence of Hamas theft of Gaza aid, something the State Department and the White House disputed. Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, told Reuters that it "was likely produced by a deep state operative," seeking to discredit President Donald Trump's "humanitarian agenda."Over half of USAID programming is obligated to U.N. organizations. However, the USAID OIG reported in July 2024 that since October 2023, it had received "17 reports of alleged misconduct from five USAID-funded implementers," only two of which were submitted by U.N. organizations.The OIG also noted that U.N. organizations were exempt from USAID's partner vetting process, which "creates risk to USAID's programs." EXPERTS URGE TRUMP TO BAN TERROR-LINKED UN AGENCY FROM HIS GAZA PEACE PLAN The diplomatic source also reported seeing U.N. duplicity over food deliveries into Gaza firsthand. The source attended Joint Coordination Board meetings where officials from the Israel Defense Forces, U.S. Army, U.S. aid organizations, the U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross had "robust, extensive, and productive" discussions about aid deliveries and appeared to share "a sense of mission.""It was shocking then to read press releases by those same U.N. agencies, the very next day totally body-slamming the government of Israel for failing to coordinate delivery of aid," the official said.Much of the USAID OIG's effort since the outbreak of war following Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks has concerned Hamas' infiltration of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).The office concluded an investigation in April 2025 that found three UNRWA members were connected with the Oct. 7 attack and another 14 were affiliates of Hamas.UNRWA previously fired nine employees for their association with the attacks, according to reports.In July, USAID OIG reported being "unable to obtain from UNRWA" the names of the personnel it fired. AS ISRAEL FACES BLAME FOR THE HUNGER CRISIS IN GAZA, UN'S OWN DATA SHOWS MOST OF ITS AID IS LOOTED The diplomatic source said that the USAID OIG investigators "opened an independent investigation, obtaining information that UNRWA refused to provide through other sources and methods," with the goal of ensuring "that UNRWA officials associated with Hamas do not recirculate to other U.S. taxpayer-funded organizations operating in Gaza," the official said.Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., has begun an investigation into UNRWA staff participation in the Oct. 7 attacks, which led to over 1,200 Israelis and 32 Americans being killed and 251 people taken hostage.In an open letter to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres dated Oct. 27, Comer requested unredacted copies of a U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) report into UNRWA participation in the deadly attack and asked for correspondence and other details about staff who were investigated for their possible roles.Comer noted that the U.S. provides 22% of the U.N.'s general budget, 40% of its humanitarian budget and 25% of its peacekeeping budget, in addition to providing $343 million in 2022 and $422 million in 2023 to UNRWA. "The requested documents and communications are required for verification that no U.N. entity or NGO receiving American taxpayer funds employs individuals affiliated with or supporting terrorist entities," Comer said.Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for Guterres, told Fox News Digital that the U.N. has been "sharing information with the United States government on matters raised in the letter. We are presently considering the committee's request and intend to respond with relevant information." Dujarric said he would "not say anything more publicly at this time." NEW STUDY SAYS AID THEFT BY TERROR GROUPS AND REGIMES IS PROLONGING GLOBAL CONFLICTS William Deere, director of the UNRWA Representative Office in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital that "the United Nations provided the USAID IG with an unredacted copy of the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) investigation report months ago. To suggest information is being withheld from the U.S. is simply disingenuous. Following the government of Israel's initial allegations in January of 2024 of potential UNRWA staff misconduct, Commissioner-General Lazzarini immediately terminated the appointments of the named staff 'in the interest of the Agency,' to protect UNRWA's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance."Deere claimed that, "regrettably, since that time the government of Israel has failed to provide the United States, the United Nations, or UNRWA with the information and evidence that would substantiate its claims against UNRWA employees. Significantly, the government of Israel has also failed to take action against any of the named individuals in their own judicial system. The record is clear, UNRWA investigates every claim brought to it of potential employee misconduct, as evidenced by the multiple requests the agency has made to the Israeli government for the information in these cases."The U.S. diplomatic official familiar with UNRWA's investigation disputes the U.N.'s assertion that members of Hamas do not remain on UNRWA's payroll, saying that "Perhaps 'some' of the Oct. 7 terrorists were removed, but UNRWA continues to employ Hamas members, there is no question. They are a subsidiary of Hamas."A report on Monday by the Washington Free Beacon said a confidential copy of the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) report on UNRWA members' participation in the Oct. 7 attack claimed to show that OIOS dismissed the evidence provided by Israeli intelligence of intercepted calls between Hamas personnel and UNRWA staff as "likely authentic" but "insufficient" proof of cooperation to support the firing of 10 additional UNRWA employees. Additionally, the report said that the U.N. "did not investigate ties to Hamas outside participation in the Oct. 7 attacks."Foundation for Defense of Democracies Senior Advisor Richard Goldberg told Fox News Digital that " UNRWA was Hamas in Gaza . It remains a terror and radicalization threat elsewhere. When Israel banned UNRWA in Gaza, it was quickly replaced by other U.N. agencies and NGOs. UNRWA proved neither indispensable nor irreplaceable - a lie repeated by many.""We also need to dismantle the entire agency in the context of deradicalization," Goldberg said. "Oct. 7 will keep happening again and again so long as UNRWA exists. The Trump plan will fail where UNRWA is present. Arab countries are making peace with Israel. UNRWA is still waging the war of 1948."USAID OIG confirmed that its "investigations of UNRWA officials affiliated with Hamas are active and ongoing, and intended to prevent the recirculation of terrorists to other U.S.-funded organizations operating in Gaza."In response to questions about whether the State Department had utilized the USAID OIG report on UNRWA members' participation in Oct. 7 attacks, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital that "As a general matter, the department does not comment on internal or investigative reports, nor on actions that may be under consideration. UNRWA was complicit in Oct. 7 and is unfit for purpose. Our policy is that it will not play a role in Gaza again."

Avalanche in Nepal kills 7 climbers on Mount Yalung Ri
An avalanche on Monday swept through a camp in Nepal , killing five foreign climbers and two Nepali guides, officials said.Five foreigners were injured at the base camp on Mount Yalung Ri, located at 16,070 feet. Their nationalities and identities have not been disclosed.A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the agency was aware of the avalanche and was working to gather information. "The U.S. Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens," the spokesperson said. "We are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to provide consular assistance." DAREDEVIL MOUNTAINEER MAKES HISTORY SKIING DOWN MOUNT EVEREST THROUGH DEATH ZONE WITHOUT OXYGEN Rescue crews were reaching the site on foot. A rescue helicopter attempted to reach the site, but bad weather forced it to turn back. Nepal's Armed Police Force spokesperson Shailendra Thapa said it will try again Tuesday at dawn. BLIZZARD TRAPS HUNDREDS ON MOUNT EVEREST AS RESCUE TEAMS RACE TO SAVE LIVES Mount Yalung Ri is an 18,370-foot peak. It's considered suitable for beginners with no previous experience climbing high mountains.Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 tallest mountains, including Mount Everest .Earlier this month, a South Korean climber died after getting caught in a powerful storm while attempting to summit a Himalayan peak just south of Mount Everest.In the autumn months, climbers often scale smaller peaks before the rainy season and winter months.

Air India sole crash survivor says he feels like 'luckiest man' alive but struggles with trauma
The only survivor of June's Air India crash in the Indian City of Ahmedabad told BBC News he feels like the "luckiest man" alive - but said the label feels cruel as he mourns his brother and struggles with the physical and mental wounds left by the tragedy.Viswashkumar Ramesh, 39, was the only person to walk away from the wreckage of the London-bound Boeing 787 after it crashed moments after takeoff in Ahmedabad.He told BBC News that while his escape felt like a "miracle," the loss of his younger brother and the trauma that followed have left him unable to return to normal life."I lost my brother as well. My brother is my backbone," he said. "Last few years, he was always supporting me." INDIAN NATIONAL ALLEGEDLY STABBED 2 TEENS WITH FORK ON FLIGHT Since returning to his home in Leicester, Ramesh has battled severe post-traumatic stress, his advisors told the outlet, and has struggled to speak with his wife and 4-year-old son."Now I'm alone," he said. "I just sit in my room alone, not talking with my wife, my son. I just like to be alone in my house." Air India flight AI 171 , a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London's Gatwick Airport, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time. There were 242 passengers and crew members onboard the flight. 'LARGER THAN LIFE' SHIPWRECK EXPLORER DIES DURING DEEP-SEA DIVING EXPEDITION Video from the scene showed smoke rising from the wreckage as Ramesh stumbled away with minor visible injuries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later visited him in the hospital, where Ramesh recalled unbuckling his seatbelt and crawling out of the fuselage through an opening near his seat, 11A.Speaking beside local community leader Sanjiv Patel and family spokesman Radd Seiger, Ramesh said reliving the crash remains too painful."I'm thinking all night, I'm suffering mentally," he told BBC News. "Every day is painful for the whole family." NAVY ACCUSED OF NEGLECTING BRAIN INJURIES AMONG PILOTS IN NEW HOUSE PROBE Ramesh said he continues to endure physical pain from leg, shoulder, knee, and back injuries that prevent him from working or driving."When I walk, not walk properly, slowly, slowly, my wife helps," he said.His advisors said he was diagnosed with PTSD while hospitalized in India but has not received further treatment since returning to the U.K. FOX NEWS' ERIC SHAWN REVEALS CANCER AND RESPIRATORY ILLNESS FROM 9/11 TOXIC DUST They described him as "lost and broken," calling for senior Air India officials to meet with him and other families affected by the crash."They're in crisis, mentally, physically , financially," Patel said. "It's devastated his family."Seiger said repeated requests for a meeting with the airline have been ignored or declined."The people who should be sitting here today are the executives of Air India," he said. "Please come and sit down with us so that we can work through this together to try and alleviate some of this suffering."Fox News Digital has reached out to Air India for comment on the matter.Still, Air India, owned by Tata Group, said in a statement to BBC News that company leaders have continued to visit families of victims and that an offer to meet Ramesh's representatives "remains open."The airline said care for Ramesh and others affected by the crash "remains our absolute priority."

Exclusive: Tulsi Gabbard visits US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center in Israel amid Trump peace push
EXCLUSIVE: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard made a surprise visit to the U.S.-operated Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) as American forces work on the planning and implementation of phase two in the ceasefire deal."It's a living example of what can happen when nations unite for common interests with the potential impact of lasting peace that benefits generations to come," Gabbard told Fox News about the CMCC. US SENDS CENTCOM TROOPS TO ISRAEL FOR TRUMP-BROKERED HAMAS CEASEFIRE MONITORING The CMCC will support the stabilization efforts inside Gaza and facilitate humanitarian and security assistance that is under development as part of the broader Trump administration peace plan."For the first time in a generation, there's a genuine sense of hope and optimism, not just in Israel , but across the Middle East," Gabbard added. "That's because of President Trump's leadership and the groundwork he laid through his historic peace deal."Intelligence sharing and coordination are expected to play a critical role in the success of the ceasefire, part of the reason Gabbard arrived in Israel to see operations first-hand.The Director of National Intelligence revealed that right now 16 countries and 20 NGOs are working side-by-side as part of this multinational civilian and military force aimed at bringing stability to Gaza, while ushering in a new chapter for the Middle East. NETANYAHU ADVISOR EXPRESSES 'DEEP FAITH' IN TRUMP'S GAZA CEASEFIRE PLAN FRAMEWORK APPROACH "The American people should know that the U.S. presence at the CMCC is about leadership, coordination, and service," Gabbard said.Around 200 U.S. service members are on the ground participating in the CMCC, but will not enter the Gaza Strip. A coalition of forces from Arab countries will ultimately send stabilization personnel into the enclave to assist with implementing the administration's peace plan."In conversations I had with leaders from across the region, including in Manama, people spoke openly and hopefully about a future defined not by conflict, but by cooperation and stability," Gabbard said. "Progress is possible with strong leadership and a shared vision for peace."Gabbard, who also visited the Kerem Shalom Crossing along the Gaza border, is the latest Trump administration official to visit Israel as part of a broader push to ensure the peace plan is successful. Her trip follows similar visits by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff."This is a challenging mission which requires clear communication, coordination and transparency," Gabbard concluded. "Intelligence supports not only security, and achieving lasting peace and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians."

Belgium suspects drones flying over base reported to host US nuclear weapons were 'spying'
Belgium's defense minister said a series of unidentified drones flying over a military base that is reported to house U.S. nuclear weapons could be part of a spying operation.Theo Francken wrote on his X account that multiple drones were spotted above the Kleine-Brogel Air Base in northern Belgium over the weekend."A drone jammer was used, but without success... A helicopter and police vehicles pursued the drone, but lost it after several kilometers," he said."Thanks to the guard for their attention and follow-up. Thanks to the police services. We continue to strengthen our vigilance in order to apprehend the pilots." NATO COUNTRY REPORTS DRONES OVER LARGEST MILITARY BASE AFTER AIRPORT ATTACK, MULLS RESPONSE Francken told RTBF, Belgium's French-language public broadcaster, the situation was "very concerning" and "worrying."The defense minister added that the incidents were under investigation but suggested they could have been part of a spying operation."They [the drones] come to spy, to see where the F-16s are, where the munitions are, and other highly strategic items," Francken told RTBF. "It's not a drone that just happened to cross the military base. It was there for a long time, so it was definitely for spying." RUSSIA SHIFTS FROM TALK TO ACTION, TARGETING NATO HOMELAND AMID FEARS OF GLOBAL WAR Kleine-Brogel is integral to NATO's nuclear deterrence posture in Europe and houses F-16 fighter jets, according to its website. The air base said on its website that the jets will be replaced in a few years by the F-35A, the U.S. Air Force's latest fifth-generation fighter.Nuclear watchdogs have reported the base as home to U.S. nuclear bombs under NATO weapons sharing agreements.In a series of airspace incursions in September, Russian drones entered Poland and three MiG-31 fighter jets crossed into Estonia, prompting NATO aircraft to intercept and escort them out.Belgium's defense minister said he couldn't confirm Russia was behind the drones over Kleine-Brogel but noted the Kremlin's motives were clear and accused Moscow of waging a " hybrid war " across Europe.President Donald Trump told reporters in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft that violate their airspace. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also warned Moscow after a series of drone incursions that the 32-member alliance is prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory."We are a defensive Alliance, yes, but we are not naive, so we see what is happening and whether it is intentional or not - if it is not intentional, then it is blatantly incompetence ," he said. "And of course, even if it is incompetence, we still have to defend ourselves."

Mamdani's socialist agenda draws European leftists to NYC seeking political lessons
European left-wing politicians are crossing the Atlantic to study a campaign model they see as a blueprint for revival - the campaign of New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani , a Democratic Socialist whose grassroots machine has captured attention far beyond his Queens district.According to a Politico Europe report on Monday, far-left delegations from France, Germany and the U.K. visited New York this week to observe Mamdani's operation firsthand. Among them were the deputy leader of the U.K. Green Party; a parliamentary officer for Germany's Left (Die Linke) Party; as well as a French member of the European Parliament, with the goal of translating what they see as a successful campaign into more victories for Europe's hard-left parties.Alan Mendoza, executive director of the London-based Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital, "Nobody would have thought New York would succumb to this five years ago. But there are certain conditions - a problematic economy, cost-of-living issues, and weak opposition - that make it fertile ground. Those conditions certainly exist in many European cities, so you can see an immediate crossover." ANTISEMITISM WATCHDOG ISSUES SCATHING 'ALARM BELL' REPORT ON MAMDANI AS NYC ELECTION NEARS Mendoza added, "It's no surprise they're coming to study Mamdani's campaign ," he said. "It looks like it's going to be a very successful one, and the fact that somebody with his views and policies looks like they're about to be elected as mayor of one of the most famous cities in the world is a boon to all those who share his politics internationally."Mendoza described Mamdani as a "trailblazer" for hard-left movements that have often struggled to win major offices in Western democracies. "He's bringing victory where there has always previously been defeat for politicians of the far left," he said. "His tactics, his style, his pronouncements - his form of forging a governing coalition, are going to be of keen interest to similar hard leftists around the world." UK POLITICIAN JEREMY CORBYN, WHO WAS OUSTED OVER ANTISEMITISM ALLEGATIONS, SHOWS SUPPORT FOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI In New York, Mamdani has built his base through neighborhood-level activism, which European politicians see as a path to reenergize voters. The former leader of the U.K.'s Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, who now leads the upstart Your Party, said on social media that he and his team phone banked for Mamdani.Corbyn shared the phone-banking link which leads a website organized by the Democratic Socialists of America's NYC chapter which is urging volunteers to mobilize voters for Mamdani.Mendoza warned that replicating Mamdani's ideological platform could deepen polarization. "Europe is already more statist and more left-wing as a rule than America anyway," he said. "So if he can win in New York, why can't a hard leftist win in Europe ? The question is whether those policies would actually work - and history shows they don't."Mendoza dismissed identity as a driving factor behind Mamdani's success, despite debates over his immigrant background. "It's not an ethnicity question," he said. "It's a question of what his ideology is - and that can be shared by people whether they're born in a country or not." Fox News' Emma Bussey contributed to this report.

Mexican mayor who took hard line against drug gangs shot and killed at Day of the Dead event
A Mexican mayor who was outspoken in his opposition to drug cartels and pushed for hardline laws against trafficking was killed in a shooting at a Day of the Dead celebration this weekend.Before his death, Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo had been critical of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for what he saw as a lack of effort in combating cartels. His city lies in Michoacán State, which suffers from particularly high levels of cartel violence."We need greater determination from the president of Mexico ," Manzo told local media in September, vowing not to take "a single step back.""I do not want to be just another mayor on the list of those who have been executed and had their lives taken away from them," he continued. "I am very afraid, but I must face it with courage." FAMILY MEMBER OF INFANTS BURNED ALIVE BY CARTEL THANKS TRUMP FOR CRACKDOWN: 'HOPEFUL FOR THE FIRST TIME' State officials say Manzo was shot seven times on Saturday night during a Day of the Dead vigil. He died of his wounds in a nearby hospital. COAST GUARD NABS 50 TONS OF COCAINE BOUND FOR POSH COASTAL ENCLAVES AS CARTEL OPS 'RIVAL AMAZON': EXPERT Mexican Security Minister Omar García Harfuch announced an investigation into Manzo's killing on Sunday."We send our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and the residents of Uruapan, who today are experiencing a painful and unjust loss at the hands of organized crime ," Harfuch said at a press conference. "There will be no impunity."Authorities said Manzo's security was extensive, comprised of officers handpicked by Manzo as well as 14 National Guard members.Manzo's aggressive approach to crime earned him the moniker "Mexican Bukele," referring to El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, who has led a massive crackdown on gang violence in his country. According to the New York Times, Manzo had been critical of Sheinbaum's approach to cartel issues since her inauguration in October 2024."If she thinks she's going to detain these criminals without a single shot fired and that they'll just turn themselves in, well, she should get it done," Manzo said in a May speech, referring to Sheinbaum. "And believe me, if she manages to do that, I will immediately submit my resignation."

UK politician Jeremy Corbyn, who was ousted over antisemitism allegations, shows support for Zohran Mamdani
Jeremy Corbyn, the former UK Labour Party leader expelled from his party over antisemitism allegations, was working to help Zohran Mamdani tighten his grip on New York City on Sunday.Mamdani's alliance with Corbyn comes within days of the polls opening in the New York City mayoral race, where he is the progressive challenger to the Democrats.Known for his criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza and alignment with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), like Corbyn, Mamdani has faced accusations of antisemitism. Corbyn, now an independent MP, announced his support for Mamdani on Sunday via Facebook, posting a photo of himself holding up a "North London 4 Zohran" shirt. NEW JERSEY DEMS SNUB ENDORSING SOCIALIST CANDIDATE MAMDANI AS GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION LOOMS "Let's get Zohran over the finish line for a New York that's affordable for all!" the post read."Corbyn supporting Mamdani. What a surprise." commented one social user. "Why are you interfering with influencing politics in New York?" asked another.Corbyn also shared a phone-banking link which leads a website organized by the DSA's NYC chapter which is urging volunteers to mobilize voters for Mamdani."Join NYC-DSA and Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of the UK's Labour Party , as we call New Yorkers to get out the vote for Zohran Mamdani for mayor. We're just two days from election day, and every conversation pushes us closer to winning a better New York," the website reads. DNC EMBRACES SOCIALIST MAMDANI AS RESURFACED ANTI-ISRAEL REMARKS RAISE ALARM: 'BIG TENT PARTY' Corbyn's well-documented history with antisemitism allegations runs back to 2020 when the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that the Labour Party under his leadership had committed unlawful acts of discrimination against Jewish members.Corbyn was suspended and formally expelled from the Labour Party in 2024 because of his response to the report. He has since launched a new left-wing political party called "Your Party," and continues to deny all allegations of antisemitism. NY STATE DEM BOSS REFUSES TO ENDORSE MAMDANI, CAUSING HUGE RIFT IN PARTY Reacting to the collaboration, former New York Governor and mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo quickly condemned Mamdani's decision, writing on X."Having Jeremy Corbyn - someone whose party was found to have committed unlawful acts of discrimination against Jewish people under his leadership - phone-banking for @ZohranKMamdani says everything you need to know."NY doesn't need politics of moral compromise. We need leadership that rejects antisemitism, extremism, and division in every form and in every corner," he wrote. MEET MAMDANI'S RADICAL ADVISORY CIRCLE THAT INCLUDES COMMUNIST ACTIVIST, ANTI-ISRAEL ADVOCATES Meanwhile, a week before the election, a campaign finance watchdog group, the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, filed two criminal referrals against Mamdani , claiming he received illegal contributions from foreign donors.The Mamdani campaign maintains that any issue regarding financial contributions has been resolved.Fox News Digital has reached out to Zohran Mamdani for comment.

Trump confirms body of American hostage Omer Neutra returned by Hamas
The body of Omer Neutra, a U.S. citizen, has been returned by Hamas along with two other deceased hostages, President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday.Speaking to reporters on Air Force One heading back to Washington from Florida, Trump also said he had spoken to Neutra's parents."We got Neutra, from New York , from the United States and I spoke to his parents," the president said."They're thrilled in one sense, but in another sense, obviously, not too great. We're very happy to have done it. We have three. We got three bodies back today that they found, and we're looking for the remainder," Trump added.Neutra had joined the Israeli army after a gap year in Israel in 2020 and had attended college at Binghamton University. RED CROSS TO RECEIVE 'SEVERAL COFFINS OF DECEASED HOSTAGES' IN GAZA STRIP, IDF SAYS Earlier Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's office announced Israel has received the remains of three Israeli hostages through the Red Cross; the remains were recovered by IDF and Shin Bet forces inside the Gaza Strip, according to a statement.The announcement said the bodies would be transferred to Israel , where they will be honored in a military ceremony led by the Chief Military Rabbi.Afterward, they will be taken to the National Center of Forensic Medicine of the Ministry of Health for identification. Once the process is completed, official notifications will be delivered to the families.All families of the deceased hostages have been informed, and the government expressed deep condolences with the statement saying its "hearts are with them at this difficult time." RED CROSS TO RECEIVE 'SEVERAL COFFINS OF DECEASED HOSTAGES' IN GAZA STRIP, IDF SAYS The official statement also reaffirmed Israel's ongoing commitment to bringing all hostages home and declared that efforts will continue "relentlessly and will not cease until the last hostage is brought home."The Israeli public was also urged to respect the families' privacy and avoid spreading unverified information, with updates provided only from official sources.Though the identities of the bodies have not yet been confirmed, Hamas said they were three Israeli soldiers. HAMAS HANDS OVER 3 DECEASED HOSTAGES TO RED CROSS, ISRAEL SAYS So far, Hamas has returned 17 deceased hostages since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10 . But 11 other hostage bodies are still thought to be in Gaza.Per Reuters, Israel claimed Hamas has been slow at delivering the deceased bodies, while Hamas said it is working as quickly as possible but under difficult conditions.Otherwise, before Sunday's hostage release, Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza , killing one, according to reports.The Israeli army claimed its aircraft struck a militant who was a threat to its forces, while Al-Ahli Hospital said one man had been killed in the airstrike in Gaza City, according to reports. HAMAS HANDS OVER REMAINS OF HOSTAGE WHOSE BODY WAS RECOVERED NEARLY 2 YEARS AGO "There are still Hamas pockets in the areas under our control in Gaza, and we are systematically eliminating them," Netanyahu said during an Israeli broadcast. Hamas had agreed per the ceasefire to hand over the remains of 28 dead hostages in exchange for the bodies of 360 Palestinian militants that were killed in the Gaza war.

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