French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier.

In other news,&nbsp;US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday (Dec 13) and pledged to work with Baghdad to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's ouster from Syria.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines&nbsp;to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-francois-bayrou-the-new-french-pm-who-will-battle-the-political-chaos-783765">Who is Francois Bayrou? The new French PM set to battle the political&nbsp;chaos</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471050-00036qc2wd.jpg?imwidth=400" />

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syria-crisis-updates-blinken-vows-to-work-with-iraq-against-is-syrians-celebrate-assads-fall-783807">West Asia crisis: Blinken vows to work with Iraq against IS</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471080-luigi-mangione-18.png?imwidth=400" />

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday (Dec 13) and pledged to work with Baghdad to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's ouster from Syria.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-airstrike-targets-ukraines-energy-system-in-retaliation-for-us-supplied-missile-use-783735">Russian airstrike targets Ukraine’s energy system in retaliation for US-supplied missile use</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/06/469922-untitled-design-8.jpg?imwidth=400" />

Russia carried out a major aerial strike on Ukraine on Friday (Dec&nbsp;13) morning, deploying cruise missiles and drones to target energy infrastructure, particularly in the western border regions. The attack is part of a renewed campaign against Ukraine’s electricity network, which has already caused extended power outages for millions of civilians.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/three-indian-students-murdered-in-canada-says-new-delhi-783790">'Terrible tragedies': Three Indian students killed in Canada, says New Delhi</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471068-untitled-4.png?imwidth=400" />

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday (Dec 13) that three Indian students were murdered in Canada in the last week or so, adding, it was in touch with the victims' families and the local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/parents-of-kolkata-rape-murder-victim-slam-failing-system-after-sandip-ghosh-one-other-granted-bail-783797">Parents of murdered RG Kar doctor slam system after ex-principal gets bail</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/08/13/449072-untitled-design-54.png?imwidth=400" />

The parents of the junior doctor who was raped and murdered at&nbsp;RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the Indian city of&nbsp;Kolkata&nbsp;expressed their heartbreak and disappointment after two&nbsp;accused in the case were granted bail on Friday (Dec 13).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-can-influence-putin-on-peace-estonia-fm-margus-tsahkna-783707">India can influence Putin on peace: Estonia FM Margus Tsahkna</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471009-sibal-interview.jpg?imwidth=400" />

Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has emphasised that India can influence Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace as the war in Ukraine enters its third year in 2025.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/drones-seen-in-new-jersey-white-house-says-no-proof-that-sightings-pose-national-security-threat-783775">Drones seen in New Jersey: White House says no proof that sightings pose national security threat</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471054-untitled-3.png?imwidth=400" />

The White House on Friday (Dec 13) said that the United States (US) administration had no evidence that the recent drone sightings in the US state of New Jersey posed a national security or a public safety threat.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jamaica-proposes-bill-to-remove-king-charles-as-head-state-and-become-a-republic-783796">Jamaica proposes bill to remove King Charles as head state and become a republic</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471073-luigi-mangione-17.png?imwidth=400" />

In the first step to remove King Charles as head state and become a country republic, the Jamaican government presented a bill in parliament on Wednesday (Dec 11) to abolish the constitutional monarchy.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-icc-approves-hybird-model-after-long-saga-india-to-play-in-dubai-report-783784">Champions Trophy 2025: ICC approves hybrid model after long saga - Report</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/09/13/454589-champions-trophy-2025-pcb-to-spend-this-whooping-amount-on-stadium-renovation.png?imwidth=400" />

The saga surrounding the Champions Trophy 2025 is over as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved the hybrid mode, meaning India will not travel to Pakistan for the coveted tournament.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/actor-allu-arjun-granted-bail-from-high-court-783754">Actor Allu Arjun granted bail from High court in Pushpa 2 stampede case</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/13/471055-happy-30th-birthday-45.png?imwidth=400" />

Actor Allu Arjun has been granted interim bail from the High Court in connection with the death of a woman in Hyderabad. Earlier in the day (Dec 13), the Pushpa 2 actor was arrested in a case filed against him for causing a stampede-like situation that resulted in the death of a woman.&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier.

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier. In other news, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday (Dec 13) and pledged to work with Baghdad to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's ouster from Syria. Click on the headlines to read more: Who is Francois Bayrou? The new French PM set to battle the political chaos French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier. West Asia crisis: Blinken vows to work with Iraq against IS US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday (Dec 13) and pledged to work with Baghdad to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's ouster from Syria. Russian airstrike targets Ukraine’s energy system in retaliation for US-supplied missile use Russia carried out a major aerial strike on Ukraine on Friday (Dec 13) morning, deploying cruise missiles and drones to target energy infrastructure, particularly in the western border regions. The attack is part of a renewed campaign against Ukraine’s electricity network, which has already caused extended power outages for millions of civilians. 'Terrible tragedies': Three Indian students killed in Canada, says New Delhi India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday (Dec 13) that three Indian students were murdered in Canada in the last week or so, adding, it was in touch with the victims' families and the local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation. Parents of murdered RG Kar doctor slam system after ex-principal gets bail The parents of the junior doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the Indian city of Kolkata expressed their heartbreak and disappointment after two accused in the case were granted bail on Friday (Dec 13). India can influence Putin on peace: Estonia FM Margus Tsahkna Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has emphasised that India can influence Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace as the war in Ukraine enters its third year in 2025. Drones seen in New Jersey: White House says no proof that sightings pose national security threat The White House on Friday (Dec 13) said that the United States (US) administration had no evidence that the recent drone sightings in the US state of New Jersey posed a national security or a public safety threat. Jamaica proposes bill to remove King Charles as head state and become a republic In the first step to remove King Charles as head state and become a country republic, the Jamaican government presented a bill in parliament on Wednesday (Dec 11) to abolish the constitutional monarchy. Champions Trophy 2025: ICC approves hybrid model after long saga - Report The saga surrounding the Champions Trophy 2025 is over as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved the hybrid mode, meaning India will not travel to Pakistan for the coveted tournament. Actor Allu Arjun granted bail from High court in Pushpa 2 stampede case Actor Allu Arjun has been granted interim bail from the High Court in connection with the death of a woman in Hyderabad. Earlier in the day (Dec 13), the Pushpa 2 actor was arrested in a case filed against him for causing a stampede-like situation that resulted in the death of a woman.

Top 10 world news: Macron picks Francois Bayrou as new French PM; West Asia crisis updates, and more

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (Dec 12) cautioned against further escalating conflicts in Syria after rebel factions ousted Bashar al-Assad from power.&nbsp;

Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh, at the age of just&nbsp;18, became the youngest World Chess Champion, defeating China’s Ding Liren in Singapore on Thursday. He is only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to achieve this feat.&nbsp;

In other news from around the world, Time Magazine on Thursday named US President-elect Donald Trump as its "Person of the Year" for the second time, citing his remarkable political resurgence&nbsp;since&nbsp;2016.

Click on the headlines&nbsp;to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-antony-blinken-warns-against-triggering-further-conflicts-in-syria-783566">West Asia crisis: Antony Blinken warns against triggering further conflicts in Syria</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/12/470907-untitled-5.png?imwidth=400" />

United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (Dec 12) warned against triggering further conflicts in Syria, days after rebel factions ousted Bashar al-Assad from the West Asian country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-part-of-my-dream-says-d-gukesh-on-historic-world-chess-championship-win-783558">'Big part of my dream,' says D Gukesh on historic World Chess Championship win</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/12/470894-big-part-of-my-dream-says-d-gukesh-on-historic-world-chess-championship-win.png?imwidth=400" />

India’s D Gukesh scripted history on Thursday (Dec 12) after he became the youngest World Chess Championship winner.&nbsp;After the win, he was seen emotional and reflected on accomplishing his big dream after winning in game 14 of the World Chess Championship.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-gets-times-person-of-the-year-recognition-for-second-time-783550">Trump named Time's 'Person of the Year' for second time, rings New York Stock Exchange’s opening bell</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/12/470896-luigi-mangione-4.png?imwidth=400" />

Time Magazine named United States President-elect Donald Trump as “Person of the Year" on Thursday (Dec 12). This marks the second time the news magazine has honoured the Republican with the title since 2016.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mediterranean-shipwreck-11-year-old-girl-survives-3-days-in-mediterranean-sea-783552">Shocking Mediterranean shipwreck: 11-year-old girl found after three days at sea</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/12/470898-untitled-design-20.jpg?imwidth=400" />

The 11-year-old girl was spotted by chance when the crew of the rescue vessel Trotamar III, operated by Compass Collective, heard her weak calls for help&nbsp;despite the engine running.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/places-of-worship-act-validity-sc-restrains-courts-from-passing-orders-in-suits-against-religious-structures-783491">Places of Worship Act validity: SC restrains courts from passing orders in suits against religious structures</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/12/470857-untitled-1.png?imwidth=400" />

The Indian Supreme Court on Thursday (Dec 12) restrained all courts in the country from passing any effective or interim order, including orders of survey in pending suits against existing religious structures.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syrias-interim-government-promises-rule-of-law-after-assads-overthrow-783527">After Assad's ouster, what changes will Syria’s interim government bring?</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/11/470619-mohammad-al-bashir.png?imwidth=400" />

In a significant turn of events post-Bashar al-Assad's ouster from Syria a few days back, the interim government on Thursday (Dec 12) pledged to implement the "rule of law," as G7 powers pushed for an inclusive transition.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cabinet-approves-one-nation-one-election-bill-likely-to-be-tabled-this-winter-session-783475">Centre approves 'One Nation One Election' bill, likely to be tabled in Winter Session of Parl</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/12/470848-luigi-mangione.png?imwidth=400" />

The Union Cabinet of India on Thursday (Dec 12) reportedly approved the 'One Nation One Election' bill, which allows simultaneous Lok Sabha and state polls. The approved bill is likely to be introduced in the ongoing winter session of the Indian parliament.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazils-president-lula-undergoes-successful-surgery-health-stable-after-emergency-brain-operation-783509">Brazilian President Lula's health stable following second operation after emergency brain surgery</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/12/470869-untitled-design-19.jpg?imwidth=400" />

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 79, has successfully undergone a follow-up surgery to reduce the risk of further bleeding after emergency cranial surgery earlier this week, his doctor confirmed on Thursday (Dec 12).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/krispy-kreme-confirms-cybersecurity-breach-online-ordering-disrupted-across-us-financial-impact-expected-783482">Krispy Kreme confirms cybersecurity breach, online ordering disrupted across US</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/02/09/411068-untitled-design-2024-02-09t171506539.png?imwidth=400" />

Krispy Kreme, a well-known United States-based doughnut chain, confirmed on Wednesday (Dec 11) that it was targeted by a cyberattack, disrupting its online systems. Since the security breach, customers across the US have faced issues placing online orders.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/iranian-singer-parastoo-ahmadi-gives-online-concert-without-hijab-783542">Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi gives online concert without hijab</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/12/12/470891-happy-30th-birthday-43.png?imwidth=400" />

An Iranian singer was Thursday hailed as a hero by supporters but faced prosecution from the judiciary after giving an online concert not wearing the hijab in defiance of the dress code.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (Dec 12) cautioned against further escalating conflicts in Syria after rebel factions ousted Bashar al-Assad from power.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (Dec 12) cautioned against further escalating conflicts in Syria after rebel factions ousted Bashar al-Assad from power. Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh, at the age of just 18, became the youngest World Chess Champion, defeating China’s Ding Liren in Singapore on Thursday. He is only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to achieve this feat. In other news from around the world, Time Magazine on Thursday named US President-elect Donald Trump as its "Person of the Year" for the second time, citing his remarkable political resurgence since 2016. Click on the headlines to read more: West Asia crisis: Antony Blinken warns against triggering further conflicts in Syria United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (Dec 12) warned against triggering further conflicts in Syria, days after rebel factions ousted Bashar al-Assad from the West Asian country. 'Big part of my dream,' says D Gukesh on historic World Chess Championship win India’s D Gukesh scripted history on Thursday (Dec 12) after he became the youngest World Chess Championship winner. After the win, he was seen emotional and reflected on accomplishing his big dream after winning in game 14 of the World Chess Championship. Trump named Time's 'Person of the Year' for second time, rings New York Stock Exchange’s opening bell Time Magazine named United States President-elect Donald Trump as “Person of the Year" on Thursday (Dec 12). This marks the second time the news magazine has honoured the Republican with the title since 2016. Shocking Mediterranean shipwreck: 11-year-old girl found after three days at sea The 11-year-old girl was spotted by chance when the crew of the rescue vessel Trotamar III, operated by Compass Collective, heard her weak calls for help despite the engine running. Places of Worship Act validity: SC restrains courts from passing orders in suits against religious structures The Indian Supreme Court on Thursday (Dec 12) restrained all courts in the country from passing any effective or interim order, including orders of survey in pending suits against existing religious structures. After Assad's ouster, what changes will Syria’s interim government bring? In a significant turn of events post-Bashar al-Assad's ouster from Syria a few days back, the interim government on Thursday (Dec 12) pledged to implement the "rule of law," as G7 powers pushed for an inclusive transition. Centre approves 'One Nation One Election' bill, likely to be tabled in Winter Session of Parl The Union Cabinet of India on Thursday (Dec 12) reportedly approved the 'One Nation One Election' bill, which allows simultaneous Lok Sabha and state polls. The approved bill is likely to be introduced in the ongoing winter session of the Indian parliament. Brazilian President Lula's health stable following second operation after emergency brain surgery Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 79, has successfully undergone a follow-up surgery to reduce the risk of further bleeding after emergency cranial surgery earlier this week, his doctor confirmed on Thursday (Dec 12). Krispy Kreme confirms cybersecurity breach, online ordering disrupted across US Krispy Kreme, a well-known United States-based doughnut chain, confirmed on Wednesday (Dec 11) that it was targeted by a cyberattack, disrupting its online systems. Since the security breach, customers across the US have faced issues placing online orders. Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi gives online concert without hijab An Iranian singer was Thursday hailed as a hero by supporters but faced prosecution from the judiciary after giving an online concert not wearing the hijab in defiance of the dress code.

Top 10 world news: West Asia crisis updates; Indian chess prodigy Gukesh scripts history, and more

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be taking the witness stand on Tuesday (Dec. 10) for the first time in his trial on corruption allegations, a report by the news agency Associated Press on Monday said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be taking the witness stand on Tuesday (Dec. 10) for the first time in his trial on corruption allegations, a report by the news agency Associated Press on Monday said. Prime Minister Netanyahu is on trial for accusations of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes in three separate affairs. He has denied wrongdoing. This will be the first time that an Israeli PM has taken the stand as a criminal defendant. What to know about the corruption trial against Benjamin Netanyahu? > The corruption trial against Benjamin Netanyahu began in 2020. Also read | Israeli Minister Barkat sees significant increase in commercial ties with India > The trial involves three separate cases in which prosecutors said that Netanyahu exchanged regulatory favours with media titans for favourable press coverage and advanced the personal interests of a billionaire Hollywood producer in exchange for lavish gifts. > The Associated Press report said that prosecutors have called roughly 140 witnesses to the stand — fewer than the 300 initially expected to testify. > The witnesses include some of Netanyahu’s closest former confidants who turned against him. > Lawyers have submitted thousands of items of evidence -- recordings, police documents, text messages. > Like other witnesses, Netanyahu will testify three days a week, for hours at a time, and his testimony is expected to last weeks. The timing The timing of Netanyahu's trial comes as the prime minister waged a war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October last year and faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes charges. The Associated Press report said that the corruption trial will take up a chunk of Netanyahu’s time at a crucial point for Israel. A verdict in the case isn’t expected until 2026—at least—and then Netanyahu can choose to appeal to the Supreme Court. (With inputs from agencies)

Israeli PM Netanyahu to take witness stand on Dec 10 in his corruption trial

The Israeli government on Thursday (Dec. 5) slammed the report released by Amnesty International which accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli government on Thursday (Dec. 5) slammed the report released by Amnesty International which accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the Israeli foreign ministry said, "The deplorable and fanatical organisation Amnesty International has once again produced a fabricated report that is entirely false and based on lies." Also read | Hamas threatens to 'neutralise' hostages if Israel launches rescue operation: Report The ministry said that it was instead Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 last year that was genocidal. "Israel is defending itself... acting fully by international law," the ministry added. What did the Amnesty International report say? Earlier on Thursday, Amnesty International released a 296-page report that documented Israel's actions during its offensive in the Gaza Strip since October last year. The report is titled ‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza The report examines the killing of civilians, the damage to and destruction of civilian infrastructure, the forcible displacement, the obstruction or denial of life-saving goods and humanitarian aid, and the restriction of power supplies. The report also analyses Israel's intent through this pattern of conduct and statements by Israeli decision-makers. According to Amnesty, its international research team found sufficient basis to conclude that Israel "committed and is continuing to commit genocide against Palestinians," in Gaza. 'Hamas' attack can never justify Israel's genocide in Gaza' In a statement, Amnesty International said on Thursday that it interviewed more than 200 people, including Palestinian victims and witnesses and local authorities in Gaza, and conducted fieldwork and analysed an extensive range of visual and digital evidence, including satellite imagery. Also watch | IDF fortifies military bases in central Gaza × The organisation analysed statements by senior Israeli government and military officials, and official Israeli bodies. On multiple occasions, it shared its findings with the Israeli authorities but had received no substantive response at the time of publication. “The atrocity crimes committed on 7 October 2023 by Hamas and other armed groups against Israelis and victims of other nationalities, including deliberate mass killings and hostage-taking, can never justify Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza,” Amnesty said. (With inputs from agencies)

It's based on lies: Israel slams Amnesty report which accuses it of genocide in Gaza Strip

Palestinian militant group Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party announced on Tuesday (Dec. 3) that they have agreed to create a committee to jointly run post-war Gaza, the news agency AFP reported, citing negotiators from both sides.

Palestinian militant group Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party announced on Tuesday (Dec. 3) that they have agreed to create a committee to jointly run post-war Gaza, the news agency AFP reported, citing negotiators from both sides. The committee would be composed of 10 to 15 non-partisan figures with authority on matters related to the economy, education, health, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction. Hamas and Fatah have been rivals since the militant group ejected Fatah from the Gaza Strip after deadly clashes that followed Hamas' victory in the 2006 election. Also read | Israel-Hamas war: Ex-minister accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza Strip Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007. The Fatah, meanwhile, has been controlling the Palestinian Authority (PA) and also has partial administrative control in the Israel-occupied West Bank. Plan needs Abbas' approval The final plan (to jointly run post-war Gaza) would need Palestinian President Abbas' approval. Following recent talks in Cairo brokered by Egypt, Hamas and Fatah agreed that the committee would administer the Palestinian side of the Rafah checkpoint on the border with Egypt—the territory's only crossing that is not shared with Israel. Also watch | Gulf leaders demand immediate ceasefire in Gaza × The agreement on the formation of the committee comes at a time of renewed diplomatic efforts to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which has been going on since October 7 last year. A wide debate on who will run post-war Gaza The issue of who will govern Gaza after the war has been widely debated. Palestinians have insisted that the territory's future should be theirs to decide, rejecting any foreign intervention. Israeli authorities have said they do not intend to govern Gaza but firmly oppose Hamas returning to power. (With inputs from agencies)

Hamas and Palestinian president's Fatah party agree on joint committee to run post-war Gaza

Former Israeli defence minister Moshe Yaalon accused the Benjamin Netanyahu government of ethnic cleansing in the northern Gaza Strip, the news agency Reuters reported late Sunday (Dec.

Former Israeli defence minister Moshe Yaalon accused the Benjamin Netanyahu government of ethnic cleansing in the northern Gaza Strip, the news agency Reuters reported late Sunday (Dec. 1), citing local media. Yaalon had served as the defence minister under Prime Minister Netanyahu from 2013 to 2016. He was also the former chief of army staff. Speaking to Israeli broadcaster Kan, Yaalon said on Sunday that hardliners in Netanyahu's cabinet were looking to chase Palestinians from northern Gaza and wanted to re-establish Jewish settlements there. '...war crimes are being committed' Yaalon told Ken, "I am compelled to warn about what is happening there and is being concealed from us." "At the end of the day, war crimes are being committed," the former defence minister added. Also read | Israel-Hamas war: White House not there yet on ceasefire, hostage deal, says US NSA In a separate interview with Democrat TV, Yaalon warned on Saturday (November 30) that Israel was at a crossroads with the government looking "to conquer, to annexe, to carry out ethnic cleansing." "What is going on there? There is no Beit Lahiya, no Beit Hanoun, they are operating now in Jabaliya and basically cleaning the area of Arabs," he said, referring to the Palestinian neighbourhoods north of Gaza City. He added that hardliners wanted to establish Jewish settlement there, 19 years after Israel withdrew from the territory—a disengagement Yaalon had opposed at the time. Israeli govt criticises Yaalon's remarks Yaalon's remarks were criticised by the Netanyahu government. Addressing a press conference, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said, "Everything Israel does is in accordance with international law and it is a pity that former minister Yaalon does not realise the damage that he has done and retract his remarks." Also watch | Gulf leaders demand immediate ceasefire in Gaza × Meanwhile, Netanyahu's Likud party accused Yaalon of spreading "slanderous lies." (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: Ex-minister accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza Strip

The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday (Nov 30) claimed they killed a militant who had allegedly taken part in the October 7 terror attack and worked with World Central Kitchen, an American charity group, in Gaza. The charity group also confirmed that one of the vehicles carrying their colleagues was targeted in the strike.

However, it was not immediately confirmed whether the killed person took part in the October 7 attacks or not. The IDF too didn’t provide any evidence linking the man to the attacks that triggered the Israel-Hamas war more than a year ago.

"We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza," the US charity group said in a statement posted on X. "World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack."

The group has halted all of its operations in Gaza, saying it had incomplete information and was urgently seeking more details. Apart from the suspected militant, two more charity workers were killed in the Israeli strike.

<h2>Hamas releases new hostage video</h2>

Meanwhile, Hamas’&nbsp;armed wing Saturday posted another video, showing a hostage held in Gaza since October&nbsp;7. Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American citizen, can be seen pleading with Israeli people to press the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike a ceasefire deal with Hamas and secure the release of hostages.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjL-peX04SKAxWNrVYBHWlxGHAQxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-war-idf-chief-intends-to-step-down-once-october-7-probe-is-completed-780433" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-war-idf-chief-intends-to-step-down-once-october-7-probe-is-completed-780433&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjL-peX04SKAxWNrVYBHWlxGHAQxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE">Gaza war: IDF chief intends to step down once October 7 probe is completed</a>

The recording date of the video couldn’t be verified.

The Hostage Families Forum campaign group reacted to the video, saying it was proof that the hostages are still alive and are suffering greatly.

"The shocking video of Edan, an American-Israeli citizen, is definite proof that despite all the rumours – there are living hostages and they are suffering greatly,” said the group in a statement. "One year after the first and only deal, it's clear to everyone: returning the hostages is only possible through a deal," it added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday (Nov 30) claimed they killed a militant who had allegedly taken part in the October 7 terror attack and worked with World Central Kitchen, an American charity group, in Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday (Nov 30) claimed they killed a militant who had allegedly taken part in the October 7 terror attack and worked with World Central Kitchen, an American charity group, in Gaza. The charity group also confirmed that one of the vehicles carrying their colleagues was targeted in the strike. However, it was not immediately confirmed whether the killed person took part in the October 7 attacks or not. The IDF too didn’t provide any evidence linking the man to the attacks that triggered the Israel-Hamas war more than a year ago. "We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza," the US charity group said in a statement posted on X. "World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack." The group has halted all of its operations in Gaza, saying it had incomplete information and was urgently seeking more details. Apart from the suspected militant, two more charity workers were killed in the Israeli strike. Hamas releases new hostage video Meanwhile, Hamas’ armed wing Saturday posted another video, showing a hostage held in Gaza since October 7. Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American citizen, can be seen pleading with Israeli people to press the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike a ceasefire deal with Hamas and secure the release of hostages. Also read: Gaza war: IDF chief intends to step down once October 7 probe is completed The recording date of the video couldn’t be verified. The Hostage Families Forum campaign group reacted to the video, saying it was proof that the hostages are still alive and are suffering greatly. "The shocking video of Edan, an American-Israeli citizen, is definite proof that despite all the rumours – there are living hostages and they are suffering greatly,” said the group in a statement. "One year after the first and only deal, it's clear to everyone: returning the hostages is only possible through a deal," it added. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Israel says killed a Gaza militant who took part in Oct 7 attacks, Hamas ally releases new hostage video

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has halted the delivery of aid through the key Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza after it became "impossible", its chief said Sunday.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has halted the delivery of aid through the key Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza after it became "impossible", its chief said Sunday. "We are pausing the delivery of aid through Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for humanitarian aid into Gaza. The road out of this crossing has not been safe for months. On 16 November, a large convoy of aid trucks was stolen by armed gangs," UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on X. Also read: Putin approves budget plans, raising 2025 military spending to record levels "Yesterday, we tried to bring in a few food trucks on the same route. They were all taken," he added, warning hunger was "rapidly deepening" in Gaza. Lazzarini listed how the humanitarian operation had become "unnecessarily impossible" due to "the ongoing siege, hurdles from Israeli authorities, political decisions to restrict the amounts of aid, lack of safety on aid routes and targeting of local police". It comes after the United Nations warned Friday that Gaza has descended into anarchy, with hunger soaring, looting rampant and rising numbers of rapes in shelters as public order falls apart. Lazzarini called on Israel to ensure aid flowed to Gaza and said the country "must refrain from attacks on humanitarian workers". According to UNRWA's count, only 65 aid trucks per day had been able to enter Gaza the past month, compared to a pre-war average of 500. Israel, which imposed a total siege on the Hamas-ruled territory in the early stages of the war last year, blames the inability of relief organisations to handle and distribute large quantities of aid. 'Catastrophic' During a press visit Thursday, the Israeli army showed aid shipments at the crossing and said they wait at the Gaza side of Kerem Shalom for "months". Lazzarini's announcement follows an Israeli strike Saturday that killed three contractors of the US charity World Central Kitchen, including one who Israel's military said was involved in Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack. The United Nations said last month that 333 aid workers had been killed since the start of the war in October of last year, 243 of them employees of UNRWA. Lazzarini reiterated his call for a ceasefire "that would also secure the delivery of safe and uninterrupted aid to people in need". Jean-Francois Corty, president of France-based charity Medecins du Monde, warned UNRWA's decision was a "very bad omen" and "tragic in a context that was already so". Claire Nicolet, head of mission in Jerusalem for Doctors Without Borders, told AFP the situation was "already catastrophic" and that UNRWA's announcement was the "straw that broke the camel's back" because the UN agency was "the backbone of aid for the supply of food and equipment". The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,207 people on Israeli side, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. At least 44,429 Palestinians, a majority of them civilians, have been killed in Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip since the war began, according to data provided by the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory. The UN has acknowledged these figures as reliable. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Gaza aid crisis deepens: UN suspends shipments via key Gaza-Israel crossing after loot by armed gangs

Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), announced on Friday (Nov 29) that he intends to resign once the military completes its investigation into the unprecedented attack by Hamas (on Israel) on October 7, 2023.

Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), announced on Friday (Nov 29) that he intends to resign once the military completes its investigation into the unprecedented attack by Hamas (on Israel) on October 7, 2023. Hamas' attack triggered the war between the Palestinian militant group and Israel in the Gaza Strip. According to a report by The Times of Israel, Lt. Gen. Halevi wrote a missive to troops where he said, "At the end of the investigations, we will also make personal decisions and commanders will exercise responsibility, from me down. I have no intention of passing over personal decisions when the picture becomes clearer to us." Halevi defends appointments in the military The Times of Israel report said that the missive largely focused on Halevi defending his decision to make senior appointments in the military, with some arguing that he should not be making such choices as he failed in his role concerning the October 7 onslaught. Also read | Israel says IDF to remain in Gaza ‘for years’, Hamas ‘drops’ major truce condition “Appointing officers to positions is not a privilege, but a command and operational duty. The IDF cannot afford to freeze,” Halevi said. He became the IDF chief in early 2023 and oversaw the Israeli military before and during Hamas' October 7 attack. Hamas to hold ceasefire talks in Cairo The news of Halevi possibly resigning came as a delegation of Hamas was set to hold ceasefire talks in Cairo later on Saturday. "A Hamas delegation will go to Cairo tomorrow for several meetings with Egyptian officials to discuss ideas for a ceasefire and a prisoner accord in the Gaza Strip," a Hamas official told the news agency AFP on Friday. The United States, Qatar and Egypt have led multiple failed efforts since the start of the year to reach a new ceasefire and hostage release. The only ceasefire so far, in November last year, saw the release of about 100 hostages by Hamas and its allies in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. (With inputs from agencies)

Gaza war: IDF chief intends to step down once October 7 probe is completed

The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN&nbsp;Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, drawing criticism of the Biden administration for once again blocking international action aimed at halting Israel's war with Hamas.

The 15-member council voted on a resolution put forward by 10 non-permanent members that called for an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" in the 13-month conflict and separately demanded the release of hostages.

Only the US&nbsp;voted against, using its veto as a permanent council member to block the resolution.

Robert Wood, deputy US&nbsp;ambassador to the UN, said Washington had made clear it would only support a resolution that explicitly calls for the immediate release of hostages as part of a ceasefire.

"A durable end to the war must come with the release of the hostages. These two urgent goals are inextricably linked. This resolution abandoned that necessity, and for that reason, the United States could not support it," he said.

Wood said the US&nbsp;had sought compromise, but the text of the proposed resolution would have sent a "dangerous message" to Palestinian militant group Hamas that "there's no need to come back to the negotiating table."

Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 44,000 people and displaced nearly all the enclave's population at least once. It was launched in response to an attack by Hamas-led fighters who killed 1,200 people and captured more than 250 hostages in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Members roundly criticized the US&nbsp;for blocking the resolution put forward by the council's 10 elected members: Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Switzerland.

"It is deeply regretted that due to the use of the veto this council has once again failed to uphold its responsibility to maintain international peace and security," Malta's UN&nbsp;Ambassador Vanessa Frazier said after the vote failed, adding that the text of the resolution "was by no means a maximalist one."

"It represented the bare minimum of what is needed to begin to address the desperate situation on the ground," she said. 
Food security experts have warned that famine is imminent among Gaza's 2.3 million people.

US&nbsp;President Joe Biden, who leaves office on Jan. 20, has offered Israel strong diplomatic backing and continued to provide arms for the war, while trying unsuccessfully to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that would see hostages released in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.

After blocking earlier resolutions on Gaza, Washington in March abstained from a vote that allowed a resolution to pass demanding an immediate ceasefire.

A senior US&nbsp;official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity ahead of Wednesday's vote, said Britain had put forward new language that the US&nbsp;would have supported as a compromise, but that was rejected by the elected members.

Some members were more interested in bringing about a US&nbsp;veto than compromising on the resolution, the official said, accusing US&nbsp;adversaries Russia and China of encouraging those members.

<h2>'Green light'</h2>

France's ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said the resolution rejected by the US&nbsp;"very firmly" required the release of hostages.

"France still has two hostages in Gaza, and we deeply regret that the Security Council was not able to formulate this demand," he said.

China's UN&nbsp;ambassador, Fu Cong, said each time the United States had exercised its veto to protect Israel, the number of people killed in Gaza had steadily risen.

"How many more people have to die before they wake up from their pretend slumber?" he asked.

"Insistence on setting a precondition for ceasefire is tantamount to giving the green light to continue the war and condoning the continued killing."

Israel's UN&nbsp;ambassador Danny Danon said ahead of the vote the text was not a resolution for peace but was "a resolution for appeasement" of Hamas.

"History will remember who stood with the hostages and who abandoned them," Danon said.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, drawing criticism of the Biden administration for once again blocking international action aimed at halting Israel's war with Hamas.

The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, drawing criticism of the Biden administration for once again blocking international action aimed at halting Israel's war with Hamas. The 15-member council voted on a resolution put forward by 10 non-permanent members that called for an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" in the 13-month conflict and separately demanded the release of hostages. Only the US voted against, using its veto as a permanent council member to block the resolution. Robert Wood, deputy US ambassador to the UN, said Washington had made clear it would only support a resolution that explicitly calls for the immediate release of hostages as part of a ceasefire. "A durable end to the war must come with the release of the hostages. These two urgent goals are inextricably linked. This resolution abandoned that necessity, and for that reason, the United States could not support it," he said. Wood said the US had sought compromise, but the text of the proposed resolution would have sent a "dangerous message" to Palestinian militant group Hamas that "there's no need to come back to the negotiating table." Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 44,000 people and displaced nearly all the enclave's population at least once. It was launched in response to an attack by Hamas-led fighters who killed 1,200 people and captured more than 250 hostages in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Members roundly criticized the US for blocking the resolution put forward by the council's 10 elected members: Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Switzerland. "It is deeply regretted that due to the use of the veto this council has once again failed to uphold its responsibility to maintain international peace and security," Malta's UN Ambassador Vanessa Frazier said after the vote failed, adding that the text of the resolution "was by no means a maximalist one." "It represented the bare minimum of what is needed to begin to address the desperate situation on the ground," she said. Food security experts have warned that famine is imminent among Gaza's 2.3 million people. US President Joe Biden, who leaves office on Jan. 20, has offered Israel strong diplomatic backing and continued to provide arms for the war, while trying unsuccessfully to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that would see hostages released in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel. After blocking earlier resolutions on Gaza, Washington in March abstained from a vote that allowed a resolution to pass demanding an immediate ceasefire. A senior US official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity ahead of Wednesday's vote, said Britain had put forward new language that the US would have supported as a compromise, but that was rejected by the elected members. Some members were more interested in bringing about a US veto than compromising on the resolution, the official said, accusing US adversaries Russia and China of encouraging those members. 'Green light' France's ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said the resolution rejected by the US "very firmly" required the release of hostages. "France still has two hostages in Gaza, and we deeply regret that the Security Council was not able to formulate this demand," he said. China's UN ambassador, Fu Cong, said each time the United States had exercised its veto to protect Israel, the number of people killed in Gaza had steadily risen. "How many more people have to die before they wake up from their pretend slumber?" he asked. "Insistence on setting a precondition for ceasefire is tantamount to giving the green light to continue the war and condoning the continued killing." Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon said ahead of the vote the text was not a resolution for peace but was "a resolution for appeasement" of Hamas. "History will remember who stood with the hostages and who abandoned them," Danon said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Israel-Hamas war: US vetoes UNSC resolution on ceasefire

The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council push to call for a ceasefire in Gaza that Washington said would have emboldened Hamas.

The resolution demanded "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" in the war between Israel and the Palestinian group, along with "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages."

But the wording angered Israel, with a senior US official warning ahead of the vote that the resolution had "the potential only to buoy Hamas, which will have no reason to come to the negotiating table."

Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon said, "The resolution being considered by the Security Council today is nothing short of a betrayal."

"For us, it has to be a linkage between a ceasefire and the release of hostages," said Robert Wood, the deputy US ambassador to the United Nations. "It has been our principle position from the beginning and it still remains."

The war was triggered by the assault on Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, a stunning cross-border raid that resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza claims&nbsp;the death toll from the resulting war had reached 43,985 people, the majority being civilians. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.

Of the 251 hostages seized during the October 7 attack, 97 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Almost all of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced by the war, which has caused a humanitarian catastrophe.

<h2>Gaza 'will haunt'&nbsp;</h2>

Since the beginning of the conflict, the Security Council has struggled to speak with one voice, as the United States has used its veto power several times, although Russia and China have as well.

"China kept demanding 'stronger language'," said the US official, who also claimed that Russia had been "pulling strings" with the countries responsible for pushing the latest resolution.&nbsp;

The few resolutions that the United States did allow to pass by abstaining stopped short of calling for an unconditional and permanent ceasefire.

In March, the council called for a temporary ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but this appeal was ignored by the warring parties.

And in June, the 15-member body pledged support for a US resolution that laid out a multi-stage ceasefire and hostage release plan that ultimately went nowhere.

"We regret that the Council could have incorporated compromise language the UK put forward to bridge the existing gaps... With that language, this resolution should have been adopted," Wood, the US envoy, said following the vote.

Some diplomats have expressed optimism that following Donald Trump's election win on November 5, President Joe Biden might be more flexible in his few remaining weeks in power.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj3k-WSreuJAxXGzTgGHflePSoQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/future-un-climate-summits-should-only-be-held-in-nations-that-experts-776453" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/future-un-climate-summits-should-only-be-held-in-nations-that-experts-776453&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj3k-WSreuJAxXGzTgGHflePSoQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">Future UN climate summits should only be held in nations that...: Experts</a>

They hoped for a repeat of December 2016 when then-president Barack Obama's second term was finishing and the council passed a resolution calling for a halt to Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories, a first since 1979.

The United States refrained from using its veto then, a break from traditional US support for Israel on the sensitive issue of settlements.

The resolution vetoed on Wednesday calls for "safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian assistance at scale," including in besieged northern Gaza, and denounces any attempt to starve the Palestinians.

The Palestinian delegation at the United Nations has suggested the text did not go far enough.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj3k-WSreuJAxXGzTgGHflePSoQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/1000-days-of-russia-ukraine-war-un-says-war-in-ukraine-rages-on-undiminished-as-milestone-marked-777380" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/videos/1000-days-of-russia-ukraine-war-un-says-war-in-ukraine-rages-on-undiminished-as-milestone-marked-777380&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj3k-WSreuJAxXGzTgGHflePSoQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE">1,000 Days of Russia-Ukraine War: UN Says War in Ukraine Rages on Undiminished as Milestone Marked</a>

"Gaza's fate will haunt the world for generations to come," ambassador Riyad Mansour warned.

He said the only course of action for the Security Council is to call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire under Chapter 7 of the UN charter.

That chapter allows the council to take steps to enforce its resolutions, such as sanctions, but the latest text made no reference to this option.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council push to call for a ceasefire in Gaza that Washington said would have emboldened Hamas. The resolution demanded "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" in the war between Israel and the Palestinian group, along with "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council push to call for a ceasefire in Gaza that Washington said would have emboldened Hamas. The resolution demanded "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" in the war between Israel and the Palestinian group, along with "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages." But the wording angered Israel, with a senior US official warning ahead of the vote that the resolution had "the potential only to buoy Hamas, which will have no reason to come to the negotiating table." Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon said, "The resolution being considered by the Security Council today is nothing short of a betrayal." "For us, it has to be a linkage between a ceasefire and the release of hostages," said Robert Wood, the deputy US ambassador to the United Nations. "It has been our principle position from the beginning and it still remains." The war was triggered by the assault on Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, a stunning cross-border raid that resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza claims the death toll from the resulting war had reached 43,985 people, the majority being civilians. The United Nations considers the figures reliable. Of the 251 hostages seized during the October 7 attack, 97 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Almost all of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced by the war, which has caused a humanitarian catastrophe. Gaza 'will haunt' Since the beginning of the conflict, the Security Council has struggled to speak with one voice, as the United States has used its veto power several times, although Russia and China have as well. "China kept demanding 'stronger language'," said the US official, who also claimed that Russia had been "pulling strings" with the countries responsible for pushing the latest resolution. The few resolutions that the United States did allow to pass by abstaining stopped short of calling for an unconditional and permanent ceasefire. In March, the council called for a temporary ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but this appeal was ignored by the warring parties. And in June, the 15-member body pledged support for a US resolution that laid out a multi-stage ceasefire and hostage release plan that ultimately went nowhere. "We regret that the Council could have incorporated compromise language the UK put forward to bridge the existing gaps... With that language, this resolution should have been adopted," Wood, the US envoy, said following the vote. Some diplomats have expressed optimism that following Donald Trump's election win on November 5, President Joe Biden might be more flexible in his few remaining weeks in power. Also read: Future UN climate summits should only be held in nations that...: Experts They hoped for a repeat of December 2016 when then-president Barack Obama's second term was finishing and the council passed a resolution calling for a halt to Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories, a first since 1979. The United States refrained from using its veto then, a break from traditional US support for Israel on the sensitive issue of settlements. The resolution vetoed on Wednesday calls for "safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian assistance at scale," including in besieged northern Gaza, and denounces any attempt to starve the Palestinians. The Palestinian delegation at the United Nations has suggested the text did not go far enough. Also read: 1,000 Days of Russia-Ukraine War: UN Says War in Ukraine Rages on Undiminished as Milestone Marked "Gaza's fate will haunt the world for generations to come," ambassador Riyad Mansour warned. He said the only course of action for the Security Council is to call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire under Chapter 7 of the UN charter. That chapter allows the council to take steps to enforce its resolutions, such as sanctions, but the latest text made no reference to this option. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Israel-Hamas war: US blocks UN push calling for ceasefire in Gaza

Is a private equity billionaire going to be the treasury secretary of the US, one of the most important cabinet positions yet to be filled by incoming president Donald Trump?

Marc Rowan, the CEO of Appolo Global Management Inc, is a top contender for the post that has massive implications for US financial and economic policy affecting the nation and rest of the world, according to various media reports.

Watch: What Trump 2.0 Means For India | GRAVITAS

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Rowan, 62, has gone to Florida from his base in Hong Kong, and is set to meet Trump on Wednesday (Nov 20) to make his case for the job, the Financial Times reported.

According to the British newspaper, Rowan has the support of several Trump donors.

Other top names for the job include hedge fund investor Scott Bessent, former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh and Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty.

Trump will interview both Rowan and Warsh on Wednesday, Bloomberg news agency reported citing sources.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/office-for-profit-how-trumps-return-will-add-to-his-wealth-and-raise-ethical-questions-777315">Also read: Office for profit: How Trump's return will add to his wealth and raise ethical questions&nbsp;</a> 
 
Trump tapped another billionaire, Howard Lutnick from the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, as commerce secretary on Tuesday.

Rowan, a Wharton School of Business graduate, was part of the team that adviced Trump during the early stages of Covid pandemic that hit the US at the fag end of his first term.

Rowan's&nbsp;investment firm Apollo Global Management has assets under management worth over $700 billion.

According to a report in Times of Israel, Rowan was an ardent critic of antisemitism in US educational institutions in the wake of Gaza war after Israel was attacked by Hamas terroists last October.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-20-cabinet-brendan-carr-to-be-chairperson-of-federal-communications-commission-776955">Also read: Trump 2.0 cabinet: Brendan Carr to be chairperson of Federal Communications Commission</a>

Financial industry veterans becoming treasury secretary is nothing new in the 'revolving door' of industry-government jobs of the US.&nbsp;

If Rowan is named by Trump and approved by Senate, he will have influence over the $24 trillion private equity market, said a report on Fortune magazine.

(With inputs from agencies)

Is a private equity billionaire going to be the treasury secretary of the US, one of the most important cabinet positions yet to be filled by incoming president Donald Trump?

Is a private equity billionaire going to be the treasury secretary of the US, one of the most important cabinet positions yet to be filled by incoming president Donald Trump? Marc Rowan, the CEO of Appolo Global Management Inc, is a top contender for the post that has massive implications for US financial and economic policy affecting the nation and rest of the world, according to various media reports. Watch: What Trump 2.0 Means For India | GRAVITAS × Rowan, 62, has gone to Florida from his base in Hong Kong, and is set to meet Trump on Wednesday (Nov 20) to make his case for the job, the Financial Times reported. According to the British newspaper, Rowan has the support of several Trump donors. Other top names for the job include hedge fund investor Scott Bessent, former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh and Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty. Trump will interview both Rowan and Warsh on Wednesday, Bloomberg news agency reported citing sources. Also read: Office for profit: How Trump's return will add to his wealth and raise ethical questions Trump tapped another billionaire, Howard Lutnick from the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, as commerce secretary on Tuesday. Rowan, a Wharton School of Business graduate, was part of the team that adviced Trump during the early stages of Covid pandemic that hit the US at the fag end of his first term. Rowan's investment firm Apollo Global Management has assets under management worth over $700 billion. According to a report in Times of Israel, Rowan was an ardent critic of antisemitism in US educational institutions in the wake of Gaza war after Israel was attacked by Hamas terroists last October. Also read: Trump 2.0 cabinet: Brendan Carr to be chairperson of Federal Communications Commission Financial industry veterans becoming treasury secretary is nothing new in the 'revolving door' of industry-government jobs of the US. If Rowan is named by Trump and approved by Senate, he will have influence over the $24 trillion private equity market, said a report on Fortune magazine. (With inputs from agencies)

Another billionaire in Team Trump 2.0? Marc Rowan a top contender for treasury secretary

Gaza's civil defence said 26 people, including children, were killed on Sunday and at least 59 were missing after an Israeli airstrike hit a building in the Palestinian territory's north.

Gaza's civil defence said 26 people, including children, were killed on Sunday and at least 59 were missing after an Israeli airstrike hit a building in the Palestinian territory's north. Following the strike early Sunday, 26 bodies were pulled from the rubble of the five-storey residential building in Beit Lahia, "including children and women", civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP. He added that at least 59 people were still trapped under the debris. AFP images showed men covered in dust scrambling to reach people under the rubble, while some of the bodies were taken away on a donkey-pulled cart. Other AFP images showed the flattened building with broken concrete and twisted metal sticking out from the ruins as more bodies covered in blankets lay nearby. Hamas, which runs the territory, accused Israel of committing a "massacre" which it said was "a continuation of the genocidal war and revenge against unarmed civilians". Also read: Two flash bombs fired towards Netanyahu's home in Caesarea, 3 arrested Earlier on Sunday, Gaza's civil defence said other Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people, including four women and three children, across the war-torn territory. Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry on Sunday said the overall death toll in more than 13 months of war had reached 43,846. The majority of the dead are civilians, according to ministry figures, which the United Nations considers reliable. Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,206 Israeli people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Gaza: 26 killed, 59 missing as Israeli air strike levels residential building

Israel's warfare in Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide, a special UN committee said Thursday, accusing the country of "using starvation as a method of war".

The United Nations Special Committee pointed to "mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions intentionally imposed on Palestinians", in a fresh report covering the period from Hamas's deadly October 7 attack in Israel last year through to July.

"Through its siege over Gaza, obstruction of humanitarian aid, alongside targeted attacks and killing of civilians and aid workers, despite repeated UN appeals, binding orders from the International Court of Justice and resolutions of the Security Council, Israel is intentionally causing death, starvation and serious injury," it said in a statement.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-days-ahead-of-g20-summit-man-dies-outside-supreme-court-in-alleged-suicide-blast-776016">Bolsonaro supporter dies in suicide blast outside Brazil Supreme Court</a>

Israel's warfare practices in Gaza "are consistent with the characteristics of genocide", said the committee, which has for decades been investigating Israeli practices affecting rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Israel, it charged, was "using starvation as a method of war and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population".

A UN-backed assessment at the weekend warned that famine was imminent in northern Gaza.&nbsp;

Thursday's report documented how Israel's extensive bombing campaign in Gaza had decimated essential services and unleashed an environmental catastrophe with lasting health impacts.

By February this year, Israeli forces had used more than 25,000 tonnes of explosives across the Gaza Strip, "equivalent to two nuclear bombs", the report pointed out.

<h2>AI-assisted targeting</h2>

"By destroying vital water, sanitation and food systems, and contaminating the environment, Israel has created a lethal mix of crises that will inflict severe harm on generations to come," the committee said.

The committee said it was "deeply alarmed by the unprecedented destruction of civilian infrastructure and the high death toll in Gaza", where more than 43,700 people have been killed since the war began, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

The staggering number of deaths raised serious concerns, it said, about Israel's use of artificial intelligence-enhanced targeting systems in its military operations.

"The Israeli military’s use of AI-assisted targeting, with minimal human oversight, combined with heavy bombs, underscores Israel’s disregard of its obligation to distinguish between civilians and combatants and take adequate safeguards to prevent civilian deaths," it said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/obvious-political-retribution-fbi-raids-polymarket-ceos-home-days-after-platform-predicted-trumps-win-776094">'Obvious political retribution': FBI raids Polymarket CEO's home days after platform predicted Trump's win</a>

It warned that reported new directives lowering the criteria for selecting targets and increasing the previously accepted ratio of civilian to combatant casualties appeared to have allowed the military to use AI systems to "rapidly generate tens of thousands of targets, as well as to track targets to their homes, particularly at night when families shelter together".&nbsp;

The committee stressed the obligations of other countries to urgently act to halt the bloodshed, saying that "other States are unwilling to hold Israel accountable and continue to provide it with military and other support".

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Israel's warfare in Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide, a special UN committee said Thursday, accusing the country of "using starvation as a method of war".

Israel's warfare in Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide, a special UN committee said Thursday, accusing the country of "using starvation as a method of war". The United Nations Special Committee pointed to "mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions intentionally imposed on Palestinians", in a fresh report covering the period from Hamas's deadly October 7 attack in Israel last year through to July. "Through its siege over Gaza, obstruction of humanitarian aid, alongside targeted attacks and killing of civilians and aid workers, despite repeated UN appeals, binding orders from the International Court of Justice and resolutions of the Security Council, Israel is intentionally causing death, starvation and serious injury," it said in a statement. Also read: Bolsonaro supporter dies in suicide blast outside Brazil Supreme Court Israel's warfare practices in Gaza "are consistent with the characteristics of genocide", said the committee, which has for decades been investigating Israeli practices affecting rights in the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel, it charged, was "using starvation as a method of war and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population". A UN-backed assessment at the weekend warned that famine was imminent in northern Gaza. Thursday's report documented how Israel's extensive bombing campaign in Gaza had decimated essential services and unleashed an environmental catastrophe with lasting health impacts. By February this year, Israeli forces had used more than 25,000 tonnes of explosives across the Gaza Strip, "equivalent to two nuclear bombs", the report pointed out. AI-assisted targeting "By destroying vital water, sanitation and food systems, and contaminating the environment, Israel has created a lethal mix of crises that will inflict severe harm on generations to come," the committee said. The committee said it was "deeply alarmed by the unprecedented destruction of civilian infrastructure and the high death toll in Gaza", where more than 43,700 people have been killed since the war began, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. The staggering number of deaths raised serious concerns, it said, about Israel's use of artificial intelligence-enhanced targeting systems in its military operations. "The Israeli military’s use of AI-assisted targeting, with minimal human oversight, combined with heavy bombs, underscores Israel’s disregard of its obligation to distinguish between civilians and combatants and take adequate safeguards to prevent civilian deaths," it said. Also read: 'Obvious political retribution': FBI raids Polymarket CEO's home days after platform predicted Trump's win It warned that reported new directives lowering the criteria for selecting targets and increasing the previously accepted ratio of civilian to combatant casualties appeared to have allowed the military to use AI systems to "rapidly generate tens of thousands of targets, as well as to track targets to their homes, particularly at night when families shelter together". The committee stressed the obligations of other countries to urgently act to halt the bloodshed, saying that "other States are unwilling to hold Israel accountable and continue to provide it with military and other support". Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

UN accuses Israel of 'genocidal warfare' in Gaza, citing mass casualties, starvation

The darling of most American media until November 5, Kamala Harris is suddenly off the headlines. But she will go down in history as the valiant fighter who came tantalisingly&nbsp;close to becoming the first woman US president. 
 
Had she won&nbsp;against Republican President-elect Donald Trump, Harris would have also been the first Asian and Indian-American to occupy the White House.

That was not to be.

Watch: Why Kamala Harris Lost The US Election?

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One wonders why she lost the election.

While I wrote here earlier that she is unlikely to win (link below), the 226 electoral votes she got against Donald Trump's 312 – the majority mark being 270 – is quite impressive for a late-start campaign.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/kamala-harris-for-president-after-biden-exits-race-vice-president-enters-what-are-her-chances-743300">Also read:&nbsp;Kamala Harris for president: After Biden exits, his vice president enters race, but can she win?</a> 
 
That late start was indeed one of the key issues.

Even some Democrats must have felt that she leapfrogged the proper process – the Democratic primaries – and was thrust into the limelight when incumbent president and Democratic nominee Joe Biden pulled out after days of inner-party squabbles.

<h2>How the Democrats ruined it for Kamala Harris</h2>

If she were in the Democratic primaries, could her fate have been different?

That's a big if.&nbsp; 
 
Suppose Harris was on the ballot for primaries. Even while being the incumbent vice president, she would have had to criticise Biden, and by extension, her own government.&nbsp;

As it happened, there were no serious contenders against Biden since he formally announced his re-election bid.

His Democratic primary opponents: author Marianne Williamson, Representative Dean Phillips and Robert F Kennedy Jr, exited the race one way or the other.

RJF Jr, from the hallowed and mostly Democratic Kennedy family, was the only temporary jolt for the party machine. Having started as a Democratic contender, RFK Jr switched to independent and eventually pulled out, only to support Trump, and is being rewarded with a role in the upcoming Trump administration.

Biden had an impressive number of delegates going into the Democratic Party Convention in August.

But a lot happened in July.

It was a tight situation for Democrats when, having gone into election mode after Biden won the required delegates to be declared the presidential candidate at the convention, they realised the 81-year-old was not a good pick, after all.

Biden's endless gaffes, slips and falls made many question&nbsp;his physical and mental capabilities to run for the top office once again.

His fumbling and rambling answers during the presidential debate with Trump in June made him look weak.&nbsp;

And then, Democrats went into a tizzy, creating the unprecedented situation of pressurising a candidate, who had done one presidential debate with the opponent,&nbsp;to exit the race.

Media reports about Biden's failing health followed, and Democrat donors threatened to pull campaign cash if Biden didn't exit.

Despite issuing nice-looking health report cards and his own assurances that he's fit to run for office again, many Democrat voters were still not convinced.

Or so the party thought.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat dame and speaker emeritus, as well as other senior leaders including, reportedly, ex-president Barack Obama, tried to convince Biden to quit the race.

Eventually, he relented, but in hindsight, that was too late, too little.

<h2>Harris campaign: A dash towards defeat</h2>

While there were reports of a 'palace coup' in which Harris was already putting in place a team in case Biden decided not to run, the time left for a robust campaign was too little.

In what raised many eyebrows, Biden 'transferred' all the delegates he had amassed to Kamala and her running mate Tim Walz and the Democratic Convention named them the candidates in a&nbsp;&nbsp;'roll-call nomination.'

The whole thing was mocked widely, particularly in the right-wing media, who painted Harris (it seems successful) as an imposter.

Having a rather forgettable running mate in Walz didn't help matters either for Harris.&nbsp;

Her media blitzkrieg of unusual appearances at TV and web shows were seen by many as ambushes.

The host of Call Her Daddy, a rather non-political show, was criticised for having invited her as a guest.

Fox News ran a campaign on how Kamala didn't address an open press conference, instead choosing to do one-on-one interviews seen as stage-managed affairs.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-kamala-harris-said-in-concession-speech-while-trump-plans-first-100-days-in-white-house-774159">Kamala Harris delivers defiant concession speech as Trump wins 2024 presidential election</a>

And then, there were the 'word salads'.

Many of her answers to serious questions were rather convoluted, particularly America's support to Israel in its war against Hamas, and to Ukraine against Russia.

On the Israel question, it emerged that CBS 60 Minutes edited out parts of her interview – or re-recorded it &nbsp;– to make the answer more palatable.

Trump and his surrogates went to town to expose her on these.&nbsp;

Trump, whose track record is anti-war – not because of any noble ideal, but because he doesn't want to fight in or pay for wars where American interests are not directly under attack – criticised US funding to Ukraine's war efforts.

He kept on saying in campaign speeches that he is the only one who could end the wars.&nbsp;

Many uncommitted voters, part of the silent majority, appear to have believed him.

Arab- and Muslim-Americans were particularly riled by the Biden administration's failure to stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which was invaded by Israel after the October 7 terror attack by Hamas.

The Harris campaign's communication efforts were annoying at best and outrageous at worst.

They couldn't advise her not to laugh out loud so much.

That led to 'cackling Kamala' jokes and memes, which Trump and his supporters exploited to the hilt.

There were gems like the advert appearing to suggest women reject Black men if they are not voting Democrat.

In their speeches for Harris addressed to African Americans, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle appeared to come across as condescending.

It was like, here are some entitled African-American leaders telling the Blacks how to live their lives, do their jobs, and vote.

That may have flipped many Blacks to vote for Trump.

On the economy, she appeared out of touch with the cost of living reality of middle-class and working-class Americans, despite insisting on all possible occasions that she comes from a middle-class background.

As practically the immigration tzar of the Biden administration, Harris had not much to boast of.

Many Latin American voters, it appears, may have voted for Trump because they also share the same worries and fears about migration from lawless lands in the continent as much as the white majority who Trump considers his base.

Trump succeeded in making Harris look weak on illegal migration from the southern border, as caravans of asylum seekers poured in.

That leaves us with women and young voters.&nbsp;

Quite stunningly, it emerged as per exit polls that fewer women voted for Harris than they did for Biden in 2020.

Abortion, the main issue Democrats thought would galvanise women towards Harris, did not work.

Neither did Harris' efforts to paint Trump as a dictator and anti-woman.

It might seem improbable, but Trump's escape from an assassination attempt, and his non-committal stance on banning Chinese-owned TikTok may have drawn more youngsters to him.

The TikTok ban move by the Biden administration was a risky one politically. The Democrats didn't understand how much American kids loved the short video-sharing platform. For them, it was a form of communication and self-expression for a generation.

While these may not be the only reasons, it is clear that Trump was preferred over Harris by many in Gen Z and millennials.&nbsp;

Also, note that there was an effort ahead of the Democratic primary to put 'uncommitted' as an option.

This means many of the Democratic voters were not ready for Biden.

It is quite possible that some of them may have voted for Trump.

In summary, while much of the reasons for her defeat had to do with circumstances, Harris didn't help her own campaign.

Now as per custom, the vice president faces the ignominy of signing the document that will declare Trump as the next president after the joint Congress session on January 6, right on the fourth anniversary of the Capitol riots instigated by Trump in rejection of the 2020 election outcome.

Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

The darling of most American media until November 5, Kamala Harris is suddenly off the headlines. But she will go down in history as the valiant fighter who came tantalisingly close to becoming the first woman US president.

The darling of most American media until November 5, Kamala Harris is suddenly off the headlines. But she will go down in history as the valiant fighter who came tantalisingly close to becoming the first woman US president. Had she won against Republican President-elect Donald Trump, Harris would have also been the first Asian and Indian-American to occupy the White House. That was not to be. Watch: Why Kamala Harris Lost The US Election? × One wonders why she lost the election. While I wrote here earlier that she is unlikely to win (link below), the 226 electoral votes she got against Donald Trump's 312 – the majority mark being 270 – is quite impressive for a late-start campaign. Also read: Kamala Harris for president: After Biden exits, his vice president enters race, but can she win? That late start was indeed one of the key issues. Even some Democrats must have felt that she leapfrogged the proper process – the Democratic primaries – and was thrust into the limelight when incumbent president and Democratic nominee Joe Biden pulled out after days of inner-party squabbles. How the Democrats ruined it for Kamala Harris If she were in the Democratic primaries, could her fate have been different? That's a big if. Suppose Harris was on the ballot for primaries. Even while being the incumbent vice president, she would have had to criticise Biden, and by extension, her own government. As it happened, there were no serious contenders against Biden since he formally announced his re-election bid. His Democratic primary opponents: author Marianne Williamson, Representative Dean Phillips and Robert F Kennedy Jr, exited the race one way or the other. RJF Jr, from the hallowed and mostly Democratic Kennedy family, was the only temporary jolt for the party machine. Having started as a Democratic contender, RFK Jr switched to independent and eventually pulled out, only to support Trump, and is being rewarded with a role in the upcoming Trump administration. Biden had an impressive number of delegates going into the Democratic Party Convention in August. But a lot happened in July. It was a tight situation for Democrats when, having gone into election mode after Biden won the required delegates to be declared the presidential candidate at the convention, they realised the 81-year-old was not a good pick, after all. Biden's endless gaffes, slips and falls made many question his physical and mental capabilities to run for the top office once again. His fumbling and rambling answers during the presidential debate with Trump in June made him look weak. And then, Democrats went into a tizzy, creating the unprecedented situation of pressurising a candidate, who had done one presidential debate with the opponent, to exit the race. Media reports about Biden's failing health followed, and Democrat donors threatened to pull campaign cash if Biden didn't exit. Despite issuing nice-looking health report cards and his own assurances that he's fit to run for office again, many Democrat voters were still not convinced. Or so the party thought. Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat dame and speaker emeritus, as well as other senior leaders including, reportedly, ex-president Barack Obama, tried to convince Biden to quit the race. Eventually, he relented, but in hindsight, that was too late, too little. Harris campaign: A dash towards defeat While there were reports of a 'palace coup' in which Harris was already putting in place a team in case Biden decided not to run, the time left for a robust campaign was too little. In what raised many eyebrows, Biden 'transferred' all the delegates he had amassed to Kamala and her running mate Tim Walz and the Democratic Convention named them the candidates in a 'roll-call nomination.' The whole thing was mocked widely, particularly in the right-wing media, who painted Harris (it seems successful) as an imposter. Having a rather forgettable running mate in Walz didn't help matters either for Harris. Her media blitzkrieg of unusual appearances at TV and web shows were seen by many as ambushes. The host of Call Her Daddy, a rather non-political show, was criticised for having invited her as a guest. Fox News ran a campaign on how Kamala didn't address an open press conference, instead choosing to do one-on-one interviews seen as stage-managed affairs. Also read: Kamala Harris delivers defiant concession speech as Trump wins 2024 presidential election And then, there were the 'word salads'. Many of her answers to serious questions were rather convoluted, particularly America's support to Israel in its war against Hamas, and to Ukraine against Russia. On the Israel question, it emerged that CBS 60 Minutes edited out parts of her interview – or re-recorded it – to make the answer more palatable. Trump and his surrogates went to town to expose her on these. Trump, whose track record is anti-war – not because of any noble ideal, but because he doesn't want to fight in or pay for wars where American interests are not directly under attack – criticised US funding to Ukraine's war efforts. He kept on saying in campaign speeches that he is the only one who could end the wars. Many uncommitted voters, part of the silent majority, appear to have believed him. Arab- and Muslim-Americans were particularly riled by the Biden administration's failure to stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which was invaded by Israel after the October 7 terror attack by Hamas. The Harris campaign's communication efforts were annoying at best and outrageous at worst. They couldn't advise her not to laugh out loud so much. That led to 'cackling Kamala' jokes and memes, which Trump and his supporters exploited to the hilt. There were gems like the advert appearing to suggest women reject Black men if they are not voting Democrat. In their speeches for Harris addressed to African Americans, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle appeared to come across as condescending. It was like, here are some entitled African-American leaders telling the Blacks how to live their lives, do their jobs, and vote. That may have flipped many Blacks to vote for Trump. On the economy, she appeared out of touch with the cost of living reality of middle-class and working-class Americans, despite insisting on all possible occasions that she comes from a middle-class background. As practically the immigration tzar of the Biden administration, Harris had not much to boast of. Many Latin American voters, it appears, may have voted for Trump because they also share the same worries and fears about migration from lawless lands in the continent as much as the white majority who Trump considers his base. Trump succeeded in making Harris look weak on illegal migration from the southern border, as caravans of asylum seekers poured in. That leaves us with women and young voters. Quite stunningly, it emerged as per exit polls that fewer women voted for Harris than they did for Biden in 2020. Abortion, the main issue Democrats thought would galvanise women towards Harris, did not work. Neither did Harris' efforts to paint Trump as a dictator and anti-woman. It might seem improbable, but Trump's escape from an assassination attempt, and his non-committal stance on banning Chinese-owned TikTok may have drawn more youngsters to him. The TikTok ban move by the Biden administration was a risky one politically. The Democrats didn't understand how much American kids loved the short video-sharing platform. For them, it was a form of communication and self-expression for a generation. While these may not be the only reasons, it is clear that Trump was preferred over Harris by many in Gen Z and millennials. Also, note that there was an effort ahead of the Democratic primary to put 'uncommitted' as an option. This means many of the Democratic voters were not ready for Biden. It is quite possible that some of them may have voted for Trump. In summary, while much of the reasons for her defeat had to do with circumstances, Harris didn't help her own campaign. Now as per custom, the vice president faces the ignominy of signing the document that will declare Trump as the next president after the joint Congress session on January 6, right on the fourth anniversary of the Capitol riots instigated by Trump in rejection of the 2020 election outcome. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

Why did Kamala Harris lose US presidential election? Putting together the pieces of a puzzle

Qatar has paused its role as a mediator in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;This decision to pull out follows months of stalled diplomacy, mediated with support from Egypt and the United States, and the breakdown of a temporary truce reached in November 2023.

Qatar's withdrawal came as Israel rejected warnings about a potential famine in northern Gaza, where the Israeli&nbsp;military's campaign against Hamas has led to severe shortages.

In other news from around the world, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker in West Bengal was found dead inside the party's office in the South 24 Parganas district. A woman has been arrested in connection with the crime.

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/qatar-confirms-suspension-of-gaza-mediation-cites-lack-of-seriousness-from-israel-and-hamas-774896">Qatar confirms suspension of Gaza mediation, says will only resume talks when...</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/11/10/465195-new-wion43.jpg?imwidth=400" />

Qatar's foreign ministry on Saturday (Nov 9) confirmed that the nation has paused its role as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas. Citing a lack of “seriousness” from both parties to achieve a ceasefire and hostage release deal, Qatar said it had warned both Israel and Hamas “10 days ago”.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/partial-biased-data-israel-rejects-warnings-of-impending-famine-in-gaza-774893">'Partial, biased data': Israel rejects warnings of impending famine in Gaza</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/11/10/465193-new-wion42.jpg?imwidth=400" />

Israel on Saturday (Nov 9) rejected warnings about a potential famine in northern Gaza, where Israel's military campaign against Hamas has led to severe shortages. This comes as the independent Famine Review Committee (FRC) on Friday issued a rare alert that an imminent famine in northern Gaza could unfold without urgent intervention from all parties involved.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-worker-found-dead-inside-party-office-in-indias-west-bengal-woman-arrested-774908">BJP worker found dead inside party office in India's West Bengal, woman arrested</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/11/10/465203-untitled-3.png?imwidth=400" />

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker in the Indian state of West Bengal was found dead inside the party office in the South 24 Parganas district, the news agency PTI reported on Saturday (Nov 9) citing a police official. The worker was identified as Prithviraj Naskar and he used to handle the social media accounts of the BJP in South 24 Parganas.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-detects-first-human-case-of-h5-bird-flu-in-british-columbia-teen-774903">Canada detects first human case of H5 bird flu in British Columbia teen</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/11/10/465200-2024-11-10t000043z1lynxmpeka9000rtroptp4health-bird-flu.JPG?imwidth=400" />

Canada has detected its first presumptive case of H5 bird flu in a person, a teenager in the western province of British Columbia, health officials said on Saturday.&nbsp;The teenager likely caught the virus from a bird or animal and was receiving care at a children's hospital, the province said in a statement.

WATCH |&nbsp;Bangladesh's interim govt labels Awami League 'fascist'

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&nbsp;

Qatar has paused its role as a mediator in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This decision to pull out follows months of stalled diplomacy, mediated with support from Egypt and the United States, and the breakdown of a temporary truce reached in November 2023.

Qatar has paused its role as a mediator in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This decision to pull out follows months of stalled diplomacy, mediated with support from Egypt and the United States, and the breakdown of a temporary truce reached in November 2023. Qatar's withdrawal came as Israel rejected warnings about a potential famine in northern Gaza, where the Israeli military's campaign against Hamas has led to severe shortages. In other news from around the world, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker in West Bengal was found dead inside the party's office in the South 24 Parganas district. A woman has been arrested in connection with the crime. Click on the headlines to read more: Qatar confirms suspension of Gaza mediation, says will only resume talks when... Qatar's foreign ministry on Saturday (Nov 9) confirmed that the nation has paused its role as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas. Citing a lack of “seriousness” from both parties to achieve a ceasefire and hostage release deal, Qatar said it had warned both Israel and Hamas “10 days ago”. 'Partial, biased data': Israel rejects warnings of impending famine in Gaza Israel on Saturday (Nov 9) rejected warnings about a potential famine in northern Gaza, where Israel's military campaign against Hamas has led to severe shortages. This comes as the independent Famine Review Committee (FRC) on Friday issued a rare alert that an imminent famine in northern Gaza could unfold without urgent intervention from all parties involved. BJP worker found dead inside party office in India's West Bengal, woman arrested A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker in the Indian state of West Bengal was found dead inside the party office in the South 24 Parganas district, the news agency PTI reported on Saturday (Nov 9) citing a police official. The worker was identified as Prithviraj Naskar and he used to handle the social media accounts of the BJP in South 24 Parganas. Canada detects first human case of H5 bird flu in British Columbia teen Canada has detected its first presumptive case of H5 bird flu in a person, a teenager in the western province of British Columbia, health officials said on Saturday. The teenager likely caught the virus from a bird or animal and was receiving care at a children's hospital, the province said in a statement. WATCH | Bangladesh's interim govt labels Awami League 'fascist' ×

Morning brief: Gaza war updates; BJP Bengal worker found dead in party office, and more

Gaza Civil Defence agency said on Sunday (Nov. 10) that 30 people, including 13 children, were killed in Israeli air strikes on houses in north of the Gaza Strip.

Gaza Civil Defence agency said on Sunday (Nov. 10) that 30 people, including 13 children, were killed in Israeli air strikes on houses in north of the Gaza Strip. The agency said that the first strike hit a house in Jabalia, killing at least 25 people including 13 children. The second strike on the Sabra neighbourhood killed five people, with others still missing in the aftermath, the agency added. 'Looking into reports of strikes' Speaking to the news agency AFP, the Israeli military said that it was looking into the reports of the strikes in Jabalia and Sabra. Since October 6 this year, the Israeli military has been engaged in a withering air and ground assault on areas of northern Gaza, including Jabalia, saying they are seeking to stop Hamas militants from regrouping there. Also read | Qatar confirms suspension of Gaza mediation, says will only resume talks when... The war in Gaza erupted with Hamas's October 7, 2023 sudden attack on southern Israel, which resulted in 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed more than 43,000 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Multiple efforts to have a ceasefire deal between the two sides have so far failed, with Israel and Hamas trading blames for it. Hamas wants an agreement that ends the war and a prisoner-for-hostage deal, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war will only stop once the Palestinian militant group is eradicated. Qatar to stall efforts to mediate Gaza ceasefire The Israeli air strikes came as Qatar told Hamas and Israel that it would stall its efforts to mediate a ceasefire in the Gaza war and hostage release deal until both sides showed "willingness and seriousness" to resume talks. Also watch | IDF planning to open new crossing near Gaza × Since the war began, Qatar, along with the United States (US) and Egypt, has been working for a ceasefire in Gaza. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: Rescuers say 30, including 13 children, killed in Gaza strikes

As the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip rages on, the United States (US) told Qatar that the presence of Hamas in the country&nbsp;is no longer acceptable&nbsp;since the Palestinian militant group rejected the latest proposal to achieve a ceasefire and a hostage deal.

A total of three coaches including one parcel van of the&nbsp;22850 Secundrabad Shalimar SF Express derailed on Saturday (Nov 9) near Nalpur Station of the South Eastern Railway division. No casualties were reported.

In another news from around the world, the US has charged an&nbsp;Iranian man in an alleged assassination attempt on President-elect Donald Trump.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-war-truce-talks-presence-of-hamas-in-doha-is-no-longer-accepted-since-us-tells-qatar-774742">Gaza war truce talks: 'Presence of Hamas in Doha is no longer accepted since...,' US tells Qatar</a>

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The United States (US) has told Qatar that the presence of Hamas in Doha is no longer acceptable in the weeks since the Palestinian militant group rejected the latest proposal to achieve a ceasefire and a hostage deal, reported&nbsp;news agency Reuters early Saturday (Nov 9) citing an official who chose to remain anonymous.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/three-coaches-of-the-secunderabad-shalimar-express-derail-in-indias-howrah-774751">Three coaches of the Secunderabad-Shalimar Express derail in India's Howrah</a>

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A total of three coaches including one parcel van of the&nbsp;22850 Secundrabad Shalimar SF Express derailed on Saturday (Nov 9) near Nalpur Station of the South Eastern Railway division, the news agency ANI reported citing the&nbsp;CPRO South-Eastern Railway.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moneys-not-an-issue-man-charged-in-trumps-assassination-attempt-revealed-iran-armys-plan-774740">'Money's not an issue': Man charged in Trump's assassination attempt revealed Iran army's plan</a>

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The United States (US) has charged an Iranian man in an alleged assassination attempt on President-elect Donald Trump.&nbsp;US prosecutors announced on Friday (Nov 8) that the foiled assassination plot on Trump was allegedly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to avenge the death of&nbsp;Iranian&nbsp;general Qassem Soleimani.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-officials-brace-for-illegal-orders-from-donald-trump-reports-774744">Pentagon officials brace for illegal orders from Donald Trump: Reports</a>

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Pentagon officials are having discussions on how to respond to any 'illegal' order from the to-be next US president Donald Trump, such as deploying the military domestically, according to a CNN report.&nbsp;

Watch | WION Pulse:&nbsp;Germany marks 35 years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall

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As the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip rages on, the United States (US) told Qatar that the presence of Hamas in the country is no longer acceptable since the Palestinian militant group rejected the latest proposal to achieve a ceasefire and a hostage deal.

As the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip rages on, the United States (US) told Qatar that the presence of Hamas in the country is no longer acceptable since the Palestinian militant group rejected the latest proposal to achieve a ceasefire and a hostage deal. A total of three coaches including one parcel van of the 22850 Secundrabad Shalimar SF Express derailed on Saturday (Nov 9) near Nalpur Station of the South Eastern Railway division. No casualties were reported. In another news from around the world, the US has charged an Iranian man in an alleged assassination attempt on President-elect Donald Trump. Click on the headlines to read more: Gaza war truce talks: 'Presence of Hamas in Doha is no longer accepted since...,' US tells Qatar The United States (US) has told Qatar that the presence of Hamas in Doha is no longer acceptable in the weeks since the Palestinian militant group rejected the latest proposal to achieve a ceasefire and a hostage deal, reported news agency Reuters early Saturday (Nov 9) citing an official who chose to remain anonymous. Three coaches of the Secunderabad-Shalimar Express derail in India's Howrah A total of three coaches including one parcel van of the 22850 Secundrabad Shalimar SF Express derailed on Saturday (Nov 9) near Nalpur Station of the South Eastern Railway division, the news agency ANI reported citing the CPRO South-Eastern Railway. 'Money's not an issue': Man charged in Trump's assassination attempt revealed Iran army's plan The United States (US) has charged an Iranian man in an alleged assassination attempt on President-elect Donald Trump. US prosecutors announced on Friday (Nov 8) that the foiled assassination plot on Trump was allegedly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to avenge the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Pentagon officials brace for illegal orders from Donald Trump: Reports Pentagon officials are having discussions on how to respond to any 'illegal' order from the to-be next US president Donald Trump, such as deploying the military domestically, according to a CNN report. Watch | WION Pulse: Germany marks 35 years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall ×

Morning brief: Gaza war updates; 3 coaches of Secunderabad-Shalimar Express derail, and more

The United States (US) has told Qatar that the presence of Hamas in Doha is no longer acceptable in the weeks since the Palestinian militant group rejected the latest proposal to achieve a ceasefire and a hostage deal, reported the news agency Reuters early Saturday (Nov 9) citing an official who chose to remain anonymous.

The United States (US) has told Qatar that the presence of Hamas in Doha is no longer acceptable in the weeks since the Palestinian militant group rejected the latest proposal to achieve a ceasefire and a hostage deal, reported the news agency Reuters early Saturday (Nov 9) citing an official who chose to remain anonymous. Since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October last year, Qatar, along with the US and Egypt, has played a major role in the rounds of so-far fruitless talks to broker a ceasefire. Speaking to Reuters, the official said, "After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner. We made that clear to Qatar following Hamas's rejection weeks ago of another hostage release proposal," the senior official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity." Qatar then made the demand to Hamas leaders about 10 days ago, the official said. Washington has been in touch with Qatar over when to close the group's political office, and it told Doha that now was the time. Hamas' denial Reuters reported that three Hamas officials denied Qatar told the group that it was no longer welcome in the country. Qatar has not commented on the above developments so far and it was unclear if the Qataris provided a specific deadline for Hamas leaders to leave the country. Also read | Israel-Hamas war: Nearly 70% of verified deaths in Gaza are women and children, says UN Doha has come under criticism from US lawmakers over its ties with Hamas. Recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told leaders in Qatar and elsewhere in the region that there could be "no more business as usual" with Hamas. Qataris told Blinken they were open to reconsidering the presence of Hamas in the country when the time comes. It is not yet known how many Hamas leaders live in Qatar. But they included several leaders touted as possible replacements for Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, whom Israeli forces killed last month. Republican senators make a request to Washington On Friday, as many as 14 Republican senators wrote a letter to the State Department, asking Washington to immediately freeze the assets of Hamas officials living in Qatar, extradite several senior Hamas officials living in the country and ask Doha to end its hospitality to the Palestinian militant group's senior leadership. Also watch | Race to Power US: How Trump's win could impact the Gaza war? × Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said repeatedly over the last year that the Hamas office existed in Doha to allow negotiations with the group and that as long as the channel remained useful, Qatar would allow the office to remain open. (With inputs from agencies)

Gaza war truce talks: 'Presence of Hamas in Doha is no longer accepted since...,' US tells Qatar

A committee of global food security experts warned on Friday (Nov 8) that there was a strong chance that famine would rapidly hit parts of the northern Gaza Strip, as the war between Israel and Hamas raged on.

A committee of global food security experts warned on Friday (Nov 8) that there was a strong chance that famine would rapidly hit parts of the northern Gaza Strip, as the war between Israel and Hamas raged on. The Famine Review Committee (FRC) said that it could be "assumed that starvation, malnutrition, and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease, are rapidly increasing" in north Gaza. "Famine thresholds may have already been crossed or else will be in the near future," the FRC added. "If no effective action is taken by stakeholders with influence, the scale of this looming catastrophe is likely to dwarf anything we have seen so far in the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023," the committee further said. 'Humanitarian situation in Gaza extremely grave' Israel and Hamas have been fighting a war in the Gaza Strip since October 7 last year. The United Nations (UN) has estimated that there are between 75,000 and 95,000 people still in northern Gaza. Last month, the Israeli military l began a wide military push in northern Gaza. Also read | Gaza war truce talks: 'Presence of Hamas in Doha is no longer accepted since...,' US tells Qatar Addressing a press conference, Associate Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Stephanie Tremblay said, "According to the alert issued by the IPC's Famine Review Committee, there's a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas within the northern Gaza Strip. The alert further underscores that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, as we have just detailed, is extremely grave and rapidly deteriorating." "They're calling for immediate action within days, not weeks. And this action is required from all who are directly taking part in the conflict or who have an influence on its conduct to avert and to alleviate this catastrophic situation," Tremblay added. "We need to ensure that once, that supplies that enter Gaza are able to reach everywhere inside Gaza, to reach all of these people that are desperately in need of assistance. And so we're going to keep advocating for more and more assistance, reaching everywhere and in sufficient quantity," she added. Nearly 70% of deaths in Gaza are women and kids: UN The above developments came as the UN Human Rights Office said on Friday that nearly 70 per cent of the fatalities it has verified in the Gaza war were women and children, and condemned what it called a systematic violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law. The 8,119 victims verified is a much lower number than the toll of more than 43,000 provided by Palestinian health authorities for the 13-month-old war. However, the UN breakdown of the victims' age and gender backs the Palestinian assertion that women and children represent a large portion of those killed in the war.

Israel-Hamas war: Experts say strong chance that famine will rapidly hit parts of north Gaza

Yemen's&nbsp;Houthis&nbsp;targeted Israel's southern Nevatim Airbase with a hypersonic ballistic rocket called "Palestine 2" and downed early on Friday (Nov&nbsp;8) a US&nbsp;MQ-9 Reaper in the airspace of the Yemeni province of al-Jawf, the group's military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said.

Speaking during a pro-Palestinian protest in Sanaa, Sarea said the group will continue their targeted operations and that they will continue imposing their naval blockade on Israel and would target any ships belonging to, linked to, or heading to Israel, until Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon stop.

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The speech comes less than a week after the Iran-aligned&nbsp;Houthis&nbsp;said they were intensifying their attacks to support Hamas and Hezbollah in their resistance against Israeli actions in the region.

Since November, the&nbsp;Houthis&nbsp;have carried out nearly 100 attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea, a critical route for global trade linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. They have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least four seafarers.

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Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Yemen's Houthis targeted Israel's southern Nevatim Airbase with a hypersonic ballistic rocket called "Palestine 2" and downed early on Friday (Nov 8) a US MQ-9 Reaper in the airspace of the Yemeni province of al-Jawf, the group's military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said.

Yemen's Houthis targeted Israel's southern Nevatim Airbase with a hypersonic ballistic rocket called "Palestine 2" and downed early on Friday (Nov 8) a US MQ-9 Reaper in the airspace of the Yemeni province of al-Jawf, the group's military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said. Speaking during a pro-Palestinian protest in Sanaa, Sarea said the group will continue their targeted operations and that they will continue imposing their naval blockade on Israel and would target any ships belonging to, linked to, or heading to Israel, until Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon stop. Also read: UN Peacekeepers injured in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon The speech comes less than a week after the Iran-aligned Houthis said they were intensifying their attacks to support Hamas and Hezbollah in their resistance against Israeli actions in the region. Since November, the Houthis have carried out nearly 100 attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea, a critical route for global trade linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. They have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least four seafarers. Also read: `Trust has eroded`: Netanyahu dismisses Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, replaces him with Foreign Minister Katz Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Houthis say they fired hypersonic ballistic rocket at Israeli air base

Donald Trump is set to return to the White House. In his victory speech, he declared that he was not going to start a war, he was going to stop the wars. But can that happen? Can he end the war between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours like he promised? Can he bring peace to Gaza, as he has suggested?

Can Trump Stop the Ukraine War in 24 Hours Like He Promised?

The Israeli army released video on Friday (November 1) it says shows the airstrike that killed senior&nbsp;Hamas&nbsp;official Izz al-Din Kassab in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the location or the date of the video.

Israel described Kassab as one of the last surviving high-ranking members of&nbsp;Hamas&nbsp;responsible for coordinating with other groups in Gaza.

Prospects of a ceasefire between Israel and its foes&nbsp;Hamas&nbsp;and Hezbollah ran aground on Friday as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 68 people in the Gaza Strip, according to medics in the Palestinian enclave, and bombed Beirut's southern suburbs.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Israeli army released video on Friday (November 1) it says shows the airstrike that killed senior Hamas official Izz al-Din Kassab in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.

The Israeli army released video on Friday (November 1) it says shows the airstrike that killed senior Hamas official Izz al-Din Kassab in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis. Reuters was not able to independently verify the location or the date of the video. Israel described Kassab as one of the last surviving high-ranking members of Hamas responsible for coordinating with other groups in Gaza. Prospects of a ceasefire between Israel and its foes Hamas and Hezbollah ran aground on Friday as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 68 people in the Gaza Strip, according to medics in the Palestinian enclave, and bombed Beirut's southern suburbs. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Gaza war: Israel says it killed one of the last high-ranking members of Hamas

US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has asked Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza before he ‘returns to office,’ according to a report by the Times of Israel.

The Israeli news outlet cited two sources in its report, who said the message was conveyed by Trump in July when the duo met at the former president’s Florida Mar-a-Lago resort.

While Trump had previously admitted that he asked Netanyahu to win the war quickly, now it has been revealed that he had attached a deadline to it—January 20.

During his campaign trail, Trump has largely shied away from talking about the ongoing war in West Asia but has signalled his full support to Israel’s military operations against Iran and the proxies backed by it.

He even argued in favour of Israel attacking the nuclear sites in the Shi’ite country.

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"That's the thing you wanna hit," Trump spoke during a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

On the other hand, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has labelled Trump ‘dangerous’ for West Asia. "I believe that Donald Trump is dangerous," Harris said during a CNN town hall last week.

"I believe that when you have a president of the United States who has said to his generals who worked for him because he is Commander in Chief — these conversations, I assume, many of them took place in the Oval Office — if the president of the United States, the Commander in Chief, is saying to his generals, in essence, 'Why can't you be more like Hitler's generals?' Anderson, come on," she added.

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Times of Israel reported earlier this month, quoting two sources, that Israeli officials were worried over Trump’s repeated calls for ending the war in Gaza. The officials fear that if Netanyahu fails to adhere to Trump’s deadline, it may even lead to some clash between the two leaders.

“There are internal political constraints to ending the war quickly,” one source told the Israeli outlet.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has asked Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza before he ‘returns to office,’ according to a report by the Times of Israel.

US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has asked Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza before he ‘returns to office,’ according to a report by the Times of Israel. The Israeli news outlet cited two sources in its report, who said the message was conveyed by Trump in July when the duo met at the former president’s Florida Mar-a-Lago resort. While Trump had previously admitted that he asked Netanyahu to win the war quickly, now it has been revealed that he had attached a deadline to it—January 20. During his campaign trail, Trump has largely shied away from talking about the ongoing war in West Asia but has signalled his full support to Israel’s military operations against Iran and the proxies backed by it. He even argued in favour of Israel attacking the nuclear sites in the Shi’ite country. Also read: Trump faces another groping allegation, pageant queen claims 'he tried to lift my dress' "That's the thing you wanna hit," Trump spoke during a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina. On the other hand, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has labelled Trump ‘dangerous’ for West Asia. "I believe that Donald Trump is dangerous," Harris said during a CNN town hall last week. "I believe that when you have a president of the United States who has said to his generals who worked for him because he is Commander in Chief — these conversations, I assume, many of them took place in the Oval Office — if the president of the United States, the Commander in Chief, is saying to his generals, in essence, 'Why can't you be more like Hitler's generals?' Anderson, come on," she added. Also read: 'You are not garbage': Trump rides garbage truck in uniform for supporters at rally in jibe to Biden's remarks Times of Israel reported earlier this month, quoting two sources, that Israeli officials were worried over Trump’s repeated calls for ending the war in Gaza. The officials fear that if Netanyahu fails to adhere to Trump’s deadline, it may even lead to some clash between the two leaders. “There are internal political constraints to ending the war quickly,” one source told the Israeli outlet. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump told Netanyahu to end Gaza war ‘before he returns to office’: Report

As per the latest report, Israel is considering putting a biometric system for future residents of the enclave. In our next report, we ask What does the future of Gaza look like?

Israel Planning Biometric Screening for Palestinians: Report 

The Indian ambassador to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma slammed Ottawa for&nbsp;destroying the relationship between the two nations based on "politically motivated" intelligence rather than evidence. In an interview broadcast on Sunday (Oct 20), Ambassador Verma said that he had&nbsp;nothing to do with Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death.

A top commander of the Israeli army&nbsp;was killed in an explosion in northern Gaza during an operation targeting Hamas, the Israeli military announced on Sunday. The commander was identified as&nbsp;Colonel Ahsan Daksa.

In other news from around the world, police in India's national capital New Delhi&nbsp;began investigating a possible Khalistani link to the explosion that happened outside a school of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Rohini on Sunday.

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-bed-fellow-with-those-trying-to-challenge-indian-sovereignty-says-envoy-sanjay-kumar-verma-769317">Canada 'bed fellow' with those trying to challenge Indian sovereignty, says envoy Sanjay Kumar Verma</a>

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India's envoy to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma in an interview broadcast on Sunday (Oct 20) slammed Canada for destroying the relationship between the two nations based on "politically motivated" intelligence rather than evidence.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-israeli-commander-dies-in-gaza-blast-three-others-wounded-in-hamas-offensive-769293">Top Israeli commander killed in Gaza blast, three others wounded in Hamas offensive</a>

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One of the&nbsp;senior-most Israeli army commanders has been killed in Northern Gaza, announced the Israel military on Sunday (Oct 20).&nbsp;Colonel Ahsan Daksa, commander of the 401st Brigade, was killed in an explosion in northern Gaza during an operation targeting Hamas.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/blast-outside-crpf-school-in-delhi-authorities-investigating-alleged-khalistani-link-to-explosion-769322">Blast outside CRPF school in Delhi: Authorities investigating alleged Khalistani link to explosion</a>

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The Delhi police and other authorities in India's national capital began investigating a possible Khalistani link to the explosion that happened outside a school of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Rohini on Sunday (Oct 20), the news agency PTI reported on Monday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-israeli-pm-netanyahu-asked-my-opinion-about-what-to-do-with-iran-trump-769302">West Asia crisis | Israeli PM Netanyahu asked my opinion about what to do with Iran: Trump</a>

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Former United States (US) president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Sunday (Oct 20) spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the escalating conflict in West Asia.&nbsp;Trump told reporters that Prime Minister Netanyahu&nbsp;had asked his opinion on what to do about Iran.

Watch | World DNA: Pakistan passes constitutional amendment bill with 2/3rd majority

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The Indian ambassador to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma slammed Ottawa for destroying the relationship between the two nations based on "politically motivated" intelligence rather than evidence.

The Indian ambassador to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma slammed Ottawa for destroying the relationship between the two nations based on "politically motivated" intelligence rather than evidence. In an interview broadcast on Sunday (Oct 20), Ambassador Verma said that he had nothing to do with Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death. A top commander of the Israeli army was killed in an explosion in northern Gaza during an operation targeting Hamas, the Israeli military announced on Sunday. The commander was identified as Colonel Ahsan Daksa. In other news from around the world, police in India's national capital New Delhi began investigating a possible Khalistani link to the explosion that happened outside a school of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Rohini on Sunday. Click on the headlines to read more: Canada 'bed fellow' with those trying to challenge Indian sovereignty, says envoy Sanjay Kumar Verma India's envoy to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma in an interview broadcast on Sunday (Oct 20) slammed Canada for destroying the relationship between the two nations based on "politically motivated" intelligence rather than evidence. Top Israeli commander killed in Gaza blast, three others wounded in Hamas offensive One of the senior-most Israeli army commanders has been killed in Northern Gaza, announced the Israel military on Sunday (Oct 20). Colonel Ahsan Daksa, commander of the 401st Brigade, was killed in an explosion in northern Gaza during an operation targeting Hamas. Blast outside CRPF school in Delhi: Authorities investigating alleged Khalistani link to explosion The Delhi police and other authorities in India's national capital began investigating a possible Khalistani link to the explosion that happened outside a school of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Rohini on Sunday (Oct 20), the news agency PTI reported on Monday. West Asia crisis | Israeli PM Netanyahu asked my opinion about what to do with Iran: Trump Former United States (US) president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Sunday (Oct 20) spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the escalating conflict in West Asia. Trump told reporters that Prime Minister Netanyahu had asked his opinion on what to do about Iran. Watch | World DNA: Pakistan passes constitutional amendment bill with 2/3rd majority ×

Morning brief: India-Canada row escalates; Gaza war updates, and more

After Israel confirmed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7 attack on Israel last year, has been killed in Gaza. Pressure builds on Netanyahu as protesters gather outside his residence and chant, 'No victory without hostage deal'. Watch to know more.

Israel-Hamas War: Pressure on Netanyahu To Seal Hostage Deal After Sinwar's Killing

Pressure builds on Netanyahu after the killing of Sinwar as protesters gather outside his residence and chant, 'No victory without hostage deal'. Israel weighs in options to leverage custody to Sinwar's remains. What will happen next ? Watch to know more.

Israel-Hamas War: Israel Weighs in Options to Leverage Custody of Sinwar's Remains

Israel-Hamas War: Pressure Builds On Netanyahu After Yahya Sinwar's Killing

The presidential election in the United States (US) is less than a month away. The November 5 election is happening under the shadow of two wars- the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that began on October 7, 2023,&nbsp;and the Russia-Ukraine war that started on February 24, 2022.&nbsp;

The Israel-Hamas war has further spread to West Asia with Israel now fighting Iran and Tehran-aligned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The top contenders in this US presidential election are Donald Trump (Republican Party) and Kamala Harris (Democratic Party). Harris, who is the current vice president, became the Democratic presidential candidate after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.

Both Trump and Harris have spoken in length about the two wars but have not offered any realistic ways to stop them.&nbsp;

<h2>Where do Trump and Harris stand on Gaza and Ukraine?</h2>

<h3>On Gaza war</h3>

The Israel-Hamas war merited a few scant mentions over less than five minutes of the September 10 presidential debate on ABC News between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

During the debate, Trump reiterated his position that the war in West Asia would have not broken out if he were president.&nbsp;

Hitting out at Harris, Trump said, "When she mentions Israel, all of a sudden - she hates Israel. She wouldn’t even meet with Netanyahu when he went to Congress to make a very important speech. She refused to be there because she was at a sorority party of hers. She wanted to go to the sorority party. She hates Israel," he said.

"If she's president, I believe that Israel will not exist within two years from now," Trump added and expressed his continued support of Israel's offensive in Gaza.

He has also urged Israel to “finish up” the war because it was is losing support.&nbsp;

Harris, meanwhile, said that Trump's remarks about her hating Israel were&nbsp;"absolutely not true."

Harris said that she backed&nbsp;a ceasefire deal in Gaza that would see the release of the remaining Israeli captives, but renewed her pledge to continue to arm Israel.

She also voiced support for the two-state solution.

<h3>On Ukraine war</h3>

Trump has many times mentioned that he could stop the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours if he were elected president again. During the September 10 presidential debate, the Republican candidate sidestepped a question&nbsp;on whether he wanted Ukraine to win in its war against Russia.

“I want the war to stop,” Trump said when he was directly asked if he wanted Kyiv to win.

On Thursday (Oct 17), Trump blamed Ukrainian President&nbsp;Volodymyr Zelensky for starting the war against&nbsp;Russia. Trump has repeatedly called Zelensky the "greatest salesman on Earth"&nbsp;for having solicited and received billions of dollars of US&nbsp;military aid since the war broke out in 2022.

His remarks&nbsp;suggest he could seek to wind down aid for Ukraine if he defeats Harris in the election, a report by the news agency Reuters said.

Kamala Harris, meanwhile,&nbsp;has pledged to continue supporting Ukraine, and she has portrayed a victory for the country as a vital American national security interest. She has frequently rebuked Trump for being unwilling to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The reason why Trump says the (Russia-Ukraine)&nbsp;war would be over in 24 hours, because he would just give it up. And that's not who we are as Americans...we brought 50 countries together to support Ukraine in its right to defence," Harris said during the presidential debate.

"If Donald Trump were president right now, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv...," she added.

<h2>Poll: Trump leads Harris on dealing with Gaza, Ukraine wars</h2>

A recent poll by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) suggested that Trump had an edge over Harris&nbsp;on who would better navigate the country through the Ukraine war, the Gaza war, and the escalating conflict in West Asia.

In overall support, the poll published on Friday showed Harris and Trump tied across the seven battleground states that could decide the November presidential election.

The poll showed Harris with marginal 2 per cent&nbsp;point lead&nbsp;in Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, Trump up 6 points in Nevada and 1 in Pennsylvania, and the two tied in North Carolina and Wisconsin. The poll of 600 registered voters in each state conducted on September 28-October 8 had a margin of error of 4% per cent points in each state.

Trump leads Harris in the seven swing states 50 per cent&nbsp;to 39 per cent&nbsp;on who is best able to handle Russian&nbsp;war against Ukraine. Trump also has a 48 per cent&nbsp;to 33 per cent&nbsp;lead over Harris on who is better suited to handle the Israel-Hamas war, the WSJ poll added.

(With inputs from agencies)

The presidential election in the United States (US) is less than a month away. The November 5 election is happening under the shadow of two wars- the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that began on October 7, 2023, and the Russia-Ukraine war that started on February 24, 2022.

The presidential election in the United States (US) is less than a month away. The November 5 election is happening under the shadow of two wars- the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that began on October 7, 2023, and the Russia-Ukraine war that started on February 24, 2022. The Israel-Hamas war has further spread to West Asia with Israel now fighting Iran and Tehran-aligned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The top contenders in this US presidential election are Donald Trump (Republican Party) and Kamala Harris (Democratic Party). Harris, who is the current vice president, became the Democratic presidential candidate after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. Both Trump and Harris have spoken in length about the two wars but have not offered any realistic ways to stop them. Where do Trump and Harris stand on Gaza and Ukraine? On Gaza war The Israel-Hamas war merited a few scant mentions over less than five minutes of the September 10 presidential debate on ABC News between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. During the debate, Trump reiterated his position that the war in West Asia would have not broken out if he were president. Hitting out at Harris, Trump said, "When she mentions Israel, all of a sudden - she hates Israel. She wouldn’t even meet with Netanyahu when he went to Congress to make a very important speech. She refused to be there because she was at a sorority party of hers. She wanted to go to the sorority party. She hates Israel," he said. "If she's president, I believe that Israel will not exist within two years from now," Trump added and expressed his continued support of Israel's offensive in Gaza. He has also urged Israel to “finish up” the war because it was is losing support. Harris, meanwhile, said that Trump's remarks about her hating Israel were "absolutely not true." Harris said that she backed a ceasefire deal in Gaza that would see the release of the remaining Israeli captives, but renewed her pledge to continue to arm Israel. She also voiced support for the two-state solution. On Ukraine war Trump has many times mentioned that he could stop the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours if he were elected president again. During the September 10 presidential debate, the Republican candidate sidestepped a question on whether he wanted Ukraine to win in its war against Russia. “I want the war to stop,” Trump said when he was directly asked if he wanted Kyiv to win. On Thursday (Oct 17), Trump blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for starting the war against Russia. Trump has repeatedly called Zelensky the "greatest salesman on Earth" for having solicited and received billions of dollars of US military aid since the war broke out in 2022. His remarks suggest he could seek to wind down aid for Ukraine if he defeats Harris in the election, a report by the news agency Reuters said. Kamala Harris, meanwhile, has pledged to continue supporting Ukraine, and she has portrayed a victory for the country as a vital American national security interest. She has frequently rebuked Trump for being unwilling to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "The reason why Trump says the (Russia-Ukraine) war would be over in 24 hours, because he would just give it up. And that's not who we are as Americans...we brought 50 countries together to support Ukraine in its right to defence," Harris said during the presidential debate. "If Donald Trump were president right now, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv...," she added. Poll: Trump leads Harris on dealing with Gaza, Ukraine wars A recent poll by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) suggested that Trump had an edge over Harris on who would better navigate the country through the Ukraine war, the Gaza war, and the escalating conflict in West Asia. In overall support, the poll published on Friday showed Harris and Trump tied across the seven battleground states that could decide the November presidential election. The poll showed Harris with marginal 2 per cent point lead in Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, Trump up 6 points in Nevada and 1 in Pennsylvania, and the two tied in North Carolina and Wisconsin. The poll of 600 registered voters in each state conducted on September 28-October 8 had a margin of error of 4% per cent points in each state. Trump leads Harris in the seven swing states 50 per cent to 39 per cent on who is best able to handle Russian war against Ukraine. Trump also has a 48 per cent to 33 per cent lead over Harris on who is better suited to handle the Israel-Hamas war, the WSJ poll added. (With inputs from agencies)

US presidential election 2024: Where do Trump and Harris stand on Gaza and Ukraine wars?

Israel's target number 1, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, killed in a chance ambush but no end to war in Gaza Is Zelensky's victory plan a sensible, practical strategy or is the Ukrainian president self-delusional? North Korea amends Constitution, designates South Korea as a hostile state And in Myanmar, the Ta'ang national Liberation army captures the strategic town of Hsipaw. Johan Castell gets you an in-depth analysis of the world's biggest warzones of the week.

Israel's Number 1 Enemy, Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Killed In Chance Encounter

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