Russian drone strikes in Kharkiv killed at least four people, including three rescue workers, as NATO foreign ministers gather in Brussels with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stating that dialog with Moscow has reached a "critical zero." France denies readiness for potential talks with Russia over Ukraine, while the Russian Prosecutor General's Office sends inquiries to Western countries over suspicions of their involvement in terror attacks inside Russia. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg pitches a plan for the alliance to take on a greater role in coordinating military aid to Ukraine, and Ukraine thanks Finland for a 188 million euro military aid package.
Hamas has issued a chilling threat, promising to carry out "worse and greater" terror attacks on Israeli civilians. The warning comes after a shooting attack by Hamas gunmen on a bus stop in Jerusalem, which resulted in the deaths of three Israeli civilians. Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida also warned that Israeli hostages will be executed unless Israel meets the group's demands. The conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, with hopes for a ceasefire fading and Israel vowing to eradicate Hamas. The United Nations has called for a ceasefire to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs warns that the war between Israel and Hamas has heightened polarization within European society, creating a "huge risk" of terror attacks in the EU during the holiday season.
Photos reveal the devastation left behind by Hamas' October 7 terror attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border, with destroyed homes, bullet-riddled rooms, and belongings left behind. Over a month later, bodies are still being identified and funerals are held daily, while Israel has responded with air strikes and a ground invasion of Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 10,000 Palestinians according to the Gaza health ministry.
Shani Louk, a German citizen who went missing during the Hamas terror attacks at the Supernova music festival in southern Israel, has been confirmed dead by the Israeli military. Her family had previously received information that she was critically injured and receiving treatment in a hospital in the Gaza Strip. Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people and took over 220 hostages during the attacks. Shani Louk had both German and Israeli citizenship and regularly visited Germany to stay with relatives.
Israel's signals intelligence agency stopped monitoring Hamas' radio communications last year, believing it was a waste of time, according to The New York Times. Israeli officials noticed an unusual level of Hamas activity in Gaza the night before the recent terror attacks but couldn't determine if it was a military exercise or a prelude to war. The decision not to monitor Hamas' radio communications may have hindered their ability to assess the situation accurately. The attacks resulted in over 1,400 deaths and the kidnapping of 239 people, with Israel responding with a devastating counterassault.
Former "Miss Israel" and model Yityish "Titi" Aynaw criticized Black Lives Matter (BLM) for its response to the recent Hamas terror attacks on Israel, stating that while BLM protested with the slogan "I can't breathe," it is the Israeli hostages in Gaza who are currently unable to breathe. Aynaw highlighted the plight of Israeli hostages, including women and children, who have been kidnapped and raped by Hamas. She equated Hamas to ISIS and called for prayers for Israel. The Biden administration has pledged to assist Israel in locating and freeing the hostages.
Eight suspects in the 2016 terror attacks on Brussels have been sentenced by the Special Court of Assizes. Salah Abdeslam, a suspected co-author of the attacks and the only surviving member of the Paris commandos, received 20 years in prison. Other defendants include Mohamed Abrini and Osama Krayem. Oussama Atar, the emir of the Islamic State group who headed the jihadist cell, was tried in absentia as he is presumed to have died in Syria in 2017.
The Biden administration condemned both the shooting of an Israeli patrolman in Tel Aviv and the killing of a Palestinian by Israeli settlers as "terror attacks," indicating that Washington placed the attacks on equal footing. The State Department expressed condolences to the victims' families and called for an end to violence and incitement. The tweet came amid frustration over Israel's failure to address settler violence, which has gone largely unchecked. The shooting in Tel Aviv occurred during a string of Palestinian terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank, contributing to heightened tensions in the region.
In a rare move, Hamas's military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for a series of recent deadly attacks in Israel and the West Bank. The attacks include a shooting near the West Bank settlement of Eli, a car-ramming and stabbing attack in Tel Aviv, and a shooting near the West Bank settlement of Kedumim. The group stated that the attacks were in response to Israeli military operations in Jenin. Hamas has rarely claimed responsibility for attacks in recent years, but Israel has often accused the group of orchestrating attacks.
The European Union has condemned the recent terror attacks in Israel and the rocket fire from Gaza and Lebanon, calling for "restraint" from all parties involved. The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, urged for calm during the ongoing religious holidays and emphasized the need to preserve the status quo of all holy sites. Israel has the right to defend itself, but any response must be proportionate, he added.
