Russia labels Meta a “terrorist” organization

Hi Global Recap readers,

I left you last week as Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire. But did they really mean it? We’ll find out today.

🙏 PLUS: I’m eager to hear your thoughts on Israel’s reaction to Hamas. While my stance is firm, I would love to learn from your diverse viewpoints. So, stick around and let me know!

🌐 Around the world:

• Beijing bans stock selling for some.

• Musk is in Israel.

• Russia labels Meta a “terrorist” org.

• US Navy ship targeted by ballistic missiles.

• Ceasefire extended: Israel-Hamas war.

Let’s get into today’s news.

🚫 Beijing Bourse Bans Selling

The Beijing Stock Exchange has effectively banned major shareholders of its listed companies from selling their stocks.

• Why: Due to fears it could dampen a long-awaited market rally.

• New Policy: The bourse has been rejecting attempts by 5%+ stakeholders to sell off their shares.

This seems like a desperate move to prop up a struggling market. How long can they keep this up?

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🇮🇱 Musk in Israel

Elon Musk visited Israel amid accusations of antisemitism on his platform.

He met with Israeli PM Netanyahu and toured a kibbutz that was attacked by Hamas in October.

• X Controversy: Advertisers are ditching Musk’s social media platform X after a report by a liberal advocacy group Media Matters showed their ads popping up next to pro-Nazi content. Musk stirred the pot further by “endorsing” a post that parrots what many interpret as an antisemitic conspiracy theory.

• Starlink Deal: Musk’s satellite internet company reached an agreement with Israel’s communications ministry to operate in Israel and Gaza.

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🇷🇺 Russia Wants Meta Spokesman

Russia has put Andy Stone, the spokesman of Meta, on a wanted list for allegedly facilitating terrorism.

• Label: Russia classified Meta as a “terrorist and extremist” organization in October 2023 for allowing “violent speech” against Russian invaders on its platforms.

• Consequence: Meta’s platforms are blocked in Russia and only accessible via VPN.

• Zuck: In 2022, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was barred from entering the country.

Clearly, Meta is not a terrorist organization. Russia is just trying to silence critics.

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🚀 Houthis Fire at US Warship

A US Navy ship was targeted by two ballistic missiles from Yemen after rescuing a hijacked tanker with links to an Israeli-owned company.

• Hijacking: USS Mason and allies swooped in on a distress call from a hijacked phosphoric acid tanker.

• Rescue: The US demanded the release of the tanker, identified as the Central Park, and pursued the attackers until they surrendered.

• Missile Attack: Hours later, two ballistic missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen toward the USS Mason and the Central Park, but missed.

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Israel-Hamas

Ceasefire Extended

😢 Tears of Joy. A total of 69 hostages have been liberated from weeks of captivity by Hamas over the past four days, thanks to a ceasefire agreement. This leaves around 170 hostages still struggling in Gaza.

🕊️ Peace Extended. Under the initial terms of the agreement:

• Hamas agreed to free 50 hostages during a four-day ceasefire, with an additional day of ceasefire granted for every subsequent release of 10 hostages.

• Israel agreed to free 150 prisoners from its prisons.

Today’s liberation of 11 more hostages from Hamas has extended the ceasefire by two more days.

🏥 Harsh Conditions. Meanwhile, as revealed through interviews with liberated captives and their families, chilling details are surfacing about the abysmal conditions endured by the hostages after they were dragged into the horrors of Gaza.

• They slept on plastic chairs pushed together in rows.

• They ate irregularly, primarily eating rice and bread.

• They even had to wait hours to use the bathroom.

🕳️ Life in the Tunnels. Some hostages were even held underground in a network of tunnels, where they lived in “complete darkness.”

• Adina Moshe: A 72-year-old who was released on Friday, “had to adjust to the sunlight” after weeks of being thrown into the darkness of the tunnels, according to her nephew Eyal Nouri.

🏥 Medical Care. Thankfully, most hostages appeared to be in stable physical condition. However, some needed urgent medical attention for pre-existing conditions or injuries.

• Hila Rotem-Shoshani: A 12-year-old girl, released on Sunday, had to be constantly reminded that she didn’t need to whisper anymore.

• Alma Abraham: An 84-year-old, released on Sunday, was rushed to a medical facility in a life-threatening condition. She had an untreated pre-existing condition.

✏️ Final Thoughts. The joyous reunion of released hostages with their families is indeed heartwarming. Yet, critics fear this might merely be a respite allowing Hamas, recently decimated by Israeli Forces, to regroup.

🌐 Opinion

Israel’s Gaza incursion, initially promising a significant hostage release, fell short amid mounting international criticism over alleged atrocities and human rights abuses.

Adding to this, the relentless pressure from the hostages’ families pushed the Israeli government towards a hostage release agreement.