Hamas Offers Truce

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Global Recap
February 07, 2024 • Read in: 7 minutes

Hi Global Recap readers,

“Hostages to be freed, hostilities to cease.”

This is what Hamas is offering, but will Israel give up its goal of wiping out Hamas in the name of peace?

Is regional tranquility on the horizon?

Fingers crossed.

Defense industry executives

🌐 Around the World

  • 🎙️ Tucker Interview Putin

  • 🚀 “Massive” Airstrike in Ukraine

  • 💣 Pakistan Election Bombings

  • 🇪🇺 EU vs Hungary’s Law

  • ⚐ Hamas Offers Truce

🎙️ Tucker Interview Putin

In the latest video, the former Fox News host, Tucker Carlson, revealed that he will “soon” interview Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

  • Now: the Kremlin has verified that the recording took place on Tuesday.

  • Reason: He said he wanted to conduct the interview because "Americans have a right to know all they can about a war they are implicated in." He finishes the video by saying:

“You should know as much as you can. And then, like a free citizen and not a slave, you can decide for yourself.”

You can get notified of it by leaving your email on Tucker’s website here, or you can just wait until we update you on it!

🚀 “Massive” Airstrike in Ukraine

Russia launched a massive airstrike on Ukraine on Wednesday, hitting Kyiv and other regions with missiles and drones.

  • Casualty: The attack killed at least four people, injured dozens more, and damaged many buildings and infrastructure.

  • Response: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy vowed to retaliate against Russia and called the attackers “terrorists.”

  • Support: US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget A. Brink urged for immediate security assistance to Ukraine and condemned Russia’s aggression.

💣 Pakistan Election Bombings

Two separate bombings targeted the election offices of a political party and an independent candidate in southwest Pakistan, killing at least 29 people and wounding more than two dozen others (at the time of writing).

  • Timing: The attacks occurred on Wednesday, the day before the parliamentary elections in the country.

  • Responsibility: No group claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Balochistan province has been plagued by separatist and militant violence for decades.

  • Demand: This region is a gas-rich province that borders Afghanistan and Iran, and has been the scene of a low-level insurgency by Baloch nationalists who demand more autonomy and a greater share of the provincial resources.

🇪🇺 EU vs Hungary’s Law

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen

The European Commission is taking legal action against Hungary over a new law that it says violates the principle of democracy.

  • Law: The law creates a new office that can spy on Hungarians active in public life without judicial oversight.

  • Leader: The law is seen as a move by the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, to further consolidate his power at home.

  • Elections: The legal action comes as the EU prepares for elections to the European parliament in June.

Israel-Hamas

Hamas Offers Truce

Hamas’ Gaza Strip leader, Yahya Sinwar

🕊️ Hamas’ Peace Proposal. In a surprising move, Hamas has proposed a ceasefire. This ceasefire, lasting four-and-a-half months, would see all hostages freed and Israeli troops withdrawn from the Gaza Strip.

🤝 The Negotiations. This proposal is a response to an offer sent last week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. It’s the biggest diplomatic push yet for an extended halt to the fighting.

🇮🇱 Israel’s Stance. However, some of Hamas’ demands are not acceptable to Israel. Israel has previously stated it will not withdraw its troops from Gaza until Hamas is wiped out.

"The war must not be stopped until we achieve all of its goals: Eliminating Hamas, returning all of our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza will never again constitute a threat to Israel. I say this to both our enemies and our friends. This is our responsibility and this is our commitment.”

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks at the start of the Government meeting at the Kirya in Tel Aviv, Sunday, 7, January 2024.

🇺🇸 U.S. Involvement. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the proposal.

  • Is he there to persuade Netanyahu to accept the deal? Biden’s steadfast backing of Israel has been costing him the support of younger US voters.

📜 Three-Phase Truce.

Phase 1:

  • In the initial 45-day period, all captive Israeli women, underage males (under 19), and the elderly or ill would be freed. This is in return for the release of Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons. Also, Israeli forces would retreat from inhabited areas in Gaza.

Phase 2:

  • This phase involves the liberation of the remaining male captives and a comprehensive Israeli retreat from Gaza.

Phase 3:

  • An exchange of the remains of the dead.

🤔 Why It Matters. If accepted, this proposal could bring about a significant change in the region. However, it’s not without its complications:

  • An end to the war would have to be agreed upon during the truce before the final hostages are freed.

  • Hamas wants guarantees from Qatar, Egypt, and other friendly states that the ceasefire will be upheld.