Israel has announced plans to send a delegation to Qatar following Hamas’s concessions in ceasefire negotiations, signaling the closest approach to a deal in recent weeks. Under intensified diplomatic pressure, including threats from Qatar and Egypt, Hamas has softened its stance, stepping back from its demands for a permanent cease-fire agreement prior to negotiations. The Wall Street Journal reported these concessions have rejuvenated hopes for a pause in the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. Rafah Offensive and Humanitarian Efforts Despite the diplomatic progress, Israel continues to plan for a military offensive in Rafah, Gaza's last major city yet to be entered, emphasizing the dual need to neutralize Hamas threats and secure the release of hostages. Concurrently, the U.S. is focusing on humanitarian efforts, including a project led by ...Full story available on Benzinga.com

Three months after the devastating Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas in Israeli territory, the war in the Gaza Strip continues unabated, with significant developments in the last few hours. Israel-Hamas Conflict, Day 94: Key Developments Hezbollah Commander Killed: In a significant blow to the Lebanese group of Hezbollah, Israel reportedly killed Wissam al-Tawil, a senior commander in the Radwan force, in south Lebanon on Monday. This escalates tensions, especially following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel in retaliation for the assassination of a senior Hamas leader in Beirut last week. Lebanese sources describe this as a “painful” blow, with one security source telling Reuters, “Things will flare up now.” G7 Seeks Rapid End to Military Phase: As per Reuters, the United States and its G7 allies are urgently seeking to conclude the military phase of the Gaza conflict. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, representing ...Full story available on Benzinga.com

Two months have passed since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, and the conflict has now spread throughout the entire Gaza Strip. This escalation comes after negotiations between Israel and Hamas failed to extend the temporary ceasefire for a hostage and prisoner exchange last week. Latest Updates as of Thursday, Dec. 7: High-Level Diplomatic Discussions: President Joe Biden engaged in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, addressing the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, CNN reported. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also had a Thursday morning discussion with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. He commended the Israeli security cabinet for allowing more fuel into Gaza but stressed the need for increased efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the war-affected region. King Abdullah II of Jordan called for an immediate ceasefire in a phone call ...Full story available on Benzinga.com

Israeli forces overpowered Hamas “defense lines” in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed on social media Wednesday. This development marks a significant escalation in military engagement 61 days since the start of the conflict. Here are the latest updates: Strategic military raids in Khan Younis: The Israeli military has initiated intensive raids against Hamas strongholds in the heart of Khan Younis, the territory's second-largest city, according to the CNN. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the encirclement of the residence of Hamas’ leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar’s exact position still remains uncertain, with the Israeli military suggesting he is “underground.” The IDF describes the brigade in Khan Younis as “one of Hamas’s two most influential brigades,” highlighting that this city in southern Gaza serves as a pivotal stronghold for the group. Hamas’s resistance: As the Israeli army advances towards the center of Khan Younis, Al Jazeera reports that Hamas's Qassam Brigades are engaged in “fierce clashes” across the Gaza Strip. A statement on Telegram from the group claimed that Palestinian fighters ...Full story available on Benzinga.com

Authorities in Israel are investigating claims made by U.S. researchers that traders put outsize short positions on Israeli stocks and an exchange-traded fund ahead of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, Reuters reported Monday.

An academic study by New York University’s Robert J. Jackson, Jr. and Columbia University’s Joshua Mitts published on Dec. 4 uncovers a troubling pattern in the financial markets: traders potentially capitalizing on foreknowledge of terrorist attacks. The study meticulously documents unusual trading patterns in Israeli company stocks and ETFs before the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, raising serious ethical and legal concerns. Unprecedented Short Selling Activity In Israel-Linked Stock ETF Researchers revealed that the iShares MSCI Israel ETF (NYSE:EIS) witnessed a significant and atypical surge in short selling just five days prior to the Oct. 7 attack. This phenomenon was not just statistically unusual but also economically significant, with nearly all off-exchange trading volume on Oct. 2 reported to FINRA consisting of short selling, as the study showed. Jackson, Jr., Robert J. and Mitts, Joshua, Trading ...Full story available on Benzinga.com

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have resumed and expanded their ground operation against Hamas’ strongholds across the Gaza Strip, after negotiations to extend the ceasefire collapsed last Friday, marking a significant escalation as the conflict enters its 59th day. The military operation now spans from the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City in the north to Khan Younis in the south, covering the entirety of the enclave. Here are the latest developments: Evacuation orders in Southern Gaza: The IDF has issued evacuation orders for several areas to the southeast of Khan Younis, reflecting the operation’s expansion into southern Gaza. Israel’s defense forces have also released a map indicating significant parts of Khan Younis marked for immediate evacuation, as CNN reported. Israeli media outlets have released footage capturing the moment the High Court of Justice building in central Gaza was destroyed on Sunday. Gaza hospitals overwhelmed: According to a Gaza Health Ministry official, hospitals in the region are overwhelmed with an increasing number of casualties, as they struggle ...Full story available on Benzinga.com

Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend their ceasefire for an additional day, bringing the total number of days under the truce agreement to seven. The extension was announced just minutes before the previous truce was set to expire on Thursday, as a result of intense mediation efforts to facilitate the release of more hostages and to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Hostage release: Israel, insisting on the release of at least 10 hostages daily to sustain the ceasefire, confirmed receiving a list of individuals to be freed on Thursday. This move averted the resumption of hostilities, which were planned if the agreement wasn’t met. A Hamas source indicated that 10 Israeli hostages were set to be released, including two with Russian citizenship, according to The Times of Israel. Al Jazeera reported that Daniel Levy, who previously served as an Israeli negotiator, said that as ...Full story available on Benzinga.com

Israel and Hamas were discussing through mediators the possibility of extending the Gaza truce on Wednesday as the six-day pause neared its end. The two sides had only a few hours left to reach an agreement before the fighting was scheduled to resume. Fifty-four days since the beginning of the conflict, over 150 Israeli hostages are still held in Gaza. A Palestinian official informed Reuters that while both sides expressed a willingness to prolong the ceasefire, no formal agreement had been reached yet. Release of hostages and prisoners: Israeli families have been informed of the last group of hostages to be released under the current agreement. Additionally, 30 Palestinian prisoners are scheduled for release on the truce’s sixth day. As reported by the Times of Israel, 31 children held by Gaza-based militants were released as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement with Hamas. However, nine children still remained in the Strip. Negotiators at work to extend ceasefire: According to analysts cited by Al Jazeera, the ...Full story available on Benzinga.com

A fragile temporary truce between Israeli and Hamas was violated Tuesday morning. Bloomberg reported that Israeli troops, stationed in northern Gaza in accordance with the recent ceasefire agreement, were targeted in three separate explosions and subsequent shootings by Hamas, breaching the truce. The attacks resulted in minor injuries to several soldiers, as stated in an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announcement. Over the last hour, 3 explosive devices were detonated adjacent to IDF troops in 2 different locations in northern Gaza, violating the framework of the operational pause. In one of the locations, terrorists also opened fire at the troops, who responded with fire. A number of… — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 28, 2023 The ceasefire, which was initially set for four days, was extended by an additional two days on Monday, in order to facilitate more hostage releases. Hamas has released 50 Israeli women and children thus far, part of the 240 hostages captured in southern Israel during an Oct. 7 attack. In exchange Israel has freed 150 Palestinian detainees, primarily women and teenagers, held in Israeli prisons. Israel And Hamas Response To Ceasefire Breach According to The Times of Israel, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is advocating for Israel to abandon its current truce agreement with Hamas. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has affirmed the military’s readiness to potentially recommence operations in the Gaza Strip as early as today. The spokesman for the military wing of Hamas has stated that their fighters responded to what they consider a “clear violation” of the ceasefire by the IDF in the northern Gaza Strip, leading to ...Full story available on Benzinga.com