Hamas expected to respond soon to proposal ceasefire including hostage releases

All the latest developments on the Israel - Hamas war and the conflict in the Middle East.

Transcript

00:00 U.S. President Joe Biden has approved plans for retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed

00:04 militants in Iraq and Syria.

00:07 No details have been announced except for the preference of good weather for the attacks

00:11 to prevent civilian casualties.

00:14 The announcement came in the wake of dozens of attacks against U.S. bases and installations

00:18 in the Middle East.

00:22 We will continue to work to avoid a wider conflict in the region.

00:26 But we will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our interests and

00:33 our people.

00:35 And we will respond when we choose, where we choose and how we choose.

00:43 While continuing to support Israel in its war against Hamas, Washington on Thursday

00:47 announced sanctions against four Israeli settlers who were accused of assaulting and intimidating

00:52 Palestinians.

00:53 The sanctions will freeze the individuals` assets in the U.S. and restrict financial

00:57 dealings with them.

00:58 The humanitarian situation in Gaza is expected to deteriorate even more as the U.N. agency

01:03 for Palestinian refugees announced it may have to halt operations completely after this

01:07 month.

01:08 The announcement comes after it was discovered that several agency workers in Gaza might

01:12 have assisted Hamas in preparing the October 7 terror attacks on Israel.

01:17 On Thursday, dozens of Israeli citizens gathered in Ashdod near the main trading port of Israel

01:22 to demand a halt to aid shipments.

01:25 They used slogans such as "Stop feeding terrorists."

01:28 [Whoosh]