The Full Belmonte, 11/25/2023
“The fighting in Gaza stopped on Friday, the first major letup in six weeks of ferocious warfare. Just hours later, Hamas released 24 hostages: 13 Israelis, some with dual citizenship and all women and minors, as well as 10 Thai nationals and one from the Philippines. In exchange, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners, also women and minors. If all goes as planned over the next three days, Hamas will release a total of 50 of the roughly 240 hostages Israel said it took amid the slaughter of 1,200 people on Oct. 7 and Israel will free a total of 150 prisoners. But Benjamin Netanyahu says the exchange doesn’t signal a change in his pledge not to stop attacking until Hamas is destroyed, despite international outcry over the more than 13,000 people Gaza health authorities said Israel has killed.
Satellite imagery of a large crowd of people gathered in southern Gaza attempting to flee south along the evacuation corridor on Nov. 17. Source: Bloomberg
An exchange was not inevitable. Families of the hostages have been loudly pushing for their release, forcing it high onto Netanyahu’s agenda. US officials said three Americans would be among those released, though it didn’t appear they were among the first to be let go. Each side will likely use the pause, assuming it holds, to rest their forces, resupply, plan and gather intelligence. But there seems little longer-term hope, given the prime minister’s statements. With Israel now pushing into the south of Gaza—where it told Palestinians to flee—after destroying much of the north, and no indication of Hamas willing to lay down its arms, the threat of a wider war persists. ‘Don’t hold your breath, given the maximalist goals on both sides,’ Marc Champion writes in Bloomberg Opinion. ‘Even assuming this halt in hostilities can last its intended duration, expect more war.’” [Bloomberg]
Hostages reach Israel
Israeli hostages disembark from a Red Cross convoy after arriving at Gaza's border crossing with Egypt today. Photo from video: Al Qahera News (Egypt) via Reuters
“Hamas today freed the first group of hostages — including 13 Israeli women and children — who have been held in Gaza since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, Axios' Barak Ravid writes.
10 Thai nationals and one Filipino who worked in Israel were also freed, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said.
State of play: 39 Palestinian prisoners — 24 women, including some convicted of attempted murder for attacks on Israeli forces, and 15 teenagers jailed for offenses like throwing stones — were released from Israeli custody.
Israel is set to release 150 Palestinians over the four-day pause. Hamas agreed to free at least 50 women and children.
Zoom in: Most of the released Israeli hostages (listed below) are from Nir Oz — the kibbutz where one in every four residents was killed or abducted. They reached Israeli territory and underwent medical checks late Friday, Israeli officials said.
Yaffa Adar, 85
Daniel Aloni, 44
Emilia Aloni, 6
Aviv Katz-Asher, 2
Raz Katz-Asher, 4
Doron Katz-Asher, 34
Hanna Katzir, 77
Adina Moshe, 72
Margalit Moses, 78
Ruth Munder, 78
Keren Munder, 54
Ohad Munder, 9
Hanna Peri, 79” [Axios]
Ex-officer Derek Chauvin, convicted in George Floyd’s murder, stabbed in federal prison
“Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed by another inmate and seriously injured Friday at a federal prison in Arizona, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
The attack happened at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson, a medium-security prison that has been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the attack and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.
The Bureau of Prisons confirmed that an incarcerated person was assaulted at FCI Tucson at around 12:30 p.m. local time Friday. In a statement, the agency said responding employees contained the incident and performed ‘life-saving measures’ before the inmate, who it did not name, was taken to a hospital for further treatment and evaluation.
No employees were injured and the FBI was notified, the Bureau of Prisons said. Visiting at the facility, which has about 380 inmates, has been suspended.
Messages seeking comment were left with Chauvin’s lawyers and the FBI.
Chauvin’s stabbing is the second high-profile attack on a federal prisoner in the last five months. In July, disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar was stabbed by a fellow inmate at a federal penitentiary in Florida.
It is also the second major incident at the Tucson federal prison in a little over a year. In November 2022, an inmate at the facility’s low-security prison camp pulled out a gun and attempted to shoot a visitor in the head. The weapon, which the inmate shouldn’t have had, misfired and no one was hurt.
Chauvin, 47, was sent to FCI Tucson from a maximum-security Minnesota state prison in August 2022 to simultaneously serve a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights and a 22½-year state sentence for second-degree murder….” Read more at USA Today
Rep. Dean Phillips won’t run for reelection amid presidential bid
BY NICK ROBERTSON
“Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) announced Friday that he will not seek reelection in 2024 as he continues a long-shot primary challenge to President Biden.
‘It’s been the most joyful experience of my life representing the most civically engaged community in the nation in Congress,’ Phillips said on X, formerly Twitter. ‘But it’s time to pass the torch, it’s time for change, and our best days are yet to come!’….
Read the full story here at The Hill
“A growing number of Chinese citizens, frustrated with harsh Covid restrictions and Xi Jinping’s government, are entering the U.S. from Mexico.” [New York Times]
“Vladimir Putin has been the only winner of the Israel-Hamas war, as some in the US and European Union begin to ask whether they can go on funding both Israel’s invasion of Gaza and Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. Ukraine’s top general admits his military is in a stalemate with the Kremlin’s invading forces. For Kyiv, that concession comes ahead of some tough months and dwindling military supplies, with winter making it difficult to advance. New NATO member Finland said it will close its one remaining crossing point with Russia if its neighbor continues with a hybrid operation to push asylum seekers its way.” [Bloomberg]
“Taiwan’s main opposition parties have launched rival presidential bids after the implosion of a potential alliance aimed at installing a China-friendly government. Meanwhile, Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of technology firm Foxconn, withdrew from the race, ending for now his years-long pursuit of Taiwan’s most-powerful job. China, for its part, will allow citizens from countries including France, Germany and Italy to enter the country without a visa as Beijing attempts to open up amid an economic slowdown.” [Bloomberg]
“Black Friday kicked off the holiday shopping season, and retailers are warning this year might be a bit sluggish. US consumers are starting to become frugal after hanging tough during two years of inflation and higher interest rates. Richer Americans are looking for deals and curtailing their spending, a Bloomberg analysis shows. For others, spending has focused on experiences like travel and concert tickets, the post-Covid lockdown YOLO consumer helping power US growth. But cost-of-living pressures are evident, with more Americans pulling money from their retirement accounts as savings dwindle. These shifts indicate the Fed’s efforts to put the brakes on the economy are working as it aims for a soft landing. That’s also raising hopes that rate cuts might be in store next year to avoid overshooting the runway.” [Bloomberg]
Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg
Americans open wallets
Illustration: Tiffany Herring/Axios
“Americans set a new Thanksgiving online spending record and are on track to charge their way through Black Friday, Axios' Hope King and Kelly Tyko write from Adobe Analytics online sales data.
Why it matters: The early numbers suggest the tradition of whipping out wallets after the turkey and cranberry sauce remains as strong as ever.
By the numbers: Consumers shelled out $5.6 billion online on Thanksgiving, Adobe Analytics reported this morning.
That's a 5.5% jump over last year and nearly double what consumers spent on the holiday in 2017.” [Axios]
“If your refrigerator is now stuffed with Thanksgiving leftovers, think about this: Roughly 30% of all food produced for human consumption is wasted, a number that climbs as high as 40% in the US. Almost half of American food waste is generated by households, not restaurants or grocery stores. A staggering 58% of methane emissions escaping from US landfills come from food waste, scientists say. What to do? Start by loving your leftovers, even if you’re among the scores of Americans going into the holidays this year on popular (and appetite shrinking) weight loss drugs.” [Bloomberg]
“An advertiser backlash after Elon Musk endorsed a post accusing Jews of ‘hatred against whites’ could cost X $75 million.” [New York Times]
GAME OF THE WEEKEND
A Michigan receiver outruns Ohio State defenders during last year’s game. Jay Laprete/Associated Press
“No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Michigan, college football: Apart from the national championship, this is the biggest game of the season. The rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State is as ancient and fierce as any in college football, and it’s even better when the teams are undefeated, as they both are this year. These are two of the country’s best defenses — Ohio State allows the fewest passing yards of any team, and Michigan gives up the fewest points — so one big play could decide this one. 12 p.m. Eastern on Fox
Michigan’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh, won’t be on the sidelines today as he finishes a three-game suspension over his team’s sign-stealing scandal.” [New York Times]
THE WEEK IN CULTURE
Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte in “Napoleon,” opening on Wednesday. Apple Original Films/Columbia Pictures
“Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon’ opened this week. Here’s what to read, listen to, eat, watch and visit before — or after — you watch the movie. (French critics have panned it.)” [New York Times]
“Aardman Animations, the studio behind ‘Wallace and Gromit,’ dispelled the rumors that it was running out of clay for its stop-motion films.” [New York Times]
“Shakira settled a tax evasion case in Spain on Monday before it went to trial, agreeing to pay a fine of over $7 million.” [New York Times]
“The N.F.L. star (and world-famous boyfriend) Travis Kelce explained how he and Taylor Swift met in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.”
“Suki Waterhouse and Robert Pattinson announced they are expecting their first child, NBC News reports.” [New York Times]
“The comedian Matt Rife faced criticism for a joke about domestic violence in his recent Netflix special, Variety reports.” [New York Times]
“BMI, the licensing agency that represents songwriters including Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar, sold itself to a private equity firm.” [New York Times]
“The TV series ‘Fargo’ returned for a fifth season. Here’s a refresher on the previous four seasons.” [New York Times]
“The rapper ASAP Rocky will stand trial for shooting a former friend in 2021. He faces up to 24 years in prison, Pitchfork reports.” [New York Times]
“Jamie Foxx was accused of sexual assault in a new lawsuit, CNN reports.” [New York Times]