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Israeli war cabinet resumes hostage deal discussions, official says

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A delegation from Egypt traveled to Israel on Friday in a bid to avert a planned Israeli offensive in Rafah, where much of Gaza's population has been displaced, according to an Israeli official who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the matter's sensitivity. The trip, which follows an Israeli war cabinet meeting Thursday to discuss hostage deal negotiations, signals a resumption of efforts to broker a deal after months of failed talks. National security adviser Jake Sullivan told MSNBC on Friday that there was "new momentum, new life," to the hostage and cease-fire talks.

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More than 500 people have been detained over the past week in pro-Palestinian protests at colleges across the United States. Students — many demanding that their institutions cut ties with corporations doing business with Israel — have continued to gather on campuses despite the presence of police and exhortations from administrators.

President Biden named Lise Grande as the new U.S. special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues, replacing David Satterfield. Grande recently headed the U.S. Institute of Peace and is a former U.N. official who oversaw humanitarian efforts in Yemen and Iraq.

Hamas expressed "disappointment" that the United States and 17 other nations have called for the release of hostages, saying in a statement the countries omitted calls for a lasting cease-fire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The U.S.-backed statement came a day after Hamas released a video appearing to show Israeli American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, offering the first potential sign he may still be alive.

At least 34,305 people have been killed and 77,293 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says the majority of the dead are women and children.

Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's Oct. 7 attack, including more than 300 soldiers, and says 261 soldiers have been killed since its military operation in Gaza began.

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More than 500 people have been detained over the past week in pro-Palestinian protests at colleges across the United States. Students — many demanding that their institutions cut ties with corporations doing business with Israel — have continued to gather on campuses despite the presence of police and exhortations from administrators.

President Biden named Lise Grande as the new U.S. special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues, replacing David Satterfield. Grande recently headed the U.S. Institute of Peace and is a former U.N. official who oversaw humanitarian efforts in Yemen and Iraq.

Hamas expressed "disappointment" that the United States and 17 other nations have called for the release of hostages, saying in a statement the countries omitted calls for a lasting cease-fire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The U.S.-backed statement came a day after Hamas released a video appearing to show Israeli American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, offering the first potential sign he may still be alive.

At least 34,305 people have been killed and 77,293 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says the majority of the dead are women and children.

Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's Oct. 7 attack, including more than 300 soldiers, and says 261 soldiers have been killed since its military operation in Gaza began.

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