Early Edition: October 29, 2024

Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here.

A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

CIA Director Bill Burns floated a new 28-day Gaza ceasefire and hostage swap proposal during a Sunday meeting with Israeli and Qatari envoys, according to Israeli sources. Separately, Netanyahu yesterday signaled his willingness to accept Egypt’s two-day ceasefire deal. Analysts say any breakthroughs are unlikely until the result of the U.S. presidential election is known. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Lauren Izso, Niamh Kennedy, Jeremy Diamond and Becky Anderson report for CNN; Patrick Kingsley reports for the New York Times.

Israel’s Knesset yesterday voted to bar the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from activity within Israel and prohibit Israeli authorities from any contact with the organization. The move, set to take effect in 90 days, will likely severely restrict the agency’s ability to operate in Gaza and the West Bank. Nadeen Ebrahim and Salma Arafa report for CNN; Andrew Roth reports for the Guardian.

At least 60 people were killed by an Israeli strike on a building where displaced Palestinians were sheltering in North Gaza early today, the Hamas-run health ministry said. Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy, and Bassem Mroue report for AP News.

Only one medic remains at a North Gaza hospital following a weekend Israeli raid on the facility, the Hamas-run health ministry said in a statement urging international organizations to send medical staff to the enclave. Ido Vock reports for BBC News.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE

The United States is “deeply concerned” the UNRWA ban will further exacerbate Gaza’s dire humanitarian crisis and has urged Israel to pause its implementation, a State Department spokesperson said yesterday. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

UNRWA yesterday condemned the Knesset’s ban on its activities, with the agency’s Commissioner-General saying the “unprecedented” move violates Israel’s international law obligations and amounts to collective punishment of Palestinians. The Guardian reports; Michael Ross reports for CNN.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday warned of “devastating consequences” of the UNRWA ban’s implementation, adding there is “no alternative” to the agency. Richard Roth and Irene Nasser report for CNN.

A host of countries have sharply criticized Israel’s vote to ban UNRWA. Prior to the vote, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the U.K. expressed “grave concern” over the legislation and urged Israel to “abide by its international obligations.” Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain also jointly condemned the move. Niamh Kennedy, Benjamin Brown, and Kareem Khadder report for CNN; the Guardian reports.

South Africa’s legal team yesterday delivered its main legal case accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians to the International Court of Justice. AP News reports.

ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH WAR 

Hezbollah today named Naim Qassem, its longtime deputy leader, as its new secretary general, replacing Hassan Nasrallah who was killed by Israeli airstrikes last month. Ben Hubbard reports for the New York Times.

ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT — U.S. RESPONSE

Israel’s Saturday attack on Iran “should be the end of the direct exchange of fire” between the countries, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the U.N. Security Council yesterday, warning Iran of “severe consequences” if it launches any new attacks. The Guardian reports.

U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Philadelphia’s District Attorney yesterday launched a lawsuit seeking to stop $1mn giveaways from Elon Musk’s PAC, arguing they violate state consumer protection regulations. The complaint, which does not allege a violation of federal election laws, is the first legal challenge to the contest. Amy B Wang, Perry Stein, and Trisha Thadani report for the Washington Post.

Incendiary devices were dropped into ballot drop boxes early yesterday in Oregon and Washington, sparking a fire which destroyed hundreds of ballots. Police said the incidents were connected and that a “suspect vehicle” has been identified. Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez report for the Washington Post; Mike Baker reports for the New York Times.

Former President Trump bragged about a “little secret” between him and the House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) set to be revealed after Election Day during a Sunday rally, sparking concerns about a potential scheme to settle the contested presidential election. Robert Tait reports for the Guardian.

Republicans yesterday asked the Supreme Court to step into the legal fights over Pennsylvania provisional ballots and Virginia voter purge challenges. John Fritze and Tierney Sneed report for CNN; Josh Gerstein reports for POLITICO.

For years, grass-roots Republican networks have laid the groundwork that could be used to contest the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, materials obtained by the New York Times show. Alexandra Berzon, Nick Corasaniti, Dylan Freedman and Duy Nguyen report.

Three members of the Washington Post’s 10-person editorial board stepped down yesterday, amid continuing backlash against the newspaper’s decision to not endorse a presidential candidate. Sareen Habeshian reports for Axios.

TRUMP LEGAL MATTERS

A federal judge yesterday granted a request by Trump’s legal team to delay the deadline for submissions on the former president’s immunity from prosecution over his efforts to subvert the 2020 election to Nov. 21. Spencer S. Hsu reports for the Washington Post.

OTHER U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 

The United States is running low on some types of air-defense missiles amid a widening crisis in the Middle East, raising questions about the Pentagon’s readiness to keep up with demand. Nancy A. Youssef and Gordon Lubold report for the Wall Street Journal.

The Global Engagement Center, a State Department unit focused on combating state-backed disinformation campaigns abroad, is set to potentially lose its congressional authorization in December over Republican mistrust of its role in domestic U.S. politics. Joseph Gedeon reports for POLITICO.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR

North Korea sent 10,000 troops to Russia, of whom some are already moving towards the Ukraine border, a Pentagon spokesperson said yesterday. Separately, North Korea’s foreign minister arrived in Russia ahead of a planned Moscow visit, Russian state media said. Paul McLeary and Robbie Gramer report for POLITICO; Reuters reports.

The United States will not impose new limits on Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons if North Korea joins Russia’s war, the Pentagon said yesterday. Phil Stewart and Andrew Gray report for Reuters.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS 

Thousands of opposition protesters rallied outside Georgia’s Parliament late yesterday after the country’s president denounced Saturday’s parliamentary elections as rigged and illegitimate. A partial recount is ongoing following reports of voting irregularities. Robyn Dixon and Mary Ilyushina report for the Washington Post; Reuters reports.

A German-Iranian national and longtime U.S. resident Jamshid Sharmahd was executed in Iran yesterday, sparking condemnation from the United States and Germany. Benjamin Brown and Hamdi Alkhshali report for CNN.

At least 40 Chadian troops were killed on Sunday in an attack on a military base close to the country’s border, the presidency said. While the statement did not name any suspects, local residents believe Boko Haram fighters were responsible. Natasha Booty reports for BBC News.

Outside powers are “fuelling the fire” of Sudan’s warring forces’ escalating attacks, Secretary-General Guterres told the Security Council yesterday. Edith M. Lederer reports for AP News.

The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor Karim Khan yesterday asked the court’s oversight mechanism to open an investigation into allegations of misconduct against him, saying he will “fully cooperate” with the inquiry. Reuters reports.

The post Early Edition: October 29, 2024 appeared first on Just Security.