world news
‘We believe enough is enough’: Palestinians and Jews jog at DNC for ceasefire, hostage deal
Before starting a 4-mile run, about a dozen joggers warmed up at Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park Tuesday morning. Some stretched, while others handed out gray T-shirts to newcomers.
On the front, in a simple white font, was the message “Ceasefire Now. Hostage/Prisoner Release.” And on the back — “All for All.”
“This war hasn’t offered more security to the Israelis or freedom to the Palestinians. We believe enough is enough,” said organizer Anan Abu-Taleb.
The morning runs during this week’s Democratic National Convention are the brainchild of Abu-Taleb, the former mayor of Oak Park who was born in Gaza, and his friend Richard Goldwasser, a Jewish American attorney. Through running, the two hope to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages during a week when many politicians and dignitaries are in town.And if they were hoping to capture the attention of a high-profile candidate, they were in the right place. As the group started their run — about 2 miles on the lakefront trail to McCormick Place before heading back to the fountain — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democrats’ vice presidential nominee, jogged past with security on a nearby sidewalk.
More than 40,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the war began 10 months ago with the Hamas-led attack on Israel, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages, about 110 of whom remain in the strip. The war has also become an important and, at times, contentious issue in the presidential election and the subject of large protests in Chicago and nationwide.
“This is our way of saying that if we have a human connection … and invest into our own relationships, it can go a long way of making us see each other as human and as people who have the same aspirations, the same hopes, the same fears,” Abu-Taleb, 65, said.
For Goldwasser, 59, of Highland Park, there’s something about running, being stride by stride with someone, that helps form bonds. He said it’s the perfect activity to understand other people and come together. Running also sends a “good, positive message” that Goldwasser hopes will be heard during the DNC and after.
“Most people in my community have never met a Palestinian. They don’t have any connections, meaningful connections with them,” he said. “But the ones who do are able to see the situation differently, and to criticize the conduct of this war and criticize American support for this war.”
At the convention, Abu-Taleb said “words are cheap” and that he’s looking for politicians to offer substantive policy, namely ending US taxpayer funding of the war.
“It’s one thing to make a political statement and empathize with the suffering of the people in Gaza and also the displaced people in Israel and the people who have lost family members on both sides,” he said. “It’s another thing to put teeth behind it.”
The only way forward is together
Along with an affinity for running, Abu-Taleb said he and Goldwasser have been friends for about five years because they share values of caring for others and advocating for peace. He said Goldwasser has also frequently checked in on him throughout the war since he has family members still in Gaza. They also like to have discussions over old fashioneds, he laughed.
The friends’ message is one that resonated with Lily Greenberg Call, a Jewish staffer who resigned from the Biden administration over his handling of the war in Gaza. She joined the jog Tuesday morning, saying running is her favorite sport and one that’s brought her a lot of joy and helped her make it through stressful times.
“I think moments like this, doing things like running, activities that help remind us that we are all really the same and want the same thing — everyone just wants their kids to go to bed happy and be able to have opportunities — they’re really important,” she said, adding that it’s a “moral obligation” that Democrats push for a ceasefire.
“It also helps ground us when things feel really horrible and awful, I think being outside, being in the sun, moving your body, that’s the best way to connect to ourselves and what really matters,” she added.
Another person who joined the run was Ilana Axel, 68, of Buffalo Grove. Axel said she previously lived in Israel, so the issue is very close to her heart. After Oct. 7, she said she worked to learn more about the conflict, even starting a study group at her congregation.
“My conclusion is the only way forward is when Israelis and Palestinians come together,” she said. “Number one, show that there can be a life together … and we both have to fight together against the extremist elements within our own people.”
“It may not even happen in my lifetime, she added, “but I need to work for it now, even if I don’t get to see it.”
Israel’s political echelon, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has ordered the IDF to prepare for an “immediate” return to fighting in Gaza, KAN News reported on Friday evening.
The Jerusalem Post reported earlier this week that Israeli officials estimated that if no agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas, Israel would return to fighting in Gaza in about a week and a half.
“Hamas is currently rejecting [US Middle East envoy Steve] Witkoff’s proposal, so it is very difficult to make progress,” one official said.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Witkoff’s plan involves the release of half of the living hostages and the return of half of the bodies on the first day of the continued deal. The rest of the hostages and bodies would be returned on the 42nd day, which would be the final day of the ceasefire.However, some claim that the terrorist organization has not rejected the proposal. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, “Hamas has neither accepted nor rejected the Witkoff proposal.”
Eyal Zamir to Gaza border community heads: We’re preparing to fight
On his first day as the new IDF chief of staff on Thursday, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir told heads of local councils from the Gaza border communities that “we are preparing to return to fighting” in Gaza.
“We must defeat Hamas,” Zamir said. “We are also preparing to resume fighting. The hostages are our top priority.”
Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
Negotiations over the continued release of hostages held in Gaza have stalled, and “right now there is nothing happening,” sources familiar with details of the talks admitted in conversation with The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
“Right now, there’s nothing happening,” an Israeli official told the Post, adding that “Hamas is currently rejecting the Witkoff proposal, so it is very difficult to make progress.”
According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the Witkoff plan involves the release of half of the living hostages and the return of half of the bodies on the first day of the deal. The second half of the hostages and bodies would be returned on the 42nd day, which would be the final day of the ceasefire.
On the other hand, some claim that Hamas has not rejected the proposal. “Hamas has neither accepted nor rejected the Witkoff proposal,” said a source with knowledge of the negotiations with the Post.“Hamas has said it is willing to negotiate and has not rejected the plan. Since Israel currently states that this is the proposal on the table, from Israel’s perspective, Hamas has rejected it.”
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff not expected to visit Israel soon, source says
An Israeli source told the Post that there is no expectation for Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, to visit the region at the moment, adding, “He will only come to finalize a deal. And since there is no real progress right now, it is unclear when or if he will arrive.”
Without an agreement on the release of additional hostages in the coming days, Israeli sources say Israel is preparing to escalate its actions against Hamas. After the decision on Sunday to stop humanitarian aid, Israel is preparing to cut off water and electricity to the Gaza Strip, as well as resume fighting – some say this might happen, without a deal, as early as next week.
Israeli officials suggest that even without accepting the Witkoff initiative, Hamas might agree to release additional hostages in the near future in exchange for the release of terrorists from prison and the entry of caravans and humanitarian aid, but they add that this also depends on other issues.
“The Israeli government needs to decide what will be negotiated with Hamas and what they will receive in exchange for the release of hostages in the coming weeks,” said an Israeli source. “Hamas’s agreement to release more hostages depends on the answers to these questions.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that Israel responded to the mediators’ request to allow a few more days of negotiations. Katz added,d “If Hamas does not release the hostages soon, the gates of Gaza will be locked and the gates of hell will be opened – we will return to fighting, and they will face the IDF with forces and methods they have never encountered before.”
Israeli officials suggest that even without accepting the Witkoff initiative, Hamas might agree to release additional hostages in the near future in exchange for the release of terrorists from prison and the entry of caravans and humanitarian aid, but they add that this also depends on other issues. “The Israeli government needs to decide what will be negotiated with Hamas and what they will receive in exchange for the release of hostages in the coming weeks,” said an Israeli source. “Hamas’s agreement to release more hostages depends on the answers to these questions.”
No progress has been made in the ceasefire talks in Cairo, and Israel is reaching a dead end, a source familiar with the details of the negotiations told The Jerusalem Post Saturday.
There were lots of technical discussions but no results, the source added.
Israel and mediating countries believe that only the Trump administration can perhaps break the talks out of the impasse.
“When [US Middle East envoy Steve] Witkoff arrives, things may happen. Everyone is waiting for him,” the source said.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene a meeting on the hostage deal in the next several hours with senior officials and the negotiation team, an Israeli official told the Post.
Hamas refusing Israeli proposal to extend phase one of deal
Hamas is refusing the idea of extending the first phase of the deal, Israeli officials said.
The Israeli and Qatari delegations arrived in Cairo on Thursday. The delegation is led by Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing Persons, Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch, as well as “M,” an anonymous officer from the Shin Bet. M is the former deputy of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who is reportedly no longer part of the hostage deal negotiating team.
-
Solar Energy3 years agoDLR testing the use of molten salt in a solar power plant in Portugal
-
TOP SCEINCE7 months agoSearching old stem cells that stay young forever
-
Camera1 year agoDJI Air 3 vs. Mini 4 Pro: which compact drone is best?
-
Indian Defense4 years ago
Israeli Radar Company Signs MoU To Cooperate With India’s Alpha Design Technologies
-
Camera1 year agoSony a9 III: what you need to know
-
world news1 year ago
Gulf, France aid Gaza, Russia evacuates citizens
-
world news5 months ago
Sirens trigger across central Israel following rocket barrage targeting Tel Aviv Iron Dome battery
-
Solar Energy1 year agoGlencore eyes options on battery recycling project
