U.S. says Israel-Hamas cease-fire "close," amid fears of widening Middle East war
CBSN
The White House says Israel-Hamas cease-fire talks are "close," amid fears of a widening Middle East war following high-profile assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
Israel launched a rare airstrike on Lebanon's capital of Beirut on July 30, killing Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, a close advisor to Hezbollah's secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah. A day later, the longtime chairman of Hamas' political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated at his guesthouse in Tehran — Iran blames Israel — hours after attending the inauguration of incoming Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian.
Haniyeh was Hamas' lead negotiator in cease-fire negotiations with Israel, the United States and mediating countries Qatar and Egypt. His negotiation role seems to have fallen to Yahya Sinwar, who is now the leader of Hamas' political wing and allegedly masterminded Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. Sinwar is believed to be in hiding in Gaza's underground tunnels.
The federal trial for three former Memphis police officers charged in the death of Tyre Nichols is set to begin jury selection on Monday. The former officers are charged with violating the civil rights of Nichols, a 29-year-old man whose fatal beating was caught on police cameras while also triggering protests and calls for police reform.