WORLD BRIEFING: November 22, 2023
Israel - Hamas War
Israel and Hamas on Tuesday reached a breakthrough deal for the release of hostages seized by Hamas in exchange for a pause in fighting in Gaza. The agreement would see the release of at least 50 hostages — women and children — in exchange for a four-day truce in Israel's air and ground campaign. The truce, meanwhile, would also allow the entry of "a larger number of humanitarian convoys and relief aid," according to a statement from Qatar, a key negotiator of the deal. The announcement has been greeted with relief and heightened anticipation from the families of those taken hostage, who now await further news about their loved ones. Hamas is holding 239 hostages captive in Gaza, including foreign nationals from 26 countries, the Israeli military said - CNN
The BBC understands the agreement is for the pause in fighting to start tomorrow at 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT), with the first release of hostages taking place around noon.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged all nations during an extraordinary BRICS summit on Tuesday to cease weapon exports to Israel.
South African lawmakers voted on Tuesday in favour of closing down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and suspending all diplomatic relations until a ceasefire is agreed in its war with Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza. The resolution is largely symbolic as it will be up to President Cyril Ramaphosa's government whether to implement it; a presidency spokesperson said Ramaphosa "notes and appreciates" parliament's guidance on South Africa's diplomatic relations with Israel, particularly on the status of the embassy - Reuters
“A lot of countries are ratcheting up their criticism of Israel for the relentless bombing of Gaza and displacement of people...But does it need to come to the point where we actually see starving bodies, people seen with their bones popping through their skin, for more action to be taken. This is just a catastrophic humanitarian disaster that we’ve not seen before. Peace needs to come to the Gaza Strip””
Ukraine War
Ukraine's air defenses said in a statement early on November 22 that Russia launched a multipronged drone attack on several regions overnight, but that all 14 Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down. The statement said the drones were downed over the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhya, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsya, and Khmelnytskiy. It said that a Russian cruise missile fell in the Zaporizhzhya region without reaching its target but caused damage to infrastructure - RFE/RL
A Russian strike hit port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast, the Southern Defense Forces reported on Nov. 21. Strikes were recorded in Odesa and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district, around 50 kilometers down the coast from Odesa, hitting port infrastructure and an administrative building.
Ukraine's 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade reports that it struck a building in the village of Kumachovo in the eastern region of Donetsk where Russian forces were celebrating the Day of Missile Forces and Artillery on November 19, killing 25 troops. The claim could not be independently verified.
Elsewhere
Poland has completed its investigation into the operation of a Russian spy network and detained 15 people, Polish media outlet RMF24 reported on Nov. 22. In total, 16 foreign nationals are suspected of participating in an organized criminal group and acting against Polish interests for foreign intelligence. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison - Kyiv Independent
North Korea claimed earlier today it had put its first spy satellite into orbit. Analysts said if the spacecraft works, it could significantly improve North Korea's military capabilities, including enabling it to more accurately target opponents' forces. Neither South Korea, the US nor Japan — all of which are experiencing increasing military tensions with North Korea — could confirm the satellite had made it into orbit. But officials say the rocket carrying the satellite was launched in a southerly direction and is believed to have passed over Japan's Okinawa prefecture. South Korea called the launch a "clear violation" of a UN Security Council resolution that prohibits North Korea from using ballistic missile technology and vowed to investigate further - CNN
Argentines have overwhelmingly elected Javier Milei, an ultra-conservative economist, as the next president of the South American country. With nearly all the votes counted, the former TV pundit won by more than 10 points. The far-right populist and first-time congressman won the second round of the presidential election, defeating Sergio Massa, the economy minister from the ruling Peronist party. Massa conceded defeat soon after the polls closed, pledging to help the president-elect transition to power. Addressing a crowd of ecstatic supporters at the Libertador Hotel in Buenos Aires Milei said that Argentina was in a "critical situation" and that it was no time for "half measures." - NPR
The Chinese government is significantly reducing the number of mosques in two provinces in China under its “mosque consolidation” policy, Human Rights Watch reveals in new research released today