February 5, 2024

*) Hamas in consultation with factions on ceasefire: source Hamas has not informed mediators of its rejection of a proposal for a hostage swap deal and a ceasefire in Gaza, a well-informed Palestinian source said. The source, which requested anonymity, affirmed that the Palestinian resistance group’s consultations with other Palestinian factions on the proposals are “ongoing.” His remarks were in response to international media reports, some of which claimed that Hamas had rejected the proposals while others suggested that it intended to deliver its response on Sunday evening. *) US plans additional strikes on Iranian-linked targets: White House The United States will press on with its retaliation against Iran-aligned groups in Iraq and Syria, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. Sullivan declined to say if he ruled out strikes against Iran itself. The White House national security advisor said the US intended to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that it will respond when its forces are attacked. *) Israel demolishes ‘58 Palestinian structures’ in occupied West Bank in January The Israeli army has demolished 58 Palestinian structures in the occupied West Bank in the month of January alone, according to a local organisation. “The demolished structures included 22 inhabited houses and 16 agricultural facilities,” the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said in a statement. It said most of the demolitions occurred in the cities of Hebron, Bethlehem, occupied East Jerusalem and Qalqilya. *) G7 eyes Russian assets as collateral to fund Ukraine The Group of Seven and the European Union have been discussing a plan to use more than $250 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets, Bloomberg News reported. The assets will be used as collateral to help fund the reconstruction of Ukraine, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. *) FIFA announces venue for 2026 men’s World Cup The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup will mark the first time that the world’s biggest men’s football event will take place in three countries: Canada, Mexico and the US. FIFA allocated the opener of the 39-day tournament to Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca and the third-place match will be at Florida’s Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The final of the 2026 World Cup will be played at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey in the US on July 19, FIFA has confirmed.