Families of Gaza hostages call on UN to press Hamas for their release

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

Families of Israeli hostages urged the UN Security Council on Thursday to condemn the October 7 Hamas attacks and call for the immediate release of hostages held by Palestinian militant groups in Gaza.

“There can be no doubt that hostage-taking is prohibited under international law,” said Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, professor of law at Bar-Ilan University and former vice chairwoman of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

"The taking of hostages in the context of an armed conflict is a war crime. They have been violating this prohibition for over 220 days.

“When addressing the mental health impacts of the Hamas attack on October 7 and its aftermath, it is impossible to separate it from the history of the Jewish people who have endured so many forms of calamity and have known captivity, first-hand.”

Ms Halperin-Kaddari urged the Security Council to demand that all states fulfil their duty and put an end to the breaches of international law by Hamas.

She insisted the council use all “its powers” to ensure Hamas is designated as a “terrorist organisation” and impose sanctions on “its commanders and financial supporters".

Ms Halperin-Kaddari said the hostages should be released without conditions.

Also speaking at the US-convened Security Council meeting, Suzanne Haran recounted being “kidnapped” by Hamas from her home, along with her daughter, two grandchildren, sister-in-law and niece.

She described the October 7 attacks as “unimaginable, cruel and deadly”.

“They brought a bulldozer and crashed the safe-room window," Ms Haran said.

"Once the crack was formed, we had three seconds, three seconds to decide surrender or die.

“You cannot even start to imagine what it means to be a hostage held by terrorists – total dependency for every human need, 24/7 control of every move and action.”

US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said bringing home the hostages is a “responsibility that President [Joe] Biden feels to his core”.

“We will not rest until every single hostage is back home,” she said.

Ms Thomas-Greenfield said that according to a March report by the UN special representative on sexual violence in conflict, Pramila Patton, sexual violence is probably continuing against those being held in Gaza.

“And it really is gut-wrenching and beyond evil,” she said.

“We also know that Hamas and other armed groups have refused to allow the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross] medical access to the hostages, many of whom require medical treatment.”

She called on Hamas to “stop fighting today” by releasing the first hostages and take the “deal on the table”.

Israel's military operations in Gaza were launched in retaliation for Hamas's attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities.

Since then, the Israeli assault on Gaza has killed more than 35,200 Palestinians, local health officials say.

Hamas seized about 250 hostages, and an estimated 128 Israelis and foreign citizens remain captive in Gaza, including 36 the military says are dead.

The Israeli army said on Thursday that two Thai hostages earlier believed to be alive in Gaza were killed in the October 7 attack and their bodies are being held in the territory.

Ms Thomas-Greenfield called on the Security Council to speak with one voice as it has on other aspects of the Gaza conflict, and unequivocally condemn Hamas.

“Let's be honest, the plight of these hostages has not received the attention that it deserves from the UN Security Council,” she said. “That needs to change.”

Israel's UN representative Gilad Erdan said that the continuing conflict was started by Hamas kidnapping Israelis.

“The reason this war started and continues is because Hamas took our loved ones hostage and has refused to release them,” Mr Erdan said.

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New UK refugee system

A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds

Kamindu Mendis bio

Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis

Born: September 30, 1998

Age: 20 years and 26 days

Nationality: Sri Lankan

Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team

Batting style: Left-hander

Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)

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What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.

MATCH INFO

Euro 2020 qualifier

Fixture: Liechtenstein v Italy, Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)

TV: Match is shown on BeIN Sports

WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS

England v New Zealand (Saturday, 12pm)

Wales v South Africa (Sunday, 1pm)

Results

Stage 4

1. Dylan Groenewegen (NED) Jumbo-Visma 04:16:13

2. Gaviria (COL) UAE Team Emirates

3. Pascal Ackermann (GER) Bora-Hansgrohe

4. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep

5. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal

General Classification:

1. Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 16:46:15

2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:07

3. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 0:01:35

4. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:40

5. Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe

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Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
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Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)

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