Monday, October 28

Egypt has made a proposal to Israel and Hamas for a two-day ceasefire deal involving the release of several hostages and the arrival of aid in Gaza.

Countries like the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have been attempting to help Israel and Hamas come to an agreement on a ceasefire deal for months, but those efforts derailed sometime in August. The last time a ceasefire took place was back in November 2023, around a month after the war began, when 105 hostages were exchanged for 240 Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel. However, the efforts to strike up a ceasefire resumed in Doha, the capital of Qatar, recently, and Egypt was able to come up with a plan that seems to appeal to both sides.

Egypt's new plan calls for the release of four hostages by Hamas in exchange for several prisoners from Israel, providing Gaza with a much-needed break from Israel's airstrikes. It would also ensure that more aid reaches Gaza quicker, as the massive amounts of aid piled up at the border are barely trickling in-- a rate nowhere close to large enough to help the thousands of suffering Palestinians.

This proposal by Egypt also comes just after major escalations in Israel's war against Iran-backed organizations in the Middle East. Yesterday alone, 53 people were killed in airstrikes in Gaza and another 21 were killed in Lebanon as Israel targeted sites controlled by Hamas and Hezbollah. On Friday, Hezbollah killed five Israeli soldiers in Lebanon with rockets, and Israel hit over 200 targets near the country's capital of Beirut. Throughout Friday and Saturday, Israel also destroyed massive tunnel systems being used by Hezbollah to prepare for a future invasion of Israel -- similar to Hamas' invasion on October 7 -- which were loaded with weapons and explosives. Some tunnels also served as underground bases, complete with beds, bathrooms, and food supplies.

Upcoming Events:

• International Day of Care and Support (Tuesday, October 29)

• World Cities Day (Thursday, October 31)

• Halloween (Thursday, October 31)

• Diwali (Thursday, October 31)

• All Saints' Day (Friday, November 1)

• Day of the Dead (Friday, November 1)

• International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (Saturday, November 2)

• World Series Ends (Saturday, November 2)

• Birth of the Bab (Saturday, November 2)

• All Souls Day (Saturday, November 2)

• Birth of Bahá'u'lláh (Sunday, November 3)

Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): In New Hampshire, it is forbidden to collect seaweed from the beach at night.

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Be thankful for problems. If they were less difficult, someone with less ability might have your job. (Jim Lovell)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Usurp (verb)- To usurp something (such as power) is to take and keep it by force and without the right to do so. Usurp can also mean "to take the place of by or as if by force."

In a Sentence: Some people have accused city council members of trying to usurp the mayor’s power.