Welcome to World Brief! Today we’re discussing Israeli military operations in the West Bank, Germany accusing Russia of leaking military intelligence, and abortion protections in France.
Israel recently conducted a major raid on Ramallah in the West Bank, where they apprehended two suspects and seized “inciting material spread by Hamas.” During the six-hour operation, a 16-year-old Palestinian boy was killed in a clash with Israeli forces. Additionally, at least 55 Palestinians were detained in separate raids across the West Bank. Israeli officials have detained around 7,400 Palestinians since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.
In response to Hamas’s refusal to agree to Israeli demands during cease-fire negotiations in Cairo, Israel boycotted the talks. The Biden administration has been vocal in calling for a temporary truce to allow for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz met with top U.S. officials in Washington to discuss ongoing negotiations.
In other news, Germany accused Russia of leaking an audio recording of German officials discussing the war in Ukraine. The leaked call revealed dissent among German ranks regarding sending Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has launched an investigation into the leak, calling it a part of Moscow’s “information war.”
Meanwhile, France became the first country in the world to enshrine abortion protections into its constitution, ensuring that future administrations cannot change current funding laws drastically. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal emphasized the importance of protecting women’s rights and bodily autonomy.
Lastly, Haiti declared a state of emergency after armed gang members stormed two major prisons, leading to the escape of around 3,700 inmates and at least 12 deaths. The situation in Haiti remains unstable as gangs control a significant portion of the capital. Interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry has faced criticism for his response to the crisis.
In odd news, a stolen Ferrari belonging to former Formula One driver Gerhard Berger was found by British police nearly three decades after it was stolen. The car, worth $444,000, was being sold to a U.S. buyer when it was discovered.
That’s all for today’s World Brief. Sign up to receive our newsletter in your inbox every weekday for more news updates.