Post-war Gaza, winter storms, and a deadly spider.

Adam Rogers
January 06, 2024

Happy Saturday! Today’s edition is 783 words, a 3 minute read.

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Today’s Big Story

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant introduced a proposal outlining the future governance in Gaza once the war between Israel and Hamas is over.

Under Gallant’s “four corner” plan, Palestinian rule would be limited. Hamas would no longer control Gaza and Israel would be responsible for overall security. However, the document says that Palestinians would be responsible for running the territory with the condition that there would be no hostile actions towards Israel. Additionally, a multi-national force would be placed in charge of rebuilding the territory after the destruction caused by Israeli bombing.
Some right-wing members of Israel’s government believe that Palestinians should leave Gaza for exile while Jewish settlements are re-established in the territory. But that idea has been called “extremist” and “unworkable” by other countries in the region. Gallant’s plan is more practical but Palestinian leaders are unlikely to agree to it unless they are allowed to take full control of running the territory.
The “four corner” plan also outlines the next phase of the war for the Israeli military. The Israeli Defense Force will concentrate their efforts north of the Gaza Strip conducting raids, demolishing tunnels, and launching air and ground strikes. In the south, the Israeli Military will continue to try to track down Hamas leaders and rescue Israeli hostages. The total number of people killed in the war now stands at 23,600 — 1,200 in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel and 22,400 in Gaza during Israel’s retaliatory campaign.

A group of abortion rights activists in Florida has collected enough signatures (910,946) to add a referendum to the 2024 ballot. The proposed amendment reads, "No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider." Florida’s Supreme Court has until April to decide if it will approve the language for the ballot. (More)

The U.S. economy ended 2023 on a high note. The labor market added 216,000 jobs, up from 176,000 the month before. The biggest boost came from a 52,000 gain in government jobs and a 32,000 increase in healthcare fields. Unemployment held steady at 3.7%. (More)

A big winter storm is coming to the Northeast and mid-Atlantic this weekend. Heavy snowfall is expected from western Maryland to southern Maine, along with warnings about dangerous icy roads. The worst snow is expected in the Hudson Valley, western Connecticut, Massachusetts, and southern New Hampshire. The storm will also bring heavy ice to Appalachia, making travel risky. (More)

South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius was freed on parole from jail 11 years after killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius only served half of his 13-year sentence —under South African law, prisoners are eligible for parole after serving half their sentence. He will live under strict supervision until his sentence expires in 2029. (More)

In his first campaign speech this year, President Biden warned about the dangers of compromising democracy and the threat he and his campaign believe former President Trump poses to American freedom. Biden said that President Trump’s campaign is centered around regaining power for himself and not about American democracy. (More)

A 5-year-old girl named Piper-Kohl Kelly, diagnosed with spina bifida before birth, defied expectations and learned to walk and run after undergoing fetal spinal surgery while still in her mother’s womb. Despite initial predictions that she would never walk, Piper-Kohl is living a normal, active life, and participating in school sports. (More)

NYC cops carried four elders out of a 6-story apartment building engulfed in flames that was right across from their station. Body cam footage shows officers exiting the building with the residents over their shoulders. (More)

A woman named Abra Maze is supplying diverse books to young people in need in Baltimore's "book deserts." Through her organization, Storybook Maze, she provides free books with vending machines and mobile libraries to areas with limited access. Currently, 10% or fewer homes can access 100 or more books in Baltimore. (More)

A survivor of female genital mutilation (FGM) and an activist in Senegal, has won the Caine Prize for African writing alongside her husband. She is the founder of the Association for Keeping Girls in School in Senegal and is actively working to end FGM, promote girls' education, and combat gender-based violence in the region. (More)

Food and Wine sampled 100 tomato sauces to find the best.

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