International
Israel’s delegation leaves Cairo after a new stalemate in the truce negotiations
The delegation of Israel led by the heads of the Mosad and Shin Bet left Cairo on Sunday after a day of indirect negotiations that has not brought results or progress to reach a truce in the Gaza Strip, sources close to the talks told EFE.
According to the informants, who asked not to be identified, the Israeli team – composed of the heads of the Mosad and Shin Bet, David Barnea and Ronen Bar, and Major General Nitzan Alon, who oversees the talks on behalf of the Army – will inform the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, of the status of the talks.
An Egyptian source indicated that an agreement can only be reached if Israel abandons its insistence on keeping its troops in the Philadelphia corridor, one of Cairo’s main demands since this axis separates the Strip with the Egyptian peninsula of Sinai.
However, he stated that Israel would have preliminarily approved the presence of employees of the Palestinian National Authority at the Rafah crossing, which connects with Egypt and has been closed since May, although it would not allow the Palestinian flag to be hoisted at the crossing.
Likewise, the source indicated that the Israeli team demanded that in the first phase of the truce eight of its military positions be maintained in the Philadelphia corridor.
The informants indicated that the Egyptian and Qatari mediators, supported by a delegation from the United States, demanded a truce in Gaza of between 5 and 7 days to bring urgent medical aid and vaccines to the punished population of the Palestinian enclave, where more than 40,000 people have died since last October 7.
On the other hand, the delegation of the Islamist group Hamas that moved to Cairo to participate in a process of consultations with the teams of Egypt and Qatar, also left the Egyptian capital after holding a series of meetings with the mediators and learning about the current state of the negotiations, according to a statement from the Palestinian movement.
Hamas reiterated its demands on the need for Israel to implement the draft it accepted on July 2, based on a proposal presented in May by U.S. President Joe Biden, which included the end of hostilities and the total withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza in a second phase.
In addition, he stated that “any agreement must include a permanent ceasefire” and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, something that Netanyahu opposes.
The Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip left at least 71 dead and 112 injured in the last 24 hours, according to the daily report of the Gaza Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas, most of them in the area of Jan Yunis and Deir al Balah.
Since the beginning of the war in the devastated Palestinian enclave, more than 10 months ago, at least 40,405 people have died and more than 93,468 have been injured, according to the records of the hospitals of the Strip.
In addition, the health authorities estimate that the bodies of about 10,000 missing people are still buried under the rubble, without rescue teams being able to access them.
The Ministry also reported that the European hospital in Gaza, located south of Jan Yunis, began operating today, including the specialties of surgery, pediatrics and internal medicine, after being out of service for 50 days despite the lack of resources.
Meanwhile, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert accused the current president, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday of “torpedoing” the ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip, which he said leads the country towards a comprehensive war in the region.
“Netanyahu does not want the hostages to return,” Olmert said, referring to the 105 who have been in the hands of Hamas for more than 10 months, – at least a third already dead – but to prolong negotiations and a war that could degenerate into an escalation of violence against the Shiite group Hizbulah and Iran.
Olmert, a very critical voice against the management of the current president, commanded the country between 2006 and 2009, years before entering prison for corruption due to previous actions during his time as mayor of Jerusalem (1993-2003).
International
Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions
Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that, at the instruction of President Gustavo Petro, a high-level delegation will travel to Ecuador in an effort to normalize bilateral relations, which have deteriorated following the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.
“In line with Colombia’s policy of good neighborliness and the spirit of cooperation and integration that guides its foreign policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.
“Following instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, and as has been publicly reiterated, the Colombian delegation expects to reaffirm Colombia’s offer of support to the Republic of Ecuador to strengthen control over phenomena stemming from transnational organized crime,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegation will attend the meeting with a full willingness to engage in dialogue and to seek concrete solutions to the unilateral measures that have affected the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries.
Trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia escalated on January 21, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaimposed a 30% tariff on Colombian products, citing a lack of cooperation in anti-drug efforts. Colombia responded with similar measures and the suspension of energy exports, while Ecuador increased transportation costs for Colombian crude oil.
Business associations in both countries have warned that the dispute is harming both economies and have called on the governments to resolve their differences through dialogue.
International
Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight
The long-standing argument that sports and politics should not mix may be put to the test on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, a choice that has sparked backlash from segments of the U.S. right wing.
Just one week after his headline-making appearance at the Grammy Awards—where he sharply criticized the United States’ anti-immigration policies—Bad Bunny will once again take center stage on the global spotlight with his performance at the NFL final in Santa Clara, California.
Beyond the expectations surrounding the show itself, speculation has grown over whether the artist could again use the platform to protest policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, in front of an audience expected to exceed 120 million viewers in the United States alone.
In fact, one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets this year revolves around whether the Puerto Rican singer will deliver a direct message against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), similar to the one he delivered at the Grammys last Sunday.
While few expect Bad Bunny to repeat such a pointed statement, the mere speculation highlights the delicate balance the NFL must manage during the most-watched broadcast of the year.
The world’s most powerful sports league has drawn criticism from the MAGA movement since announcing in September that Bad Bunny would headline a halftime show largely performed in Spanish.
Trump himself declined to attend the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, despite having made history last year as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He described the musical lineup—which also includes outspoken critics such as Green Day—as “a terrible choice” that would “sow hatred.” In response, his supporters have organized an alternative event dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring like-minded artists such as Kid Rock.
International
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.
The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.
According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.
The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”
However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”
These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.
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