Israel confirms release of 5th hostage group by Hamas as final day of cease-fire nears

The Israel Defense Forces issued a "daily message" to residents of Gaza with safety instructions amid a temporary cease-fire deal that includes swapping Hamas hostages for Palestinians detained in Israel.

The IDF reminded Palestinians to not move to northern Gaza as it is still considered a war zone, adding that it is OK to move south of Wadi Gaza via the Salah al-Din Road.

"It is forbidden to approach within a kilometer of the border," the IDF wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Entry into the sea is prohibited."

The IDF said the instructions have been issued for the safety of civilians.

Elan Carr and Cameron Hamilton join Trace Gallagher on "FOX News @ Night" to discuss how mediators are hoping to extend the Israel-Hamas cease-fire.

Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL who trained with the Israel Defense Forces, said, Hamas benefits from "carnage and destruction" and described taking and holding onto hostages as "psychological warfare." He also said Israel is in a tough situation, but he knows the IDF will do all it can to rescue those being held by Hamas.

"We see these young children, we see these women that have been put into slavery and they've been captured so they're going to expend every effort to bring them back," Hamilton said.

The House of Representatives' Tuesday votes on reaffirming Israel's right to exist and condemning the terrorist group Hamas revealed division among members of the far-left "Squad."

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich, and Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., were the only members of the radical eight-person group to not vote in favor of H. Res. 888, which centered on Israel's existence. Tlaib was the only House member who chose to vote "present," while Bush didn't vote.

Bush similarly didn't vote on H. Res. 793, which condemned Hamas' brutal Oct. 7 attack against Israel and demanded the immediate release of its remaining hostages taken in the attack. However, Tlaib joined the rest of her "Squad" colleagues in voting for the resolution despite her past refusal to condemn the attack.

Read the full article on the Israel-Hamas war by Brandon Gillespie

Pro-Palestinian protestors interrupted the White House's annual Christmas tree lighting on Tuesday afternoon, as the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas continues.

Four demonstrators were arrested, according to the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP). Some demonstrators chanting “cease-fire now” interrupted the ceremony, but did not break through police lines. 

"Tonight during the annual Christmas tree lighting at the Capitol, four people were arrested by U.S. Capitol Police and charged with disorderly conduct, District of Columbia Code 22-1321," the USCP said in a statement.

The White House Christmas tree had fallen earlier that day due to strong winds.

Fox News Digital's Chad Pergram and Kelly Phares contributed to this report.

Actress Cynthia Nixon, known for starring in the HBO show "Sex and the City" and its new spin-off, joined a hunger strike alongside politicians and activists demanding President Biden establish a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

"As the mother of Jewish children, whose grandparents are Holocaust survivors, I have been asked by my son to use any voice I have to affirm as loudly as possible that ‘never again’ means ‘never again for everyone,'" Nixon declared in a prepared speech.

She condemned the number of Palestinian deaths in Gaza amid Israel's response to Hamas' October 7 terror attack on Israeli civilians.

Read the full article about Cynthia Nixon by Alexander Hall

Model Gigi Hadid apologized after receiving a wave of backlash for sharing a claim about the conflict in Gaza she admits she did not fact check.

"The post is no longer available to view, but according to the New York Post and other publications, it accused the Israeli state of a number of crimes against Palestinian children before Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack," Metro.uk reported Tuesday.

The New York Post reported on Monday morning that Hadid had claimed Israel was "the only country in the world that keeps children as prisoners of war" and is responsible for "abduction, rape, humiliation, torture, murder of Palestinians years and years before Oct. 7, 2023."

Read the full article about Gigi Hadid by Alexander Hall

MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan has been one of the strongest critics of Israel in the mainstream media during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, but it's nothing new for the hard-left anchor who has never been shy about offering strident commentary.

During the conflict, he has consistently voiced hostility toward Israel, which he has long opposed as an "illegal" occupying power of Palestinians. 

While with The Intercept, he frequently blistered the country, blaming it for the rise of Hamas in the first place and defending the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against its critics.

Read the full article about Mehdi Hasan by Joseph Wulfsohn and Brian Flood

The family of a 16-year-old Israeli teen who was kidnapped by Hamas when it raided his kibbutz on October 7 shared with FOX News harrowing text messages from his last moments before being taken hostage.

Amit Shani, who was 15 at the time the terrorists kidnapped him, frantically texted a group of friends as the Palestinian militants invaded his home.

Shani's cousin, Elle Benami, appeared on "The Faulkner Focus" and shared Shani's messages, which were translated from Hebrew to English.

Read the full article about Amit Shani by Charles Creitz

Two Thai hostages who were kidnapped from Israel by Hamas were taken back to Israel on Tuesday night, footage shows.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry released video showing the captives meeting Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara on Tuesday night. Thais were the largest group of foreigners killed or kidnapped by Hamas terrorists, due to the large number of Thai workers in Israel.

Hamas terrorists killed dozens of Thai people on October 7, and are believed to have taken 24 hostage. Several of the captives have been released during the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

Fox News Digital's Dana Karni contributed to this report.

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) appeared on "The Story" Tuesday afternoon to discuss the latest news from the Israel-Hamas war.

During the interview, Coons refuted calls to implement certain conditions on American aid to Israel, as 26 U.S. Senators have called for.

"There are conditions that are already attached to our aid to a wide range of countries," Coons explained. "And I think the conditions that already apply under law are sufficient for this circumstance."

The Delaware senator added that he believes Israel is fighting a "just war" against Hamas terrorists.

"The war that Israel has declared on Hamas in Gaza is a just war and is one that is required in order for there to be a path forward for security and for peace in Gaza," he added. "It is my hope...that on the other side of this conflict, there will be a genuine path towards a two state solution between Israel and the Palestinian people."

The mother of a hostage who was taken captive by Hamas terrorists says that she is overjoyed to see hostages being released during the Israel-Hamas cease-fire.

Rachel Goldberg, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin was kidnapped on October 7, appeared on "America Reports" Tuesday to talk about the latest developments with the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

"I am actually thrilled with the how the progression of these hostages being returned...I just saw that a dear friend of ours, wife and daughter, were released tonight," Goldberg explained. "I can't describe how happy these last few nights of seeing these children going back to their families [make me]."

The mother said that while she feels hopeful, she also remains concerned for her son. Goldberg-Polin was reportedly injured by terrorists and lost a limb.

"I worry about my son, who I know was in critical condition...and will now permanently live the rest of his life without a limb," she explained. "I'm concerned for his health. I don't know if he's getting the antibiotics that he needs. I'm hoping that he got the surgery that he needed."

"But I am thrilled with the releases of all of these hostages," Goldberg added.

A U.S. official told Fox News that an Iranian drone flew near a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Middle East on Tuesday.

The drone allegedly flew near the USS Eisenhower in the Persian Gulf. The ship was in international waters at the time.

The Iranian drone reportedly ignored multiple warnings, according to the U.S. official. The U.S. military is considering the incident unsafe and unprofessional on Iran's part.

Fox News Digital's Liz Friden contributed to this report.

Jewish student organizations at Indiana University (IU) issued a statement Tuesday denouncing antisemitism on their campus amid the Israel-Hamas war

IU student Ethan Fine posted the statement on X, in response to allegedly antisemitic remarks made by IU's student government president.

"The Jewish groups who signed onto the letter represent the vast majority of the estimated 4,500 Jewish students at IU," Fine wrote on X. "After a meeting with the student body president, it was clear to us that she is no longer fit to serve."

According to a statement released by the student official, she is accused of telling a Jewish student that they were "playing the victim."

"We are calling on [the student body president] to resign and for the members of her executive branch to be replaced," Fine added. "We stand together. We stand united against antisemitism."

Senator Chuck Schumer announced on Tuesday that he will be making a "major address" about antisemitism on Wednesday, as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

Schumer, who serves as the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senator, called hatred against Jews "a crisis" in the United States.

"Antisemitism is a crisis in the country," Schumer wrote on X. "As the highest-ranking Jewish elected official, I feel compelled to speak out about it."

"I’ll be giving a major address on it tomorrow," the senator added.

The U.S. military on Tuesday delivered its first of three rounds of humanitarian aid intended for the people of Gaza, according to the Pentagon.

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Ryder told reporters that the U.S. airlifted 24.5 metric tons of U.N. humanitarian supplies to provide "vitally needed medical supplies, warm clothing, and food and nutrition assistance to the people of Gaza." 

USAID requested that the supplies be transported via a US Air Force C-17 cargo plane, Ryder said. The aircraft arrived earlier Tuesday in Egypt where it was to be transported into Gaza and distributed by U.N. agencies. 

Read the full article about the Israel-Hamas war by Bradford Betz

Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced on X that he and other Senators watched graphic footage related to Hamas' terrorist attacks on Tuesday.

"Today, my Senate colleagues and I watched footage of the devastation caused by Hamas' horrific terrorist attack against Israel," Tillis wrote on X. "What we saw was not for the not for the faint-hearted. "

The North Carolina Republican then said that Hamas was "pure evil and must be destroyed."

"Hamas has made it clear that they will stop at nothing to eliminate Israel and its people," the senator added. "As Israel's longtime ally and friend, we must do everything we can to support its efforts to defend itself and destroy Hamas."

The Pentagon said Tuesday that the USS Mason and Central Park, an Israeli-owned tanker, were not the intended target of Houthi missiles that fired from Yemen over the weekend. 

The missiles came after five armed assailants attempted to seize the MV Central Park, an Israeli-owned tanker operated by Zodiac Maritime, in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday. The vessel sent out a distress call and forces from the USS Mason, an American destroyer, responded.

The five assailants attempted to flee in their small boats, but the U.S. forces pursued them and fired warning shots, resulting in their eventual surrender, according to Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder. 

Read the full article about the Pentagon by Bradford Betz

Avigail Idan, the 4-year-old girl who was released by Hamas captors on Sunday evening, was discharged from Schneider Children's Medical Center on Tuesday.

"Avigail aged 4, was discharged from hospital earlier today," Schneider Children's Medical Center announced in a statement. "The staff at Schneider Children's Medical Center were excited alongside her at this achievement."

"Avigail was discharged today following treatment from the moment of her return to Israel on Sunday, November 26, 2023, in the specially assigned department at Schneider Children's Medical Center," the statement continued.

The hospital said that Idan was treated by "psychosocial" providers after being held in captivity for nearly two months. Her parents were killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7 before she was kidnapped.

"Since her arrival, the medical and psychosocial team at Schneider accorded her all-embracing medical and emotional care," the press release added.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is opening an investigation into Harvard University following antisemitism on campus in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, Fox News has learned. 

In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital dated Tuesday, Kristi R. Harris, Chief Attorney for the OCR Boston Office said that the OCR will be opening an investigation into whether Harvard "failed to respond to alleged harassment of students based on their national origin (shared Jewish ancestry and/or Israeli) in a manner consistent with the requirements of Title VI." 

"Please note that opening the complaint for investigation in no way implies that OCR has made a determination on the merits of the complaint. During the investigation, OCR is a neutral factfinder, collecting and analyzing relevant evidence from you, the University, and other sources, as appropriate," the letter says. 

Read the full article about Harvard University by Danielle Wallace