Wednesday Briefing: Israel raided a West Bank hospital

Also, an Iran-linked militia said it would stop targeting U.S. troops.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 31, 2024 By Jonathan Wolfe Good morning. We're covering an Israeli raid of a West Bank hospital and the Eurozone economy. Plus: A Japanese macaque on the loose in the Scottish Highlands. Palestinians carrying the body of Mohammad Jalamneh. Majdi Mohammed/Associated Press Israel raided a West Bank hospital Israeli soldiers raided the Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, killing a Hamas commander. The raid took place as Israel confirmed that it had begun pumping seawater into the vast Hamas tunnel network beneath Gaza to flush out militants and had renewed fighting in northern Gaza. Israel's latest efforts came amid a push by multiple peace brokers, including the U.S., Israel, Qatar and Egypt, for an agreement to pause the fighting. The political chief of Hamas said yesterday that he was studying a proposal from the talks for a temporary cease-fire. Even as the talks continued, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted anew that Israel would continue fighting until it achieved "complete victory." Raid details: The raid at the hospital took less than 15 minutes, according to its director. Surveillance video released by the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry showed several gunmen in civilian garb walking through the hospital halls, brandishing weapons. The assailants went to a room where the Hamas commander, Mohammad Jalamneh, was visiting a friend and shot him and two other men dead, the city's top Palestinian health official said. Northern Gaza: In December, the Israeli military said that it was nearing "full operational control" of the region. But fighting has flared up again, and on Sunday, powerful explosions lit up the night sky around Gaza City. The fighting this week made clear just how much of the enclave was still a battlefield. Related: David Cameron, Britain's foreign secretary, has signaled that Britain was willing to move up conversations about formally recognizing a Palestinian state. A checkpoint on the boundary of Kata'ib Hezbollah-controlled lands. Emily Garthwaite for The New York Times Iran-linked militia to stop targeting U.S. troops In a surprise move linked to pressure from the Iraqi government and Iran, an Iran-linked militia that the U.S. said was likely responsible for a lethal drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan announced that it was suspending military operations in Iraq. The announcement came shortly after President Biden said that he had decided how to respond to the attack that left three U.S. soldiers dead in Jordan, though he did not say what that response would be. His comment raised fears in Iraq about a possibly retaliatory U.S. attack. Details: The militia, Kata'ib Hezbollah, or Brigades of the Party of God, is the largest and most established of the Iran-linked groups operating in Iraq. The group has spearheaded a majority of some 160 attacks on U.S. military installations in Iraq and Syria since Israel began its ground operations in Gaza. Germany's manufacturing-intensive economy is in a slump. Anna Szilagyi/EPA, via Shutterstock The Eurozone economy flatlined late last year The eurozone economy stagnated late last year, as a lingering energy crisis sparked a loss of competitiveness in some European industries, and consumers reined in spending to grapple with higher living costs, Europe's statistics agency reported yesterday. Economic output in the 20 countries that use the euro currency grew at zero percent in the last three months of 2023 versus in the previous quarter. The anemic pace is keeping Europe far behind the U.S., where the economy continues to be powered by consumer spending. What's next? Economists believe that the worst may be over, as the European Central Bank continues its campaign to wring out inflation without plunging the eurozone economy into a deep downturn. Opinion: Paul Krugman argues that Europe's economic problems, when compared with those in the U.S., are essentially all about demography. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Around the World Arif Ali/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images A former prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a move widely seen as part of a military-led campaign to sideline his political party before national elections next week. The global economy looks set to avoid a recession, the International Monetary Fund said. The Hong Kong government will enact a long-shelved security law, officials said, in a move expected to further silence dissent in the Chinese territory. The C.I.A. director, William Burns, wrote in an essay that the war in Ukraine had "quietly corroded" the power of Vladimir Putin, Russia's president. Europe News Paul Faith/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images In Ireland, an agreement by the Democratic Unionist Party to return to power-sharing with Sinn Fein after a two-year boycott was greeted by widespread relief. France's prime minister promised more aid for agriculture, but protesting farmers appeared unmoved by his efforts and blocked major roads around Paris for a second day. Ukraine's government is in tumult, as rumors swirl that President Volodymyr Zelensky may fire his top commander. An Albanian court gave the green light to an agreement allowing Italy to send some migrants to detention centers in Albania. What Else Is Happening Elon Musk said that his company Neuralink, which is developing brain implants to control computers, had implanted a device in a human. A lethal form of bird flu has been found in Antarctic penguins for the first time. A Morning Read Carl Nagle, via Storyful A Japanese macaque has evaded the hands of animal keepers who have been chasing him since Sunday, when he escaped from an enclosure in the Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie, Scotland, and fled into the Highlands. Amused residents, who have given the animal the nickname "Kingussie Kong," have found themselves invested in its fate, and journalists have followed animal keepers as they sweep the hills. SPORTS NEWS Ivory Coast's redemption arc: Fans of the African Cup's host country have gone from despair to delirium. Soccer's problem with big cats: Posing with drugged animals? It's not a good look. The soccer skill that infuriates opponents: The art of the nutmeg. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. ARTS AND IDEAS SZA is up for nine Grammys this year, facing almost entirely female competition. John Locher/Invision, via Associated Press A good year for women in music The number of women credited on the U.S. music industry's biggest hits have typically been dismal. Year after year, women who are artists, songwriters and producers have been crowded out by their male counterparts, sometimes by extraordinary margins, according to the University of Southern California's Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, which tracks women's involvement in music. The initiative's last report, however, had some good news. By some measurements, women's involvement in the biggest hits of 2023 reached higher proportions than the researchers have found in more than a decade of data. Of last year's most popular tracks — as defined by Billboard's year-end Hot 100 singles chart — 35 percent of the credited performing artists were women. That is a higher number than researchers have found for any year going back to 2012. And for the first time in the study's research window, a majority of the year's 100 most popular songs — 56 percent of them — had at least one songwriter who is a woman. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Bobbi Lin for The New York Times Cook: Miso-butter mushrooms with silky eggs are a breakfast dish that also make a great dinner. Watch: These three great documentaries explore economic exploitation, climate change and entrenched corruption. Listen: The Amplifier has a Grammy-themed playlist to get you ready for this year's ceremony on Sunday. Record: These are the best tripods for iPhones and other smartphones. Move: Crawling around like a crab or a gorilla looks a little silly but is also a serious workout. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Jonathan You can reach Jonathan and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018