| | | | | | | Hello. Israel says 12 more hostages have been freed from Gaza this evening. Today we’re hearing from those who were released earlier as they start to talk about their time in captivity. We also have a deep dive on the growing diplomatic spat between the UK and Greece over the massive collection of Parthenon sculptures held at the British Museum. But let’s start with some good news from India. |
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| | | | | | AT THE SCENE | Jerusalem, Israel | | Freed hostages speak about their captivity | | | | Ruthi Munder (left) was freed on 24 November. Credit: IDF handout. | | As more hostages are freed from Gaza, former captives give us a better understanding of the conditions in which they were held. | | | | Paul Adams, diplomatic correspondent |
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| There are descriptions of crowded underground hallways, of rooms with little electricity, and hostages denied pens in case they tried to communicate covertly among themselves. “The girls would sometimes cry. It was very difficult,” 78-year old Ruthi Munder told Israel’s Channel 13. “We slept on benches, without a mattress. We covered ourselves with a sheet. The boys slept under the benches, on the ground, because we wanted them next to us.”
Food varied. Ruthi Munder said she received chicken and rice at first, with tea twice a day. But others spoke of a meagre, dwindling diet of canned hummus, pitta bread and salty cheese. Towards the end some hostages said they received just two slices of bread a day. Those involved in looking after the children who have been freed say they are noticing all sorts of effects. A resident of Kibbutz Be'eri said two released girls were still speaking in whispers, after weeks of being told to keep their voices down by their captors. |
| | | | • | Humanitarian crisis: Untreated diseases could eventually kill more people than bombings if the health system is not restored in Gaza, WHO says. Here's why. | | • | The latest: 12 hostages are freed from Gaza, and 30 Palestinian prisoners - 15 women and 15 minors - are released from Israeli prisons. Our live page has all the updates. |
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| Questions Answered | | The Parthenon Sculptures get political | | | | The Parthenon Sculptures are also known as the Elgin Marbles, after Lord Elgin who took them to the UK in the early 19th century. Credit: EPA |
| | For decades, Greece has been requesting the return of the Elgin Marbles - more than 30 ancient stone statues held by the British Museum since 1832. They account for about half the surviving sculptures from the Parthenon temple, with the rest remaining in Athens. But after Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis likened their separation to “cutting the Mona Lisa in half”, his British counterpart Rishi Sunak called off their planned meeting. | | | | Chris Mason, political editor |
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| | What was planned between the two prime ministers? | | They were due to meet in London at lunchtime for a 45-minute get-together. On the face of it, they have plenty to discuss: Israel and Gaza; the war in Ukraine; migration. Just a few weeks ago, the then Home Secretary Suella Braverman visited Greece and said the UK had "a lot to learn" from the country on dealing with illegal immigration. | | What's behind the reignited dispute? | | At the heart of this diplomatic spat is a very domestic political row between the Conservatives and Labour on the future of the marbles. Sir Keir Starmer, the opposition leader, would not oppose a temporary loan of the sculptures to Greece if it were agreed by the British Museum and Athens. Such a deal does not require a change in the law and could be months away from agreement. It is opposed by the Conservatives, who say it would be reckless. They are fearful the sculptures would never be returned. | | What has been Greece's response? | | The Greek prime minister is baffled and annoyed at being stood up. He suggested to Greek reporters travelling with him that Mr Sunak was a coward. "Anyone who believes in the rightness and fairness of his positions is never afraid of confrontation," he said. | | | | • | The latest: The UK government believed it was assured Mr Mitsotakis would not speak publicly about the sculptures during his visit to London. But a Greek source has denied this. | | • | The context: A permanent return of the marbles to Athens would require a change in British law. Here’s why. |
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| | The big picture | | When sea levels rise, so does the rent | | | | Residents and business owners in Little Haiti are feeling the pressure of gentrification. Credit: BBC |
| | The colourful neighbourhood of Little Haiti, in Miami, stands at about 18ft (5.5m) above sea level. But as the water is rising around the globe, these few meters are making a huge difference. Residents of this previously affordable area say they are now facing "climate gentrification” - displacement due to rising costs as wealthier people seek areas that are better equipped to withstand the impacts of a changing climate. “Sea level is about me,” said resident and housing activist Renita Holmes. | | | | |
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| | | For your downtime | | How far is too far? | | Critic Neil Armstrong explores the ethics behind Squid Game: The Challenge. | | |
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| | And finally... in Slovenia | | A delivery rider fined €400 (£350, $438) for eating a snack on the steps of a church during a Covid lockdown in 2020 is one of more than 60,000 Slovenian residents who can look forward to getting that money back. Our Balkans correspondent Guy Delauney explains how a photo of police fining the rider helped bring about mass refunds of fines totalling almost €6m (£5.2m). |
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| | | | | | | | Influential with Katty Kay | | In-depth and unexpected conversations with today’s change makers. | | |
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