Israeli media outlets have aired footage of six Israeli captives lighting Hanukkah candles in a Hamas tunnel in Gaza, eight months before their deaths during Israel’s genocidal war in the besieged enclave.
The footage, depicting captives Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino and Alex Lobanov, was released online on Thursday night after being aired on Israeli television.
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The Israeli military said the footage had been filmed by Hamas for propaganda purposes but never released, and had been recovered by the Israeli military during its operations in Gaza.
The footage, which had previously only been shown to the captives’ families, differed from other clips of Israeli captives released during the war, which typically showed the Israelis reading statements.
It showed the captives marking Hanukkah in December 2023 by lighting candles and singing, some 80 days into their captivity and eight months before they were killed in August 2024.
Israel says the six were killed by being shot at close range by their captors in Rafah’s Tal as-Sultan neighbourhood on August 29, 2024, and discovered by the Israeli military two days later, before their remains were returned home.
The captives were also shown eating as they marked the start of the new year in 2024, as well as playing cards and backgammon.
One of the captives, Goldberg-Polin, was shown missing the lower part of his left arm, which was blown off by a grenade during the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, Israeli media reported.
The families of the captives depicted in the footage released a statement saying the clips depicted their loved ones’ humanity, unity and strength.
“Lighting the candles in this dark place is the Jewish essence of the heroism of light over darkness,” said the statement.
“Hamas filmed the videos as part of a plot to spread propaganda, but the humanity of the six heroes shines through.”
Israeli media reported that the bodies of the six captives were found about 1km (0.6 miles) from where another captive, Farhan al-Qadi, had been rescued by the Israeli military just days earlier.
The return of the captives, both living and dead, was a central plank of the US-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
On October 13, as per the deal, Hamas released all 20 remaining living Israeli captives in exchange for 250 Palestinians serving long prison sentences and 1,700 Palestinians disappeared by Israel since the start of the war. Many of the returned Palestinians described beatings and abuse during their time in Israeli detention.
In subsequent exchanges of remains, 27 of the 28 bodies of Israeli captives have been returned, as well as more than 300 Palestinian bodies, many of which were mutilated and showed signs of torture and execution. Many remain unidentified, leaving families with missing relatives unable to find closure in their mourning.
Israeli media has released what it says is video of six Israeli captives held in a tunnel in the Gaza Strip before they were killed in August 2024. Israeli media says the Israeli army found the video in one of the tunnels.
Afghanistan’s International Olympic Committee member Samira Asghari says the Taliban authorities must face the stark truth that if they are ever to be accepted internationally, they must respect the rights of women to education and sport.
Asghari, who at 31 is living in exile for the second time, does, however, favour engaging with Afghanistan’s rulers.
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The Taliban government have banned girls from schools beyond the age of 12, and barred women from most jobs and public services – and from playing sport.
Asghari, who in 2018 became Afghanistan’s first ever IOC member, accepts her “situation is quite challenging” and beating the drum for Afghan women’s sport “does require certain precautions”.
Nevertheless, the former international basketball player, like many top Afghan women athletes, is undeterred in speaking out about the treatment of women under the Taliban authorities.
“The reality is that when you take a public stand for women’s rights you do become a target, but I believe strongly in communication and engagement,” she said in an email interview with the AFP news agency.
“As long as the Taliban remain the reality on the ground in Afghanistan, we cannot afford to waste time doing nothing.
“In my role, I have tried to help smooth the discussions between the IOC and those currently in control, focusing on the sport rights of women and girls and particularly primary school girls who are still inside Afghanistan.”
Asghari, one of four children born to a retired professional makeup artist mother and a father who was a manager in the Afghan Olympic national committee, says the “conversations are not always easy”.
“They are not about legitimising any government,” she said.
“But they are very important for creating tangible opportunities for future generations of young boys and girls in Afghanistan.”
‘I hope FIFA can align with IOC talks with the Taliban’
With Afghan sportswomen spread around the globe, putting together teams is complex.
However, a women’s football team, Afghan Women United, made up of players based in Europe and Australia, recently competed in FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025 in Morocco.
“This support for athletes outside Afghanistan is just the first step, and I hope FIFA can align with the IOC’s ongoing talks with the Taliban,” she said.
Asghari, who had been involved in the “project” for more than a year, hopes the message gets through to Afghanistan’s rulers.
“The Taliban were given the country and now they’re trying to maintain power while ignoring fundamental human rights, particularly for women,” she said.
“It’s very difficult for them to continue ruling Afghanistan this way in the long term, and the Taliban need to understand that their international acceptance is directly linked to respecting human rights, including the rights of women to education and sport.”
Asghari, who attended the recent Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, where Afghan women and men competed, said she hoped for “small openings” in the Taliban’s stance.
“I also believe that if we can find small openings — like developing sport in primary schools where girls are still allowed to attend up to sixth grade — we should take them,” she said.
“This isn’t about accepting the Taliban’s restrictions, it’s about not abandoning the girls and women of Afghanistan.
“We have to work with reality, while continuing to push for fundamental change.”
Asghari says even achieving small breakthroughs like that could prevent the long-term harm women suffered during the Taliban’s first spell in power, from 1996 to 2001.
She said she had seen the impact on her return from her first period of exile, in Iran.
“What concerns me deeply is that we’re creating another lost generation,” she said.
“I remember when I was in sixth grade aged 12, and there was a 20-year-old woman sitting next to me in the same class because she couldn’t go to school during the previous Taliban era.
“I didn’t know how to communicate with her and it was difficult for both of us, but especially for her because she had lost so many years.
“I cannot accept seeing this happen again. That’s why even small opportunities matter so much.”
Asghari retains hope despite the bleak outlook and believes in “continued engagement and dialogue” with the Taliban.
Israeli warplanes have carried out at least a dozen attacks across southern Lebanon, targeting what the military claims are Hezbollah training facilities in the latest flagrant near-daily violations that have further undermined a year-old ceasefire.
The raids hit hills and valleys in the Jezzine and Zahrani areas, including locations near al-Aaichiyeh, between al-Zrariyeh and Ansar, and around Jabal al-Rafie and the outskirts of several towns, according to Lebanon’s state news agency.
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Israel’s military said it struck a compound used by Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force for weapons training, claiming the facilities were being used to plan attacks against Israeli forces and civilians.
Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut described the ceasefire in Lebanon as “a one-sided truce, since Israel has continued near-daily attacks on the country.”
Khodr said the latest attacks avoided densely populated areas. “The locations were in hills and valleys, not population centres,” she said, noting this marked a repeated pattern.
“In fact, just a few days ago, in the middle of the night, they did the same thing.”
The Israeli military said it also hit what it said were rocket-launching sites and other infrastructure, describing the operations as necessary to counter what it deemed violations of understandings between Israel and Lebanon.
However, the continued bombardment has drawn sharp criticism from the United Nations, which reported in November that at least 127 civilians, including children, have been killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect in late 2024. UN officials have warned the attacks amount to “war crimes”.
Khodr explained that the attacks form part of a sustained military pressure campaign.
“This is all part of military pressure on Hezbollah to force it to disarm,” she said. Israel wants the group “to give up its strategic weapons, its long-range weapons, its precision-guided missiles, its drones” which the Israeli military believes are stored in the Bekaa Valley and further inland.
But Hezbollah has sharply refused to relinquish its arsenal as long as Israel bombards and occupies parts of Lebanon. The group “doesn’t want to give up its weapons because it would view that as surrender”, Khodr added, noting that “Hezbollah and Lebanon do not have the upper hand. Israel enjoys air superiority.”
Tensions escalated further two weeks ago when Israel bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs, killing Hezbollah’s top military commander, Haytham Ali Tabatabai. The group has yet to respond, but said it will do so at the right time.
The attacks come as Lebanon and Israel recently dispatched civilian envoys to a committee monitoring their ceasefire for the first time in decades, a move aimed at expanding diplomatic engagement.
However, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem criticised Lebanon’s decision to send former Ambassador Simon Karam to the talks, calling it a “free concession” to Israel.
Lebanese officials have expressed frustration over Israel’s near-daily attacks.
“It is one of the reasons why Lebanon agreed to sit down for face-to-face talks with the Israelis,” Khodr said, “engaging in diplomatic talks that are seen as very sensitive in Lebanon, in the hopes that it would avoid war.”
President Joseph Aoun said last week that Lebanon “has adopted the option of negotiations with Israel” aimed at stopping the continued attacks, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called for a more robust verification mechanism to monitor both Israeli violations and Lebanese army efforts to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that he will meet with Mohamed Salah to decide whether the Egyptian international will be involved in the Premier League champions match at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.
The 33-year-old forward, who has won both the UEFA Champions League and two Premier League titles with the Anfield-based club, caused controversy with his reaction to being named on the bench for the 3-3 draw with Leeds United last Saturday.
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It was the third consecutive game that Salah had been benched for and he told reporters after the Leeds match he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club following their slow start to their latest title defence, with the team languishing in 10th place with 23 points from 15 matches.
That led to the former Chelsea and Roma forward being left out of the squad that travelled to Italy for Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Inter Milan in the Champions League.
As a result, rumours grew about Salah’s future at Liverpool, with interest confirmed from the Saudi Pro League.
Slot was reticent to be drawn on the subject after the match in Milan, but has moved to calm speculation over Salah’s future after the player’s fiery criticism.
“I will have a conversation with Mo this morning, the outcome of that conversation determines how things will look tomorrow,” Slot told reporters on Friday.
When asked if he wanted Salah to stay at the club, Slot said: “I have no reasons to not want him to stay.”
Pressed on Salah’s status, Slot refused to offer any guarantees.
“I think the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. You can keep on trying but there is not much more to say about it,” he said.
Talks about Salah’s Liverpool future under way amid transfer rumours
The Dutchman did confirm that talks had begun between both parties following the second of the three matches that saw Salah dropped to the bench.
“After the Sunderland game, there were a lot of conversations between his representatives and ours, between him and me,” he added.
Slot also chose to reveal that the decision to leave Salah at home for the trip to Milan followed discussions within the club.
“I am always in contact with them (sporting director Richard Hughes and chief executive of football Michael Edwards) but when it comes to the decision-making of the lineup or the squad, they leave that open to me.
“That’s not to say I don’t talk to them. Mainly Richard, not Michael. The decision to play a player or have them in the squad is entirely up to me.”
Salah, nicknamed the “Egyptian King,” has endured a turbulent campaign following an extraordinary 2024-25 season.
He is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday – with his international teammates already backing their colleague – leaving Liverpool to attempt to extend their four-game unbeaten run across all competitions while silencing the off-field turmoil.
Whether he returns to Anfield afterwards remains uncertain, with Saudi suitors circling and Salah hinting that his Liverpool chapter may be drawing to a close.
Isak in doubt for Liverpool’s Premier League match with Brighton
There is a question mark over Alexander Isak’s status for Saturday, with Slot saying the forward picked up a knock in the first half against Inter Milan, and that he will be evaluated on Friday before they decide whether or not he can start.
Slot is pleased with how Isak and Hugo Ekitike have played together, saying their partnership will continue to improve.
“The more they play together, the more they will adapt to each other and the better they will cooperate,” Slot said. “I saw promising things from the both of them, it’s only the second time they’ve played together. We will see more of them playing together in the future.”
Cotonou, Benin – The Dantokpa market in Cotonou is once again a whirlwind of activity, just days after a failed bid to topple the Beninese government.
Pedestrians and cart pushers jostle in the narrow streets, a sign that daily life is returning to normal following the brief but intense crisis.
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Among the bustling crowds, petty traders like Abel Ayihuonsou are back to selling their goods, eager for information about the attempted putsch and what it means for the nation’s future.
“For the moment, everything is back to normal. And that’s very good for the country and we are happy,” Ayihuonsou said, summarising the widespread relief.
The failed putsch
The crisis began on Sunday morning when a group of soldiers seized the national television station and announced the deposition of President Patrice Talon.
However, the attempted coup was swiftly defeated by forces loyal to the president, critically supported by the Nigerian Air Force.
While former colonial power France and regional country Ivory Coast offered Benin support, Nigerian forces, alongside loyalist troops, were instrumental in quashing the rebellion.
Nigeria deployed military jets to target the mutineers, as forces loyal to Benin’s president surrounded a base where the plotters had holed up. This coordinated action forced the coup leaders to retreat from both the state television station they had occupied and the presidential palace they had tried to take by force.
By Sunday afternoon, the interior minister had released a statement saying Beninese army leadership had “foiled the attempt”. And that evening, Talon appeared on state television promising to punish those responsible.
“I would like to assure you that the situation is completely under control and therefore invite you to calmly go about your activities starting this very evening,” the president said.
Benin’s President Patrice Talon in Cotonou, on August 1, 2022 [File: AFP]
Beninese journalist Moise Dosumou highlighted the strategic nature of the intervention, suggesting that although Benin requested help, Nigeria’s prompt reaction was key as a regional power.
“A threat of instability at its doorstep would inevitably spill over onto both Nigeria and ECOWAS,” Dosumou observed.
Nigeria’s role in Benin, although commended by the African Union, regional bloc the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and other international bodies, drew criticism at home.
Some Nigerians wondered how Nigerian fighter jets thwarted a coup in a foreign country, while seemingly unable to do the same to bandits and armed groups terrorising villagers at home.
A region in flux
The failed coup comes at a precarious time for the region.
Several West African countries have witnessed coups in recent years, including Benin’s northern neighbours, Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Mali, Chad, Guinea and, most recently, Guinea-Bissau, where soldiers seized power last month.
A successful takeover in Benin would have further weakened ECOWAS, which suspended Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger following the successful military takeovers there. These three nations then formed their own confederate alliance known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Many in the AES states welcomed the initial announcement by the Beninese coup leaders on Sunday.
Analysts believe that a successful coup in Benin could have led the country, which is also battling armed groups, to join the AES, further isolating ECOWAS.
The government maintains that the coup was homegrown, but suggests the scope of the investigation is broad.
“But if investigations allow us to trace it back to a foreign country or foreign forces that contributed to it, we will also, within the framework of international cooperation, express our disapproval and condemnation to those actors,” said Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, spokesman for the Benin government.
People walk at the Dantokpa market, two days after the country’s armed forces thwarted the attempted coup against the government, in Cotonou [Charles Placide Tossou/Reuters]
The coup’s shock isn’t limited to Benin politics. The small West African country is an important maritime hub. Many countries in the region, especially the landlocked nation of Niger, relied heavily on the port of Cotonou for imports and exports.
That relation took a hit after the military takeover in Niamey in 2023. Benin’s implementation of ECOWAS sanctions in the aftermath of the coup damaged relations between the two neighbours. Niger now relies on supplies from Togolese ports that are rerouted through Mali and Burkina Faso, forcing up the cost of goods because of the additional logistics.
The instability is not limited to Benin. ECOWAS also recently suspended Guinea-Bissau after the military seized power there following a contested presidential election.
Across the region, many people are disgruntled by the attitude of politicians. It’s little surprise that coups in the region, whether failed or successful, receive at least some support from the individuals who see politicians as nothing more than an elite group mostly concerned about their own interests.
Benin officials, however, said the country isn’t where it is supposed to be, but remarkable progress has been made in various sectors, like infrastructure development and investments, in apparent reaction to a string of accusations levelled against the president and his government.
The future of Benin’s democracy
President Talon, who survived the attempt, is set to complete his second term, backed by ECOWAS, whose forces have been deployed to help secure the country’s 34-year-old democracy.
The attempted coup, however, has fundamentally shaken the nation’s confidence that its democratic stability was permanent.
Presidential elections are scheduled for next April. Although Talon is not running, some critics perceive his influence in the weakening of the opposition, potentially smoothing the path for the governing party’s candidate.
It remains unclear how long Nigerian fighter jets and ECOWAS troops will be deployed to deter future attempts by disgruntled soldiers.
Meanwhile, for people in the region, the failed coup is a stark reminder that stability can be fragile. And many fear that the recent surge in successful and failed coups across the continent means West Africa risks reclaiming its notoriety as a region prone to military takeovers.
Military armoured vehicles take position in front of the headquarters of Benin’s radio and television station, a day after the country’s armed forces thwarted an attempted coup against the government of Benin’s President Patrice Talon [Charles Placide Tossou/Reuters]
