With Arab states signaling they will not fund reconstruction as long as the terror group remains in power, U.S. and Israeli officials are weighing a new approach of rebuilding in parts of Gaza still under Israeli control behind what Israeli officials call the "yellow line." 

The hope, experts explain, is to create a living example of peace and recovery that could inspire change inside the areas still ruled by Hamas.

The areas currently under Israeli control behind the so-called "yellow line" make up roughly 58% of the Gaza Strip, including all of Rafah in the south, large parts of Khan Younis and northern neighborhoods such as Beit Lahia and Shujaiyya. Hamas controls the remaining territory, including densely populated Gaza City. Despite the IDF presence, Hamas operatives remain active near the front lines.

VANCE WARNS HAMAS AS GAZA PEACE PLAN'S CIVILIAN MILITARY COOPERATION CENTER OPENS

John Spencer, executive director of the Urban Warfare Institute, described the plan to divide Gaza into two distinct zones — one under Israeli control and the other under Hamas — allowing rebuilding only on the Israeli side both a "practical and psychological test, a way to show Gazans what life could look like without Hamas."

Spencer used the term "Disneyland strategy" to describe the concept, which he said was drawn from U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Iraq.

"You take any piece of the problem — here we’re talking about terrain — and you clear out all the bad: Hamas, tunnels, weapons, everything," he said. "Then you let civilians in, and you build something new — markets, buildings, schools, electricity. We called it Disneyland because we wanted it to look like hope — like the future."

He said the idea follows the "clear, hold, build" model used in Iraq and Afghanistan, where troops secured neighborhoods one by one. 

"In Ramadi, we did it neighborhood by neighborhood until we covered the whole city," he said. "You hold it, clear it, let the locals take over. It’s historically proven. You don’t have to rid Gaza of Hamas to start this."

The goal, Spencer said, is to give Gazans — and the world — a tangible glimpse of life without Hamas.

HAMAS DEFENDS EXECUTIONS OF PALESTINIANS AFTER TRUMP ISSUES STERN WARNING TO TERROR GROUP

"You build a little piece of goodness, a little Disneyland, to show everybody what’s possible," he said. "It would also show the countries that are going to provide stabilization forces something they could be doing — stabilizing cleared areas that don’t have Hamas in them."

Still, he cautioned the concept is no silver bullet. 

"You will have areas on the other side of the line where Hamas thinks they have control," he said. "Building something without Hamas is as important to defeating Hamas as it is to showing people there’s a future."

Inside Hamas-controlled Gaza, fear still defines daily life. 

"Since the start of the ceasefire, we are terrified," one resident told Fox News Digital, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

"We don’t want to stay under Hamas. It’s very terrifying for us to hear that Jared Kushner said reconstruction will only take place in the areas Hamas does not control. Trump and Netanyahu said Hamas will end, but look what’s happening. They are back, stronger, and we are still trapped.

"There is plenty of food. Yes, in the markets, food is available, all kinds of food," he continued. "All merchandise is available again, and prices are becoming lower and lower. Life is back, but destruction is what we see everywhere."

US MILITARY OPENS COORDINATION CENTER IN ISRAEL FOR GAZA STABILIZATION AND AID EFFORTS AMID CEASEFIRE

For some on this side of the yellow line, the prospect of rebuilding a new Gaza on the other side — even a small one — feels like freedom.

Hussam al-Astal, who leads an anti-Hamas militia in Khan Younis, told Fox News Digital, "We do not seek to rule Gaza, nor do we seek power. Our project, after the rule and collapse of the Hamas-ISIS government, is to secure the people and move them through the transitional phase … to civilian institutions that govern in a way that pleases God, far from their personal interests."

He accused Hamas of turning its guns inward during the ceasefire. 

"We demand the entire international community protect us from Hamas’ terror," he said. "We’re not fighting for someone’s rule. We are fighting for a dignified life. We fight for a new Gaza."

Multiple sources say Israel has already offered limited support to al-Astal and other anti-Hamas factions on the ground.

"We saw a preview when the Majayda clan, in consort with anti-Hamas fighter Hussam al-Astal and aided by the IDF from the air, repelled Hamas in a localized battle," Joseph Braude, president of the Center for Peace Communications, told Fox News Digital. "That’s a small example of what’s likely to happen more broadly — local forces, backed by Israel, pushing out Hamas from the ground up."

Spencer and Braude agree that the emerging "two Gazas" reality isn't accidental. It’s built into the Trump administration’s 20-point plan.

"We are approaching a new reality in which it’s feasible for reconstruction to begin in a portion of the Strip — the areas behind the yellow line — while fighting continues in the rest of Gaza," Braude said. "Hamas is not a party to the peace process but a belligerent actor. Reconstruction is not contingent on Hamas’ cooperation. It begins where Hamas can no longer operate, while the effort to eliminate its presence continues in other parts of the Strip."

Braude said the plan envisions "nascent enclaves of self-rule that gradually evolve into a coalition — the foundation for what could be called a Gazan Interim Transitional Authority."

He concluded, "Developing local fighting forces to counter Hamas is a capacity Gazans welcome and Israel and its allies have," he said. "Building a functioning government with continuity, a rules-based system, and institutions — that’s the harder work."

A man who stepped into a photo taken outside the Louvre in Paris amid the investigation into the recent brazen crown jewels heist at the famous museum has gone viral.

The mystery man, who was dressed in a three-piece suit with a dark-colored jacket and a gold vest topped with a fedora and an umbrella used as a walking stick, had social media buzzing, comparing him to Inspector Clouseau from the "Pink Panther" and Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.

Many seemed to believe that the dashing man was the chief inspector on the case, while some even speculated his dapper appearance hinted at an elegant criminal who was involved in the heist somehow.

HOW LOUVRE BURGLARS OBTAINED TRUCK-MOUNTED FURNITURE LIFT TO MAKE OFF WITH JEWELS WORTH MORE THAN $100M

One X user wrote of the photo: "Actual shot (not AI!) of a French detective working the case of the French Crown Jewels that were stolen from the Louvre" and another claimed the man, "who looks like he came out of a detective film noir from the 1940s is an actual French police detective who’s investigating the theft."

A third wrote: "The detective working the Louvre Jewel heist is the guy in the fedora. Do the French do everything better." 

But the Associated Press photographer who snapped the curious shot last Sunday claimed that he had no reason to believe the man had anything to do with the Louvre investigation, but rather he was just someone who stepped into the frame.

The photographer, Thibault Camus, told his outlet he believed the man added a bit of Parisian je ne sais quoi — "I don't know what" — to his photos.

"He appeared in front of me, I saw him, I took the photo," Camus says. "He passed by and left."

Parisian authorities also decided to add a little French intrigue to the mystery when asked by AP if they could identify the man.

"We’d rather keep the mystery alive ;)" the Paris prosecutor’s office answered.

Last Sunday morning, four masked criminals stole several priceless pieces from the Louvre's crown jewels collection after breaking into a gallery soon after the museum opened.

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The thieves fled on scooters and have yet to be caught.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

"We will not forget the lives of the hostages who died in the captivity of Hamas. Today I met with the families of American citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. We will not rest until their — and all — remains are returned," Rubio wrote in a post on X. 

He included a photo of himself and Huckabee sitting with the families.

Huckabee also posted about the meeting and said that Rubio's visit to Israel was "very productive in moving forward" the U.S.-brokered Gaza peace plan. However, he added that "[before the] plan can work, ALL hostages must be released!"

PARENTS OF SLAIN US-ISRAELI HOSTAGE FEAR LOSING THEIR SON 'FOREVER' AS HAMAS FAILS TO RETURN REMAINS

Ruby Chen, Itay's father, told Fox News Digital it was the fifth time he met with Rubio since he became secretary of state.

"It was important for us to receive energy from him after a number of days of no hostage releases," Ruby Chen told Fox News Digital. "He gave us his commitment [that] they are focused on the release of all the remaining hostages with an emphasis on my son, a U.S. citizen. The secretary promised he will pass our meeting highlights to POTUS."

Ruby Chen also met with Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff during their recent visit to Israel.

Ronen Neutra, Omer's father, also spoke with Fox News Digital about the meeting. He said that they "learned that the assumption is that Hamas is trying to gain time by prolonging the return of the hostages" so that the terror group can move freely in the areas that no longer have Israeli soldiers.

"After all the work that President Trump and his administration did, they deserve to get the Americans back," Ronen Neutra said, referring to his son and Itay Chen. "We deserve to get our sons back and get our closure and start to deal with the grief process, something that we've been postponing for the last two years."

Ronen Neutra also expressed his gratitude for the Trump administration for its efforts to end the war and get all hostages — living and deceased — home.

EXCLUSIVE: RUBIO SAYS US-ISRAEL ALLIANCE REMAINS FIRM AS HE HEADS TO QATAR AMID BACKLASH OVER DOHA STRIKES

All living hostages are now out of Gaza, but the remains of 13 deceased hostages have not been returned by Hamas. The Israeli government has reiterated its call for Hamas to return the remains of all the hostages.

Neutra and Chen's parents were vocal advocates for the release of the living and deceased hostages. 

In July 2024, Neutra's parents spoke at the Republican National Convention, while Chen's parents spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August 2024. They have also met with people around the world, including several officials, as they fight to get their sons back.

Chen, a 19-year-old dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, was initially believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, while serving along the Gaza border, but he was later declared dead by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). His body is still held by Hamas in Gaza.

Neutra, 21, a fellow American-Israeli from New York, was killed in battle that same day, and his body remains in captivity.

Fox News Digital's Amelie Botbol contributed to this report.

"Serbia is also among the countries that are offering their good services, given our background, given the fact that we are friends with all the parties involved, to try and, if needed or if there's an interest, host any kind of talks … on how to bring this horrible tragedy which has resulted in so many deaths and so much destruction to an end," the foreign minister said.

He said the war in Ukraine needs to come to an immediate end. 

"Serbia is, in principle, supportive of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states in line with their U.N. borders," including Ukraine, he added.

ZELENSKYY URGES DIRECT TALKS WITH PUTIN AS TRUMP SETS PEACE DEADLINE

The foreign minister’s offer to host peace talks between Ukraine and Russia comes after a proposed summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary was shelved.

Some analysts say Serbia would be a surprising choice to host the next round of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine given the historic ties Russia and Serbia share, rooted in cultural and religious connections through the Serbian Orthodox Church.

While Serbia joined U.N. resolutions condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the referenda annexing parts of Ukrainian territory, Belgrade has refused to join Western sanctions targeting Russia over the invasion. Yet Djuric points out that both Ukraine and Russia support Serbia's territorial integrity regarding Kosovo.

Djuric was in New York for a United Nations Security Council meeting on Kosovo. In 1999, a nearly three-month NATO bombing campaign ended a war between Serbian government forces and ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo. Serbian forces were pushed out, but Belgrade still considers Kosovo a Serbian province.

PUTIN AND XI DEEPEN TIES AS IRAN, NORTH KOREA LEADERS VISIT BEIJING

Some European officials have questioned Serbia’s commitment to European unity. Foreign Minister Djuric countered that Serbia values its place in Europe between East and West, while also noting the country’s close relationship with the U.S.

"Serbia is very proud of its independent foreign and security policy, which has been deeply rooted in the history of our nation and has enabled us to remain independent for centuries, although we are small," he said. "We value very much our strategic partnership growing with the United States for which there is bipartisan consensus in this country.

"But also, we should bear in mind the fact that President Trump is by far the most popular foreign leader in our country and is the most popular leader for Serbs. I mean, in comparison to all other European countries, President Trump's popularity in Serbia is unparalleled. More than 71% of the Serbs have a very favorable opinion of the U.S. president and of his policies, which really gives a very fertile ground for the further growth of our relationship."

Yet Serbia’s ties with China, widely viewed as the United States’ main economic and military competitor on the world stage, have caused some concern in Washington.

The U.S. recently sanctioned Serbia's Russian-owned oil company, Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), which is Serbia's main supplier of oil and gasoline.

China conducted military exercises in Serbia in July despite stern warnings from the European Union, and Belgrade provides Beijing with a security foothold in Europe. Serbia has also purchased medium- and short-range surface-to-air missile systems from China.

Beijing's biggest penetration into Serbia is in the economic space. It has invested more than $10 billion in infrastructure projects over the last 15 years, according to the Center for European Policy Analysis.

EUROPEAN LEADER PRAISES TRUMP'S 'PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH' FOR KEEPING COUNTRY SAFE FROM CONFLICT

"I also have to admit that we have very good economic relations with China, and China also supports our position on Kosovo in the sense that it recognizes Serbia and its U.N. borders. So, they are, as a U.N. Security Council member, also an important partner for us," Djuric said.

Djuric said great power competition between the U.S. and China is "above the pay grade of a small Balkan nation" and that the Serbian government will continue to focus on its economic development.

Domestically, Serbia has been roiled by student-led anti-corruption protests for nearly a year, demanding justice and accountability after the deaths of 16 people in the collapse of a railway station in the Serbian city of Novi Sad. Critics across the European Union have called out Serbian security forces for a heavy-handed response against the protesters.

Djuric said he wants to establish an honest dialogue with the protesters and find a way to de-escalate tensions.

"We treat the views of our citizens who disagree with the government with respect, and I don't want to label any of them in any way. I believe that we are mature enough to have a dignified, decent, democratic dialogue, and we will always stand for democracy in Serbia," Djuric said.

"Serbia's government has shown accountability in the wake of the tragedy that happened in Novi Sad. Ministers have been replaced. Some of them have been called, held to account and even imprisoned. We've changed the government since then and included Professor [Djuro] Macut, who is our current prime minister, into the government, a university professor, and the vision of President Vucic remains to unify the people of Serbia, to overcome political divisions, and to create a society based on dialog and social cohesion rather than polarization."

The Associated Press contributed to this article. 

Merz has rejected criticism from some German political circles over his government’s tough stance on illegal immigration.

"But we still have this problem in the cityscape, of course, and that’s why the federal interior minister is facilitating and carrying out large-scale deportations," he said during a visit to Potsdam last week.

GERMANY BRACES UNDER COLLAPSING GOVERNMENT AND LOOMING TRUMP TRADE WAR

The statement prompted backlash, some accusing the German leader of being racist. He rejected the criticism while on the sidelines of a summit on the Western Balkans in London, saying migrants were "an indispensable part of our labor market," German-based DW News reported.

He also claimed that many people in Germany and across Europe are nonetheless "afraid to move around in public spaces" because of migrants "who do not have permanent residence status, do not work and do not abide by our rules," the outlet reported.

MD GOV DEFENDS $190K TRUMP-CENTRIC IRISH CONSULTANT CONTRACT AS POTUS MOVES IN NEXT DOOR

"I don’t know whether you have children. If you do, and there are daughters among them, ask your daughters what I might have meant. I suspect you’ll get a pretty clear and unambiguous answer. There’s nothing I need to retract," he said when asked if he would withdraw his earlier remarks.

Some have signed a petition disputing Merz’s comments. The signees include actor Marie Nasemann and environmental activist Luisa Neubauer.

"There are approximately 40 million daughters in this country. We have a genuine interest in ensuring that our safety is taken seriously," Neubauer wrote on Instagram. "What we are not interested in is being misused as a pretext or justification for statements that were ultimately discriminatory, racist and deeply hurtful."

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was sentenced in September to 12 months behind bars, Reuters reported.

An "appalled" British Prime Minister Keir Starmer slammed the release of Kebatu, calling it "totally unacceptable," according to The Associated Press.

His arrest in July ignited weeks of protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, a migrant housing site about 20 miles north of London, according to the report.

DHS FLIPS SCRIPT ON MEDIA NARRATIVE WITH NEW DETAILS ABOUT ILLEGAL TEEN ARRESTED BY ICE: 'SAFETY THREAT'

At its peak in 2023, the home secretary said more than 400 hotels were being used to house asylum seekers, costing nearly £9 million GBP per day, or roughly $11.3 million.

"We share the view of communities nationwide that these hotels must close — including the Bell Hotel in Epping," U.K. Foreign Secretary and Labour MP Yvette Cooper wrote in a previous statement. "We are moving to do so as quickly as possible through a structured and sustainable plan, rather than through one-off court rulings that create more problems for other local areas or councils. 

"Such piecemeal decisions risk repeating the chaos that led to the large-scale use of hotels in the first place."

Officials said Kebatu was supposed to be transferred to an immigration detention center for deportation but was mistakenly freed, according to the report.

Britain's Secretary of State for Justice David Lammy wrote in an X post he was "appalled at the release in error at HMP Chelmsford."

"We are urgently working with the police to track him down, and I’ve ordered an urgent investigation," Lammy wrote. "Kebatu must be deported for his crimes, not on our streets."

Kemi Badenoch, a conservative member of Parliament for North West Essex, also made a fiery post, saying the "entire system is collapsing under Labour."

"The fake asylum seeker who sexually assaulted a child in Epping has been ‘released in error,’" Badenoch wrote. "How does that happen? Because the entire system is collapsing under Labour. Govt mistakenly letting people out instead of deporting. Those they deported are coming back. Nothing of substance has been done to address the threat to women and girls living in these communities."

MIGRANT CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN PILE UP IN BOSTON AREA AS MAYOR SLAMS BONDI OVER ‘SANCTUARY’ WARNING

Badenoch said conservatives voted against Labour’s prisoner release program because it was "putting predators back on our streets," but she pointed out Kebatu was just convicted.

"A level of incompetence that beggars belief," she wrote. "Only Conservatives have a plan for stronger borders and public order."

Nigel Farage, a member of Parliament for Clacton and the leader of Reform UK, added on X, "The Epping hotel migrant sex attacker has been accidentally freed rather than deported. He is now walking the streets of Essex. Britain is broken."

"In support of the President’s directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland, the Secretary of War has directed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and embarked carrier air wing to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR)," chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement Friday.  

"The enhanced U.S. force presence in the USSOUTHCOM AOR will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere," he added. "These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs."

TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON COLOMBIA CRACKDOWN, CALLS PETRO ‘LUNATIC,’ VOWS TO END ALL US PAYMENTS OVER DRUGS

USSOUTHCOM's area of responsibility includes the land mass of Latin America south of Mexico, the waters adjacent to Central and South America and the Caribbean Sea.

The strike group includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, according to the U.S. Navy, as well as the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mahan, USS Winston S. Churchill and USS Bainbridge. 

The USS Gerald R. Ford is currently deployed to the Mediterranean Sea along with three destroyers. It would likely take several days for the ships to make the journey to South America. In August, the strike group transited the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel. 

The deployment would mean there will be no U.S. aircraft carriers in the Middle East for the first time in years. 

The Trump administration has ordered a number of strikes in the Caribbean aimed at dismantling and disrupting drug cartels in the region. 

Most recently, War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday that a strike on a vessel allegedly operated by suspected members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan street gang deemed a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO), killed six alleged narco-terrorists.

ALLIANCE WITH US ‘DISMANTLED’ BY LEFTIST PETRO REGIME, COLOMBIA’S FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS

"If you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat al-Qaeda," Hegseth wrote on X. "Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you." 

It marked the 10th strike targeting suspected drug trafficking boats since Trump returned to office. The president has made combating the nation’s drug crisis a central policy focus.

Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of being a drug cartel leader as he continues to increase pressure on the Maduro regime.

Last week, Trump confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, saying he did so because the South American nation has released prisoners into the U.S. and that drugs were coming into the U.S. from Venezuela through sea routes. 

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Meanwhile, the military strikes have attracted scrutiny from both sides of the aisle as questions swirl about their legality. 

Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., recently introduced a war powers resolution that would prohibit U.S. armed forces from participating in "hostilities" against Venezuela. 

Fox News Digital's Diana Stancy and Fox News' Gillian Turner, Jennifer Griffin and James Levinson contributed to this report. 

"UNRWA's not going to play any role in it," Rubio said when asked about whether the controversial agency would assist in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. "The United Nations is here. They're on the ground. We're willing to work with them if they can make it work, but not UNRWA. UNRWA became a subsidiary of Hamas."

UNRWA demanded in a post on X that it be allowed to do work in Gaza.

"As the largest U.N. agency operating in the Gaza Strip, by far, UNRWA has an unparalleled logistical network, longstanding trust from the community, managing the distribution of supplies based on vulnerability and clear criteria. Our teams are ready, inside and outside Gaza. Let us work," the agency wrote.

EXPERTS URGE TRUMP TO BAN TERROR-LINKED UN AGENCY FROM HIS GAZA PEACE PLAN

On Oct. 17, days after world leaders backed a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) opened a Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), which is where Rubio spoke on Friday.

The CMCC is located in southern Israel and will serve as the main hub for Gaza stabilization efforts. It will also oversee implementation of the ceasefire agreement and has an operations floor designed to track real-time developments in Gaza.

During the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) last month, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres spoke at a meeting in support of UNRWA, saying that the agency has "made invaluable contributions to development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security, including for Israel."

"UNRWA is vital to any prospects for peace and stability in the region," Guterres added.

US MILITARY TO OVERSEE NEXT PHASE OF PEACE DEAL FROM COORDINATION BASE IN ISRAEL

However, the U.S. and Israel have taken hard stances against the agency, particularly in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.

President Donald Trump in February reaffirmed the U.S.'s commitment to not fund UNRWA. 

In the executive order, Trump said that "UNRWA has reportedly been infiltrated by members of groups long designated by the Secretary of State as foreign terrorist organizations, and UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel."

UNRWA SCHOOLS ‘HIJACKED BY HAMAS,’ WATCHDOG REPORT WARNS

In April 2025, when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanded Israel work with UNRWA, Washington backed Jerusalem, saying it was under no obligation to work with the agency and had "ample grounds to question UNRWA’s impartiality."

UNRWA announced in August 2024 the end of an investigation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services into whether its staff participated in the attacks, as Israel claimed. Following the probe, which looked into 19 UNRWA staff members, nine staff members were fired over evidence that "could indicate" they were involved in the attacks.

The investigation found one case in which there was no evidence to confirm the staffer's involvement and nine other cases in which "the evidence obtained by OIOS was insufficient" to prove their participation, according to UNRWA.

Fox News Digital reached out to UNRWA and Israel's mission to the U.N. for comment.

Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

"Overnight, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO), trafficking narcotics in the Caribbean Sea," War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on X, sharing an accompanying video of the strike. "The vessel was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics." 

"Six male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the strike, which was conducted in international waters — and was the first strike at night," he said. "All six terrorists were killed and no U.S. forces were harmed in this strike."

HEGSETH SAYS US CONDUCTED ANOTHER STRIKE IN EASTERN PACIFIC TARGETING ALLEGED NARCO-TRAFFICKERS

Hegseth further warned, "If you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat [al Qaeda]. Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you." 

The strike marks the 10th strike targeting suspected drug trafficking boats since Trump returned to office. The president has made combating the nation’s drug crisis a central policy focus.

The first strike took place on Sept. 2, and since then, 43 suspected drug traffickers have been killed and two have survived, officials said. The pace of the strikes has increased from one every few weeks in September to three so far this week. 

The operations have mostly targeted vessels linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua network. The missions have ranged from attacks on smuggling boats to the destruction of a submersible. Footage of several operations have been released by Hegseth and Trump on social media.

TRUMP APPROVES MILITARY ACTION AGAINST LATIN AMERICAN CARTELS CLASSIFIED AS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

When reporters asked Trump on Thursday whether he would request that Congress issue a declaration of war against the cartels, he said that wasn’t the plan.

"I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country, OK? We’re going to kill them, you know? They’re going to be like, dead," Trump said during a roundtable at the White House with Homeland Security officials.

Trump this month declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and said the U.S. was in an "armed conflict" with them.

Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle are questioning Trump’s decision to launch the operations without first consulting lawmakers. Several Democrats are warning that the strikes could breach international law.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has also raised concerns about killing people without due process, and in a recent interview, Paul cited Coast Guard statistics that show a significant percentage of boats boarded for suspicion of drug trafficking are innocent.

The administration has targeted boats in recent weeks that it claims are transporting drugs for the Venezuela-linked Tren de Aragua gang. The senator has also argued that if the administration plans to engage in a war with Venezuela, it must seek a declaration of war from Congress.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has also slammed the strikes, calling for a criminal investigation against Trump and other officials involved. He said an innocent Colombian fisherman was killed in one of the operations. 

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has accused the Trump administration of using the strikes to try to force regime change in his country.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., have backed the strikes, calling them a justified show of force against narco-terrorists.

Fox News' Landon Mion and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Four guys, using a cherry picker truck to scale the side of the museum, break through a second-floor window, scoop up to $100 million worth of French crown jewelry and make off with the loot on motor scooters in under 10 minutes. Something out of the movies. Pink Panther. You name it.

I used to live in Paris. I’ve covered many front-page stories during my time there and after — from the death of Princess Diana to several deadly terror attacks, and the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral. Now, this.

'BRAZEN' LOUVRE THIEVES MADE TARGETED HEIST, JEWELS COULD BE MELTED DOWN: EXPERT

Luckily, I had an ace team with me: professional cameraman and producer John Templeton and Simon Owen, seasoned Paris producer since the 1990s, Cicely Medintzeff, and a handy big Mercedes van and driver.

The trip didn’t start that well — losing a few production bags on the flight from London to Paris. But cameraman John made do. As we chatted with folks at the airport, including a nice American couple from Washington state. The robbery was already the talk of the town.

Our next challenge was finding a spot to do our live shots. Arriving by night, the road near the museum was blocked by police on one side, so we ended up backing our way in on the other side. We found a place in front of the iconic pyramid-shaped entrance to the museum. Night or day, it’s one of the great backdrops around — as we talked about a terrible crime.

The next morning, we went straight to the scene of the crime — the back side of the museum. It took us about five or six times to get our video re-creation of the heist correct, adding to our recognition of the thieves’ skills. Except for a parked police car, even at that time, there wasn’t a lot of security around. There was no museum video of the break-in. The crooks beat the alarms.

We weren’t the only ones gawking. A small crowd, including American tourists, stared up and wondered. "It looks incredibly easy," one told us. "Weird," another sighed.

LOUVRE MUSEUM CLOSED AFTER ROBBERY, FRENCH OFFICIAL SAYS

But the big crowds were back in front of the museum. Even though it was closed that day (it had been shut following the robbery), throngs were there — many wondering about the crime. Many more just taking the usual Instagram-style selfies with the Louvre.

With our TV equipment spread on the pavement for live shots, we became another source of attention. "Where did it happen?" one person asked. "When is the museum opening again?" asked another. One more American tourist came up and described how he and his wife had been to the museum the day before the robbery and could already tell the security was terrible.

LOUVRE DIRECTOR GRILLED ON SPECTACULAR SECURITY FAILURES, INCLUDING CAMERA POINTING AWAY FROM KEY BALCONY

Overall, though, except for a few ringers, the people around us, while quite intent, were very polite. It probably didn’t hurt that this story was more "wow" than political. 

As more details of the crime emerged, the story only got stranger. How the thieves got their truck just 25 miles outside Paris. How were they in such a rush they left behind a crown studded with more than 1,300 diamonds (they got eight other pieces). And how Police — making up for lost time — gathered evidence, including a construction-style vest, a glove, a license plate and video of the suspects making their getaway on a highway outside Paris.

And the French were doing another thing they’re good at — finger-pointing and blame-casting. President Emmanuel Macron has enough political headaches these days. The last thing he needed was a high-profile catastrophe. He promised the culprits would be caught. To her credit, the director of the museum offered her resignation (it was declined) but got a good grilling by the French Senate.

Technically, we only had a few problems. We mostly don’t use satellite dishes anymore for live shots — just a small device with a bunch of cell phone chips to get the internet. That works fine — except when there are 500 other curious people using their phones around you! And the autumn Paris weather played nice — just a few gusts knocking down some lamps and a few showers prompting umbrellas to save our gear!

All of this, as we noted, was a race against time for a team of 100 French police investigators — one of the biggest manhunts in French history — to catch the thieves before they had a chance to break up the jewelry, re-cut the gems and melt down the gold and silver to be sold off. Part of a growing trend of museum heists.

In addition to hearing my on-air colleagues express their astonishment about the crime, we also took our share of ribbing about the "tough" assignment of being sent to Paris. And, indeed, it was lovely seeing my old hometown again. Paris is stunning. But I also must note, aside from a fine brasserie wrap dinner, the trip was more about crowding onto café chairs to write scripts and use facilities — plus Uber Eats, French style.

So now we wait to see how this incredible French crime caper pans out. Most people we heard from were pretty sure the bandits would get caught and the museum’s security would be updated. But they had their doubts that the priceless jewelry — described as France’s "soul" — would ever be retrieved. The Louvre has reopened. Let’s just hope this film-style story has a happy ending.

The Lithuanian armed forces said that at approximately 6:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, two Russian aircraft — an SU-30 and an IL-78 — flew about 765 yards into Lithuanian airspace, The Associated Press reported. The aircraft allegedly flew away after approximately 18 seconds.

"This evening, Russian military planes violated Lithuanian airspace. This is a blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity of Lithuania. Once again, it confirms the importance of strengthening European air defense readiness," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda posted on X.

NATO WARNS RUSSIA AFTER POLAND SHOOTS DOWN 'HUGE NUMBER' OF DRONES THAT VIOLATED ITS AIRSPACE

Nausėda announced that the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs would summon representatives from the Russian embassy in Vilnius "to protest against reckless and dangerous behavior." The ministry later confirmed on X that the Russian charge d‘affaires was summoned in protest of the airspace violation.

"Russia must cease its aggressive behavior, respect international law and the borders of neighboring states," the ministry said in a post on X.

Russia's defense ministry denied Lithuania's claim, saying that SU-30 fighter jets were conducting training flights over the Kaliningrad region in strict compliance with the rules, the AP reported.

"The aircraft did not deviate from their flight route or violate the borders of other states, as confirmed by objective monitoring means," the ministry said, according to the AP.

RUSSIAN JETS CARRYING BALLISTIC MISSILES VIOLATE ESTONIAN AIRSPACE, FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS

Baltic nations have been on heightened alert amid Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine, according to the AP. The outlet added that the recent airspace incursions have fueled fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be testing NATO, though Moscow has denied this.

Poland, Denmark and Romania, which are all NATO member states, reported airspace violations by Russian drones in the last few months. In August, Romania was forced to scramble F-16 jets after Russia carried out a strike just half a mile from its territory as U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin ahead of the Kremlin leader's Alaska summit with President Donald Trump.

Earlier this week, Trump called off a meeting with Putin that was set to take place in Budapest, Hungary. While the White House did not rule out the possibility of a future summit, Trump has criticized Putin for his lack of action to move toward peace with Ukraine.

Trump "feels as though, unfortunately, from the Russian side as of late, he has not seen enough interest in enough action in terms of moving the ball forward toward peace," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday. 

"And so a meeting between these two leaders is not completely off the table. I think the president and the entire administration hope that one day that can happen again, but we want to make sure that there's a tangible positive outcome out of that meeting, and that it's a good use of the president's time," she added.

While sitting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters that the meeting was canceled and that "it didn't feel right" to him.

"It just didn't feel right to me," Trump said Wednesday. "It didn't feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get, so I canceled it, but we'll do it in the future."

No plans for a future meeting have been announced since the cancellation of the summit in Hungary.

Fox News Digital's Diana Stancy contributed to this report.

In her first public address since the heist, Louvre Museum director Laurence des Cars acknowledged there was a "terrible failure" and said, "Despite our efforts, despite our hard work on a daily basis, we failed," The Guardian reported.

Des Cars admitted that security around the Louvre's perimeter was an issue and that the only camera monitoring the outside of the museum was facing away from the balcony that led to the gallery where the precious jewels were kept, according to reports. The Guardian also noted that des Cars confirmed all the museum's alarms were functioning during the burglary.

LOUVRE HEIST ADDS TO HISTORY OF HIGH-PROFILE MUSEUM BREACHES, LEAVES OTHER GALLERIES ON EDGE

"We failed these jewels," des Cars said, according to the BBC. The outlet also quoted the director as saying that no one is safe from "brutal thieves — not even the Louvre."

On Sunday, burglars appeared to use a truck-mounted electric furniture lift to conduct the heist, Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor, said in an interview with RTL radio, according to The New York Times. She added that the thieves obtained the lift by pretending it was for a move. Additionally, Beccuau noted that it would not be easy for burglars to sell the stolen jewels for what they're worth if they tear the pieces apart or melt them, according to the Times.

HOW LOUVRE BURGLARS OBTAINED TRUCK-MOUNTED LIFT TO MAKE OFF WITH JEWELS WORTH MORE THAN $100M

The thieves got away with a total of eight objects, including a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a set linked to 19th-century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense. They also stole an emerald necklace and earrings tied to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife, and a reliquary brooch. Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch — an imperial ensemble of rare craftsmanship — were also part of the loot.

"The theft committed at the Louvre is an attack on a heritage that we cherish, for it is our history," French President Emmanuel Macron said in an X post on Sunday. "We will recover the works, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Everything is being done, everywhere, to achieve this, under the leadership of the Paris prosecutor’s office."

The heist has prompted a national reckoning, with some officials comparing the shock to the 2019 burning of Notre Dame cathedral. Beccuau told RTL radio that the team investigating the heist had grown from 60 investigators to 100, underscoring the importance of the case on national and international levels.

Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

Three suspected narco-terrorists were killed, according to Hegseth. The strikes were ordered at the direction of President Donald Trump. 

Hegseth said the Pentagon conducted "yet another lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO). Yet again, the now-deceased terrorists were engaged in narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific."

TRUMP APPROVES MILITARY ACTION AGAINST LATIN AMERICAN CARTELS CLASSIFIED AS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

"The vessel was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and was carrying narcotics," he continued. "Three male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the strike, which was conducted in international waters. All three terrorists were killed and no U.S. forces were harmed in this strike."

This is the ninth vessel strike since September and the second strike reported in the Eastern Pacific. A total of 37 have reportedly been killed while two survived and were later repatriated to their home countries.

TRUMP UNLEASHES US MILITARY POWER ON CARTELS. IS A WIDER WAR LOOMING?

"These strikes will continue, day after day," Hegseth said on Wednesday. "These are not simply drug runners—these are narco-terrorists bringing death and destruction to our cities. These DTOs are the 'Al Qaeda' of our hemisphere and will not escape justice. We will find them and kill them, until the threat to the American people is extinguished."

The Pentagon has refused to release the identities of those killed or evidence of drugs on board.

The Trump administration has been scrutinized in recent weeks over the strikes, including by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who raised concerns about killing people without due process and the possibility of killing innocent people.

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In a recent interview, Paul cited Coast Guard statistics that show a significant percentage of boats boarded for suspicion of drug trafficking are innocent.

The senator has also argued that if the administration plans to engage in a war with Venezuela, as it has targeted boats in recent weeks it claims are transporting drugs for the Venezuela-linked Tren de Aragua gang, it must seek a declaration of war from Congress.

Bryan Stern, founder of the crisis response group Grey Bull Rescue, said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital that in most organized kidnappings, those who seize a hostage are rarely the same people who hold them.

"What happens in most of these cases is whoever took the hostage isn't who's holding on to the hostage," Stern said. "The people who hold hostages generally are a lot smarter, a lot more capable, less disposable… so getting to them as soon as possible does matter in a very demonstrable way."

Stern said every passing hour reduces the chance of recovery. In many cases, hostages are quickly traded or sold between groups with differing motives — from ransom to propaganda — making it difficult to know what the captors want.

AMERICAN MISSIONARY KIDNAPPED IN NIGER BY SUSPECTED ISLAMIST MILITANTS, SOURCES SAY

"It's easy to understand who took somebody, but once people start getting traded around like cards and stuff, it's hard to then understand what the current holding party wants," he said.

The groups often operate with their own chain of command and pecking order, each with different goals and levels of influence.

"All those different things play into how you’re gonna get somebody back, and the most dangerous thing to do is send ninjas in and shoot everybody," Stern said. "That’s the most highest-risk thing that we do because there’s no margin for error."

I WAS KIDNAPPED BY BOKO HARAM, AND SURVIVED. NO THANKS TO THE WEST'S SILENCE

U.S. officials confirmed they are aware of the kidnapping, which took place in Niamey, about 100 yards from Niger’s presidential palace. The missionary, a pilot for the evangelical group Serving in Mission, was reportedly taken north toward an area controlled by an ISIS offshoot.

A State Department spokesperson said embassy officials are working closely with local authorities and that the Trump administration views the safe return of the U.S. citizen as a top priority. The U.S. Embassy has also restricted staff movements to armored vehicles and prohibited visits to restaurants and open-air markets.

Stern described the region as "31 flavors," meaning there is everything from Russian proxies to criminal gangs and Islamic fundamentalists running around.

CRUZ CLASHES WITH NIGERIA OVER HIS CLAIMS 50,000 CHRISTIANS KILLED SINCE 2009 IN RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE

While it’s easy to assume Islamist militants were behind the abduction, Stern cautioned, "until you know…it becomes speculation."

"At some point, somebody will ask for something, you hope," he said. "It’s very scary when they don’t ask for anything… the worst case scenario is a hostage taken by someone who doesn’t want anything. Then there’s no play to be made other than find them and kill them, and hopefully you survive that process."

For now, the focus is on finding proof of life and establishing communication.

U.S. special operations units are likely monitoring surveillance and communications from the region, but Stern cautioned that a rescue attempt would be "the most dangerous thing special operations does."

Officials have not said whether any group has claimed responsibility or issued any demands.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and Paul Tilsley contributed to this report.

ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa said the Jewish state "is under the obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, including UNRWA."

DOSSIER REVEALS INFORMATION USED TO EXPLAIN UN AGENCY'S DEEP TIES TO HAMAS IN GAZA

Eugene Kontorovich, a professor and director of the Center for International Law in the Middle East at George Mason University Scalia Law School, told Fox News Digital,"The opinion is, most importantly, not a decision of case, or possessing any legal authority whatsoever."

He warned the ruling is also dangerous to U.S. interests. "The ICJ claims it has ‘moral authority,’ but it must be high on its own supply. The Court concluded that UNRWA is a neutral, legitimate aid agency despite its members having participated in Hamas’s Oct. 7 invasion, and the broad infiltration of its facilities and organization by Hamas, which the U.S. government has acknowledged. It makes up new legal rules from scratch. It is a real danger to the U.S., which has also been repeatedly on the losing end of Advisory Opinions by the politicized Court."

Kontorovich, who is senior research fellow for the Heritage Foundation, added, "Based on this opinion, the ICJ could conclude that the U.S. must continue to work with U.N. organizations it wishes to quit or boycott – or provide aid to terror groups working to kill Americans. The U.S. should quit any treaty giving the ICJ jurisdiction – and recall its judge on the court."

VANCE HAILS 'DAYS OF DESTINY' AS VP SEEKS TO BUILD ON CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT

Israel’s Foreign Ministry wrote on X Israel that it "categorically rejects the ICJ’s ‘advisory opinion,’ which was entirely predictable from the outset regarding UNRWA. This is yet another political attempt to impose political measures against Israel under the guise of ‘International Law.’ Today’s ICJ advisory opinion should have called out the terrorist activity that UNRWA has been involved in: UNRWA employees directly took part in the October 7th massacre and continue to assist Hamas’s terrorist operations - all under the auspices of the United Nations." 

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged Israel to comply with the ICJ ruling. In response to the Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon terming the ICJ ruling a "shameful decision," a spokesperson for Guterres told reporters, "We are counting on the Government of Israel to abide by its legal obligations. I'm not going to respond to the rhetoric by this or that official."

Anne Bayefsky, Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust, told Fox News Digital, "The ICJ – pompously called the ‘World Court’ – is a creature of the United Nations, an institution riddled with antisemitism and bias against the Jewish state."

"So in this case, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution that declared Israel guilty and then ‘asked’ its Court to rubber stamp the pre-determined conclusion – to which the Court responded ‘aye-aye."

Fox News Digital reported on Tuesday that the Hamas-linked United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) should play no role in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip because it employed Hamas terrorists, according to Mideast experts.

The sources told Fox News that they suspect that the missionary has been taken north to Islamic State-controlled areas where an offshoot of ISIS operates. 

"We are aware of reports of the kidnapping of a U.S. citizen in Niamey, Niger," a State Department spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News. "Since we were alerted of the situation, our Embassy officials have been working with local authorities. It is a top priority for the Trump Administration to look after the safety of every American, and we are seeing efforts from across the U.S. Government to support the recovery and safe return of this U.S. citizen."

MINNESOTA MISSIONARY, A FATHER OF 5, KILLED IN 'ACT OF VIOLENCE' IN ANGOLA

The missionary is a pilot for the evangelical missionary agency Serving in Mission, according to Reuters.

TENNESSEE PASTOR KIDNAPPED AT GUNPOINT IN SOUTH AFRICA RECALLS 'MIRACLE' THAT SAVED HIS LIFE

The abduction took place only about 100 yards from the presidential palace in Niamey, where ousted President Mohamed Bazoum has been held since he was toppled by a coup more than two years ago, according to CBS News. 

Following the kidnapping, the U.S. Embassy in Niger said it now requires all personnel to travel only in armored vehicles and announced that all restaurants and open-air markets are "off-limits".

Kidnappings appear to have intensified this year in areas of West Africa where militants operate. An Austrian woman was abducted in January in Niger, and a Swiss citizen was abducted in April in the same country, Reuters reported.

In addition, five Indian citizens working for a company providing services to Niger's Kandadji dam project were kidnapped during an attack by armed men in April that also killed a dozen soldiers, according to the outlet. 

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report. 

The strike Tuesday against a boat allegedly carrying drugs is the eighth conducted by the Trump administration. The previous seven happened in the Caribbean.  

"Yesterday, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel being operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization and conducting narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific. The vessel was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking transit route, and carrying narcotics," Hegseth said.

"There were two narco-terrorists aboard the vessel during the strike, which was conducted in international waters. Both terrorists were killed and no U.S. forces were harmed in this strike," he added.

3 KILLED IN US STRIKE ON COLOMBIAN ELN VESSEL SMUGGLING NARCOTICS, HEGSETH SAYS

Earlier this week, Hegseth announced that three alleged narco-terrorists were killed in a U.S. strike on a drug smuggling vessel affiliated with Colombia’s National Liberation Army.

That "lethal kinetic strike" happened Friday in international waters at the direction of President Donald Trump, Hegseth wrote in a post on X.

"The vessel was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was traveling along a known narco-trafficking route, and was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics," Hegseth wrote. "There were three male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel during the strike—which was conducted in international waters."

"All three terrorists were killed and no U.S. forces were harmed in this strike," he added.

Colombia’s Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) is a designated terrorist organization. Hegseth likened the Colombian rebel group to the al Qaeda terror group founded by Usama bin Laden in Afghanistan.

TRUMP GOES ALL-OUT AGAINST COLOMBIA'S PETRO AFTER CLAIMS DRUG STRIKE KILLED FISHERMAN: WHAT WE KNOW

The death toll from the Trump administration’s military campaign against suspected drug-smuggling vessels is at least 34. The operations began last month and are part of Trump’s broader effort to dismantle transnational cartels by force.

Last Thursday, the U.S. military carried out a strike on what Trump later called a "very large drug-carrying submarine" in the Caribbean, killing two suspected narco-terrorists and capturing two others alive.

A separate strike on Tuesday killed six suspected smugglers aboard a vessel off the coast of Venezuela.

The violence erupted outside the City West Hotel, a sprawling former hotel-turned migrant center where an illegal migrant — who had deportation orders standing against him — is accused of attacking the girl late Sunday night.

Irish police, An Garda Síochána, said that six people were arrested during the clashes and one female police officer suffered a foot injury.

HERE'S WHY IRELAND IS AT BOILING POINT OVER MASS IMMIGRATION

Police said their officers were subject to "sustained attacks" as they tried to cordon off the building. Nearly 300 police were dispatched to the area in Saggart.

Some protesters were seen waving Irish flags while others could be heard chanting, "Get them out, get them out," in reference to the 2,000 migrants living at the shelter.

Police said protesters hurled hundreds of empty glass bottles from nearby garbage containers and bricks at officers, while fireworks were also discharged. A police helicopter was targeted with lasers, a spokesperson said.

Men on horseback attempted to breach police lines by charging at law enforcement, police said. Police used pepper spray as they tried to disperse the crowd.

"An Garda Síochána facilitates peaceful protests on a daily basis. This was obviously not a peaceful protest," Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said in a statement. "The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence against Gardaí."

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin condemned the attacks on police and said there was "no justification for the vile abuse against them."

On Wednesday, he said the girl who was allegedly raped had not been protected by the state and the circumstances around the alleged attack are of "deep concern."

THOUSANDS MARCH IN DUBLIN AGAINST IRELAND'S MASS MIGRATION POLICIES AS MCGREGOR PURSUES PRESIDENTIAL BID

The victim was in the care of child protection services, known as "Tusla," which said she had absconded from staff during a planned recreational trip in the city center. It is unclear how she got in contact with the suspect.

The suspect, who is in his 20s, is originally from Africa, according to the Irish Mirror. He arrived in Ireland six years ago and failed his application for international protection in 2024 and was ordered deported in March, according to the Irish Times.

The incident took place on the grounds of Citywest, a former hotel which for the last few years has been housing migrants seeking international protection. 

The Irish government bought the hotel in September for around $150 million with the aim of turning it into a permanent migrant facility despite several protests by locals.

Tensions around mass immigration continue to bubble since November 2023 when hundreds of rioters looted shops, set fire to vehicles and threw rocks at police officers after three young children were stabbed outside a school allegedly by an Algerian-born suspect who had become an Irish citizen.

Last week, a 17-year-old Ukrainian was murdered just days after he came to Ireland and was placed in asylum care operated by Tusla. A Somalian youth, also an asylum seeker and described as a minor, has been charged with his murder, according to RTE News.

A homeless foreign national was arrested and charged last week with the murder of an 89-year-old Irish woman, per the Irish Independent.

On Friday, Irish people go to the polls to elect a new president.

Walker, a former Republican congressman and Baptist pastor from North Carolina, was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the nation’s top global envoy for religious liberty. He will officially assume the post once confirmed by the Senate, becoming the seventh American to hold the role since it was created by Congress in 1998.

His visit to Israel, he explained, was driven by both friendship and timing. "All these other historic landmark agreements are happening the same week we’re here," Walker said. "It’s been amazing to see the excitement — literally banners hanging from buildings and parks thanking President Trump for his ongoing efforts and the strength he’s shown to drive the region toward peace."

VANCE WARNS HAMAS AS GAZA PEACE PLAN'S CIVILIAN MILITARY COOPERATION CENTER OPENS

Walker said he was particularly moved by his meetings with hostage families.

"I was overwhelmed to spend some time with Keith Siegel, who endured 483 days of captivity and torture, and with Ruby Chen, whose son, Itay, was killed by Hamas — his body still not returned," Walker said. "To hear the passion in Ruby’s voice, to see his perseverance, it’s overwhelming. In America, we’re watching this from a distance. But being here on the ground, seeing how the community has banded together to stand up for these hostages — alive or dead — has impacted me in a different manner."

The experience, he said, deepened his appreciation for Israel’s resilience. "The people of Israel have stood resiliently in the face of evil," he said. "Their faith and courage remind the world what strength looks like."

With U.S. officials visiting Israel to monitor the fragile ceasefire, Walker said he remains confident in the administration’s leadership.

ISRAEL IDENTIFIES 2 HOSTAGES RETURNED FROM GAZA AS RESIDENTS OF SAME KIBBUTZ

"I have no confidence in Hamas based on their history," he said. "But I have great confidence in President Trump and what he’s doing. He’s committed to peace and showing it with his actions — sending Vice President Vance, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff here this week."

He also praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio for advancing the administration’s diplomatic agenda. "This isn’t a photo opportunity," Walker said. "It’s a real plan for long-term stability."

When asked how he views Israel’s importance, Walker reflected on his years in Congress.

"I think historically, we’ve had a long-standing relationship of supporting each other through times of peril as well as times of success," he said. "Certainly, military and business relationships, but from a spiritual standpoint, America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles."

He added, "When you sit in the House chamber where President Trump gives the State of the Union, there are 22 or 23 philosophers — great men of genius — depicted above. But there’s only one historical figure looking directly at the speaker’s rostrum, and that’s Moses. That tells you a lot about the spiritual connection that binds our two countries."

When asked about criticism from some within the evangelical community regarding its close alignment with Israel, Walker said he welcomes open discussion but rejects efforts to undermine the partnership. "I don’t have a problem with anyone questioning — we ought to be able to defend those relationships," he said. "But when you see some of the talk lately that aims to degrade that relationship, maybe for personal gain or attention, I do have a problem with it, and I think it needs to be condemned."

He added that such views are far from mainstream. "The evangelical communities that I’m part of — and I happen to be a member of the largest Protestant organization in the United States — don’t have those issues," he said. "There may be some who are loosely affiliated and use that kind of rhetoric, but the overwhelming majority of evangelicals in America applaud and encourage the relationship we have with Israel."

On his new role, Walker said the mission was deeply personal.

"When President Trump reached out and asked us to serve as the ambassador for International Religious Freedom — that’s a global position — it was humbling," he said. "The responsibility is to advocate for people of all faiths, especially in places where they’re persecuted or punished by blasphemy laws."

EVANGELICAL LEADERS PRAISE TRUMP’S CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AMID WAR WITH IRAN

Walker said he is already building relationships with governments and faith leaders to prepare for his official role advising both President Trump and Secretary Rubio.

"Our job is to engage, expose and eradicate atrocities — whether it’s Christians in Nigeria being massacred, Druze in Syria targeted or rising antisemitic behavior worldwide," he said. "The United States must remain the beacon of hope for religious freedom. We’re the only country that has it written into law."

He added that Israel’s example of tolerance stands out in the Middle East. "Christians should be able to live peaceably, share their faith and worship without fear," he said. "The fact that Israel allows that in a region where so many others don’t is meaningful."

Walker said he plans to "push back wherever persecution exists — whether through diplomacy or by urging governments to repeal blasphemy and anti-conversion laws."

He concluded, "President Trump is the only president in American history who called a global conference on religious liberty at the United Nations," Walker said. "That sent a message across the world — that faith matters, that freedom matters. What we see here in Israel is that same spirit of courage, and it reminds us why this partnership, rooted in faith and freedom, must endure."

The aircraft, a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A, diverted and landed safely at the St. Louis Lambert International Airport in Missouri, an Australian Defence spokesperson confirmed to Fox News.

"Our highest priority is providing support to the injured member and request that their privacy be respected," a statement said.

Officials told local FOX 2 that a crew member was struck in the head by luggage, and it was believed to have fallen from an overhead bin.

TRUMP THREATENS 'MASSIVE' CHINA TARIFFS, SEES 'NO REASON' TO MEET WITH XI 

That crew member reportedly suffered a concussion and was taken to the hospital.

Albanese's plane had left Joint Base Andrews at 5:15 p.m., FOX 2 reported, and the emergency landing happened around 7:45 p.m.

President Donald Trump and Albanese signed a critical minerals deal at the White House on Monday as the U.S. had been eyeing the continent’s rich rare-earth resources. This, at a time when China is imposing tougher rules on exporting its own critical minerals abroad.

TRUMP ADMIN SLAMS CHINA’S 'GLOBAL POWER GRAB' ON RARE EARTHS, THREATENS TRIPLE-DIGIT TARIFFS

The two leaders described the agreement as an $8.5 billion deal between the allies. Trump said it had been negotiated over several months.

"In about a year from now we’ll have so much critical mineral and rare earth that you won’t know what to do with them," said Trump, boasting about the deal. "They’ll be worth $2."

Albanese added that the agreement takes the U.S.-Australia relationship "to the next level."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The burglars pretended they were hiring the freight lift for a move and when the equipment owner or representative arrived to verify the job, the suspects threatened that person, forcing them to hand it over and leave the scene, Beccuau said in an interview with RTL radio, according to The New York Times.

Authorities said the thieves spent less than four minutes inside the Louvre on Sunday morning. They allegedly wheeled the vehicle to the Seine-facing façade, a window was forced open, and two vitrines were smashed.

BRAZEN LOUVRE ROBBERY CREW MAY HAVE BEEN HIRED BY COLLECTOR, PROSECUTOR SAYS

The thieves made away with a total of eight objects, including a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a set linked to 19th-century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense. The heist has prompted a national reckoning, with some officials comparing the shock to the 2019 burning of Notre-Dame cathedral.

They also stole an emerald necklace and earrings tied to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife, and a reliquary brooch. Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch — an imperial ensemble of rare craftsmanship — were also part of the loot.

One piece — the emerald-set imperial crown of Empress Eugénie, with more than 1,300 diamonds — was later found outside the museum, damaged but recoverable.

Beccuau said the stolen items were valued at around $102.1 million and that the team investigating the heist has grown to 100 people. 

The pieces were not insured, which is not uncommon for state collections because of the prohibitive costs, the Times reported, citing France’s culture ministry. The ministry reportedly said that the state "acts as its own insurer" when works are in their usual place of conservation "given the cost of taking out insurance" and the fact that "the accident rate is low."

LOUVRE MUSEUM CLOSED AFTER ROBBERY, FRENCH OFFICIAL SAYS

Beccuau told local media that investigators believe the robbers may have been commissioned by a collector or were purely motivated by the value of the jewels and precious metals, Reuters reported.

"We’re looking at the hypothesis of organized crime," Beccuau told BFMTV, noting that the thieves could be professionals operating on spec for a buyer.  

Beccuau added that if a collector did commission the heist, there is hope that the stolen pieces will remain intact and well-preserved until recovered, the outlet reported. If the thieves acted independently, they may have targeted the jewels for their potential use in laundering criminal proceeds.

"Nowadays, anything can be linked to drug trafficking, given the significant sums of money obtained from drug trafficking," Beccuau said, according to Reuters.

Investigators are keeping all leads open, but foreign interference has reportedly been largely ruled out in the case.

The Sunday morning smash-and-grab unfolded just 270 yards from the Mona Lisa.

Prosecutors revealed Monday that a vest, bottle of liquid and equipment left behind at the scene are now being examined. 

The Louvre reopened Wednesday morning to crowds under its glass pyramid

Fox News Digital’s Bonny Chu, Ronn Blitzer and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

The aircraft, a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A, diverted and landed safely at the St. Louis Lambert International Airport in Missouri, a Defence spokesperson confirmed to Fox News.

"Our highest priority is providing support to the injured member and request that their privacy be respected," a statement said.

Officials told local FOX 2 that a crew member was struck in the head by luggage, and it was believed to have fallen from an overhead bin.

TRUMP THREATENS 'MASSIVE' CHINA TARIFFS, SEES 'NO REASON' TO MEET WITH XI 

That crew member reportedly suffered a concussion and was taken to the hospital.

Albanese's plane had left Joint Base Andrews at 5:15 p.m., FOX 2 reported, and the emergency landing happened around 7:45 p.m.

President Donald Trump and Albanese signed a critical minerals deal at the White House on Monday as the U.S. had been eyeing the continent’s rich rare-earth resources. This, at a time when China is imposing tougher rules on exporting its own critical minerals abroad.

TRUMP ADMIN SLAMS CHINA’S 'GLOBAL POWER GRAB' ON RARE EARTHS, THREATENS TRIPLE-DIGIT TARIFFS

The two leaders described the agreement as an $8.5 billion deal between the allies. Trump said it had been negotiated over several months.

"In about a year from now we’ll have so much critical mineral and rare earth that you won’t know what to do with them," said Trump, boasting about the deal. "They’ll be worth $2."

Albanese added that the agreement takes the U.S.-Australia relationship "to the next level."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

South Korea’s military said the missiles, which were the first launched by its neighbor in five months, originated from an area south of Pyongyang and flew about 220 miles toward the northeast. The missiles did not land in the sea, the military added.

Trump is set to leave for Asia at the end of the week in what will be his first trip to the region during his second term. He plans to go to Malaysia first for a regional summit, and then head to Japan before traveling on to South Korea for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.

The president is expected to visit the South Korean city of Gyeongju ahead of the summit for bilateral meetings with leaders including Xi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

TRUMP CLAIMS PUTIN, XI, KIM ARE CONSPIRING AGAINST THE US AFTER MILITARY PARADE IN CHINA

South Korea’s military said Wednesday that it remains ready to repel any provocations by North Korea based on its alliance with the United States.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also told reporters that Tokyo was closely communicating with Washington and Seoul, including by sharing real-time missile warning data.

Wednesday's ballistic missile launches by North Korea were the first of their kind since the country tested short-range systems on May 8 that simulated nuclear counterstrikes against U.S. and South Korean forces.

NUCLEAR THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA LOOM QUIETLY BEHIND WARS IN GAZA AND UKRAINE AT UNGA

Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un displayed a new long-range intercontinental ballistic missile at a military parade in Pyongyang that included foreign leaders.

The yet-to-be-tested Hwasong-20 was described by the state-owned Korean Central News Agency as having the "most powerful nuclear strategic weapons system."

The government also displayed shorter-range ballistic, cruise and supersonic missiles at the military parade, which marked 80 years since the founding of the Worker’s Party.

Kim said at the parade that the military "must continue to evolve into an invincible force that eliminates all threats."

The foreign dignitaries at the parade included Chinese Premier Li Qiang, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Vietnam's Communist Party chief To Lam.

Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The CMCC is designed to support stabilization efforts, according to a news release. 

Sources told Fox News last week that roughly 200 U.S. troops had arrived in Israel, along with a C-17 transport plane packed with command-and-control equipment and supplies.

U.S. military personnel will not deploy into Gaza, focusing on facilitating the flow of humanitarian, logistical and security assistance from international counterparts into Gaza.

VANCE WARNS HAMAS AS GAZA PEACE PLAN'S CIVILIAN MILITARY COOPERATION CENTER OPENS

"Bringing together stakeholders who share the goal of successful stabilization in Gaza is essential for a peaceful transition," CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in a news release. "Over the next two weeks, U.S. personnel will integrate representatives from partner nations, non-governmental organizations, international institutions and the private sector as they arrive to the coordination center."

The CMCC will also oversee implementation of the ceasefire agreement with an operations floor designed to track real-time developments in Gaza. 

US MILITARY TO OVERSEE NEXT PHASE OF PEACE DEAL FROM COORDINATION BASE IN ISRAEL

Its offices and meeting spaces are structured to "foster collaborative planning among leaders, representatives and staff," according to the release.

Fox News has learned that the CMCC will be located a few miles northeast of Gaza.

About 200 U.S. service members with expertise in transportation, planning, security, logistics and engineering established the CMCC under the leadership of U.S. Army Central commander Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank.

US SENDS CENTCOM TROOPS TO ISRAEL FOR TRUMP-BROKERED HAMAS CEASEFIRE MONITORING

"The team worked tirelessly to build the CMCC from the ground up," Cooper wrote in a statement. "They can take great pride in knowing that they have built something that is critical to enabling the transition to civilian governance in Gaza."

Due to the large tunnel network under Gaza City, tunnels will need to be filled to make the ground stable enough for construction.

Hamas has yet to return all 28 bodies of deceased hostages, delaying the start of the next stage. 

Israel, which has reiterated its commitment to recovering every hostage’s remains, received the bodies of seven identified hostages this week, along with one Palestinian mistakenly included among them.

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin and Fox News Digital's Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.

Hugh Dugan, who served on the National Security Council as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Organization Affairs in 2020, told Fox News Digital, "UNRWA’s mission was to provide relief and support pending a durable political solution.  As such, a solution is at hand – pending Hamas’ compliance to disarm immediately – truly neutral humanitarian operations beg for new measures and modalities."

He added, "The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation for months has distributed aid independently of U.N. channels and has prevented diversion by militant groups. Other U.N. humanitarian operations would be well-served to take cover and operate within GHF’s shadow under the blistering sun of critical human need." 

IDF KILLS HAMAS TERRORIST IT SAYS WORKED FOR UNRWA, LED CHARGE ON REIM BOMB SHELTER MASSACRE

Dugan, a former diplomat who served at the U.S. mission to the world body, said UNRWA has turned a cottage industry into a sprawling transnational bureaucracy that has perpetuated financial waste and prolonged the conflict by granting refugee status to the descendants of Palestinian refugees after the first Israel-Arab states’ war.

"After the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, UNRWA’s critical mission was to provide direct relief and works program for 800,000 Palestinian refugees. Its job was to put itself out of business as soon as possible, however it went the route of mission creep. Over decades managerially captured by the U.N. bureaucracy, UNRWA perpetuates the status of refugees now swelling to 5.9 million," he said. 

Dugan concluded, "After billions of dollars, Palestinians continue in desperate dependence for humanitarian aid of the most basic kind. This has positioned UNRWA as a political actor in its own right beyond its original mission. And its politics and relations with Hamas reveal that UNRWA lost irretrievably its grounding in humanitarian neutrality and non-discrimination."   

DOSSIER REVEALS INFORMATION USED TO EXPLAIN UN AGENCY'S DEEP TIES TO HAMAS IN GAZA

In August, Fox News Digital obtained a U.S. State Department public assessment to Congress, stating, "The administration has determined UNRWA is irredeemably compromised and now seeks its full dismantlement."  The Biden administration had given UNRWA $1 billion in U.S. taxpayer funding since 2021 before the freeze in 2024 went into effect.

UNRWA spokeswoman Juliette Touma countered allegations against the organization as dangerous and told Fox News Digital that such claims have "never been substantiated, let alone proven," adding, "The United Nations has undertaken investigations and external reviews, and none of these claims have been substantiated. What these claims have done, most importantly, is they have banned UNRWA, the largest humanitarian organization, from delivering food to hungry people."

Touma said "It also put my colleagues in Gaza in danger and have put their lives at serious risks due to this dis-information. UNRWA has 12,000 staff on the ground in Gaza It is impossible to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza without UNRWA and its teams. We know that all other attempts to replace UNRWA have been disastrous."

She continued, "Given [the] above and the action that the U.N. has taken against these claims, these claims remain as such—claims with huge consequences on the lives of our colleagues, the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the reputation of this agency," she said.

A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that "President Trump and Secretary Rubio have long stated that Hamas will never govern Gaza again. That includes institutions they have infiltrated to sustain their power and influence."

The spokesperson reiterated the directive from "President Trump’s Feb. 4 Executive Order regarding ending funding or reviewing support for certain U.N. and international organizations," which declared that "UNRWA has reportedly been infiltrated by members of groups long designated by the Secretary of State (Secretary) as foreign terrorist organizations, and UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel."

Former IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said, "UNRWA has proven itself to be irredeemably corrupt, infiltrated by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad and part of the reason why Hamas was able to recruit tens of thousands of Jihad-indoctrinated youth and to sustain itself during two years of fighting. 

"If we desire a deradicalized Gaza, the first organization that has to be removed from power is Hamas. The close second is UNRWA. Both must not have any role in shaping the present or the future of Gaza. Now is the time to invest in a better future for Gaza and the region, and the time to remove UNRWA."

Conricus said that "Ever since Hamas took power over the Gaza Strip in 2007, UNRWA has been a facilitator for Hamas’s military buildup. By diverting international aid to provide for the civilian needs of Gaza‘s population per Hamas guidance, UNRWA enabled Hamas to divert the majority of their funds to military buildup in the shape of digging tunnels, producing rockets, acquiring drones and sophisticated missiles and paying and training a large force of Jihadi terrorists."

He said that "Throughout the two-year war, Hamas fighters systematically used UNRWA facilities and infrastructure to support and sustain their military operations against Israel. Hamas underground command posts were exposed directly underneath UNRWA facilities in Gaza City, including a supply of electricity and IT services from UNRWA offices to the underground Hamas bunker. UNRWA schools all across the Gaza Strip were systematically used by Hamas as military staging grounds, production facilities for weapons, intelligence collection sites, and hideouts for Hamas fighters." 

When asked about the role of UNRWA, an IDF spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "It’s the political echelon to decide everything regarding the peace deal and the post-war details." Fox News Digital reached out to Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson on several occasions for a comment. Israel’s government banned UNRWA operations in January, 2025.

Zalmanovich is believed to have been murdered by Hamas while in captivity after being abducted from his home by the terror group on Oct. 7, 2023. Adar, an Israel Defense Forces reserve master sergeant, was killed while defending Nir Oz during the Oct. 7 attack, the IDF said.

The IDF said the families were notified after forensic experts confirmed their identities, adding that final conclusions about the deaths will follow a full medical examination. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the coffins were handed over to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet force inside Gaza. From there, they were transferred to Israel, where they were received in a military ceremony with the chief military rabbi.

ISRAEL NAMES TWO OF FOUR DEAD HOSTAGES RETURNED BY HAMAS, HOW THEY DIED

The bodies of 13 hostages still remain in Gaza.

The prime minister’s office said all families of the deceased hostages have been updated and sympathy has been expressed for their loss.

"The effort to return our hostages continues ceaselessly and will not stop until the very last hostage is returned," Netanyahu’s office said.

REMAINS OF LAST FEMALE HAMAS HOSTAGE AND IDF SOLDIER HANDED OVER TO ISRAEL

According to intelligence available to the military, Zalmanovich was abducted by Hamas from his home in Nir Oz and is believed to have been murdered while in captivity. He leaves behind two sons and five grandchildren.

The news comes the same day remains of a hostage returned from Gaza were identified as Sgt. Maj. Tal Haimi, commander of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak’s rapid response team.

Haimi was 41 when he died, and, according to the IDF, he was killed in combat while defending Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. His remains were taken to Gaza, where they were held for more than two years.

REMAINS OF LAST FEMALE HAMAS HOSTAGE AND IDF SOLDIER HANDED OVER TO ISRAEL

Haimi's family initially believed he was taken alive, and Israel declared him deceased Dec. 13, 2023.

Following the identification of Haimi's remains, Netanyahu's office expressed condolences to his family and reiterated its call for Hamas to release the remains of all deceased hostages for proper burial.

The IDF echoed the call, demanding Hamas fulfill its obligations under the agreement brokered by the Trump administration.

On Oct. 13, 2025, the final 20 living hostages returned to Israel after more than two years in captivity. Since then, the remains of 28 deceased hostages have gradually been returned, while 13 others — including U.S. citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra and soldier Hadar Goldin, whose body has been held since 2014 — remain in Gaza.

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.

"The terms of the 20 point plan that the president put out there is very clear. It's supported not just by Israel, by, but by all of our Gulf Arab friends. It's that Hamas has to disarm. It's that Hamas has to actually behave itself and that Hamas, while all the fighters can be given some sort of clemency, they're not going to be able to kill each other, and they're not going to be able to kill their fellow Palestinians," Vance said.

"Right now, where I stand, I feel confident that we're going to be in a place where this peace lasts, where it's durable, and if Hamas doesn't cooperate, then, as the United States has said, Hamas is going to be obliterated," Vance added.

VANCE SAYS SOME DECEASED HOSTAGES MAY NEVER BE RECOVERED DESPITE TRUMP PEACE DEAL

The vice president's warning came after President Donald Trump issued one of his own, saying that if Hamas did not act in accordance with the agreement, the terror organization's end would be "fast, furious and brutal."

During a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday, Trump said that Hamas would be eradicated if it did not hold up its end of the deal. The president issued similar warnings since the peace deal went into effect last week.

In addition to his warning to Hamas, Vance scolded the media over its apparent "desire to root for failure," saying that any setbacks or hiccups did not necessarily mean the end of the deal.

"Every time something bad happens and every time that there's an act of violence, there's this inclination to say, ‘Oh, this is the end of the ceasefire. This is the end of the peace plan.’ It's not the end. It is, in fact, exactly how this is going to have to happen when you have people who hate each other, who have been fighting against each other for a very long time. We are doing very well. We are in a very good place," Vance said before praising the team working to implement the Gaza deal.

TRUMP THREATENS HAMAS IF GAZA CEASEFIRE COLLAPSES AS JD VANCE TO VISIT ISRAEL

While Vance demanded that Hamas disarm in accordance with the deal, he refused to give the terrorist organization an exact deadline, something Trump has not done either.

"The president actually put out a Truth [Social] this morning that I thought was very instructive. We know that Hamas has to comply with the deal, and if Hamas doesn't comply with the deal, very bad things are going to happen. But I'm not going to do what the President of the United States has thus far refused to do, which is put an explicit deadline on it, because a lot of this stuff is difficult. A lot of this stuff is unpredictable," the vice president said.

The opening of the CMCC is a major milestone in the implementation of the historic deal. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), attended the news conference.

"Two hundred of America's sons and daughters, who wear the cloth of the nation, have stepped up and are serving here," Cooper said. "I just couldn't be prouder."

Jared Kushner was also in attendance at the news conference, where he spoke about plans for Gaza reconstruction and the efforts currently underway in the ceasefire deal. Kushner noted that there was "surprisingly strong coordination between the United Nations and Israel" on efforts to get aid to Palestinians in the enclave.

Kushner also said that progress was being made towards getting back the remains of all deceased hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

ISRAEL CONFIRMS HOW HOSTAGE TAL HAIMI DIED, WITH 15 BODIES REMAINING IN GAZA

Prior to Vance's arrival in Israel, several hostages who were freed as part of the historic deal brokered by the Trump administration met with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Kushner. The meeting included Omri Miran, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Matan Angrest, Bar Kupershtein, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen and Eitan Horn.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the former hostages thanked Witkoff and Kushner and expressed "profound gratitude to President Trump for making their freedom a top priority and working tirelessly to ensure their release after more than two years in captivity."

When speaking at the CMCC, Witkoff said the meeting was an "emotional moment" and that he felt "blessed to be in that room."

"I didn't see any victims in that room. I saw strong people who have come out under very difficult circumstances. Their families are reunited, and they are so grateful," Witkoff said.

In his closing remarks, Vance expressed his trust in God's providence and said he believed the job could be done.

"I know that Christians have many titles for Jesus Christ, and one of them is the Prince of Peace. And I'd ask all people of faith, in particular my fellow Christians, to pray that the Prince of Peace can continue to work a miracle in this region of the world. I think that we have made incredible strides over the past week. We're going to have to make a lot more. But I think with your prayers, with God's providence and with a very good team behind me, I think we're gonna get it done," Vance said.

The vice president said that while in Israel, he hopes to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which Christians believe is the site where Jesus Christ was crucified.

Takaichi, 64, who has long cited Thatcher as a personal and political inspiration, was chosen by Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), during an extraordinary session of the country's lower house, replacing former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and ending several months of political turbulence that saw the party lose its upper-house majority in July.

In remarks after her election, Takaichi said she felt "the tough work starts here" and promised to restore public confidence and strengthen Japan’s security posture. Over the years, she has praised Thatcher’s "strength and womanly warmth" as qualities she seeks to emulate. In 2013, shortly before Thatcher’s death, Takaichi met her in London — a moment she later described as "life-changing."

THATCHER CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION EXAMINES HOW REAGAN PARTNERSHIP GUIDES MODERN US-UK RELATIONS

Described by some in Japanese and international media as an ultraconservative and hard-line figure, Takaichi backs strengthening Japan’s defense posture, is a noted  China hawk, and supports constitutional revision to expand the role of the Self-Defense Forces. 

Economically, she praises Abenomics, the policies adopted by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and favors fiscal and monetary stimulus. Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister and was assassinated in 2022 at a campaign rally, two years after leaving office.

"She’s very different from the other people in the Liberal Democratic Party, and that’s why she was selected this time," said Gordon Chang, author and Asia analyst, in an interview with Fox News Digital. "After losing its upper-house majority, the LDP realized it needed to protect its right flank by electing someone more conservative than in the past — so the Margaret Thatcher comparison does make sense."

Known for her hawkish stance on China, Takaichi is expected to maintain Japan’s close alignment with the United States. Chang said her election could bolster Washington’s strategic position in Asia, especially as tensions with Beijing remain high.

JAPAN CALLS AXIS OF CHINA, RUSSIA, NORTH KOREA THE 'GRAVEST THREAT' TO GLOBAL ORDER SINCE WWII

"She’s a hawk on China, and that’s exactly what’s needed right now," Chang said. "That’s not going to upset President Trump — if anything, it strengthens his hand in dealing with Xi Jinping. It shows America’s alliances are strong and getting stronger."

Takaichi’s rise has been hailed as a milestone for female representation, though Chang emphasized that her selection was driven more by ideology than identity.

"I don’t think she was chosen because she was a woman," he said. "She was chosen because the party needed to shore up its right flank — and it just so happened that the most conservative of the possible candidates was a woman."

Even as she breaks barriers herself, Takaichi’s record underscores her conservative social vision. She is among the Japanese politicians who have resisted measures to advance women’s rights, supports the imperial family’s male-only succession, and opposes same-sex marriage as well as allowing separate surnames for married couples.

Like Thatcher, Takaichi rose from outside her country’s political elite. Her mother served in the Nara Prefectural Police, and her father worked for a Toyota-affiliated car company.

Analysts say she now faces the challenge of turning symbolism into substance. Her nationalist positions could heighten friction with China, while her expansive spending plans for the world’s fourth-largest economy will be closely watched by international investors. At the same time, she must prepare to host President Donald Trump, who is expected to visit Japan next week.

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sarkozy, 70, was greeted by hundreds of supporters when he walked out of his Paris home earlier in the day hand-in-hand with his wife, supermodel-turned-singer Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. He embraced her before getting into a police car.

Minutes later, the vehicle passed through the gates of the notorious La Santé prison — where Sarkozy will now serve his sentence in solitary confinement.

Sarkozy was convicted last month of criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya.

He contests both the conviction and a judge’s unusual decision to incarcerate him pending appeal. His lawyers said Tuesday that they filed an immediate request for his release.

FORMER FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN LIBYA CORRUPTION CASE

A show of defiance

"It’s an ominous day for him, for France and for our institutions, because this incarceration is a disgrace," Sarkozy’s lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois told reporters soon after his incarceration.

In a show of defiance and while on his way to the prison, Sarkozy released a statement on social media declaring that "an innocent man" was being locked up.

"I will continue to denounce this judicial scandal," he wrote. "The truth will prevail."

Sarkozy told Le Figaro newspaper that he would bring three books to prison — the maximum allowed — including Alexandre Dumas’ "The Count of Monte Cristo,″ in which the hero escapes from an island prison before seeking revenge. He also picked a biography of Jesus Christ.

"I’m not afraid of prison. I’ll hold my head high, including in front of the doors of La Santé," he told La Tribune Dimanche newspaper last week. "I’ll fight till the end."

Sarkozy has repeatedly said he is the victim of "a plot" staged by some people linked to the Libyan government and denounced the Sept. 25 verdict as a "scandal."

TRUMP COMMUTES GEORGE SANTOS’ SENTENCE, PARDON BLITZ WIPES OUT COSTLY FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS

Solitary confinement

Sarkozy’s lawyers said he will be kept away from all other prisoners for security reasons. They said he packed a bag with a few sweaters and earplugs because the prison is cold and noisy.

Christophe Ingrain, another of Sarkozy’s lawyers, denounced "a serious injustice."

"It’s a very difficult time, but the president has stood strong," Ingrain said. "He doesn’t complain, hasn’t asked for anything, no special treatment."

Solitary confinement implies that Sarkozy will never see other inmates and will spend most of his time alone in his cell, Ingrain said.

He will be allowed to go outdoors one hour per day alone in the prison yard and to get three visits per week from his family, Ingrain said, adding that he is planning to write a book about his prison experience.

BRAZIL’S EX-PRESIDENT AND MAJOR TRUMP ALLY BOLSONARO PLACED ON HOUSE ARREST

An outpouring of support for the ex-president

Sarkozy's journey from the presidential Elysée Palace to La Santé prison has captivated France.

After leaving their home, Sarkozy and his wife walked slowly to join family members, including his children and grandchildren, outside his home.

"I’m very proud to share his name, and very proud of how he’s reacting," said his brother, Guillaume Sarkozy. "I’m truly convinced that he is innocent."

Hundreds of supporters applauded and chanted "Nicolas, Nicolas" and sang the French anthem. Two French flags were hung on a nearby fence, with the words "Courage Nicolas, return soon" and "true France with Nicolas."

Parisian resident Virginie Rochon, 44, came in support of Sarkozy, calling it "scandalous" to see "a former president being taken away while still presumed innocent."

Another supporter, Véronique Maurey, 50, said: "It’s just not possible. And on top of that, calling it a ‘criminal conspiracy’ kind of makes all of us feel like criminals too, because we voted for him. It’s not right to say that."

Meeting with Macron

Embattled centrist President Emmanuel Macron hosted the conservative Sarkozy at the presidential palace last week, explaining it was "normal on a human level" to receive one of his predecessors in this context.

On Tuesday, Macron said he would not comment on a justice decision. "Nevertheless, it's normal that the image of a president being imprisoned... may prompt comments," he said.

"We must distinguish emotion, including the legitimate emotion of relatives and part of the country... and the proper functioning of justice," Macron added.

Sarkozy has been retired from active politics for years but remains very influential, especially in conservative circles.

France’s top magistrate Rémy Heitz, prosecutor-general at the Court of Cassation, warned Tuesday about a risk of "hindering (justice) serenity" and of "undermining the independence of judges," including when the justice minister — a former conservative who joined Macron's party — plans to visit Sarkozy in prison.

"The goal for everyone must be serenity, to allow justice to truly rule independently... free from any pressure," Heitz said.

The Paris court ruled last month that Sarkozy would start to serve prison time without waiting for his appeal to be heard, due to "the seriousness of the disruption to public order caused by the offense."

The court said Sarkozy, as a presidential candidate and interior minister, used his position "to prepare corruption at the highest level" from 2005 to 2007, to finance his presidential campaign with funds from Libya — then led by longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi.

Under the ruling, Sarkozy was able to file a request for release to the appeals court only once behind bars. Judges have up to two months to process it.

Haimi was 41 years old at the time of his death. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Haimi was killed in combat while defending Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. His body was then taken into Gaza, where it was held hostage for more than two years.

While Haimi's family initially believed he was taken alive, Israel declared him deceased on Dec. 13, 2023.

IDF HOLDS MEMORIAL CEREMONY AT BASE ATTACKED BY HAMAS ON OCT. 7 HONORING FALLEN TROOPS

Haimi was a third generation descendant of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak's founders and a fourth-generation resident, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

"Tal worked as a mechanical engineer and was a member of the Nir Yitzhak emergency response team. He loved taking his family on trips in nature and camping outdoors. An avid tool enthusiast, he was known for always finding a solution to any problem that arose," the forum wrote after Haimi's remains were returned and identified.

REMAINS OF LAST FEMALE HAMAS HOSTAGE AND IDF SOLDIER HANDED OVER TO ISRAEL

Haimi is survived by his wife and their four children, as well as his father and his sister. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum noted that one of Haimi's children was born after he was murdered.

Following the identification of Haimi's remains, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office expressed condolences for his family and reiterated its call for Hamas to release the remains of all deceased hostages for proper burial. The IDF also echoed this call, demanding Hamas fulfill its obligations under the agreement brokered by the Trump administration.

ISRAEL’S COVERT CAMPAIGN TARGETS HAMAS TERRORISTS BEHIND OCT 7 MASSACRE

On Oct. 13, 2025, the final 20 living hostages returned to Israel after more than two years in captivity. Meanwhile, the remains of the 28 deceased hostages have been slowly returned since then. Now, the remains of 15 deceased hostages, including U.S. citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, are still in Gaza. One of the deceased hostages in Gaza is Hadar Goldin, whose remains have been held in the enclave since he was killed in battle in 2014.

The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday that the 24-year-old suspect was charged with organized theft and criminal conspiracy following the Sept. 16 heist. She was arrested two weeks later in Barcelona, Spain, as she was preparing to return to China, it added. 

Prosecutors said on the morning of Sept. 16, a museum curator was notified by a cleaning staff member of debris inside the facility and the disappearance of gold nuggets usually on display, which included an 11-pound nugget from Australia, items linked to the 19th century California gold rush and a nugget gifted by Tsar Nicholas I of Russia in 1833. 

An investigation determined that two doors at the museum were cut open with a circular saw. In the mineralogy gallery, the display case containing the nuggets was broken into with a blowtorch, authorities said.

LOUVRE HEIST ADDS TO HISTORY OF HIGH-PROFILE MUSEUM BREACHES, LEAVES OTHER GALLERIES ON EDGE 

At the site, investigators found a screwdriver, saws, the blowtorch and three gas canisters used to power the blowtorch, according to the prosecutor’s office. 

It said surveillance footage revealed that a single person entered the museum by force around 1 a.m. on the morning of the heist. 

The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office estimated that the financial loss of the gold nuggets is around $1.74 million, while an additional $58,000 worth of damage was caused by the break-in. It also said the historical and scientific value of the gold pieces was priceless. 

NEW VIDEO PURPORTEDLY SHOWS LOUVRE THIEVES IN ACTION DURING BRAZEN DAYTIME HEIST 

At the time of her arrest in Barcelona, the suspect attempted to dispose of around two pounds of melted gold pieces, prosecutors added. 

They said the investigation remains ongoing, as authorities are trying to figure out what happened to the stolen items and if there are any accomplices. 

In France, the organized theft charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. 

The suspect remains in custody while awaiting court proceedings. 

The footage, obtained by French broadcaster BFMTV, purportedly shows what has been called one of the most brazen art thefts in recent memory.

The short clip appears to show someone inside the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery, which was home to some of the museum’s most priceless treasures.

Footage taken by an anonymous bystander shows a person in a bright yellow jacket standing beside a glass display case.

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The amateur footage was replayed for BFMTV, who filmed that phone's screen and verified it Sunday. The Associated Press has not been able to independently confirm its authenticity.

According to French authorities, the thieves executed a highly coordinated operation that unfolded just after the museum opened to the public in the morning.

At around 9:30 a.m., thieves used a basket lift to reach the Louvre’s facade, forcing open a window to gain entry to the Apollo Gallery, which contains displays of the royal jewels.

LOUVRE MUSEUM CLOSED AFTER ROBBERY, FRENCH OFFICIAL SAYS

According to reports, the group made off with jewels once belonging to Napoleon III’s court, including pieces from Empress Eugénie’s personal collection.

"They breached through a window and made this really brazen. These guys are fast and moving quickly with a purpose, and they breach, and they get in there really quickly," former FBI Art Crime expert Tim Carpenter told Fox News Digital.

After the heist, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez spoke to radio station France Inter and said the thieves "entered from the outside using a basket lift" and "a disc cutter" to slice through glass panes containing precious jewels.

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"The investigation has begun, and a detailed list of the stolen items is being compiled," the ministry also said in a statement. "Beyond their market value, these items have inestimable heritage and historical value."

The Louvre remained closed on Monday as investigators combed through the scene and reviewed surveillance footage.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Louvre Museum and the Ministry of Culture for comment.

During a White House meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday, Trump warned, "We're going to eradicate them. If we have to, they'll be eradicated. And they know that," he told reporters, and stressed the deal’s broad backing — "59 countries that agreed to the deal" — while insisting the ceasefire remains in place and warning that any further violence would be met with decisive action.

While details of Vance’s trip to Israel have yet to be announced, Washington’s diplomacy is extending beyond Jerusalem, as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were expected to travel to Egypt from Israel for talks with Hamas representatives, underscoring a push to move from preserving the ceasefire toward negotiating the more fraught next phase.

ISRAEL SAYS HAMAS VIOLATED CEASEFIRE WITH 'MULTIPLE ATTACKS' LEADING TO IDF RESPONSE

At Monday's meeting with the Australian pm, Trump was asked by a reporter whether the U.S. would put boots on the ground, Trump said his administration does not plan to deploy troops and that other countries — and Israel itself — could act if needed.

"We don't need to, because we have many countries, as you know, signed on to this deal," he said. "We've had countries calling me when they saw some of the killing with Hamas, saying we'd love to go in and take care of the situation ourselves. In addition, you have Israel — they would go in, in two minutes. If I asked him to go in, I could tell him, go in and take care of it. But right now, we haven't said that. We're going to give it a little chance, and hopefully there will be a little less violence."

He added a blunt warning about Hamas' capacity and support. "But right now, you know, they're violent people. Hamas has been very violent, but they don't have the backing of Iran anymore… They have to be good, and if they're not good, they'll be eradicated — because absolutely we can, and we have the capacity to do so."

The comments came as senior U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Israeli leaders to shore up the fragile, Trump-brokered, 20-step ceasefire plan after a weekend flare-up. Hamas terrorists killed two Israeli soldiers, prompting Israeli strikes against the terror group. Despite the violence, both Israel and Hamas publicly recommitted to the truce.

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On Monday, the IDF announced that the body of 41-year-old Tal Haimi, the commander of his kibbutz’s rapid response team, had been recovered after he was abducted by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7., 2023. Haimi led the defense of his kibbutz during the attack. According to The Times of Israel, he is survived by his wife and their four children — including one son who was born in May 2024, seven months after he was killed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking in the Knesset, struck a hard line while stressing close U.S.–Israel coordination. He warned the fighting was far from over and said violations would carry a "very heavy price," while praising the "unprecedented closeness" with Washington.

Separately, the IDF said Southern Command troops have begun marking a so-called yellow line inside Gaza — 3.5-meter concrete barriers topped by yellow poles placed roughly every 200 meters — to establish "tactical clarity on the ground" as part of the ceasefire arrangement. The military said the marking will continue "in the coming period" as forces work to remove threats and defend Israeli civilians.