News Wrap: Azerbaijan’s president blames Russia for plane crash in Kazakhstan

Ali Rogin:

In Azerbaijan, where that country's president officially blamed Russia for the deadly plane crash there last week, President Ilham Aliyev said today Russia is responsible for downing its airliner, although not intentionally. Aliyev also criticized Russia for what he said was an attempt to, quote, hush up the issue after the plane went down over Kazakhstan.

Experts believe Russian air defense systems shot down the plane while targeting Ukrainian drones. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized this weekend, but he has not taken responsibility for the crash.

Israeli hostages were tortured and abused while being held by Hamas. That's according to a new report set to be shared with the United Nations this week. The report is based on interviews with Israeli medical teams that helped treat more than 100 hostages after they were freed, according to reporting by Reuters.

The medical team say hostages were sexually assaulted, beaten, starved and burned. Relatives of those still in captivity said this should add urgency to ceasefire talks.

Einav Zangauker, Mother of Israeli Hostage (through translator): The report clarifies beyond any doubt that all of them have been subjected to severe torture for 450 days. It's either a deal and the end of the war or continued torture to death.

Ali Rogin:

Israeli officials believe about half of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza may be alive. And in Gaza City, the Israeli military struck the upper floors of two hospitals today. Seven people were killed and others injured at Al Wafa hospital. The Israeli military said the compound no longer served as a hospital, and the strike was aimed at members of the Hamas aerial defense unit, which used the compound to plan and execute attacks against Israeli troops.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent surgery today to remove his prostate. Doctors this evening said he was awake and recovering and is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. That means Netanyahu will likely miss some testimony this week in his ongoing trial for alleged corruption.

The new president of Georgia was formally inaugurated today in what the country's opposition calls a blow to its aspirations to join the European Union. Former soccer player Mikhail Kalashvashvili is a hardline critic of the west and a member of the Georgian Dream Party, which has been accused of becoming increasingly authoritarian.

Georgia's outgoing pro-Western president left the presidential palace but insisted she is still the country's only legitimate leader.

Founder of HBO and Cablevision, Charles Dolan has died. Along with those media companies, Dolan also launched the American Movie Classics television station and News 12 in New York, the first 24-hour cable channel for local news in the US. Dolan's family owns controlling stakes in Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. Charles Dolan was 98 years old.