News Wrap: Hamas releases video of two hostages, including Israeli-American

John Yang:

Good evening, I'm John Yang. As efforts intensified to break a deadlock and talks were a deal to free the Israelis still held in Gaza. Hamas released a video of two hostages including an Israeli American. It shows Omri Miran, a 47-year old Israeli and Keith Siegel who's 64. It's not clear when the footage was taken. Siegel's wife was released during a brief truce and November.

Talks on a hostage release and ceasefire are expected to resume in coming days in Egypt. On ABC's this week, White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby said Israel promises it won't launch an invasion into Rafah until they hear the U.S. point of view.

John Kirby, White House National Security Council Spokesperson:

They've assured us that they won't go into Rafah until we've had a chance to really share our perspectives and our concerns with them. If we're able to get this hostage deal in place, and we are still working at that Hamas has not fully rejected it. They are considering this proposal on the table. If we can get that in place, then that gives you six weeks of peace.

John Yang:

The White House says that in a call today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. President Biden reiterated us opposition to our Rafah operation on humanitarian grounds. They also talked about new aid routes into Gaza that are to open this week.

There were protests against the war last night at an annual Washington gathering of journalists, newsmakers and celebrities. Shouts of shame on you greeted those arriving at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. Some protesters lay on the pavement next to vest marked press and splashed with red. President Biden spoke at the dinner but didn't mention the war other protests in his remarks.

Nighttime tornadoes in Oklahoma left at least four people dead one of them a child in Sulphur in southern Oklahoma there was significant damage and destruction to homes and businesses. This evening heavy rains are the threat with a flood watch stretching from Louisiana to Missouri.

There's international condemnation for a law the Iraqi parliament passed this weekend. It imposes heavy prison sentences on gay and transgender people. The State Department said it threatens those most at risk. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron called it dangerous and worrying.

It imposes 10 to 15 year prison sentences for same sex relations and one to three years for undergoing or performing gender transition surgery.

And a three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker says she's retiring. She's a two-time league MVP, a two time NCAA champion at the University of Tennessee and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. She's the only player to win three WNBA championships with three different teams. Parker played her last game in July and missed the rest of the season with a foot injury.

Still to come on PBS News Weekend, why satisfying your chocolate cravings may start taking a bigger bite out of your wallet, and the potential effects in space and on Earth of solar flares.