Hamas Said It Agreed to Release Hostages in Gaza

Hamas announced today that it had agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza, as well as the bodies of hostages who have died. In response, President Trump demanded that Israel stop bombing Gaza to make way for the quick release of all of the hostages. Follow this developing story here.

In a statement, Trump appeared to embrace Hamas’s offer. He said that he believed the group was “ready for a lasting peace,” adding that the U.S. was “already in discussions on details to be worked out.” Israel has not yet make any public statements on the matter.

The language of Hamas’s statement left several questions unanswered. The Palestinian militant group said it would release the hostages “according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, and as the field conditions for the exchange are met.” The group said it was ready to enter into indirect talks with Israel to discuss those conditions.

Hamas also said it was willing to “hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats.” It was not clear, though, if Hamas had agreed to the White House demand that it be barred from political power in Gaza. A senior Hamas official said the group would give up “any kind of weapons” if “the occupation ends.”

The U.S. attacked a fourth boat in the Caribbean Sea

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced today that the U.S. military had killed four men with a strike this morning on a boat in international waters near Venezuela. He accused the men of attempting to smuggle narcotics into the U.S. In total, the U.S. is known to have killed 21 people across four attacks on boats in the Caribbean Sea that the Trump administration has claimed were smuggling drugs.

Experts have questioned the legality of the attacks. It is illegal for the military to deliberately kill civilians — even suspected criminals — who are not directly participating in hostilities. The Trump administration has insisted that the boats were carrying “unlawful combatants” who belonged to cartels that the government has designated as terrorist groups.

Manchester synagogue attacker had been released on bail

The man who carried out a deadly terrorist attack yesterday at a synagogue in Manchester, England, had been released on bail by the police. He was under investigation for rape, an official said, and had been convicted of previous crimes.

The assailant went on a stabbing spree after ramming his car into people outside the synagogue on Yom Kippur. Witnesses described how worshipers and the rabbi used their bodies to barricade the entrance. One of the congregants who was holding the door was killed after he was accidentally shot by police.

Video games are shaping boys, for better and worse

In the last decade and a half, boys and young men ages 15 to 24 more than doubled their average time spent playing video games.

The games have become a central way that boys build real friendships. Researchers say they can improve cognitive and problem-solving skills. But teachers say the games disrupt focus; economists link them to a decline in work hours; and readers cited video games as a chief reason for struggles in boys and young men. My colleagues broke down the data.

More top news

• Immigration: The Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to lift deportation protections for more than 300,000 Venezuelan immigrants.

• Crime: Sean Combs, the hip-hop mogul who was convicted on charges of transporting people across state lines for prostitution, was sentenced to more than four years in prison.

• Politics: Another Senate vote to end the government shutdown failed.

• Religion: Sarah Mullally, the bishop of London, has been appointed archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman to lead the Church of England.

• Lawsuit: Clifford Levy won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for his coverage as a Times reporter of abuses of mentally ill adult-home residents in New York. The resulting lawsuit just concluded.

• Climbing: Balin Miller, a 23-year-old mountaineer, fell to his death after reaching the summit of El Capitan, the famed vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park.

• Space: The comets A6 (Lemmon) and R2 (SWAN) are moving into the night sky this month. Here’s how to watch them.

• Treasure: A sunken treasure of more than 1,000 silver and gold coins — worth more than $1 million — was recovered from a 1715 shipwreck off the coast of Florida.

Jane Goodall’s death initiated Netflix’s newest show

A 55-minute interview with the revered conservationist Jane Goodall was released today on Netflix, just two days after her death at 91. It ended with a message for viewers that she knew would only be seen after she died: “You may not know it, you may not find it, but your life matters, and you are here for a reason,” Goodall said.

The episode was the first of “Famous Last Words,” a series of late-in-life interviews that Netflix promises to keep closely guarded until after the subject has died.

Niche retirement destinations are increasingly popular

Thanks to the baby boom generation, one in every five U.S. citizens will soon be over the age of 65. Those who want to live out their golden years alongside like-minded individuals have sought out niche retirement communities.

There are retirement communities for horse lovers, film buffs, yoga enthusiasts, aspiring actors, academic types, party animals and even retired postal workers. Take our quiz to see the best fit for you.

The star of ‘Good Boy’ doesn't know he was in a horror movie

In theaters this weekend, “Good Boy” is a riveting new haunted-house thriller starring an utterly compelling actor you’ve never heard of. His name is Indy, and he is the filmmakers’ 8-year-old family dog.

The director Ben Leonberg, along with his wife and producer, Kari Fischer, lived with Indy in the North Jersey house that served as their main set. Filming lasted roughly three years, and although Indy’s emotions come across on the screen, Leonberg and Fischer never scared him. Instead, they got Indy to emote by saying random words like ”Chicken!” and “Pheasant!”

Have an adorable weekend.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back on Monday. — Matthew

Bryan Denton was our photo editor.

We welcome your feedback. Write to us at [email protected].