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hurricane Melissa, ‌now a Category 4 ​storm⁢ with 145 mph winds, is lashing Jamaica with ferocious ‌winds, torrential rain, and storm surge ‌as its eye​ moves toward Cuba. Despite the ​hurricane’s center remaining just offshore, widespread destruction is⁢ being reported across ⁣the island nation.

Hundreds of ⁣thousands of Jamaicans are without ⁢power,and ‌nearly 15,000 people have⁢ sought refuge in emergency shelters,according to officials. Extensive damage has been reported in southwestern Jamaica,⁣ particularly in the parish of St.​ Elizabeth,⁣ impacting schools, homes, and hospitals. The ‌storm⁤ also‍ threatens Jamaica’s food ⁣security, with some of the country’s ‌main food-producing regions being‌ “battered” by⁤ melissa, a World Food Program⁤ official stated. ‌

The National hurricane‌ Center declared melissa a Category 4 hurricane this afternoon. While the storm’s center skirted Jamaica, the ⁤island is experiencing notable impacts. Officials⁢ report that schools, homes, and hospitals in St. elizabeth have ‍sustained damage.

The World Food Programme has warned that ⁢Melissa is impacting key agricultural areas,potentially disrupting food supplies. CNN​ Meteorologists Mary ‌Gilbert and Taylor Ward, along with Hira Humayun, Elise Hammond, Tori B. Powell, billy Stockwell, and‍ Catherine Nicholls, contributed ⁤to this report.

A ceasefire took effect in Gaza early Friday as Israeli troops began withdrawing from parts of the ⁣territory, according to ⁤israel Defense Forces ‍(IDF) statements and reports from the region. The pause in fighting is part of a deal brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, intended to​ facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

More than two years after‌ Hamas and its allies kidnapped 251 people from israel and took them to Gaza, 47 hostages ‌remain in the enclave, with at least 20 believed to be alive. The remains of another hostage, Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin, have been held there since 2014.This agreement offers a potential ​path ​toward‌ securing ‍the release of some of those held captive, ⁣providing a ​glimmer of hope for‌ families who have endured months of uncertainty and anguish. The ceasefire’s success hinges on Hamas’s adherence to the terms, particularly the ⁣release of‍ hostages, and the sustained flow of aid to a population facing dire conditions.

“There⁤ is that scenario, some say even a realistic scenario, that⁤ Hamas will come back and say, ‘Look, we don’t ​have 48. we only have ⁣a lower ‍number.’ So⁤ it might be that there are some families, including mine,‍ that‍ do not have closure,” said a father of a hostage.

Itay, a dual US-Israeli citizen, is presumed dead, but his father has previously stated that his son remains a hostage even ‍in death. He has conveyed ⁤this to both ⁣former President Donald Trump and‌ President Joe Biden.

“I would hope to believe that this management, that​ speaks ⁤so highly about America … will do their best efforts as well … making sure that my ⁣son is one of the first that⁣ come out,” the father added.