To ensure delivery to your inbox add email@mail.nbcnews.com to your contacts

Good Wednesday afternoon. Hamas has made a devastating claim about the youngest hostage being held in Gaza, a search is underway after a deadly U.S. military crash off Japan, and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter is being laid to rest today in her Georgia hometown.

Here is what’s in our Nightly Rundown.

Hamas claims 10-month-old hostage killed amid talks to extend truce

Israel’s military said it is looking into a claim by Hamas that the youngest hostage held in Gaza, 10-month old Kfir Bibas, has been killed, along with his 4-year-old brother Ariel, and their mother Shiri, as negotiators race to extend the truce in Gaza.

Hamas said the three family members had been killed in Israeli bombardment. Israel’s military said it is in contact with the Bibas family, and is “assessing the accuracy of the information.” NBC News has not verified the claims.

Shiri Bibas, her husband Yarden, and their two boys were kidnapped by Hamas from the Nir Oz kibbutz during the Oct. 7 terror attack. The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that Hamas had transferred the family to another terror group in Gaza.

The IDF said “Hamas is wholly responsible for the security of all hostages in the Gaza Strip. Hamas must be held accountable. Hamas’ actions continue to endanger the hostages, which include nine children.”

The devastating claim comes as Israel confirms two more hostages were released on this final day of the cease-fire, with talks underway to further extend the truce.

One American could be among those freed, according to a U.S. official and a diplomat with knowledge of the fast-moving events. The officials cautioned the situation is still fluid and nothing is final.

Israeli military raids refugee camp in West Bank

In the West Bank, Israel's military said it killed a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander in a raid on the Jenin refugee camp.

Video posted on social media appears to show a group of boys being shot at in a side street during the raid. 

The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that two children, ages 8 and 15, were killed in Jenin. 

The IDF said that during the activity at the camp, a number of suspects hurled explosive devices toward soldiers, who responded with live fire and “hits were identified.”

For the latest updates on the Israel-Hamas war, visit our NBC News live blog.

Deadly U.S. military aircraft crash off Japan

Japan’s coast guard is searching for survivors after a U.S. Air Force Osprey crashed into the sea during a training mission, killing at least one of the eight crew members on board, officials said.

The crash occurred “while performing a routine training mission off the shore of Yakushima Island,” the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command said in a statement.

One man was recovered from the sea and later pronounced dead, according to a regional coast guard spokesman. 

Crews also found gray debris believed to be from the aircraft, and an empty inflatable raft less than a mile from the Yakushima coast, the spokesman said.

There have been a number of deadly accidents involving Ospreys in recent years, including an August crash in Australia that killed three U.S. Marines.

Deep freeze along East Coast after deadly snow blast

The East Coast is under a deep freeze with temperatures 5 to 15 degrees below average from Maine to Florida, after the first significant lake-effect snow event of the season.

This morning was the coldest of the season for most of the East Coast, with temperatures dropping into the 20s in New York City, and the 30s in parts of Florida.

More than 40 inches of snow fell over the past two days over parts of the Great Lakes and interior Northeast.

Slick conditions on the road may have contributed to a deadly crash in Vermont. Police said a transit bus collided with another vehicle, killing a 71-year-old man.

We’re also tracking potentially severe storms threatening some 8 million people across southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana tomorrow.

George Santos expulsion vote set for Friday, speaker says

The House will hold a vote on whether to expel embattled Rep. George Santos on Friday, Speaker Mike Johnson said today, after a scathing ethics committee report found there is “substantial evidence” Santos “violated federal criminal laws.”

The New York Republican has said he will stand for the vote, and has predicted it will result in him being ousted from Congress.

Johnson said he has “real reservations” about expelling Santos, but told the House GOP conference to “vote their conscience.”

The move would be extremely rare. Only five members of the House have been expelled in U.S. history.

Santos, who has admitted to lying about his background, has pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges.

House ethics investigators found Santos “blatantly stole” from his campaign to pay for things like Botox, OnlyFans, luxury goods and trips. Santos slammed their report as a “politicized smear,” but said he would not run for re-election.

What else we're watching:

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter is being laid to rest today at her home in Georgia, after a private funeral ceremony attended by her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, who has been in hospice care since February.

A massive explosion at an auto shop in Ohio killed three people, and left another person injured, fire officials said.

The U.S. has charged an Indian national in an alleged murder-for-hire plot to kill a Sikh activist in New York City, federal prosecutors announced.

A passenger was arrested for an attack aboard a plane at the Miami airport that left an American Airlines employee hospitalized. 

The nation’s most famous Christmas tree will be lit tonight during NBC’s “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Spotify has released its 2023 Wrapped lists, and this artist was the most-streamed on the platform this year.

Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app.

FOLLOW US

30 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, NY 10112

View in browser | Unsubscribe | Contact | Privacy