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An influential member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition told settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank that the government is engaged in a stealthy effort to irreversibly change the way the territory is governed, to cement Israel’s control over it without being accused of formally annexing it. In a taped recording of the speech, the official, Bezalel Smotrich, can be heard suggesting at a private event earlier this month that the goal was to prevent the West Bank from becoming part of a Palestinian state. “I’m telling you, it’s mega-dramatic,” Mr. Smotrich told the settlers. “Such changes change a system’s DNA.”While Mr. Smotrich’s opposition to ceding control over the West Bank is no secret, the Israeli government’s official position is that the West Bank’s status remains open to negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled that Israel’s rule over the territory amounts to a temporary military occupation overseen by army generals, not a permanent civilian annexation administered by Israeli civil servants.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Bezalel Smotrich, “, Mr, Smotrich Organizations: West Bank Locations: Palestinian

☆ Calls for accountability grow over October 7 failures, but Israel’s leadership is unlikely to act
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

On Monday, Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan 11, added to the growing mountain of evidence that the country’s leadership could have – or, at the very least, should have – known an attack was possible. In December, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman announced he would open an investigation into intelligence failures before the October 7 Hamas attack. Historically, Israel has had a public inquiry roughly every two years, he says, but not under its present and longest-serving leader. The most likely means of understanding the failures of October 7 was by dissecting it into smaller and more manageable issues, he said, like separating intelligence failures from those of operational doctrine. Major General Aharon Haliva, who was the commander of the IDF’s military intelligence, quietly announced in April that he would be stepping down.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, “, it’s, Netanyahu, Israel, Kan, Eyad Baba, ’, Matanyahu Englman, Englman, Raanan Sulitzeanu, Kenan, ” Sulitzeanu, ”, Sulitzeanu, Stringer, Yossi Fuchs, Yohanan Plesner, ” Plesner, I’m, Plesner, CNN’s Dana Bash, Aharon Haliva, Haliva, Avi Rosenfeld, Staff Gadi Eisenkot, Shin, ” Eisenkot Organizations: CNN, “, Israel Defense Forces, Israeli Special Forces, Getty, New York Times, Office, IDF, Israel’s, Hebrew University, International Court of Justice, Israel Democracy Institute, Brig, Staff, Southern Command, Military Intelligence Directorate, Defense, Israel’s Channel Locations: Israel, foreseeing, Gaza, AFP, Jerusalem, Lebanese, Jebbain, Gali Baharav, Gaza ., “

☆ Netanyahu’s Growing Rift With Israel’s Military Raises Questions About Gaza War’s Future
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Growing divisions between Israel’s military commanders and the civilian government over the war in Gaza spilled into the open this week, raising questions about how Israel will conduct the next phase of the war. “If we do not bring something else to Gaza, at the end of the day, we will get Hamas,” he said in an interview with Israel’s Channel 13. But in order to reach a situation in which we really weaken Hamas, that is the path.”Admiral Hagari also appeared to criticize Mr. Netanyahu’s oft-repeated call for “absolute victory” over the Palestinian armed group. “The idea that it is possible to destroy Hamas, to make Hamas vanish — that is throwing sand in the eyes of the public,” he said. That prompted a swift rejoinder from Mr. Netanyahu’s office, which said that the Israeli cabinet had set “the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities” as one of the war’s aims, and that the Israeli military was “of course committed to this.”

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ’, Daniel Hagari, ”, Hagari, Mr, Netanyahu’s Organizations: Israel’s, Palestinian Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ Israeli military official says Hamas cannot be destroyed, as rift with Netanyahu widens
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Christian Edwards | Tamar Michaelis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hagari’s comments prompted a terse response from Netanyahu’s office, which said Israel’s security cabinet “has defined the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities” as one of the aims of its war in Gaza. Palestinians inspect damage after an Israeli strike on the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, June 9, 2024. Shaul Golan/Pool/ReutersHagari’s comments sparked the latest in a growing series of public disagreements between Israel’s government and military. Last weekend, the IDF announced a daily “tactical pause” of military activity along a route in southern Gaza to allow aid to be distributed – a decision that rankled Netanyahu, an Israeli official told CNN. The IDF’s decision to implement tactical pauses also drew fierce criticism from the increasingly rancorous far-right wing of Netanyahu’s coalition.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Read, Daniel Hagari, Hagari’s, Hagari, Netanyahu, Eyad Baba, ” Hagari, David Mencer, ’, Mencer, Netanayhu, –, Shaul Golan, rankled Netanyahu, Itamar Ben, Gvir, ”, Yoav Gallant Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Israel’s, IDF, Getty, Kan, National, Israeli Locations: Gaza, United States, Israel, AFP, Hamas, Givatayim, Rafah

CNN —US envoy Amos Hochstein told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a meeting on Tuesday in Israel that his public comments this week that the US is “withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel” were “unproductive” and “more importantly, completely untrue,” a senior US official told CNN. A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Israel confirmed that Lew spoke with Netanyahu on Tuesday. The meeting reflected the administration’s mounting frustration with the Israeli leader’s comments. Hochstein’s comments to Netanyahu weren’t the first time US officials have pushed back in private against public comments made by Netanyahu, but some US officials would like the Biden administration to go further, an administration official said. “In the meantime, meetings with Israeli officials are being held throughout the week at expert and senior levels on a range of topics.

Persons: Amos Hochstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel ”, ”, Israel Jack Lew, Netanyahu, Lew, ” Axios, Hochstein, Biden, Joe Biden, Netanyahu weren’t, “, that’s, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken “, ” Blinken, Israel won’t Organizations: CNN, Israeli, US Embassy, Israel Strategic Consultative, White, “ Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iran

☆ Blinken confirms US is still pausing a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel as Netanyahu increases pressure on admin
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

That remains under review,” Blinken said at a news conference at the US State Department. The administration is committed, however, to making sure that “that Israel has what it needs to effectively defend itself,” Blinken said. The announcement of the hold on the weapons shipment was met with mixed reactions, including strong condemnation from Israeli officials and some US lawmakers of both parties. It is unclear what other weapons Netanyahu was referencing. On Tuesday, CNN reported that key Democratic lawmakers had lifted holds on an expected $18 billion sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, ”, ” Blinken, Joe Biden, Israel, Netanyahu –, Blinken, Netanyahu, “, Israel won’t, CNN’s Michael Conte, Eugenia Yosef, Vasco Cotovio Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Israel, Democratic Locations: Israel, Israeli, Rafah, Gazan

☆ Opinion | Why Israel Is in Existential Danger Today
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

On Nov. 4, 2022, just after the current far-right Israeli government coalition won election, I wrote a column with this headline: “The Israel We Knew Is Gone.” It was meant to be a warning flare about just how radical this coalition is. I believe events have proved them wrong — and the situation is now even worse: The Israel we knew is gone, and today’s Israel is in existential danger. Israel is up against a regional superpower, Iran, that has managed to put Israel into a vice grip, using its allies and proxies: Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Shiite militias in Iraq. Right now, Israel has no military or diplomatic answer. But Israel is led by a prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who has to stay in power to avoid potentially being sent to prison on corruption charges.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, — Organizations: West Bank, Palestinian Authority Locations: Israel, Iran, Iraq, Gaza, Lebanon, Oslo, Jordan

A truck carrying aid for delivery into Gaza drives through the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel, on June 17. Netanyahu then contacted his military secretary and said this was unacceptable, until he was assured the fighting in Rafah would continue. It raises the question of where the “tactical pause” order originated, but it’s expected to continue. Israeli security minister Ben Gvir — a leading right-wing member of the country’s cabinet — condemned the pause. Fighting and deadly strikes: Fierce fighting and airstrikes have rocked Rafah as the Israeli effort to destroy Hamas in Gaza continues.

Persons: Nathan Frandino, Salah, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Ben Gvir —, —, ”, Ahmed Radwan Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, CNN, Rafah Civil Defense Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Kerem, Kerem Shalom

☆ Israeli Daytime Pause in Combat Appears to Take Hold in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Shashank Bengali | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

The change did not mean a cessation of fighting in the southern Gaza Strip, that statement said, adding that the campaign in the southernmost city of Rafah was continuing. The whipsaw statements appeared to reflect the competing pressures facing Mr. Netanyahu, as he juggles demands from the Biden administration and elsewhere around the globe with those of his own hawkish government. But Mr. Netanyahu insinuated that he did not learn of the plans until Sunday morning. Image Children waiting for food in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Saturday. At least 10 Israeli soldiers were killed in combat this weekend and an 11th died of wounds sustained days earlier.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Biden, —, Khan Younis, Haitham Imad, Bibi, ”, Amos Harel, ” Mr, Harel, Shani Sasson, Ms, Sasson, “, Eid, Omar Al, Yoav Gallant, Gadi, Benny Gantz, Mr, Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Ben, Waseem Mahmoud, Amir Levy, Bezalel Smotrich, Gabby Sobelman Organizations: Military, ., “, Mr, Cogat, United Nations Security Council, Agence France, International Criminal, Israel’s, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Khan, Israel, Gaza City, The Hague, Egypt, Beit Jann

☆ Bipartisan congressional delegation will travel to Israel ahead of Netanyahu address to Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Katrina Samaan | Michelle Shen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer will lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to Israel this week, a notable show of support as a sizable number of Democrats say they are considering boycotting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress next month. The congressional delegation will also discuss the ongoing efforts to secure a temporary ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza by Hamas. While Congress passed a bill with aid to Ukraine and Israel in April, Democrats remain divided over Israel’s handling of its war against Hamas. CNN has spoken to dozens of Democratic lawmakers who have said they are considering boycotting Netanyahu’s speech, with several already publicly announcing their plans to not attend. “Because America’s relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends one person or prime minister, I joined the request for him to speak,” he said earlier this month.

Persons: Steny Hoyer, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, “, ” Hoyer, ”, Joe Biden, It’s, Netanyahu, Biden, Barack Obama, Ro Khanna, I’m, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Jim Clyburn, Chuck Schumer, CNN’s Haley Talbot Organizations: CNN — Democratic, Nine, Hamas, White, CNN, Democratic, ”, New York Democrat Locations: Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Washington, California

☆ Benjamin Netanyahu disbands Israeli war cabinet
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Eugenia Yosef | Elliott Gotkine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has disbanded the country’s war cabinet, an Israeli official has told CNN, just over a week after opposition leader Benny Gantz withdrew from the body. Announcing his “complex and painful decision” to leave the war cabinet on June 9, Gantz said, “Netanyahu prevents us from moving forward to a real victory [in Gaza].” Eisenkot also quit the war cabinet. By dismantling the cabinet, Netanyahu avoids having to accede to that demand – or reject it. Another interpretation is that without Gantz – and Eisenkot – in it, there was no longer any point in keeping the war cabinet going. Instead, an Israeli official tells CNN, Netanyahu will in future hold smaller forums to discuss sensitive matters relating to the war with Hamas.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Netanyahu “, Netanyahu, Gantz, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben, Yoav Gallant, Ron Dermer, Gadi, ” Ben, “ Netanyahu, ” Eisenkot, hesitancy, “, ” Gantz, Ben, Gvir, Gantz – Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Finance, National Security, Defense Locations: Gaza

☆ Middle East Crisis Israeli Military Says Hezbollah’s Strikes Risk ‘Wider Escalation’
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Mike Ives | Randy Pennell | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

The change did not mean a cessation of fighting in the southern Gaza Strip, that statement said, adding that the campaign in the southernmost city of Rafah was continuing. The whipsaw statements appeared to reflect the competing pressures facing Mr. Netanyahu, as he juggles demands from the Biden administration and elsewhere around the globe with those of his own hawkish government. But Mr. Netanyahu insinuated that he did not learn of the plans until Sunday morning. Image Children waiting for food in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Saturday. Credit... Haitham Imad/EPA, via Shutterstock“It’s classic Bibi,” said Amos Harel, the military affairs analyst for the left-leaning Haaretz newspaper, referring to Mr. Netanyahu by his nickname.

☆ Gaza war: Flies, mosquitoes, raw sewage and mountains of garbage threaten to worsen health crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Tim Lister | Ibrahim Dahman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Raw sewage, swarms of flies and mosquitoes, garbage piled high in the streets. As the heat of summer gathers, hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are contending with a crisis in sanitation. Ismail Zayda, who lives in Gaza City in the north, told CNN that water supplies had been cut off for nine months. Roads ‘full of sewage’Zayda, the Gaza City resident, told how an out-of-service swimming pool in his had become a magnet for insects. The treatment of sewage amid damage to infrastructure and a lack of fuel has become an enduring problem in Gaza.

Persons: Ismail Zayda, ”, Gaza –, –, Abed Rahim Khatib, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Issa, Reuters OCHA, ” OCHA, ” Zayda, Carl Skau, Assem, Khan Younis, Deir Al Balah Organizations: CNN, Anadolu, United Nations Security Council, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Reuters, AFP, Getty, UN, International Committee Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, Deir al, Deir al Balah, Rafah, ”, Gaza City Municipality, Khan

☆ Israel to ‘strengthen’ Jewish settlements in West Bank after countries recognize Palestinian state
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Israel’s government says it is looking to “strengthen” Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank after several countries unilaterally recognized a Palestinian state. The statement also said Israel would look at what actions to take against the Palestinian Authority as it took actions against Israel in international bodies. Earlier this month, the Palestinian Authority applied to join South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said in May that Israel should approve 10,000 settlements in the West Bank, establish a new settlement for every country that recognizes a state of Palestine, and cancel travel permits for Palestinian Authority officials. It is unclear if any of these radical ideas are part of the proposals currently under consideration in Israel.

Persons: CNN —, Israel biblically, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Israel’s, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Minister’s, Ministry, Palestinian Authority, Israel, International Court of Justice Locations: Palestinian, Israel, Judea, Samaria, Norway, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, Palestine

☆ Election Updates: Trump heads to Michigan, fresh from a birthday in Florida.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Jazmine Ulloa | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

He looked genuinely upset earlier this week when his supporters sang an early “Happy Birthday” to him at a rally in Las Vegas. The Biden campaign hit back with an email on Mr. Trump’s birthday, reminding voters that he had fallen asleep at his own trial, a case that resulted in felony convictions. Images of Mr. Trump playing golf and sitting behind the resolute desk were painted into the icing. “I’ll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down,” Mr. Trump said then. At the rally in Las Vegas, Mr. Trump had, in a rare moment of introspection, riffed about his old age.

Persons: “ Donald, ” Ivana Trump, ”, “, ’, Biden, Corrado Soprano, Mr, Trump, ” James Singer, Robert, Marie Brenner, Liza Minnelli, Billy Crystal, Ronald Reagan, Robin Leach, Rich, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Andrew Dice Clay, George H.W, Bush imitator, Trump’s, Eartha Kitt, Marla Maples, Qassim Suleimani, “ Nobody’s, ” Mr, you’ve, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel —, “ I’ll, Bibi Netanyahu, Elizabeth Trump, Elizabeth, She’s, Marco Rubio, “ I’m, Rubio, ” Kellyanne Conway, House Republicans serenaded Organizations: Trump, Biden toddling, Biden, Mr, Republican, Capitol, House Republicans Locations: Las Vegas, Europe, Newark, “, Palm Beach, Fla, Atlantic City, N.J, Trump’s, Trump, New York, Beach, Gen

☆ Election Updates: Trump turns 78 today, and Democrats are trolling him in Milwaukee.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Shawn Mccreesh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Nobody’s heard this story before,” Mr. Trump had said to the group. “I’ll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down,” Mr. Trump told the group. Mr. Trump has indicated mixed feelings about his own birthday. The birthday celebration that Club 47 USA has planned on Friday will take place at a convention center down the road from Mar-a-Lago. Mr. Trump is expected to speak at 7 p.m.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, serenaded, Qassim Suleimani, “ Nobody’s, ” Mr, you’ve, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, “ I’ll, Bibi Netanyahu, ’ Organizations: Capitol, Mr, Hamas Locations: Palm Beach, Fla, Florida, United States, Gen, Las Vegas, Mar

☆ Opinion | The View From the Israeli Right
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( The Ezra Klein Show | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Tuesday I got back from an eight-day trip to Israel and the West Bank. There is a coalition that Netanyahu leads stretching from right to far right and a coalition that Gantz leads stretching from center to right. So one thing I did in Israel was deepen my reporting on Israel’s right. Many consider him the most influential political analyst on the right and deeply rooted in the right. He has a book coming out in English called “The Story of Israeli Politics.”

Persons: “, Ezra Klein, Benny Gantz, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, Gantz, Amit Segal’s, ” Organizations: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, West Bank Locations: Israel

Beirut, Lebanon CNN —The fate of the 120 remaining hostages in Gaza is crucial to any deal to end the protracted and bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas. But a senior Hamas official has told CNN that “no one has an idea” how many of them are alive, and that any deal to release them must include guarantees of a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. People walk among debris, aftermath of Israeli strikes at the area, where Israeli hostages were rescued on Saturday, in Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, on Sunday, June 9. Hamas' Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar attends a meeting with members of Palestinian groups in Gaza City on April 13, 2022. Israel believes that more than 70 hostages of the more than 100 who are still held in Gaza to be alive.

Persons: Osama Hamdan, Yahya Sinwar, Antony Blinken, Sinwar, Hamdan, Joe Biden, Blinken, ” Blinken, Abed Khaled, ”, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu “, Jack Guez, ” Sinwar, Ali Jadallah, Netanyahu, “, … Organizations: Lebanon CNN, Hamas, CNN, NBC, ”, Wednesday, United Nations Security, Reuters, White, Israel Defense Forces, European Union, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Israel, Wall, IDF Locations: Beirut, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel, Lebanese, Doha, Israeli, Jerusalem, AFP, United Kingdom, Hamas, Gaza City, American

☆ Middle East Crisis U.S. Says It Is Trying to Bridge Gaps on Gaza Truce
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | Erica L. Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

But after more than eight months of war in Gaza, Israel and Hamas still appear to be far apart on an agreement. On Tuesday, Hamas issued a formal response to the cease-fire proposal to Qatari and Egyptian mediators, which officials in the Palestinian armed group said included some amendments. In the second phase, both sides would declare a permanent cease-fire, Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza, and more hostage-for-prisoner exchanges would take place. Mr. Biden described the proposal as an Israeli initiative, and Israeli officials confirmed it was approved by the country’s top leadership. Asked about the ambiguous Israeli public stance, Mr. Sullivan said he could confirm that Israel stood behind the proposal.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Biden, Mr, Sullivan, Israel, Hamas’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Farnaz Fassihi Organizations: U.S, Hamas, United Nations Security, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, Revolutionary Guard Locations: Egypt, Qatar, Israel, Gaza, Italy, Hamas, United States

☆ Why a Gaza Cease-Fire Is So Elusive
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Isabel Kershner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel called Hamas’s response to the latest peace proposal for Gaza “negative.” Hamas insisted it was dealing with it “positively.”Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, speaking in Qatar, said Hamas had demanded changes, some of which were “workable” and some not. A Hamas official told an Arabic television channel that the group had not raised any new ideas, and that Mr. Blinken saw things through an Israeli lens and “speaks Hebrew.”The Biden administration has pledged to keep working with the Qatari and Egyptian mediators to bridge the gaps. But after days of intensive diplomacy in the region, a monthslong effort to end the war in Gaza seems as stuck as ever, as each side clings stubbornly to maximalist demands unacceptable to the other. Asked at the Group of 7 summit meeting in Italy if he still thought a deal could be reached, President Biden said, “I haven’t lost hope, but it’s going to be tough.”

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Antony J, Blinken, ”, Biden, “ Organizations: Qatari, Group Locations: Gaza, Qatar, Italy

“Hamas could have answered with a single word – yes,” he said. “It’s time for the haggling to stop and a ceasefire to start. Hamas submitted its reply to the multi-phased ceasefire and hostage release proposal to mediators on Tuesday. According to a senior State Department official, Blinken, who was in Amman at the time, dispatched two of the senior staff traveling with him to retrieve Hamas’ response from Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, who was also in the Jordanian capital. Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, described their response as “responsible, serious and positive.”CNN’s Becky Anderson, Hamdi Alkhshali and Benjamin Brown contributed to this report.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, ”, “ Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Jake Sullivan, ’, Israel, Blinken, Abbas Kamel, ” CNN’s Becky Anderson, Hamdi Alkhshali, Benjamin Brown Organizations: CNN, US National, UN, State Department, Egyptian Locations: Gaza, Doha, Israel, ”, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Amman, Jordanian, Izzat

☆ Opinion: Literary protest against the war in Gaza has gone off the rails
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Opinion Ilene Prusher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Ilene Prusher Jordana MillerBut something about this year’s Jerusalem International Writers Festival, which was held late last month, was off. The festival’s artistic director, Julia Fermentto-Tzaisler, thought about whether the beloved book festival should happen this year at all. A shadow over the literary worldExamples abound of how fallout from the ongoing war is casting a shadow over the literary world. To be sure, these are not the only cancelations the literary world has experienced related to the war; nor are Jewish writers the only ones who have faced controversy. From the start of this war, it seems I’m much more therapist than writer,” she read in a lilting Hebrew.

Persons: Prusher Jordana Miller, Julia Fermentto, —, ”, Baillie Gifford, Suzanne Nossel, “, Nicholas Kristof, Miriam Libicki, they’re, Sir Simon Schama —, Benjamin Netanyahu, ’, John Irving, Covid, Tzaisler, Harry Potter, Noya Dan, Eshkol Nevo, I’m Organizations: Florida Atlantic University, CNN, Jerusalem CNN, Writers, PEN America, PEN, AP, New York Times, Jerusalem Writers, soccer, European Championship, Columbia University, Hay Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, Israel, Hay, Wye, Wales, Vancouver, Scotland, Europe, British, Iraq, Iraqi

CNN —A United Nations inquiry into the first few months of the war in Gaza has found both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes and grave violations of international law, in the body’s first in-depth investigation into the October 7 attacks and the ensuing conflict. Rockets are launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip towards Israel on October 7, 2023. Hatem Moussa/APIn the first 2.5 months of the conflict, the commission found, Israel committed war crimes as well as crimes against humanity – the latter defined as a widespread, systemic attack directed at a civilian population. The International Criminal Court announced last month it was seeking arrest warrants for several top Hamas and Israeli leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. “It is imperative that all those who have committed crimes be held accountable,” said commission chair Navi Pillay.

Persons: Hatem Moussa, Israel, –, Israel’s, maiming, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Netanyahu, West Bank –, …, Said Khatib, Mahmud Hams, Nir, Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Benny Gantz, Yoav Gallant, Gilad Erdan, Erdan, Anwar Organizations: CNN, United, The United Nations Commission, Rockets, AP, Criminal, Palestinian, West Bank, Getty, Al, Israel Defense Forces, UN, Gaza, National, Finance, UN Human Rights, Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Human Rights, Israel, UN Security Council, Assembly, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Anwar Amro, UNRWA, Navi Pillay Locations: United Nations, Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Rafah, AFP, Aqsa, Israel’s, Palestinian, United States, Lebanese, Beirut, East Jerusalem

☆ Hamas leader says ‘we have the Israelis right where we want them’ in leaked messages, WSJ reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Mostafa Salem | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“We have the Israelis right where we want them,” Sinwar told Hamas’ political leadership in Qatar recently, according to one of the messages, the WSJ reported Monday. The date of the message isn’t clear but suggests that Sinwar is pressing for the war to continue. “Israel’s journey in Rafah won’t be a walk in the park,” Sinwar allegedly said in a message to the Hamas political leadership. CNN has not seen the leaked messages viewed by the WSJ and is not able to confirm the authenticity of the communications. The landmark vote means the UNSC now joins other major global bodies in backing the plan, increasing international pressure on both Hamas and Israel to end the conflict.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, ” Sinwar, Sinwar, ”, Israel, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, “, Prophet Muhammad, –, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, Palestinian, Wall Street, Sinwar, WSJ, United Nations Security, Monday’s, Russia, UNSC, US Locations: Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Algeria, Rafah, Karbala, Iraq

Even last month, less than an hour after Biden unveiled his proposal, Netanyahu insisted Israel would not end the war until Hamas is defeated. But detailed negotiations to implement its provisions are yet to yield agreement from both Israel and Hamas. The ambassador also said the deal “rejects any geographical changes” in Gaza and reiterates the commitment for a two-state solution. Blinken arrived in Israel on Monday, following the resignation of Benny Gantz from the Israeli war cabinet on Sunday. More than 37,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

Persons: Reut Shapir Ben, Naftaly, ”, –, Joe Biden, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, “, Riyad Mansour, West Bank –, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Yoav Gallant, Benny Gantz Organizations: CNN, Israel, Hamas, United Nations Security, UN, UNSC, Monday’s, Russia, United, Palestinian UN, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Department, Israeli, Ministry of Health Locations: Gaza, Israel, Hamas, Palestinian, United States, Egypt, Qatar, Greenfield, Jerusalem

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