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☆ CIA director presented new proposal for Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli officials, along with Burns, were in Cairo over the weekend for the negotiations. So far, Israel has rejected the Hamas demands an unrestricted return of Gazans to the north and the redeployment of IDF troops away from central Gaza. Israel has insisted on inspections of Palestinians moving north, a diplomat familiar with the talks told CNN. Mediators have been trying for months to seal an agreement between Hamas and Israel for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Ansari said mediators are waiting for replies from Hamas and Israel over proposals from different parties, including the United States.

Persons: Bill Burns, Burns, Cairo “, Benjamin Netanyahu, he’d, ” Netanyahu, “, Majed Al, Ansari, hasn’t, ” Ansari Organizations: CNN, CIA, Israel, Egypt’s Intelligence Service, US, “, Hamas, BBC Locations: Israel, Gaza, Cairo, Egypt, Rafah, United States

☆ US awaits Netanyahu’s response after Biden’s ultimatum
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Despite repeatedly expressing its frustration with Israeli tactics, the White House has been unwilling or unable to impose any leverage on the prime minister. There was no immediate response from the prime minister, who held a cabinet meeting after the call that he used to warn that Israel will defend itself against Iran. The Israeli prime minister is a consummate Washington player and has been engaging with Biden’s Republican foes on Capitol Hill, in an alliance that could increase political complications for the president if he creates deeper fractures with the Israeli prime minister. If Biden eventually assesses his warnings are falling on deaf ears, his credibility will depend on him publicly imposing a cost on the Israeli prime minister. But Biden’s political imperatives and the increasing humanitarian price of the war in Gaza mean he’s approaching a fateful crossroads.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Biden, –, Antony Blinken, Delaware Sen, Chris Coons, Blinken, Israel, John Kirby, Israel –, fulsomely, Biden didn’t, Leon Panetta, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ”, Independent Sen, Bernie Sanders, Tapper, “, ” Sanders, ” Netanyahu’s, ” Netanyahu, ” Kirby, Mike Johnson Organizations: CNN, Arab, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Democrat, White, Democratic, White House, National Security Communications, Independent, Hamas, Islamic, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, United, Washington, Republican, GOP Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Delaware, Palestinian American, Brussels, Washington, Vermont, Iran, Islamic Republic, Damascus, Rafah

☆ Netanyahu Called Aid Worker Deaths Tragic and Unintentional
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Seven aid workers who had just delivered more than 100 tons of food to central Gaza were killed last night by Israeli strikes. The workers were driving in a clearly marked aid convoy, and they had coordinated their movements with Israeli officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized and said Israel “deeply regrets the tragic incident.”Videos and photos verified by The New York Times suggest the convoy was hit multiple times. The imagery shows three destroyed white vehicles, with the northernmost and southernmost vehicles nearly a mile and a half apart. “There was a tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people in the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel “, ” Netanyahu, “, — Organizations: The New York Times, ” Aid Locations: Gaza, Australian, U.S

Still, officials from both countries described the meeting as “constructive” in a joint statement and said another, in-person meeting could take place as early as next week. The Israeli delegation included national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and minister of strategic affairs Ron Dermer, who chaired the meeting. Pentagon officials shared some of their alternatives for Rafah with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant when he was in town last week. Netanyahu has said he is undeterred by the Biden administration’s opposition to an invasion of Rafah. Vice President Kamala Harris left the door open last week for unspecified consequences for Israel if it decides to proceed.

Persons: Biden, Monday’s, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Jon, Brett McGurk, Jack Lew, Tzachi Hanegbi, Ron Dermer, “ It’s, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Austin, Israel “, ”, Karine Jean, Pierre, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, “, ” Still, Kamala Harris, Kevin Liptak, Donald Judd Organizations: Washington CNN —, CNN, White, White House, State Department and Department of Defense, Biden, Pentagon, Israeli, United Nations Security, Netanyahu’s Locations: United States, Israel, Rafah, Gazan, Gaza, “, ”, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, New York

☆ Israel has ‘no choice’ but Rafah offensive, Netanyahu tells US members of Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Benjamin Brown | Eugenia Yosef | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Israel has faced criticism internationally ahead of its planned offensive on the southern Gaza city, in which more than one million people are currently sheltering. Netanyahu had earlier told the delegation that displaced Palestinians in Gaza could “just move” out of Rafah and “move with their tents.”“There’s all of the Gaza Strip north of Rafah,” Netanyahu said. “People move down, they can move up,” the prime minister added. Disagreements over the impending invasion of Rafah and the worsening humanitarian disaster in Gaza have driven relations between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden to a low. The White House said Wednesday that Netanyahu had agreed to reschedule the planned visit by the Israeli delegation to Washington to discuss the possible Rafah operation.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, “ We’ve, We’ll, ” Netanyahu, Israel “, Said Khatib, Israel, Biden, Joe Biden, Yoav Gallant, Defense Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Gallant Organizations: Israel CNN, Israeli, ’, Wednesday, ”, Minister’s, Israel, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Getty, UN Security, Security, CNN, Defense, National Locations: Haifa, Israel, Gaza, It’s, Jerusalem, Rafah, AFP, Washington

☆ Netanyahu’s decision to cancel Rafah meetings causes new rupture with Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Kevin Liptak | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Those alternatives will still be shared, American officials said, including in talks early this week between top Biden advisers and Israel’s defense minister. Hours after the delegation was canceled, Israeli minister Gideon Sa’ar submitted his resignation from the current government after not being included in the war cabinet. That led American officials to view Netanyahu’s statements Monday that the US had changed its position as peculiar and strange, the official said. Indeed, Biden’s advisers have been weighing various options for how to respond should the Rafah operation proceed. “We have no way to defeat Hamas without entering Rafah,” Netanyahu said after meetings at the end of last week with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Biden, Gideon Sa’ar, Donald Trump, “, hadn’t, Biden’s, Israel, –, Ramadan, “ I’ve, I’ve, Kamala Harris, Harris, ”, ” Biden, “ We’ll, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken Organizations: Washington CNN, Israeli, United Nations Security, United Nations Security Council, UN, White, ABC, Democratic, Netanyahu Biden Locations: Washington, Gaza, Rafah, Israel, United States, American, Egypt

☆ Famine in northern Gaza is imminent as more than 1 million people face ‘catastrophic’ levels of hunger, new report warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Mousa Salem/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Palestinians transport bags of flour on the back of trucks as humanitarian aid arrives in Gaza City on March 6. Omar Qattaa/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Palestinians wait to receive food at a refugee camp in Rafah on January 27. Omar Qattaa/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Humanitarian aid packages are dropped from the air by Jordanian army planes in Gaza City on March 1. Abed Zagout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images A funeral prayer is performed for Yazan al-Kafarneh, the 10-year-old Palestinian child who died of malnutrition, on March 4. Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Children suffering from malnutrition receive treatment at a health-care center in Rafah on March 5.

Persons: Israel, Antonio Guterres, ”, Cindy McCain, it’s, Josep Borrell, Israel “, Trucks, ” Borrell, Loay, Fadi, Kamal Adwan, Omar Qattaa, Saher, Ahmed Qannan, Mohammed Salem, Said Khatib, Dawoud Abo, Jehad, crouches, Abed Zagout, Yazan, Rabie Abu Noqaira, Mohammed Abed, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Yasser Qudih, Fatima Shbair, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, Stringer, Khan Younis, “, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Sullivan Organizations: CNN, Integrated, IPC, United Nations, Ministry of Health, Food, UN, Washington Post, Kamal, Anadolu Agency, Getty, AFP, Reuters, US Air Force, UPI, Dawoud Abo Alkas, Aid, ”, Gaza, National Locations: Gaza, UN, ”, Israel, Rafah, Mousa Salem, Gaza City, AFP, Jordanian, Territories, Deir, Egypt, United States

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, alarm over Rafah offensive mounts
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is refusing to bow to calls by the top US senator for a new election and is pushing back against White House warnings about a potential new offensive in Gaza, widening a rift with top Democrats in Washington. But the gulf in trust and goals between Israel and Hamas has thwarted hopes for a breakthrough for weeks. “It’s inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there. That’s something that Israel, the Israeli public does on its own, and we’re not a banana republic,” Netanyahu said. Despite the Israeli prime minister’s stand, there is increasing criticism of his approach in the US and overseas, at a time when his position among some Israeli voters is fragile, five months after terror attacks that besmirched his brand as the country’s ultimate security guarantor.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, CNN’s Dana Bash, Chuck Schumer –, –, Netanyahu, “, we’re, ” Netanyahu Organizations: Hamas Locations: Gaza, Washington, Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem

☆ Netanyahu says he’s trying everything to get more aid to Gaza. Aid groups say that’s not true
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In his interview with CNN, Netanyahu made several claims about his country’s aid policy in Gaza. The Israeli leader’s claim contradicts statements he made previously, in which he boasted about permitting “minimal humanitarian aid” to enter Gaza. “We provide minimal humanitarian aid,” Netanyahu said at a press conference in January. The first 15 days of March saw an average of 165 aid trucks per day cross into Gaza, UNRWA reported Sunday. The UN and other aid groups have reported some of their aid trucks had been looted, but haven’t ascribed any blame for it.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, CNN’s Dana Bash, Netanyahu, Israel, ” Netanyahu, ”, Yoav Gallant, “, “ I’ve, Janti Soeripto, – we’ve, Martin Griffiths, Long, haven’t, Sameh Shoukry, Netanyahu lauds, Philippe Lazzarini, Israel hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Israeli, United Nations, European Union, Children, ” Trucks, UN, Food Programme, Palestine, UNRWA, Amnesty International, Aid, Palestinian, CNN Sunday, Israeli Defense Force Locations: Gaza, United States, Territories, Rafah, Israel, Egypt, Arish, airdrops

☆ Netanyahu tells CNN Schumer’s call for Israel election was ‘totally inappropriate’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Radina Gigova | Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But in his interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union,” Netanyahu hit back. It’s inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there,” Netanyahu told CNN. Instead, efforts should be focused on “bringing down the Hamas tyranny,” Netanyahu said. The comments come after Netanyahu confirmed his plans to press on with an operation, despite mounting international concern. This will take several weeks, and it will happen,” Netanyahu said at the beginning of a government meeting.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Chuck Schumer, Schumer —, Israel —, Netanyahu, CNN’s Dana, ” Netanyahu, “, ”, Joe Biden, David Barnea, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond, Abeer Salman Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Union, Hamas, Democratic, Israel, CNN Israel, Reuters Locations: Israel, “ State, Gaza, Doha, Rafah

☆ Netanyahu’s response to Schumer widens rift in US-Israeli relations
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But the gulf in trust and goals between Israel and Hamas has thwarted hopes for a breakthrough for weeks. He’s opposing the people of Israel,” Netanyahu said. Despite a fearsome onslaught in Gaza, Hamas is far from defeated. Latest developments also raise the question of whether Schumer’s stinging criticism augurs a shift to more pressure on Netanyahu from Biden. We support Israel.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, CNN’s Dana Bash, Chuck Schumer –, –, Netanyahu, “, we’re, ” Netanyahu, ”, It’s, Sen, Schumer, he’s, castigate Schumer, snubbing, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Schumer’s, John Kirby, Netanyahu don’t, Kirby, they’ve, Ghazi Hamad, Al, Israel, …, Barack Obama, Donald Trump –, it’s, Republican Sen, Mike Rounds, Michael McCaul, acquiescing, Nancy Pelosi –, Israel –, “ Chuck Schumer’s, ” Pelosi Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Hamas, Union, Democratic, White, National Security Communications, ABC, Republican Party, GOP, Netanyahu’s Likud, Republican, Office, White House, Foreign, Fox, Texas Republican, Democratic Party ”, Israel, Former, California Democrat, World Health, Palestinian Authority Locations: Gaza, Washington, Israel, “ State, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Hamas, York, Rafah, ”, Arabiya, United States, Iran, Dakota, Texas, California

☆ Rift between Biden and Netanyahu widens as Israeli leader vows to press on with Rafah operation
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“It is a red line, but I am never going to leave Israel,” Biden said. We’re not going to leave (Gaza),” Netanyahu said Sunday in an interview with German outlet Axel Springer. “You know, I have a red line. “It (Israel) cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead,” Biden told MSNBC Saturday. Asked about the moment, Biden told MSNBC the comment meant he intends to have a serious meeting soon with Netanyahu.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, Israel ”, Israel, “, ” Netanyahu, ” Biden, “ We’ll, We’re, Axel Springer, Kamala Harris, ”, Bibi –, Antony Blinken, Michael Bennett, Bibi Organizations: CNN, Israeli, MSNBC, Politico, Israel, Sunday, US, Gaza Ministry, Health, Michigan Democratic Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah

☆ US not anticipating Israeli forces to enter Rafah at the start of Ramadan
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Mj Lee | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration is not anticipating that Israeli forces will imminently expand their military operations into Rafah, two US officials told CNN, with the holy month of Ramadan set to begin Monday for most Muslims. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that regardless of a deal, he plans to send the military into Rafah. “Once we begin the intense action of eradicating the Hamas terrorist battalions in Rafah, it’s a matter of weeks, if not months. Families are already living with severe shortages of food, water, medicine and shelter, and the daily risk of being killed. CIA Director Bill Burns, who has led US efforts, was back in the Middle East last week meeting with Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli counterparts.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Benny Gantz, Ramadan, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ We’ll, We’re, ” Netanyahu, Axel Springer, “, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Netanyahu, ”, Bill Burns, –, John Kirby, CNN’s Mitchell McCluskey, Michelle Shen Organizations: CNN, Hamas, MSNBC, Politico, United Nations, CIA, Biden White, National Security, House Locations: Rafah, Washington, Gaza, “, it’s, Israel

☆ Anesthetics, crutches, dates. Inside Israel’s ghost list of items arbitrarily denied entry into Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

In a January 13 press conference, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted about permitting “minimal humanitarian aid” to enter Gaza. “We provide minimal humanitarian aid,” Netanyahu said. Other trucks carrying dates have been allowed into Gaza, according to UN data. Over 1,000 children have undergone leg amputations in Gaza, according to UNICEF, some without anesthesia. “An Israeli tank missile hit her when she was on the sixth floor of our building,” Bseiso told CNN.

Persons: Jordan, Joe Biden, Tamim al, Chris Murphy, Abed Zagout, ”, “, ” COGAT, COGAT, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, Israel, Clodagh Kilcoyne, “ I’ve, Janti Soeripto, we’ve, ” Soeripto, Chris Van Hollen, Jeff Merkley, ” Van Hollen, they’d, Van Hollen, ” Tania Hary, GISHA, Ahed Bseiso, Hani Bseiso, ” Bseiso, ” Ahed, Bseiso, Ghassan Abu, Sittah, ” Abu, Dr Ghassan Abu, Alex Platt, Um Adel, Khan Younis, Jamie McGoldrick, Marwan al, Mary Rogers Organizations: Jordan —, CNN, United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, Getty, Children, UN, “, Bseiso Medicines, World Health Organization, Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, Thani, ”, Anadolu, Arish, Rafah, Gazan, there’s, Territories, COGAT, ” Israel, Israel, Egypt, Nitzana, Palestinian, London, Abu, British, Khan, Jordanian, Jordan, Al

☆ Israeli military presents plan for evacuating Gaza’s population from ‘fighting areas’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Rob Picheta | Nic Robertson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Tel Aviv, Israel CNN —The Israeli military has submitted a plan to the war cabinet for “evacuating the population” of Gaza from areas of fighting, amid warnings that an offensive on the southern city of Rafah will take place soon. That “upcoming operational plan” was submitted for approval on Monday, Netanyahu’s office said, though its Monday statement did not mention Rafah by name. CNN has not seen a copy of the plan. Israel has already targeted Rafah with near-daily airstrikes, while preparing for a ground offensive in the city. Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty ImagesThe US has warned it would not support a campaign on the city without a “credible” plan to evacuate Palestinians.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Ahmad Hasaballah, ” Netanyahu, Israel “, it’ll, Jake Sullivan, I’m, ” Sullivan, CNN’s Dana Bash Organizations: Israel CNN, Israel Defense Forces, CNN, White, National, CNN Sunday Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Egypt, ”, Qatar, United States, Paris

☆ Hamas has softened some demands as Gaza hostage and ceasefire negotiations progress, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“Hamas’ requirements for the numbers of Palestinians [prisoners that] would have to be freed has declined,” the official added. A diplomatic source familiar with the discussions confirmed that Hamas softened its position ahead of an agreement on the first phase of a deal. “They have to come down to reality,” Netanyahu said of Hamas on Fox News. “And I think if that’s the case, we’ll be able to have a deal we certainly wanted, and I wanted. With or without a hostage deal, “We will do it anyway” Netanyahu told CBS News, because “total victory is our goal.”“We can’t leave the last Hamas stronghold without taking care of it,” Netanyahu said.

Persons: ”, Matt Miller, “, ” Miller, Miller, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, ” Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, we’ll, Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Biden, State, Doha, Israeli, Fox News, CBS Locations: Gaza, Paris, Rafah, Doha, Qatar, Egypt

CNN —Talks on a hostage and ceasefire deal for Gaza appear to be at an impasse. During the process, Israeli troops would gradually withdraw from Gaza, hostages would be released and Palestinian prisoners in Israel – including those serving life sentences – would be freed. The Israeli leader has repeatedly said that the war in Gaza will continue until Israel destroys Hamas’ leadership and rescues the hostages. Even as talks continue in Cairo, the Israeli military has been conducting operations in Gaza designed to hunt down top Hamas figures. The Israeli prime minister on Wednesday said that Hamas must change its negotiating position before talks can continue in Cairo.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Israel –, Said Khatib, ”, ’, –, Netanyahu, “, Matthew Miller, Ronen Zvulun, Shin Bet, Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu –, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, “ We’re, we’re, Joe Biden, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, Hamas, CIA, Israeli, Getty, “, US State Department, ’, IDF, State Department, The Washington Post Locations: Gaza, Cairo, Israel, Rafah, Paris, AFP, Qatar, “ Qatar, Doha, Aqsa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, “, Egypt, Albania, The Washington, Palestinian, United States

☆ Israeli strikes deepen panic in Rafah as UN aid chief warns a ground offensive could result in ‘slaughter’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

It remains unclear how or when a ground offensive would unfold, and that uncertainty is adding to anxiety among Palestinians in Rafah about where to go and what to do. Israeli military action in Rafah “has already led to and will result in further large scale killing, harm and destruction,” the government said in its request to the World Court. “We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah… We cannot stand by and let this continue,” he said. Palestinians inspect damaged buildings after Israeli airstrikes on Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on February 12, 2024. They told us this area was safe… they told us Rafah was safe.

Persons: Leo Varadkar, Peter Lerner, ”, “ We’re, … We’re, We’ve, Mo’men, Martin Griffiths, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Lerner, Gaza ”, UN’s Griffiths, Ashraf Amra, Antonio Tajani, King Abdullah II, Israel “, Varadkar, Karim Khan, Daniel Hagari, Abed Rahim Khatib, Khan Younis, We’re, Jarwan, ” Nahla, Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, United Nations, International Court, Reuters, ” United, Israel Defense Forces, Residents, Getty, Criminal, European Union, Foreign Ministry, Criminal Court, ICC, Palestine Red Crescent Society, Israeli Air Force, World Health Organization Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Gazan, ” Israel, Palestinian, ” United Nations, Hamas’s, South Africa, Rafah “, Deir, Balah, Deir al, Anadolu, European, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, China, Italian, ”, Palestine, Al

☆ Joe Biden growing more frustrated with Netanyahu as Gaza campaign rages on
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Kevin Liptak | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But he has become increasingly critical of Israel’s tactics, saying last week he believes the campaign in Gaza is “over the top,” one of his sharpest condemnations to date of the military effort against Hamas. Some officials now wonder how much longer Biden will withhold public criticism of Netanyahu as the war rages on. The president’s comments last week on Israel’s tactics reflected sentiments he has been voicing behind the scenes for a while, one person familiar with the matter said. The majority of a 45-minute phone call between Biden and Netanyahu on Sunday was about the hostages deal, according to an official. Netanyahu, meanwhile, offered Biden praise over the weekend as the president was combatting questions about his age and mental acuity.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, “ Bibi, ” Biden, Robert Hur’s, he’s, “, ” Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, Sunday, United, ABC News Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah, United States

☆ Rafah airstrikes: Israeli attacks kill more than 100 in Rafah as international alarm mounts over anticipated ground offensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Smoke billows during Israeli bombardment over Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on February 12, 2024. In a statement Monday, Hamas condemned what it said was a “horrific massacre” by Israel against civilians in Rafah. ‘The dead are better than us’For the more than one million Palestinians in the southern city, the expected push into Rafah is causing alarm and fear. Rafah is the last major population center in Gaza not occupied by the Israeli military. Olfat Hamdan said she had witnessed dead bodies on the streets of Gaza City, noting that “nobody was able to drag them or move them.”“What have I seen?

Persons: Abu Yousef Al, Rafah’s, Fernando Simon Marman, Louis Har, Nir Yitzhak, Smoke, Said Khatib, Danial Hagari, …, Jens Laerke, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Stéphane Dujarric, Israel’s, Netanyahu, Joe Biden “, Israel, ” Netanyahu, We’re, ”, ‘, ” Mohammad Jamal Abu, Khan Younis, El, ” Mahmoud Khalil Amer, Al, Tal, ” Abdul Kareem Al, Qaseer, Olfat Hamdan Organizations: CNN, Palestine Red Crescent Society, Najjar Hospital, Israel Defense Forces, Israel Security Agency Shin Bet, Police, Getty, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Human Rights, United Nations, UN, United Kingdom, Sunday, UN’s Security, Maxar Technologies, ABC News, IDF, “, Hamas, of Health Locations: Palestine, Gazan, Rafah, Shaboura, Gaza, AFP, Sheba Tel Hashomer, Israel, Israeli, Hamas’s, ”, Aqsa, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United, Saudi, Gaza City, Al Shati, “, People, Tal El Hawa, Khan

CNN —US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to talk on Sunday, according to a spokesman for the National Security Council. The call will focus on the hostages still held in Gaza, a source familiar with the expected conversation said. Biden and Netanyahu last spoke over the phone on January 19. Last week, Blinken also told Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials that the civilian toll in Gaza “remains too high” as violence continues in the region. And day after day, more people are killed,” Blinken said at a news conference last week after meeting with top Israeli officials.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, it’s, ” Netanyahu, ”, ” Biden, Biden, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ” Blinken, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, Israeli, National Security Council, US, Hamas, White Locations: Gaza

These families argue that the price to be paid in any hostage deal — the release of large numbers of Palestinian militants held by Israel — would endanger the country in the future. Protests calling on the government to reach a deal with Hamas have grown in size and intensity as the crisis has dragged on. The Mor family and two other hostages' families founded the Tikva Forum, a loosely organized group whose public members are mostly religious and right-wing. They share the belief that military pressure, not an immediate cease-fire or hostage release deal, is the best way to bring their loved ones home. “We see that when there’s a deal, hostages return, and in between, when there isn’t, only bodies come back,” said Berman.

Persons: Israel —, ”, Tzvika Mor, Eitan, ” Mor, Mor, Benjamin Netanyahu, Alon Nimrodi, Tamir Nimrodi, “, Israel's, ” Netanyahu, Adina Moshe, Netanyahu, Gilad Shalit, Shalit, Yehya Sinwar, “ Eitan, Avinatan, Noa Argamani, Avinatan’s, Shimon, Liran Berman, Israel, Gali, Ziv Berman, there’s, Berman, ” Berman Organizations: JERUSALEM, Nova, Associated Press, Hamas, Israel’s, Tikva, West Bank, AP, “ Locations: Israel imploring, Israel, Gaza, Cairo, United States, Kiryat Arba, Hebron, Palestinian, Kfar Aza

☆ Israel’s repudiation of a deal with Hamas draws fury from hostages’ families
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Survivors of the October 7 terror attack and the families of hostages were furious at the uncompromising repudiation of a deal that – ultimately – could have resulted in the return of all the remaining hostages in Gaza. Moshe’s words carried power – she was kidnapped by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz and held hostage in Gaza for seven weeks. The families of the hostages held in Gaza have emerged as a leading voice and they attract huge support among Israelis. Protesters demand a hostage deal amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel, on February 1, 2024. These anti-government protests are still strictly separate from the hostage families’ events, which tend to take place just down the road at what has become known as the Hostage Plaza.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Netanyahu, –, Adina Moshe, Netanyahu, Sahar Kalderon, Aviva Siegel, Nili Margalit, Sharon Aloni Cunio, Susana Vera, I’m, ” Moshe, Nir Oz, David, Sa’id, Moshe, Lital Shochat, Shochat, ‘, Shochat Chertow, Shiva, ”, Doron Shabtai, Shabtai, Ivana Kottasova, Yair Lapid, ” “, Bibi ”, Evyatar Cohen, … Organizations: Tel, Tel Aviv CNN, State, Wednesday, Reuters, Protesters, Israel Democracy HQ, Hamas, CNN, Israeli, Yesh Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, Sderot, Jerusalem, Israel’s, Lebanon

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) assists Palestinians in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank, as well as in Gaza. Some $440 million of funding has been suspended, according to UNRWA, which has 13,000 staff in Gaza. The agency said the severe humanitarian needs of Palestinians in Gaza would likely deteriorate further if the funding is not restored. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday called for UNRWA to be dismantled and replaced by other aid groups. And we have discovered in the last few weeks that UNRWA officials were complicit in the massacre,” he said.

Persons: –, Philippe Lazzarini, Khan Younis, Thomas White, ” White, ”, Khaled Omar, Lazzarini, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, “, Yoav Hallant Organizations: CNN, United Nations, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, West Bank, UNRWA Affairs, Training Center, UNRWA, Getty, ”, International Court of Justice, Israel, UN Locations: Gaza, Israel, East, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, United States, Rafah, Amman, Xinhua, South Africa, Israeli, The Hague

☆ The demise of the UN’s Palestinian agency could spell disaster for millions. Here’s why Israel wants it dismantled
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Here’s what that could mean for the millions of Palestinians that rely on UNRWA for sustenance. The agency provides a wide range of aid and services to Palestinian refugees and their descendants. While its purpose is to support Palestinian refugees, UNRWA does not have a mandate to resettle them, a mandate that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) does have. Millions more Palestinian refugees live in neighboring countries like Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, and rely on aid from the agency. At one UNRWA school shelter in Deir al Balah, Gazans said they were worried about the suffering to come if UNRWA’s aid is suspended.

Persons: Leo, ”, Majdi, Deir al Balah, Gazans, Um Mohammad Al Khabbaz, “ What’s, António Guterres, “, Yuval Shany, ” Shany, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Katz, ” Katz, Israel doesn’t, …, Shany, ” Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, United, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Israel, UNRWA, United Nations, UN, Refugees, UNHCR, Palestinian, CNN Sunday, Hebrew University, Jerusalem’s, State Department, US, Gaza Locations: United Nations, United States, Israel, Gaza, New York, Geneva, Brussels, UNHCR, Palestine, UNRWA’s, Crescent, Deir el, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Deir al, Palestinian

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