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☆ 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

☆ 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

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

☆ 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

“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

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

☆ New Gaza Cease-Fire Proposal Puts Spotlight on Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Rejecting the deal, Mr. Blinken said, would put Mr. Sinwar’s political interests ahead of those of civilians. Hamas could be “looking after one guy,” Mr. Blinken said, referring to Mr. Sinwar. Mr. Sinwar was an architect of the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed and around 240 taken hostage. Mr. Blinken said on Tuesday that Mr. Netanyahu had “reaffirmed” his commitment to the plan in private talks in Jerusalem. Hamas has constructed a network of tunnels beneath Gaza to shield the group from Israeli surveillance and attack.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Antony J, Blinken, Sinwar, Mr, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, “, Khan Younis Organizations: . Security, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, United States, Israel, Jerusalem . U.S, Khan

☆ Israel-Hamas War: U.N. Security Council Resolution Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Farnaz Fassihi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

In passing the resolution, the Council delivered a diplomatic victory to Washington, which had vetoed three previous cease-fire resolutions before the Council. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 0:43 - 0:00 transcript United Nations Security Council Backs Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution Fourteen of the 15 members on the U.N. Security Council, with Russia abstaining, voted in favor of adopting a proposal calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 2735.” “Colleagues, the cease-fire deal would pave the way toward an enduring cessation of hostilities and a better future for all. Russia and China and Algeria, the only Arab member of the Security Council, had said in back-channel negotiations that the text appeared too lopsided in favor of Israel. Ever since the war started eight months ago, the Security Council has been in a deadlock over finding a way to end the conflict and fulfill its mandate to uphold international peace and stability.

Persons: ”, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Thomas, Israel, “, ” “, Biden, There’s, Michael M, Reut Shapir Ben, Naftaly, Ms, Shapir Ben, Vasily Nebenzya, Nebenzya, Nate Evans, Evans, “ Israel, Marko Djurica, Benjamin Netanyahu, Fu Cong Organizations: . Security, United Nations, United Nations Security, Hamas, Credit, U.S, ., Reuters, ” Diplomats, States, Security, Security Council, United Locations: U.S, Gaza, Russia, Washington, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Israel, Russian, Tel Aviv, China, Algeria

☆ Analysis: Hamas gambled on the suffering of civilians in Gaza. Netanyahu played right into it
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Nic Robertson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

He appeared to justify the deaths of Palestinian civilians as a “necessary sacrifice” according to the messages. In recent weeks, Ireland, Spain, Norway and Portugal, all frustrated Netanyahu won’t agree a peace deal, have formally recognized Palestinian statehood. The war Sinwar started has taken Palestinian suffering to the next level – and Netanyahu has played right into it. Sinwar’s power amid the war seems to be becoming part of the perceived wisdom about Gaza and the war. And if past experience is any measure, he will likely gamble that he can play mind games better than Netanyahu.

Persons: CNN — Yahya Sinwar, –, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sinwar, Israel, Netanyahu, hasn’t, they’d, they’ve, Biden, Netanyahu won’t, belligerence, Antony Blinken, “, Sinn Fein Organizations: CNN, Israel, Wall Street, ICC, Hamas, Democratic, Northern Locations: Israel, United States, Europe, Gaza, Palestinian, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Spain, Norway, Portugal, Rafah, Doha, Iran, Turkey

A day after the United Nations Security Council endorsed a U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal for the Gaza Strip, the focus shifted on Tuesday to the willingness of Israel and Hamas, under growing international pressure to end the war, to make a deal. Each side made positive but vague statements about the cease-fire plan and blamed the other for prolonging a war that has devastated Gaza. But neither said it would formally embrace the proposal, which was outlined last month in a speech by President Biden and was the basis of the 14-0 vote in the Security Council on Monday. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, touring the region for the eighth time since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 assault on Israel, said on Tuesday that the fate of the cease-fire proposal rested with Hamas’s top leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. Husam Badran, a senior Hamas official, countered that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was “the sole obstacle to reaching an agreement that would end the war.”

Persons: Biden, Antony J, Yahya Sinwar, Husam, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, ” Organizations: United Nations Security, Security, Hamas Locations: U.S, Gaza, Israel

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

Eyad Baba | Afp | Getty ImagesThe United Nations Security Council passed a U.S.-drafted cease-fire deal aimed at halting eight months of bloody fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. In March, China and Russia vetoed a Gaza cease-fire resolution, saying it would give Israel a green light to attack the city of Rafah. "Israel has accepted this proposal and the Security Council has an opportunity to speak with one voice and call on Hamas to do the same," he said. Hamas, on the other hand, said in a statement, in part, that it "welcomes what was included in and confirmed by the Security Council resolution regarding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza." Right around the time the Security Council began voting Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Israel to, among other things, meet with retired Gen. Benny Gantz.

Persons: Eyad Baba, Joe Biden, Linda Thomas, Biden, Israel, Nate Evans, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Yahya Sinwar, Antony Blinken, Benny Gantz Organizations: Israeli Special Forces, Hamas, Afp, Getty, United Nations Security, U.S, Security Council, Biden, NBC, Sunday, Security Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, France, Britain, China, Russia, Greenfield, Rafah, Qatar, Egypt

☆ Hamas responds to Gaza cease-fire plan seeking some changes. U.S. says it’s ‘evaluating’ the reply
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hamas said Tuesday that it gave mediators its reply to the U.S.-backed proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza, seeking some "amendments" on the deal. "We're in receipt of this reply that Hamas delivered to Qatar and to Egypt, and we are evaluating it right now," White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington. Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said the response included "amendments that confirm the cease-fire, withdrawal, reconstruction and (prisoner) exchange." "Everyone's vote is in, except for one vote, and that's Hamas," Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv after meeting with Israeli officials, hours before Hamas announced its reply. Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting have hindered efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the isolated coastal enclave, fueling widespread hunger.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Egypt —, United States —, John Kirby, Jihad Taha, Taha, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, Netanyahu, Osama Hamdan, Lebanon's Al Organizations: United, House, U.S, Security, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, U.S, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Washington

☆ Hezbollah Says Commander Was Killed in an Israeli Strike in Southern Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Ephrat Livni | More About Ephrat Livni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Hezbollah said on Tuesday that Israeli forces killed one of its commanders in a strike in southern Lebanon, stoking concerns about escalating the conflict on another Israeli front. But the group has not referred to a dead fighter as a “commander” since January, when Wissam Hassan al-Tawil, a commander in the group’s Radwan unit, was killed in a strike. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike. On Tuesday, the Israeli military said that Hezbollah had fired about 50 rockets into Israel from southern Lebanon. Answering calls by Hamas to open a second front a day after its deadly assault on Israel, Hezbollah launched attacks into Israel on Oct. 8.

Persons: Taleb Abdallah, Abu Taleb, ”, Wissam Hassan, Abdallah’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hassan Nasrallah, Euan Ward, Matthew Mpoke Bigg Organizations: Tuesday, Israel, The United Nations Locations: Lebanon, Israel, Gaza, Iran, ”

☆ Israel thrust between far-right support and Gaza cease-fire, as Netanyahu rival quits war cabinet
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Amir Levy | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesIsrael's war cabinet minister Benny Gantz resigned from the emergency government, dealing a decisive blow which is expected to entrench Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deeper into a far-right support base that opposes a cease-fire in Gaza. A former chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, centrist Gantz co-founded and led the National Unity party that joined Netanyahu's emergency government after the outbreak of the Gaza war. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cabinet minister Benny Gantz during a press conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv , Israel , 28 October 2023. And the prime minister himself. Around 1,200 people were killed in Israel, Israeli official figures say, since the start of the Gaza conflict.

Persons: Benny Gantz, Amir Levy, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gantz, Netanyahu, Regrettably, Yoav, Gallant, entreat Gantz, Yair Lapid, Gadi Eisenkot, Lapid, Eran Etzion, Etzion, Jack Guez, Nimrod Goren, Goren, Itamar Ben Organizations: Getty, entrench, Israeli Defense Forces, National Unity, Gaza, Palestinian, Hamas, Reuters, Defense, Criminal, Gaza's Ministry of Health, Israel's National Security Council, CNBC, Ultra, Sheba Tel, HaShomer Medical Centre, Afp, Middle East Institute, U.S, Jewish Power Party Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, Rafah, Sheba, Ramat Gan, of Israel

☆ Hostage rescue operation and Israeli political turmoil sharpen Biden’s damaging dilemma
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —President Joe Biden’s power to engineer a swift abatement of the war between Israel and Hamas just suffered two serious new blows. • The rescue mission also emphasizes the disparity in the death toll between Palestinians and Israelis in the conflict. • The absence of Gantz may also create an even greater obstacle to approval of any peace deal between Israel and Hamas. • The fracturing of the Israeli war cabinet and Gantz’s call for elections could have unpredictable consequences in Israel amid rising protests against Netanyahu. That is tragic.”But the national security adviser’s comments will do nothing to ease Biden’s domestic political exposure over the war.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Benny Gantz, Biden, •, estrange Biden, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Gantz, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Jake Sullivan, Dana Bash, Sullivan, “, Israel, ” Sullivan, “ Innocent, Mike Johnson, Sen, Tom Cotton, Cotton, ”, Biden Gantz, ” Gantz, doesn’t, Aaron David Miller, comport, ” Miller, Joe Biden, ” Biden, you’ve, ” Richard Haass, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Haass Organizations: CNN, Israel, Biden, Likud, Trump, Union, Eiffel, Republicans, Democratic National Convention, Fox News, Arkansas Republican, The New York Times, Washington Post, ” Gaza’s Ministry of Health, IDF, ” CNN, ”, Saudis, United, Palestinian Authority, Foreign Relations Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Michigan, Washington, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, France, “ State, American, Chicago, America, Netanyahu, East, United Arab Emirates

☆ U.N. Security Council Passes U.S.-Backed Cease-Fire Resolution
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Michael Crowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and other members of the United Nations Security Council voted on the resolution. The U.N. Security Council on Monday adopted a U.S.-backed cease-fire plan for the Gaza Strip after Russia opted not to block it, adding extra heft to a growing international push for an end to the fighting. In passing the resolution, the Council delivered a diplomatic victory to Washington, which had vetoed three previous cease-fire resolutions before the Council. Russia and China and Algeria, the only Arab member of the Security Council, had said in back-channel negotiations that the text appeared too lopsided in favor of Israel. Ever since the war started eight months ago, the Security Council has been in a deadlock over finding a way to end the conflict and fulfill its mandate to uphold international peace and stability.

Persons: Linda Thomas, Greenfield, ”, Thomas, Israel, “, Reut Shapir Ben, Naftaly, Ms, Shapir Ben, Vasily Nebenzya, Nebenzya, Biden, Nate Evans, Evans, “ Israel, Marko Djurica, Benjamin Netanyahu, Fu Cong Organizations: United Nations Security, . Security, United Nations, U.S, ., Reuters, ” Diplomats, States, Security, Security Council, United Locations: U.S, Gaza, Russia, Washington, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Russian, Israel, Tel Aviv, China, Algeria

☆ Benny Gantz resigns from Israeli war cabinet
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBenny Gantz resigns from Israeli war cabinetIsraeli minister Benny Gantz announced his resignation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's emergency government on Sunday. CNBC's Dan Murphy reports.

Persons: Benny Gantz, Benjamin, CNBC's Dan Murphy

☆ As His Political Alliance Breaks Up, Netanyahu Faces a Battle at Home
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Isabel Kershner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Still fighting Israel’s outside enemies on multiple fronts, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu woke up on Monday to a new political battlefield at home. The departure this weekend of Benny Gantz and his centrist National Unity party from Israel’s emergency wartime government is unlikely to immediately sever Mr. Netanyahu’s grip on power. Mr. Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, another powerful member of National Unity, also left Mr. Netanyahu’s small war cabinet. Mr. Gantz accused Mr. Netanyahu of “political procrastination,” suggesting that he had been putting off critical strategic decisions to ensure his political survival. His decision to quit the wartime government ushers in a new period of political instability and left many Israelis wondering where the country goes from here.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Gantz’s, Netanyahu, Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot, Israel, Mr Organizations: National Unity Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iran, Israel’s, Lebanon

☆ After Weeks of Planning, Seconds Made the Difference in Israeli Hostage Rescue
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Bilal Shbair | Ronen Bergman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When the four Israelis woke up in Gaza on Saturday, they had been held hostage by Hamas for 245 days. The buildings in which they were being kept, two low-rise, concrete apartment blocks, looked much like the other nearby residences in a civilian neighborhood full of Palestinian families. Within a few hours, the captives, three men and one woman, would be reunited with their own families, the result of a risky, long-planned rescue operation in which the full might of the Israeli military would be used to devastating effect. “I’m so emotional,” one hostage, Noa Argamani, 26, told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in a phone call after her release. “It’s been so long since I heard Hebrew.”The rescue effort in Nuseirat involved hundreds of intelligence officers and two teams of commandos who simultaneously stormed the homes in which the hostages were being held, the Israeli military said.

Persons: “, Noa Argamani, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, “ It’s Locations: Gaza

Biden administration officials have discussed potentially negotiating a unilateral deal with Hamas to secure the release of five Americans being held hostage in Gaza if current cease-fire talks involving Israel fail, according to two current senior U.S. officials and two former senior U.S. officials. The Biden administration has said it believes Hamas is holding five American hostages who were abducted during the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel. The officials did not know what the U.S. might give Hamas in exchange for the release of American hostages. Earlier this week, Israeli officials estimated that some 120 hostages are still being held by Hamas and that 43 of them have died in captivity. Over the weekend, four Israeli hostages kidnapped from the Nova music festival were rescued in an operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces.

Persons: Biden, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Alexander, Sagui Dekel, Chen, Hersh Goldberg, Polin, Omer Neutra, Keith Siegel, Itay Chen, Judy Weinstein, Gad Haggai, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Bill Burns, Brett McGurk Organizations: Hamas, U.S, Qatari interlocutors, White, Nova, Israel Defense Forces, NBC News, National, CIA Locations: Gaza, New York City , New York, Israel, Qatari, U.S

☆ Gantz Quits Israel Government in Dispute With Netanyahu Over Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Adam Rasgon | More About Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Israeli politician Benny Gantz, a key member of the country’s war cabinet, quit the government on Sunday over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza. The resignation dealt a blow to the appearance of unity that Mr. Netanyahu was able to marshal at the start of the conflict and exposed the divisions at the top of the Israeli leadership over the future of the war and its aftermath. Mr. Gantz, a centrist figure who last month threatened to resign unless Mr. Netanyahu addressed his concerns about how the war would end and what would follow it, said his party was leaving the emergency government “with a heavy but complete heart.” He said that Mr. Netanyahu’s leadership was “preventing us from advancing to the real victory.”The move is unlikely to force Mr. Netanyahu from office — the prime minister’s government will still hold a narrow majority in Israel’s Parliament. Mr. Gantz’s exit comes as frustration mounts over the failure to decisively topple Hamas or to bring home all the hostages held in Gaza after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on southern Israel. Mr. Netanyahu has also faced international criticism as the destruction and civilian casualties have mounted in Gaza.

Persons: Benny Gantz, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Gantz, ”, Netanyahu’s, Mr, Gantz’s Locations: Gaza, Israel’s Parliament, Israel

Eyewitnesses also said that they saw Israeli forces in disguise – dressed as Hamas fighters or civilians. The Israeli military denied using civilian vehicles, but declined to say whether the officers conducting the rescue were disguised as militants or dressed as Palestinian civilians. The Israeli military had previously used civilian clothing as a tactic in its operations. But soon after the mission got underway, Israeli soldiers and militants began to exchange fire, according to eyewitness accounts and statements from the Israeli military. A senior Biden administration official tells CNN that Israeli forces did not use an aid truck in the operation.

Persons: Mercedes, –, “, ” Khalil Al Tirawi, Mercedes van, — Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, Noa Argamani’s, Adm, Daniel Hagari, ”, Argamani, Arnon Zamora, Al Tirawi, Abdullah Jouda, ” Jouda, ” Hagari, Fadi Thabet, Trevor Ball, Richard Weir, ” Al Tirawi, Nidal Abdo, Zamora, Yaron Finkelman, that’s, Jake Sullivan, CNN’s Dana, ” Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Hagari, Alex Marquardt Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Nova, Israeli Security Agency, IDF, ” CNN, National Police, Hamas ’, Al, CNN CNN, Mercedes, Human Rights Watch, Biden, Southern Command, Union, Sheba Medical, Ichilov Locations: Nuseirat, Gaza, Israeli, Jabalia, Al Jazeera, Argamani, United States, Israel, U.S, “ State, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv

☆ Israeli minister Benny Gantz resigns from war cabinet in blow to Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz has resigned from Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, delivering a blow to the prime minister who has been celebrating the rare rescue of hostages held in Gaza. Israeli Minister Benny Gantz addresses the media after announcing his resignation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency government on June 9, 2024. Besides the prime minister, the only other remaining member of the emergency government with decision-making power is Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, also from Likud. Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty ImagesThe United States has repeatedly called on the prime minister to present a tangible post-war plan for Gaza. “The more identical his positions are to those of the prime minister, the more he’ll lose on both sides.

Persons: Benny Gantz, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, “ Netanyahu, ” Gantz, ”, Gantz –, –, Netanyahu, hesitancy, “, Gantz, Benjamin, Nir Elias, Benny Gantz –, Don’t, ” Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Gantz ’, Eyad Baba, Joe Biden, ” Alon Pinkas, Pinkas, ” Pinkas, centrists Organizations: CNN, Likud, Israeli Special Forces, Getty, Israel’s Haaretz Locations: Gaza, Israel’s, Israel, AFP, States, Saudi Arabia, Israeli

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