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CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after months of clashes over domestic politics and Israel’s war efforts. In a recorded statement Tuesday evening, Netanyahu said that “trust between me and the minister of defense has cracked.”Israel Katz, currently the foreign minister, will become defense minister. Gideon Sa’ar will replace Katz as foreign minister, the prime minister’s office said Tuesday. Thomas Koehler/picture-alliance/dpa/APSa’ar, whom Netanyahu has tapped for foreign minister, is thought to be an influential interlocutor to the ultra-Orthodox parties. I will not facilitate this.”Netanyahu said he would fire the defense minister, but reversed his position following pressure.
Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, ” Israel Katz, Gideon Sa’ar, Katz, Gallant, Lloyd Austin, ” Netanyahu, , , Bibi, ” Gallant, Israel Katz, Thomas Koehler, ensnare Netanyahu, Itamar Ben Organizations: CNN, Israeli, US, Israel Defense Forces, ” Israel's, AP, National, Hamas Locations: United States, Israel, Iran, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Gaza, Egypt
The Israeli prime minister was engulfed in scandal Monday over a case involving one of his aides that has sent shockwaves across the country. The firestorm — brought into public view when an Israeli court loosened a gag order Sunday night — has enraged Netanyahu's political opponents and hostage families. Palestinians fill containers with clean water in the midst of the devastation in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza on Sunday. The Israeli leader faced mounting outrage from hostage families and much of the country's public over his failure to agree to a cease-fire deal. Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu during the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 27.
Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, , Netanyahu, Shin, Eliezer Feldstein, Feldstein, Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, Pamela Smith, Benny Gantz, it’s, Yair Lapid, Lapid Organizations: Rishon, Zion, Israel Defense Forces, Israel Security Agency, AFP, Getty, NBC, Chronicle, Jewish, NBC News, Military Intelligence Directorate, United Nations General Assembly, AP Locations: Gaza, Beit Lahia, London, Egypt, Israel, Philadelphi, New York, Netanyahu's
CNN —Israeli police have arrested a top aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over allegedly leaking classified information to foreign media. Opposition leaders say the intelligence was “faked,” and part of a ruse to thwart a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza. Protesters in Tel Aviv call on Netanyahu to strike a deal to release hostages held in Gaza, in late October. The next day, Netanyahu held a news conference and presented an alleged Hamas document he said was found in a tunnel in Gaza. “This affair came out of the Prime Minister’s own office, and the investigation must examine if it wasn’t at the Prime Minister’s orders.”Dana Karni and Mike Schwartz contributed to this report.
Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, , Netanyahu, Eliezer Feldstein, Feldstein, Yair Lapid, Jack Gue3z, ” Netanyahu, , Zwigenberg, Yair Netanyahu, Daniel Hagari, Sinwar, Bild, Yahya Sinwar, Gil Cohen, Benny Gantz –, Gantz, Lapid, ” Lapid, ” Dana Karni, Mike Schwartz Organizations: CNN, Minister’s, Protesters, Getty, Jewish Chronicle, Hamas, Magen, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, AFP, United Kingdom, Germany’s, Israel, Egypt, Sinai, Iran, Yemen, Philadelphi
Immediately after Oct. 7, Hezbollah began carrying out strikes in northern Israel in a show of solidarity with Hamas. Isolated and in hiding in Gaza, Mr. Sinwar’s communication with his organization has become strained. Image A poster of Mr. Sinwar at a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon, in August. The failure of Hezbollah or Iran to meaningfully damage Israel is a telling sign of Mr. Sinwar’s miscalculation, American officials said. On Sept. 13, Hezbollah released a letter that Mr. Sinwar sent in support of Mr. Nasrallah.
Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Sinwar, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Mohammed Saber, Hassan Nasrallah, Mr, Nasrallah, Alkis Konstantinidis, Netanyahu, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Arash Khamooshi, Yoav Gallant, ” Mr, Gallant, , Scott D, ” Julian E, Barnes, Adam Goldman, Edward Wong, Adam Rasgon, Aaron Boxerman, Ronen Bergman Organizations: Israel, U.S, Hezbollah, Hamas, Mr, Credit, The New York Times, U.S . Defense Intelligence Agency Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Deir al, Lebanon, Iran, Palestinian, Beirut, Egypt, Qatar, Tehran, Rafah, Tel Sultan, Washington, New York, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv
Israeli politics swirl as Hezbollah conflict ramps up
  + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Mick Krever | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +10 min
“It’ll take him months on end to train for the job,” said Gadi Eisenkot, a highly respected former Israeli military chief and member of the opposition. Policy and domestic politics are impossible to separate in any democracy, but especially in Netanyahu’s Israel – and especially now. Remarkably, Netanyahu held a security consultation on Wednesday but did not invite his defense minister, an Israeli official told CNN. Hezbollah says that it’s attacking Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza; Israel wants to get Hezbollah to stop firing even without a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. With both the Philadelphi Corridor and Hezbollah, Netanyahu’s critics have questioned why, if they were so critical, he waited months to raise the stakes over those issues.
Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Gideon Sa’ar, “ It’ll, , Gadi Eisenkot, , Gallant, Netanyahu, Israel –, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Ben Gvir, Ben Gvir’s, Abir, ” Eyal Hulata, , , ” Gallant, Baz Ratner, it’s, ” Gilad Malach, Netanyahu’s, ” Malach, Damocles, Sa’ar, Bezalel Smotrich, Ammar Awad, Reuters Eisenkot, I’m, Gallant –, Malach, Michael Shemesh, Kan, ” Shemesh Organizations: Israel CNN, CNN, Reuters, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, IDF, Israel Defense Forces, Israel Democracy Institute, National Security, Finance, General Staff Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, United States, Abir Sultan, ” Lebanon, Egypt, Israeli, New York
Washington CNN —Joe Biden’s national security advisers have no imminent plans to present the president with an updated proposal in the Israel-Hamas war ceasefire negotiations, two senior administration officials told CNN – the latest indication that talks to end the conflict have seriously stalled. Some US officials had indicated in recent weeks that a so-called bridging proposal was being finalized for Biden’s approval before being shared with the other mediators involved in the ceasefire talks, such as Qatar and Egypt. The recent execution of six hostages in Gaza – including one Israeli American – infuriated administration officials who have been intimately involved in the talks. Meanwhile, there has also been growing skepticism in Washington about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political willingness to end the war. Facilitating an end to the Israel-Hamas war before he leaves office is one of the most important foreign policy priorities for Biden.
Persons: Joe Biden’s, Yahya Sinwar, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Israel, John Kirby, , , ” Kirby, Antony Blinken Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Hamas, Israeli, Biden, National Security, American Locations: Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Gaza, American, Washington
This is the first time since the October 7 attacks that Blinken has visited the Middle East without visiting Israel. The top US diplomat typically uses the visits to Israel to press the Israeli government on the critical issues surrounding the war, including the hostage and ceasefire deal. However, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has frequently rebuffed the administration in the hours and days following those meetings. The last time Blinken visited Israel, he said that Netanyahu had agreed to the “bridging proposal” meant to close to close the remaining gaps with Hamas. Blinken said earlier this month that “it’s incumbent on both parties” – Israel and Hamas – “to get to yes” on the “remaining issues” related to a ceasefire and hostage deal.
Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, , Badr Abdelatty, Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar, United Nations Linda Thomas, Greenfield, ” Thomas, , Bill Burns, – Netanyahu, ” –, – “, Sinwar, Hassan Nasrallah, Biden, we’ll, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, Israel, State Department, Egyptian Foreign, United Nations, Hamas, Biden, Egyptian, Qatari, Security Locations: Egypt, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Qatar, Washington, ” – Israel, Lebanese
CNN —The Israeli military says that three Israeli hostages whose bodies were recovered from Gaza in December were “most likely” killed as a result of an Israeli airstrike. The hostages were two soldiers - Corporal Nick Beiser and Sergeant Ron Sherman – and and civilian man, Eliya Toledano. “The investigation shows that the three hostages were held in the tunnel complex where Andor operated. The bodies of the three hostages were retrieved from the tunnel where Andor had been staying on December 14. Later that month Hamas claimed that the three hostages were “killed by IDF weapons.”A total of 101 hostages are still being held in Gaza, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Persons: Nick Beiser, Ron Sherman –, Eliya Toledano, Ahmed Andor, , Andor, Hersh Goldberg, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Prime Minister’s, Israeli Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Egypt
And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has poured cold water on US hopefulness, though Biden officials have largely refrained from criticizing him. “In my view, the less that’s said about particular issues, the better,” a senior administration official told reporters Wednesday in response to Netanyahu’s press conference. Days later, a senior administration official who briefed reporters argued that the majority of the details of a ceasefire deal – “90%” – had been agreed to by the two parties. In a detail not previously shared, the senior official said that of the 18 paragraphs in the agreement, 14 were finished and agreed to. They need to rest and refit, in case a war in the north [with Hezbollah] is going to happen,” the second senior administration official said.
Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden’s, Yahya Sinwar, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, , , Itamar, Ben, Antony Blinken, ” –, – “, Feedback Netanyahu, CNN Biden ‘, Hersh Goldberg, Polin, it’s, Israel, Haniyeh, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh’s, , ” Biden, , Bill Burns, I’ve, John Kirby, “ I’m, ” Kirby Organizations: CNN, Hamas, CIA, Defense Ministry, IDF, White House Locations: Gaza, Israel, ” – Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Tehran, London, White
download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewUK officials said Monday that the country would suspend the export of some arms to Israel. It came days after Israel said it recovered the bodies of six hostages, whom the country said had been killed by Hamas in a tunnel in Gaza. "At a time when we mourn 6 hostages who were executed in cold blood by Hamas inside tunnels in Gaza. Though the consequences of the UK's decision on the wider war may ultimately be limited, its impact may hold more symbolic weight on the geopolitical stage.
Persons: , Israel, David Lammy, Lammy, Sam Perlo, Freeman, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu's, Josh Paul, Paul, Jamal Khashoggi, Still, Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Business, British, Trade, AP, Israeli, Gaza Health Ministry, Committee, Democracy Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Iran, Lebanon, Hezbollah, Saudi, East, North Africa, Egypt
At least three dozen Palestinians were killed in multiple Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip, officials said Saturday, even as preparations moved ahead for high-level cease-fire talks in the Egyptian capital. The hospital received a total of 33 dead who were killed in three separate strikes in and around Khan Younis. Seventeen others were killed when a strike hit a road south of Khan Younis, including the passengers on a tuk-tuk and passers-by, Nasser Hospital said. Another strike hit a tuk-tuk east of Khan Younis, killing at least five people. First responders also recovered the bodies of 10 people from a residential block west of Khan Younis.
Persons: Khan Younis, Nasser Hospital, Mahmoud Merdawy, David Barnea, Shin, Eliezer Toledano, William Burns, Brett McGurk, Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Bassem Naim, Sunday’s, Merdawy Organizations: Hospital, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Associated Press, Health Ministry, Hamas, Qatari, CIA Locations: Gaza, Al, Aqsa, Khan, Israel, United States, Egypt, Qatar, Cairo, U.S
CNN —Months of feverish negotiations, in different cities and at multiple levels, have gotten Israel and Hamas closer to striking a ceasefire deal. “But we are committed to continue the war after the pause in order to achieve the goal of destroying Hamas. It essentially allows Israel – and Hamas – to abandon discussions after the six-week first phase and resume the war. Far-right members of his cabinet have blasted any ceasefire agreement while Israeli reports cite security officials who accuse Netanyahu of sabotaging the negotiations. Earlier this week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was visiting Israel, said Netanyahu had agreed to the proposal while Hamas had not yet.
Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s, Israel –, , Netanyahu, Riki Baruch, , it’s, John Kirby, , Joe Biden, Biden, Qatar –, Yahya Sinwar, Bill Burns, Antony Blinken, Sinwar, ” CNN’s Jeremy Diamond, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, Israel, National Security, Hamas, Islamic, IDF, , CIA, Biden, American Locations: Israel, Gaza, Cairo, Palestinian, Egypt, Qatar, Israeli, Israel’s, American, Doha, Iran, Lebanon, Beirut, Tehran
Mediators plan to move ahead with a summit next week pursuing a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, Israeli officials said on Friday, after Israeli security chiefs sought to obtain Egyptian consent for a postwar Israeli presence along Gaza’s border with Egypt. Hamas has repeatedly rejected the idea of an Israeli presence in the border area, saying that any deal to stop the war must involve Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza. Egypt, as a neighboring country and a mediator in the truce talks with a significant stake in the war’s outcome, is also key to reaching a truce agreement. The government has said that keeping Israeli troops at its Gaza border could raise national security concerns and potentially threaten Egyptian-Israeli relations. Egypt also says it has already taken aggressive action to destroy tunnels and stop smuggling.
Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Organizations: Hamas Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Qatar, United States
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced new conditions that complicated negotiations aimed at freeing hostages and suspending fighting in the Gaza Strip in May, according to U.S. and foreign officials. The cease-fire talks, with Israel represented by the head of its intelligence service and other officials, had advanced close to an agreement. The war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas was sparked by Hamas’ terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7, which killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians. About 40,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since Israel launched its retaliatory military operation in the enclave, according to local health officials. In a statement Sunday, Hamas said Israel had added new conditions to an earlier proposal that revealed its intention to continue its “aggression” in Gaza and sabotage a possible cease-fire agreement.
Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, “ Netanyahu, Israel, , Iran’s, Ismail Haniyeh, Fazil Abd Erahim, “ It’s, there’s, Haniyeh Organizations: The New York Times, NBC News, Sky News, State Department, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Israel Defense Forces, Biden Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Qatar, Egypt, Jerusalem, Lebanon, British, Tehran, Algiers, Algeria, Iran
CNN —Mediators in talks for a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel are making a last-ditch effort to revive stalled negotiations as the Middle East braces for an Iranian attack on Israel. President Joe Biden announces a proposed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza while delivering remarks in the State Dining Room at the White House on May 31 in Washington, DC. The militant group replaced Haniyeh with Yahya Sinwar, the hardline Hamas leader in Gaza who is one of Israel’s most wanted men. He is not interested in either a ceasefire or the full withdrawal of troops.”Why are Thursday’s talks so important? There have been some indications that Iran may abandon plans to attack Israel if a ceasefire deal is reached.
Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, , who’ve, Netanyahu, Chip Somodevilla, Ismail Haniyeh, Israel hasn’t, Yahya Sinwar, “ Haniyeh, , Israel, Zahra, Omar Al, Thursday’s Organizations: CNN, Israeli, White, Thursday’s, Hamas, Getty, Israel, United Nations Locations: Israel, Qatar, Egypt, United States, Gaza, Rome, Washington ,, Rafah, Tehran, Iran, Palestinian, Shujaiya, Gaza City, AFP
For the families of the hostages held more than nine months in Gaza, there is no time to wait. The Israeli prime minister wants to meet with Biden before the Israeli delegation formally transmits its response to the mediators, the source said. US officials have been sensitive to the Knesset recess as they remain convinced that politics are at play for Netanyahu back in Israel. US officials believe it is possible that Israelis are seeking to put maximum pressure on Hamas ahead of a deal. US and Egyptian officials have begun preparing the flood of humanitarian aid that would enter Gaza if a ceasefire deal goes into effect.
Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Netanyahu, “ It’s, , Netanyahu ‘, ’ Aviva Siegel, Keith, Netanyahu “, They’ve, I’ve, Siegel, , Jon Polin, Hersh Goldberg, Biden’s, Donald Trump, Harris, Netanyahu doesn’t, Jonathan Dekel, Chen, Sagui Dekel, Satan, ” Netanyahu, Daniel Neutra, Omer, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, There’s, Israel, , Jake Sullivan, ” Blinken, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Hamas, Democratic, Monday, US State Department, Government, Biden, UN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Washington, Rafah, Egyptian, el, Arish
But as detailed ceasefire negotiations aimed at turning a framework agreement into a final deal stretch into their third week, Netanyahu’s visit will still be critical to the prospects of a ceasefire in Gaza. Senior US officials say a deal is within reach, but the prospects of a deal may hinge on the answer to one key question: Does Netanyahu actually want a deal? And the right-wing coalition partners keeping him in power have threatened to bolt if Netanyahu cuts a deal that ends the war. And publicly, his rhetoric has undermined confidence in Israel’s commitment to reaching a deal that could end the war. And Netanyahu’s allies insist he is earnest in his desire to strike a hostage release deal – just the right deal, one that could allow Israel to resume fighting in Gaza.
Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, , Joe Biden’s, Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, rebuffing, Biden, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Brendan Smialowski, Health –, Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump, Will Lanzoni, Netanyahu –, , Israel, Bibi, ” Trump, Barak Ravid, ” Netanyahu Organizations: Israel CNN, Israeli, Gaza . Senior, Getty, Israel’s, Palestinian Ministry, Health, White, Israel, Republican, Convention, CNN, Trump, Republican National Convention Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Washington, Gaza ., Gaza, Israel’s, Egypt, AFP, Rafah, Milwaukee , Wisconsin
Last week, a US official told CNN that a framework agreement is “in place” and talks resumed Friday in Doha. Hatem Khaled/ReutersOn Thursday, a senior US administration told CNN that the framework for a deal is “now in place,” following a call between Biden and Netanyahu. Hamas has long demanded that Israel agree to a permanent ceasefire before signing any deal, which Israel has so far refused. Netanyahu also said there will be “no return of thousands of armed terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip,” the statement said. “If the Americans are still optimistic (after Netanyahu’s Sunday statement), then they are really living in La La land,” Baskin told CNN.
Persons: , ” Israel, Israel, ” Gershon Baskin, Baskin, Joe Biden, , who’ve, Khan Younis, Hatem Khaled, Biden, Netanyahu, , Donald Trump, Yair Lapid, ” Lapid, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Ilan Rosenberg, Reuters Baskin, ” Baskin Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Reuters, Sunday, Trump, Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Doha, Cairo, , Egypt, Israeli, Rafah, Jerusalem, La La
But CNN cannot independently verify his claims: Israel has barred foreign journalists from entering Gaza independently and our only access is via embeds with the Israeli military. The area was seized by the Israeli military, which says it has uncovered dozens of tunnel shafts as well as rocket launchers used to fire rockets into Israel. He won’t say exactly how long Israeli forces will need to occupy this corridor, but says it could be weeks or months. Jeremy Diamond/CNNHagari also says Israeli forces killed more than 900 Hamas fighters in Rafah and are close to defeating Hamas’s Rafah brigade. As for the Rafah ground operation, Hagari cannot say whether it will be the last in Gaza.
Persons: Humvees, I’ve, Khan Younis, , Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Jeremy Diamond, Israel, , ” Hagari, CNN Hagari, Hamas’s, we’ll Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Hamas’s Rafah Locations: Rafah, Gaza’s, Israel, Gaza, Egypt
That would deal a further blow to a relationship that Israel’s military offensive in southern Gaza had already brought to its lowest point in decades. For Israel, too, more than four decades of a so-called “cold peace” with Egypt has proved to be an essential pillar of national security. Egypt’s patience with Israel’s military moves is wearing dangerously thin, as it has repeatedly made clear. That border point, the main conduit for aid and other supplies during the war, lies between Egypt and Gaza but was recently occupied by Israel, drawing public outrage in Egypt. Egypt has refrained from taking more serious steps to respond to Israel’s moves, such as withdrawing its ambassador from Tel Aviv.
Persons: mouthpieces, Israel, Egypt’s, Gazans, Camp David, ” Ahmed Moussa, Moussa, , Mr, ” Isabel Kershner Organizations: Egyptian, International Court, Camp, Camp David Accords, Al, Egypt’s, Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas Locations: Egypt, Gaza, Cairo, Israel, Rafah, Tel Aviv,
Credit... Jehad Alshrafi/Associated PressThe Israeli military said on Friday that its forces had advanced into central Rafah, pushing even deeper into the southern Gaza city despite an international backlash and pressure from allies to scale back the latest offensive. Israeli commandoes backed by tanks and artillery were operating in central Rafah, the Israeli military said in a statement, without specifying precise locations. GAZA STRIP Area of image Central Rafah GAZA Israeli military vehicles EGYPT GAZA STRIP Area of image Central Rafah GAZA Israeli military vehicles EGYPT Much of eastern Rafah has been devastated since the offensive began in early May, particularly around the border crossing with Egypt, according to satellite photos from May 22. Israel captured the Rafah crossing in an overnight operation on May 7 that marked the beginning of their assault on the area. May 5 RAFAH Rafah crossing 1 mile May 22 GAZA STRIP Area of image Area of most damage Rafah crossing Source: Satellite imagery from Planet Labs The Rafah crossing has served as a vital conduit for getting humanitarian aid into Gaza amid widespread deprivation and hunger.
Persons: Jehad, Israel Organizations: Associated Press, United Nations, International Court of Justice, Planet Labs, Labs Locations: Rafah, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, United States, GAZA, Rafah GAZA, EGYPT GAZA, EGYPT, RAFAH Rafah, Palestinian
CNN —The Israeli military is in central Rafah, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed in a statement Friday, despite international concern and anger over its military operation in Gaza’s southernmost city. The IDF statement confirms what eyewitnesses told CNN earlier this week, when tanks were spotted in central Rafah for the first time since it entered the city earlier this month. “IDF troops in central Rafah located Hamas rocket launchers, terror tunnel shafts, and weapons. The troops also dismantled a Hamas weapons storage facility in the area,” the IDF said in the statement. Access to cell phone services in Rafah was interrupted on Thursday due to the ongoing Israeli offensive, Palestinian telecommunications company Jawwal said in a statement.
Persons: Jawwal, Israel, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Biden, Mahmoud, Jabalya, Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas Locations: Rafah, Gaza’s, Egypt, Gaza, Palestinian, Israel, Jabalya
The World Food Programme (WFP) is currently serving only 27,000 people in Rafah, according to Matthew Hollingworth, the organization’s country director in Gaza. Rafah had previously been the central artery for aid to flow into Gaza, as the only border crossing not controlled by Israel. Israel’s military has continued to push further into Rafah, defying international concern and anger over its operations in the city. “IDF troops in central Rafah located Hamas rocket launchers, terror tunnel shafts, and weapons. Hollingworth added that the WFP’s warehouse in Rafah, which was once capable of storing 2,700 tons of food, is no longer operational.
Persons: Matthew Hollingworth, ” Hollingworth, , Hollingsworth, Jack Guez, Israel, Erez, Hollingworth, Organizations: CNN, United, Food Programme, Getty, WFP, Israel Defense Forces, , UN, IDF Locations: United Nations, Rafah, Gaza, Israel, AFP, Egypt, , May, Kerem, Erez
The Israeli military says it has established “operational control” over the Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) buffer zone on the Egypt-Gaza border. "In the last few days, Israel established operational control over the Philadelphi Corridor," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari said at a press briefing on Wednesday. The official said the 20 tunnels crossed into Egypt, some of which are new, and Egypt has been informed. Hagari said this route was used to transfer weapons and that the Israeli military found and destroyed weapons there. On Monday, an Egyptian security personnel was killed on the border with Gaza in a shooting that involved Egyptian and Israeli soldiers.
Persons: Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Israel Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, IDF, CNN Locations: Egypt, Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Egypt’s
Here’s a look at the importance of the border strip to Israel, to Palestinians and to Egypt:What is the border strip? It is land around 100 yards wide that runs roughly eight miles from Israel’s border to the Mediterranean. The Israelis used the code name Philadelphi for the strip, while Egyptian officials call it Salah Al Din. Why does it matter to Israel? Senior Israeli officials had set control of the strip, which in Israel is called the Philadelphi Corridor, as a military objective.
Persons: Israel, Salah Al Din Organizations: Hamas, Senior Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Israel’s, Rafah
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