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☆ Iran Foreign Minister Says Iran, U.S. Have Exchanged Messages in Recent Weeks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iran and the United States have exchanged messages throughout Israel's four-month-old war on Hamas in Gaza, including about Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, the Iranian foreign minister said on Saturday. "During this war and in the recent weeks, there was an exchange of messages between Iran and America," Hossein Amirabdollahian said through a translator at a press conference capping a day-long visit to Beirut. He said the United States had asked Tehran to request Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, "not to get widely, fully involved in this war against" Israel. Amirabdollahian on Saturday warned Israel against taking any steps towards a broader war against Lebanon, saying that would be Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "last day." He also said Iran saw a political solution as the only way to end the Gaza war.

Persons: Hossein Amirabdollahian, Hamas, Amirabdollahian, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Abdallah Bou Habib, Netanyahu, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah's Al, Nasrallah, Bashar al, Assad, Maya Gebeily, Andrew Cawthorne, Frances Kerry Organizations: Hezbollah, Israel, Saturday, Hamas, Revolutionary Guards Corps, Guards Locations: BEIRUT, Iran, United States, Gaza, America, Beirut, United, Tehran, Israel, Lebanese, Lebanon, Washington, Irag, Syria, Yemen, U.S, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Hamas

☆ Palestinians brace for Rafah evacuation, Israeli assault plan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Trapped in and around Rafah, more than 1 million Palestinians braced for Israel to complete a plan to evacuate them and launch a ground assault against Hamas fighters in the southern Gaza city. "There is a sense of growing anxiety, growing panic in Rafah," said Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UNRWA agency. Doctors and aid workers are struggling to supply even basic aid to Palestinians sheltering around Rafah. The United Nations said Palestinian civilians in Rafah require protection, but there should be no forced mass displacement, which is barred by international law. Hamas gunmen killed some 1,200 people and took 253 hostages in the Oct. 7 rampage into southern Israel, according to Israeli tallies.

Persons: Khan Yunis, Philippe Lazzarini, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jan Egeland, Netanyahu's, Mahmoud Abbas, Israel, ActionAid Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, United Nations, Norwegian Refugee Council, Palestinian Authority, West Bank . Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Washington, U.S, Egypt, Gazans

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

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Friday sought to downplay sharp criticism levied against Israel by President Joe Biden and a senior national security official over how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has conducted Israel's four-month-old war aimed at rooting out Hamas militants from Gaza. The White House National Security Council confirmed that Finer’s comments, as reported by the Times, were accurate. Hamas, however, has demanded that Israel release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and end the war as part of a hostage deal. Biden said he still is hopeful that a deal can be worked out that might create a path to ending the war. Biden enjoyed a roughly 3-to-1 advantage in Dearborn and 5-1 advantage in Hamtramck, and he won Wayne County by more than 330,000 votes.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Biden, ”, Jon, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Adrienne Watson, “, ” Biden, “ I’ve, Samantha Power, Steven Benjamin, Tom Perez, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Donald Trump Organizations: WASHINGTON, Israel, New York Times, White House National Security Council, Times, Associated Press, National Security, U.S . Agency for International Development, Public, Intergovernmental Affairs, Biden, Michigan, Democrats, Wayne County Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, U.S, Egypt, Qatar, Michigan, Detroit, Eastern, Wayne County, Dearborn, Hamtramck, Wayne

Democratic senators on Friday called Biden's directive — meant to bring breadth, oversight, deadlines and teeth to efforts to ensure foreign governments don't use U.S. military aid against civilians — historic. “This is a sea-change in terms of how you approach U.S. military aid and its impact on civilians,” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said. Human rights advocates said the challenge for the new directive would be the same faced by all previous efforts to withhold U.S. weapons and funding from human rights abusers — whether administrations will actually enforce the human rights conditions against strategically important allies and partners. Foreign governments that fail to provide those assurances on time would have their military aid paused. Those “are honored in the breach,” Roth, the human rights expert, said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren, who'd, Maryland Sen, Chris Van Hollen, ”, Kenneth Roth, Antony Blinken, isn't, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Karine Jean, Pierre, “, ” Jean, Pierre said, Leahy, —, ” Roth, it's, ” Van Hollen, — Seung Min Kim Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democrats, Ukraine, Democratic, Capitol, White House, Maryland, Human Rights Watch, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, U.S, Foreign Assistance Locations: Gaza, Israel, Russia, Massachusetts, what's, Ukraine, Israeli, United States, U.S

Blinken appealed to Netanyahu and other Israelis still reeling from the Hamas attack not to allow vengeance to dictate their continued response. In Qatar on Tuesday, both Qatar’s prime minister and Blinken said the proposal had promise as a starting point for further negotiation. And Blinken talked up Saudi Arabia’s interest in normalizing relations with Israel, provided the Gaza war ends and the Palestinians are given a clear, credible and time-bound pathway to an independent state. “We remain determined as well to pursue a diplomatic path to a just and lasting peace, and security for all in the region, and notably for Israel,” Blinken said in Tel Aviv. However, Netanyahu is opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state and has said Israel will maintain open-ended security control over Gaza.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Blinken, There’s, ”, Netanyahu, Israel, “, ” Netanyahu Organizations: —, Washington, UN Locations: TEL AVIV, Israel, United States, Gaza, U.S, Egypt, Qatar, Rafah, Tel Aviv, Palestinian

☆ Israeli Hostage Families Gain Clout as Political Landscape Shifts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Some respondents did not mention names but wrote variants of "hostage families", reflecting the impact of the Forum itself and its "Bring them home now" campaign. Political scientist Tamar Hermann of the IDI said solidarity with the hostage families was blending with broader anti-government sentiment, partly rooted in a huge pre-war protest movement against Netanyahu's plan to overhaul the judiciary. New or existing left-wing parties could be a natural fit for any hostage relatives who did decide to go into politics. Conversely, the hostage families are seen as opponents by some on the right, and especially on the ultra-nationalist far right, which has sway over Netanyahu because it is part of his fragile coalition. Some of Netanyahu's hard-right supporters in politics and media portray the hostage families as leftists abusing public sympathy to further their anti-government agenda, said political scientist Gideon Rahat of the Hebrew University.

Persons: Emily Rose, Estelle Shirbon, pollsters, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Nimrod Nir, Gil Dickmann, Carmel Gat, Jonathan Shamriz, Alon, Israel, Dror, Yonat, Netanyahu, irked Netanyahu, Sunday Israel, Tamar Hermann of, IDI, Tomer Reznik, implacably, Gideon Rahat, Eliyahu Libman, Elyakim, Libman, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Reuters, Truman Research Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Families Forum, Israel, Hamas, Sunday, Truman Institute, Israel Democracy Institute, IDI, Hebrew University, West Bank Locations: Estelle Shirbon JERUSALEM, LONDON, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, United States, Kiryat Arba

The Biden administration has expressed unwavering support for Israel since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war, skirting Congress to rush weapons to Israel and shielding its ally from international calls for a cease-fire. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's national security minister, criticized that approach in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, saying Biden was hindering Israel's war effort and that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would give Israel greater latitude in fighting Hamas. “Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel (to Gaza), which goes to Hamas,” Ben-Gvir said. Netanyahu, without mentioning Ben-Gvir by name, appeared to refer to his remarks when addressing a weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday. Family members of the hostages, with wide public support, are calling on Israel to reach an agreement with Hamas to bring them home.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Itamar Ben, Donald Trump, ” Ben, Gvir, Trump, Benny Gantz, Ben, Gantz, Yair Lapid, Gvir’s, Netanyahu, they’re, ”, ___ Magdy Organizations: JERUSALEM, Hamas, Wall Street, Republican, Health Ministry Locations: Washington, Gaza, Israel, U.S, Qatar, Egypt, Tel Aviv, Cairo, israel

☆ Far-Rightist Threatens to Quit Israel Gov't Over Any 'Reckless' Gaza Deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A far-right partner in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition threatened on Tuesday to quit the government over any attempt to enter a "reckless" deal with Hamas to retrieve hostages held by the Palestinian militants. "Reckless deal = dismantling of the government," Itamar Ben-Gvir of the Jewish Power party posted on X, amid media reports that Israel was considering a long-term halt, brokered by Qatar an Egypt, to its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Jewish Power accounts for six of the 64 seats that Netanyahu's religious-rightist coalition held in the 120-seat parliament before the Gaza war. They have called for no let-up in the offensive and for Israel to resettle Gaza, from which it withdrew in 2005. Netanyahu has ruled out rebuilding of Jewish settlements there but says post-war Gaza will be under Israeli security control.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Itamar Ben, Israel, Ben, Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Netanyahu, Dan Williams, Ari Rabinovitch, Ros Russell Organizations: Jewish Power, Hamas, Jewish, National Locations: JERUSALEM, Qatar, Egypt, Gaza, Israel

☆ Gaza Ceasefire Plan for Hostage Release Awaits Hamas Response
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

"We don't know and we cannot predict what Hamas' response will be," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's prime minister, said on Monday. Hamas told Reuters in a statement on Tuesday the proposal would involve three stages, including the release of hostages held by the group and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. "After that, the Hamas leadership will meet to discuss the paper and express its final opinion on it," the statement said. More than 100 Israeli hostages are still held, following the release of a similar number in an earlier truce in November that involved the release of scores of Palestinian prisoners. The Hamas statement said the second phase would also involve the release of male military recruits.

Persons: Jonathan Landay, Maya Gebeily, Andrew Mills, Nidal, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, David Barnea, Sheikh Mohammed, Jordan, Ismail Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Islamic Jihad, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Dan Williams, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Michael Georgy, William Maclean Organizations: Reuters, Palestinian, U.S, Paris, Islamic, Hamas, Washington's Atlantic Council, Israeli Defense Forces Locations: Mughrabi WASHINGTON, BEIRUT, DOHA, Gaza, Israel, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Paris, Qatar, Egypt, U.S, France, Cairo

☆ Israel's Dermer to Meet Sullivan at White House on Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will meet on Wednesday with top Israeli official Ron Dermer on the Gaza conflict, a White House official said on Tuesday. The United States has been working with Israel and Qatar to reach a deal for the release of hostages still held by Hamas since the Islamist militant group's deadly assault from Gaza into southern Israel on Oct. 7. Washington has also been pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to plan for when Israel's military operation in Gaza is over. Dermer, who is Israel's minister for strategic affairs, is a well-known figure in Washington, having served as Israel's ambassador. (Reporting By Steve Holland)

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Ron Dermer, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Steve Holland Organizations: WASHINGTON, White House, White, United, Hamas, Washington, Israeli Locations: Gaza, United States, Israel, Qatar, Washington

☆ Israeli PM's Office Says 'Gaps' Remain After Meeting on Hostage Deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Talks held on Sunday initiated by Qatar, the United States and Egypt to broker a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas were "constructive" but meaningful gaps remain, the Israeli prime minister's office said. "There are still significant gaps in which the parties will continue to discuss this week in additional mutual meetings," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns and the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence service, David Barnea, met with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, along with the head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, the statement said. Some 1,200 people were killed and 253 abducted, according to Israeli officials. The U.S. and Israeli intelligence chiefs have previously met with Qatari and Egyptian officials, helping to broker a short-lived truce in November that saw more than 100 hostages freed.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, William Burns, David Barnea, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Abbas Kamel, Joe Biden's, Emily RoseEditing, Jane Merriman, Frances Kerry Organizations: . Central Intelligence Agency, Qatari Prime, Hamas Locations: JERUSALEM, Qatar, United States, Egypt, Israel, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Europe, Gaza, U.S

☆ Explainer-What Is the Two-State Solution to the Israel-Palestinian Conflict?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +10 min

Obstacles have long impeded the two-state solution, which envisages Israeli and Palestinian states alongside each other. Advocates of the two-state solution have envisaged a Palestine in the Gaza Strip and West Bank linked by a corridor through Israel. As the two-state solution has floundered, talk of a one-state solution has risen. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a Jan. 23 speech, said the two-state solution remained the only way to address the aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians. He criticised "clear and repeated rejection of the two-state solution at the highest levels of the Israeli government".

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin, Rabin, Bill Clinton, Arafat, Ehud Barak, Camp David, Jerusalem, Joe Biden, Abdel Fattah al, Abbas, Mahmoud Abbas, Bezalel Smotrich, Netanyahu, Abbas's Fatah, Biden, Osama Hamdan, General Antonio Guterres, Nidal al, Ali Sawafta, Maayan Lubell, Dan Williams, Ari Rabinovitch, Tom Perry, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Reuters, United Nations, Arab League, Israel, West Bank, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, Palestinian Authority, Israeli, Bank, Geneva Accord, Finance Locations: Washington, Gaza, Palestinian, Jordan, Jerusalem, Palestine, Europe, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, East Jerusalem, Egypt, U.S, Oslo, Israeli, West Bank, Jordanian, Oslo Accords, U.N

☆ John Fetterman and Joe Manchin decline to back resolution supporting a 2-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewOn Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii released an amendment to a forthcoming national security bill that affirms US support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. "What will determine the future of Israel and Palestine is whether or not there's hope," Schatz told reporters on Wednesday. "And the two-state solution has to be that hope." It comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel's security needs were "irreconcilable with a Palestinian state." "My insistence is what has prevented — over the years — the establishment of a Palestinian state that would have constituted an existential danger to Israel," Netanyahu later said.

Persons: —, Democratic Sen, Brian Schatz, Schatz, John Fetterman of, Joe Manchin, Manchin, Fetterman, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Democratic, Hawaii, Business, Democratic Party —, Mr, Hawaii Democrat, Republican, Republicans Locations: Israel, Palestine, Sens, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Palestinian, Ukraine, Hawaii

☆ Qatar Says Netanyahu's Reported Criticism Undermines Gaza Mediation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Qatar said on Wednesday it was "appalled" by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's alleged remarks on its mediation role in the Gaza war after he called the Gulf state "problematic" in a leaked recording. "We are appalled by the alleged remarks attributed to the Israeli Prime Minister in various media reports about Qatar's mediation role," said Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari. In a leaked recording from a meeting with hostage families that aired on Israel's Channel 12 news on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Qatar "problematic." An Israeli government spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on Qatar's statement or whether the leaked recording was authentic. In the recording, Netanyahu went on to say that Qatar has leverage over Hamas because it funds the movement.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Majed Al Ansari, Benjamin Netanyahu, haven't, I'm, Netanyahu, Enas Alashray, Henriette Chacar, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Israeli, PM, Israel's Locations: JERUSALEM, Qatar, Gaza, Israeli, United States

☆ Exclusive-One-Month Gaza Truce Focus of Intensive Talks, Sources Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +8 min

Asked about the negotiations, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters on Monday the organization was open to discussing ideas but that no deal was yet in place. One offer by Israel is to end the war if Hamas removes six senior leaders from Gaza, said a seventh source, a senior Hamas official. Five of the sources said Israel had refused to discuss any end to the war that did not include Hamas being dismantled. Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said at a press conference on Tuesday that efforts were ongoing to secure the hostages' release. The official briefed on the talks said Hamas had since softened that demand, which would likely be vehemently opposed by Israel.

Persons: Andrew Mills, Nidal, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Dan Williams, Brett McGurk, Sami Abu Zuhri, Abu Zuhri, Yahya Sinwar, Mohamed al, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, NETANYAHU, Israel, Eylon Levy, Antony Blinken, Khan Younis, Mohamed Ahmed Hassan, Michael Georgy, Maayan Lubell, Jonathan Landay, Simon Lewis, Frank Jack Daniel, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Hamas, Tuesday U.S . Middle East, U.S . State Department, White, Service, Reuters, Palestinian Locations: Dan Williams DOHA, CAIRO, JERUSALEM, Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Washington, Egypt, U.S, United States, Khan, Doha, Cairo, Jerusalem

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as Gaza death toll rises
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 25,000 people since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the enclave said Sunday. Israel's military said Sunday that military activities in Gaza were continuing, with "dozens of terrorists eliminated and large quantities of weapons located." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he would not accept Hamas' demand for an end to the war in exchange for the release of hostages held in Gaza. International reaction: Biden has indicated he still believes Netanyahu can be convinced of a two-state solution to the conflict as the two remain at odds over plans for post-war Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called opposition to a two-state solution "unacceptable," while UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps called Netanyahu's comments "disappointing."

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Antonio Guterres, Grant Shapps Organizations: CNN, Sunday, UK Locations: Gaza, Israel, Hamas, Here's, Jordan, Palestinian, UN

JERUSALEM (AP) — Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says the kingdom will not normalize relations with Israel or contribute to Gaza's reconstruction without a credible pathway to a Palestinian state. Prince Faisal bin Farhan's remarks in an interview with CNN broadcast late Sunday were some of the most direct yet from Saudi officials. It puts them at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has rejected Palestinian statehood and described plans for open-ended military control over Gaza. In September, Netanyahu had said Israel was “at the cusp” of such a deal, which he said would transform the Middle East. Israel has only successfully rescued one hostage, while Hamas says several have been killed in Israeli airstrikes or during failed rescue operations.

Persons: Prince Faisal bin Farhan's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, “ CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, ”, ” Prince Faisal, “, Prince Faisal, we’re, NETANYAHU, —, ___ Shurafa Organizations: JERUSALEM, CNN, Israeli, Palestinian, West Bank, Hamas, Health Ministry Locations: Saudi, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, United States, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem, GAZA, U.N, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Deir, israel

☆ Relatives of Gaza Hostages Storm Israeli Parliament Panel as Protests Mount
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The action by about 20 people signalled growing domestic dissent in the fourth month of the Gaza war. One woman held up pictures of three family members who were among the 253 people seized in the cross-border Hamas rampage of Oct. 7 that triggered the worst fighting in decades. Parliamentary ushers, often quick to eject hecklers or protesters, stood by during the ruckus in the Knesset Finance Committee. On Sunday, Netanyahu rejected conditions presented by Hamas to end the war and release hostages that would includeIsrael's complete withdrawal and leaving Hamas in power in Gaza. (Writing by Dan Williams and Steven Scheer, Editing by Angus MacSwan)

Persons: Steven Scheer, Dan Williams JERUSALEM, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Moshe Gafni, Netanyahu, Israel's, Dan Williams, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Parliamentary, Jewish, Forum Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, Netanyahu's

CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Hamas’ conditions for an end to the Gaza war in exchange for the release of hostages held there, labeling such a prospect as “surrender.”In order to release the remaining hostages, Netanyahu said Hamas was demanding an end to the war, the release of Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Out of the 253 hostages Israel says Hamas seized on October 7, Israel believes that 132 are still in Gaza, of whom 104 are thought to be alive. Relatives and supporters of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas attend a protest calling for their release outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence, in Jerusalem on Sunday. Netanyahu is under mounting pressure from the Israeli public to secure the release of captives in Gaza. Leo Correa/APMeanwhile, the death toll in Gaza on Sunday surpassed 25,000, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the enclave.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Netanyahu, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Ohad, Gadi Eisenkot, Eisenkot, You’d, ” Netanyahu, “, Leo Correa, Joe Biden, Israel’s, Josep Borrell Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Hamas, CNN’s, Sunday Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Jordan, Palestinian

☆ Israel drops leaflets on under-siege Palestinians asking for their help to find Israeli hostages, as Gaza death toll hits 25,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewIsraeli forces have dropped leaflets in Gaza asking residents for help finding hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, as bombardment of the besieged strip continues. The leaflets dropped in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza strip, on Saturday featured photos of 33 hostages with their names written in Arabic. Please make the call if you recognize one of them," the leaflets read , per Reuters. Hamas took around 240 hostages to Gaza from Israel after its surprise attack in October. The families of Israeli hostages have also called on Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu to find a solution to free the remaining hostages.

Persons: —, Abu Ali, Netanyahu, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Business, Hamas, Reuters, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian, Gaza Health Ministry, United Nations Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Israel

☆ Netanyahu Rejects Hamas Conditions for Hostage Deal Which Include 'Outright Surrender'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Emily RoseJERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected conditions presented by Hamas to end the war and release hostages that would include Israel's complete withdrawal and leaving Hamas in power in Gaza. "I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas," Netanyahu said. Since then, Netanyahu has faced mounting pressure to secure the release the 136 hostages who remain in captivity. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday he spoke with Netanyahu about possible solutions for creation of an independent Palestinian state, suggesting one path could involve a non-militarized government. "My insistence is what prevented for years the establishment of a Palestinian state that would have posed an existential danger to Israel," he said.

Persons: Emily Rose JERUSALEM, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's, Khan Younis, Sami Abu Zuhri, Netanyahu, Jon Polin, Hersh Goldberg, Polin, Joe Biden, Biden's, Biden, Emily Rose, David Brunnstrom, Giles Elgood, Richard Chang Organizations: Israeli, Reuters, Forum Locations: Gaza, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Palestinian, Israel, Washington

☆ Israeli, Palestinian Ministers to Attend Meeting Where EU Will Push for Peace
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Andrew GrayBRUSSELS (Reuters) - The Israeli and Palestinian foreign ministers are to meet their European Union counterparts on Monday as the EU considers potential steps toward a comprehensive peace between the two sides even as the war in Gaza rages on. Israel's Israel Katz and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki will take part separately in a regular meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels largely devoted to the Middle East but also taking stock of the war in Ukraine. But both parties would be consulted at every step of the talks as delegates sought to draw up a peace plan, the document suggests. The internal document, seen by multiple news organisations including Reuters, makes clear one key goal of a peace plan should be the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, "living side by side with Israel in peace and security". EU officials acknowledge Israeli officials and diplomats currently display no interest in the so-called two-state solution but insist it is the only option for long-term peace.

Persons: Andrew Gray BRUSSELS, Israel's Israel Katz, Riyad al, Maliki, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Joe Biden, Andrew Gray, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: European Union, EU, Palestinian, League of Arab, Hamas, League of, United Nations, Reuters, U.S Locations: Gaza, Brussels, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Palestinian, EU, League of Arab, United States, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary

☆ Israel’s Netanyahu rejects any Palestinian sovereignty in post-war Gaza, rebuffing Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

US President Joe Biden (L) meets with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on October 18, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. The families want the government to take bold steps to free the hostages, fearing that Israel's military activity in Gaza further endangers their lives. Health authorities in Hamas-ruled Gaza say Israel's offensive has killed nearly 25,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. As part of its search for the hostages, Israel's military dropped leaflets on Gaza's southernmost town of Rafah. Israel's military didn't immediately comment.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden's, Netanyahu, Biden, Gaza hasn't, Israel, Antonio Guterres, Gadi Eisenkot, We've, Yuval Bar, Keith Siegel, Eli Shtivi, Majd, Khan Younis, Halima Abdel, Rahman, Tawfiq, Hafez Ajaq Organizations: Israel's, Palestinian, Hamas, U.S, Israel, Health, United Nations, Police, Iranian, Revolutionary Guard, National News Agency, Associated Press, West Bank, . Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, United States, Uganda, Israeli, Caesarea, pita, Haifa, Rafah, Iranian, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, Lebanese, Tyre, Jabaliya, Bani Suheila, Khan, Ramallah

☆ Protesters in Tel Aviv Call for Change to Netanyahu Government
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, accusing the veteran leader of mishandling the nation's security and calling for a new election. Anti-government protests that shook the nation for much of 2023 ceased after the attacks by Hamas in southern Israel on Oct. 7. This was reflected in Saturday night's turnout in a central Tel Aviv square where many of last year's protests took place. While divisions have emerged among members of his wartime cabinet, Netanyahu is intent on staying in power. Opposition leaders have offered to form a unity government not led by Netanyahu, but no moves have gained traction.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Noam Alon, Alexandre Meneghini, Ari Rabinovitch Organizations: Reuters Locations: TEL AVIV, Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza

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