The day after the rescue mission of the four kidnapped Israelis, Hamas and its supporters weighed heavilyOn the scales, the numbers of people killed during the daring and devastating operation. And criticism rained down on the Jewish state. «Many have sent messages of support. Only Israel’s enemies protested for the victims of Hamas terrorists and their accomplices, accusing us of war crimes”, commented Foreign Minister Israel Katz, rejecting the criticism.
Gaza, the devastation in Nuseirat after the Israeli blitz to free the hostages
The “next day” was also complicated “at home”. The invitation to “stay united, great tasks await us” that Benjamin Netanyahu addressed to his former rotating prime minister, and now also former war minister, to convince him to remain in the unity government was of no avail.
Benny Gantz resigned last night from the interim alliance with the Israeli prime minister “with a heavy heart, but with all my heart.” Netanyahu also tried to insist – «Benny, this is not the time to abandon the battle» – despite the direct accusation with which his rival began in his farewell speech: «Netanyahu is preventing us from advancing towards true victory».
The United States is stepping up pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza with a call for a UN Security Council vote on a truce and with an Antony Blinken tour of the region. The secretary of state will visit Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Qatar in his eighth regional tour since the war broke out. «The only obstacle to reaching a ceasefire is Hamas. It’s time for them to accept the deal,” the Foggy Bottom chief said Saturday. Hamas has insisted on a permanent truce and a complete Israeli withdrawal from all parts of Gaza, demands that Israel has firmly rejected. Blinken’s arrival was preceded by further overnight bombing of Gaza by Israeli forces.
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Collateral victims: Gantz resigns and Netanyahu tries to stop him: “We must remain united”
Hamas urges the United States to put pressure on Israel to stop the war
Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, urged the United States to pressure Israel to end the war in Gaza. “We call on the US administration to put pressure on the occupation to stop the war in Gaza, and the Hamas movement is ready to positively address any initiative that ensures an end to the war.” His words quoted by the Times of Israel which arrive on the eve of the visit to Egypt and Israel by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
WSJ, the United States close to the agreement with Saudi Arabia in the defense sector
The United States is reportedly close to concluding a defense treaty with Saudi Arabia, but the initiative depends on Israel’s commitment to a two-state solution and an end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The Wall Street Journal reports this, citing sources familiar with the talks. According to the report, the Biden administration aims to offer Israel the opportunity to achieve normalization with the Saudis, “thereby opening the door to greater acceptance in the Arab and Muslim world.” Israel, in exchange, will have to commit to making “verifiable progress” towards a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
Israel, “military operations continue in the Gaza Strip. Two armed terrorists eliminated in an air raid”
The Israeli Air Force has “eliminated two Hamas terrorists in the last few hours, including operators of the Nukhba Forces, in the central Gaza Strip, and struck underground terrorist infrastructures in the Deir al-Balah area”: this was announced by the Israeli Air Force. ‘IDF in a statement. “Furthermore, IDF ground troops conducted targeted raids on military facilities in the area and destroyed tunnels and underground terrorist infrastructure located in the central Gaza Strip,” the statement continued. “The 162nd Brigade continues to conduct targeted raids based on intelligence, eliminating terrorists who represent a threat to the armed forces”, underlines the IDF, specifying that during the night “two armed terrorists, identified as they approached a tunnel underground, were eliminated in an air attack.”
UN, “aid suspended from the US pier after the Israeli raid”
The director of the UN World Food Program (WFP), Cindy McCain, announced yesterday that the organization has “suspended” the distribution of humanitarian aid from the pier built by the United States on the coast of Gaza: the international media reported this. McCain said she was “concerned about the safety of our people” after one of the bloodiest days of the war in the Strip, referring to the Israeli raid on Saturday which led to the release of 4 hostages held by Hamas. McCain added that two of the WFP warehouses in Gaza were hit by a rocket and one staff member was injured.
IDF, first launch of Hezbollah’s anti-aircraft missiles
A Hezbollah cell has fired anti-aircraft missiles at Israeli fighter planes in southern Lebanon for the first time since the Middle East war broke out. This was reported by the IDF, according to which the planes did not suffer a serious threat from the attack. Shortly after the attack, a drone struck and killed the cell, near the coastal city of Tyre.
The US is calling for a UN vote on the resolution for a truce in Gaza
The US has called for a UN Security Council vote on its draft resolution for the Gaza ceasefire agreement. This was announced by the spokesperson of the Security Council of the American mission, Nate Evans, without specifying the date of the vote.
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