4 Israeli #hostages have been #rescued alive from #Gaza, the Israeli military said Sat. #Israel’s forces rescued Noa Argamani, 26; Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrey Kozlov, 27; & Shlomi Ziv, 41, from 2 locations in #Nuseirat in central Gaza, the #IDF said in a stmnt. ≥125 people were #killed in the operation.
All “are in good medical condition” & have been transferred to a hospital for further medical examinations, the IDF said.
President Isaac #Herzog & PM Benjamin #Netanyahu spoke to #freed hostage #NoaArgamani after her rescue.
Video shared by a fmr spox for PM, showed the phone call between Argamani & Herzog.
Israel’s Seizure of #Gaza Border Zone Strains Ties With Egypt
Israel defied ominous Egyptian warnings & took control of the #PhiladelphiCorridor, but the reaction from #Egypt, which wants to maintain its #security cooperation with #Israel, has been muted.
The #IDF said another 4 #Israeli hostages abducted by #Hamas on #Oct7 had died in captivity & that their bodies are being held by the #Palestinian Islamist group.
The 4 were identified as Chaim Peri, 80, Yoram Metzger, 80, Amiram Cooper, 84, & Nadav Popplewell, 51.
All 4 were filmed alive in hostage videos posted by #Hamas.
“We are thoroughly examining the circumstances of their deaths & checking all possibilities. We will present soon the findings, first to their families, & then to the public," he said. "We will present them w/transparency, as we have done until now."
Of the >250 people abducted on Oct. 7, about 120 remain in #Gaza, acc/to Israeli tallies. Many have been declared dead by Israeli authorities.
The Israeli military has lifted a ban on the sale of food to Gaza from Israel & the occupied #WestBank as its battlefield offensive chokes international aid, acc/to #Palestinian officials, businessmen (sic) & international aid workers.
Israeli war cabinet minister #BennyGantz's #centrist party has proposed holding a vote to dissolve #parliament in a bid to bring about an early #election, his party said in a statement on Thurs.
After a sobering trip to #Kyiv, Secy of State Antony J. #Blinken is urging #POTUS#Biden to lift some restrictions on how Ukraine can use American arms.
The Spanish, Irish & Norwegian govts announced Wed that they would recognize a #Palestinian state, saying there would be no #peace in the #MiddleEast w/o it.
Israel denounced the move as giving aid to its enemy #Hamas.
The coordinated announcements are purely symbolic — but not w/o some power.
The leaders of the 3 countries said they hoped their recognition would press #Israel, the #Palestinians & the international community toward a #TwoStateSolution to the conflict.
“In the midst of a #war, w/tens of thousands killed & injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis & Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in #peace & #security,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said.
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz ordered the immediate recall of the Israeli ambassadors to #Spain, #Ireland & #Norway. “I am sending a clear message today: #Israel will not be complacent against those who undermine its sovereignty & endanger its #security.”
The #UnitedStates govt reiterated its position that recognizing a #PalestinianState was premature & must be the result of direct negotiations between Israel & the #Palestinians.
The #Biden admin has concluded it is “reasonable to assess” that #Israel’s military campaign in #Gaza has violated #InternationalLaw, but has not found specific instances that would justify the withholding of #military aid, #State Dept told #Congress Fri.
The report said that conclusion was based in part on the difficulty of collecting reliable information from the #war zone & the way #Hamas operates in densely populated areas. It also stressed that #Israel has begun the process of seeking accountability for possible violations of the #law, a key component in the #UnitedStates assessment about whether to provide #military aid to allies accused of #HumanRights violations.
The #Biden admin paused the shipment of thousands of weapons to #Israel, including controversial 2k-pound bombs, amid mounting concern about the country’s plan to expand a military operation in southern #Gaza that could dramatically increase the conflict’s death toll, U.S. ofcls said Tues.
…powerful pro-Israel interest groups including the American Israel Public Affairs Cmte… is spending tens of millions …this #election cycle to unseat #Democrats it views as insufficiently pro- #Israel.
#Republicans assailed news of a delay in #weapons approvals as a “reprehensible” betrayal. “The #UnitedStates must stand with Israel. Period,” said Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC).
>IDF Warns More Than 100,000 People in #Rafah to Evacuate
#Israel wants to “move people out of harm’s way,” a military official said, a sign that it may be inching closer to invading the Gazan city in defiance of international pressure
The announcement came hours after #POTUS had a tense phone call w/PM #Netanyahu during which Biden threatened to condition future support for Israel depending on how it addresses his concerns about #CivilianCasualties & the #HumanitarianCrisis in Gaza.
Tens of thousands of #Israelis thronged central #Jerusalem on Sunday in the largest anti-government #protest since the country went to #war in Oct. Protesters urged the govt to reach a #CeaseFire deal to free dozens of #hostages held in #Gaza by #Hamas militants & to hold early #elections.
During #Biden’s speech on #healthcare yesterday he was interrupted by protesters advocating for #Palestinians in #Gaza. Instead of ignoring them & moving on, #POTUS responded, “They have a point; we need to get more care into Gaza.” He added, “Everybody deserves healthcare.”
Remarks by #Gallant & #LloydAustin before the meeting underscored the divide. While both noted their countries’ commitment to #Israel’s #security, Gallant emphasized what he said was the urgent need to destroy #Hamas, secure the release of Israeli #hostages & “ensure Israel’s military edge & capabilities.”
#LloydAustin focused on the dire consequences the #war has had for #Palestinian#civilians. “The number of civilian casualties is far too high, & the amount of #HumanitarianAid is far too low,” he said. The safety of #Palestinians in #Rafah, where >1 million people are holed up, was a “top priority,” he added.
The #UnitedNations#Security Council on Mon passed its 1st resolution calling for a #Gaza#CeaseFire after 4 failed attempts. The #UnitedStates abstained, allowing it to pass. The resolution, backed by 14 nations including #China & #Russia, demands an immediate cease-fire during the Islamic holy month of #Ramadan & the release of all hostages. 4 previous cease-fire resolutions had failed, including 1 proposed by the #US on Fri.
Each [of the 7] was given an initial 45 days for a snr ofcl to provide “credible & reliable written assurances” that it will use #UnitedStates defense material in accordance w/ #InternationalHumanitarianLaw & other laws.
The #LawOfWar imposes specific requirements on #targeting, protection of #civilians & treatment of #POWs.