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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered condolences to PM Narendra Modi and the people of India after the Red Fort blast, calling it a cowardly act that cannot break the spirit of nations united against terror.

Israel stands with India after Red Fort blast, says PM Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered condolences to PM Narendra Modi and the people of India after the Red Fort blast, calling it a cowardly act that cannot break the spirit of nations united against terror.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has extended heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India over the devastating blast near Delhi&rsquo;s Red Fort on Monday evening, which left at least 12 people dead and several injured.
In a strongly worded message, Netanyahu expressed solidarity with India, describing the attack as a cowardly act that could never weaken the resolve of nations that value courage and freedom.
&ldquo;To our dear friend Narendra Modi and to the brave people of India: Sara and I, and the people of Israel, send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Israel stands strong with you in sorrow and in strength in this time,&rdquo; the Israeli Prime Minister said in his statement.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
To our dear friend <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> and to the brave people of India: Sara and I, and the people of Israel, send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Israel stands strong with you in sorrow and in strength in this time.
&mdash; Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/1988526762507001926?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Netanyahu said that both India and Israel share a deep-rooted bond as ancient civilisations united by shared values and resilience.
&ldquo;India and Israel are ancient civilisations that stand on eternal truths. Terror may strike our cities, but it will never shake our souls. The light of our nations will outshine the darkness of our enemies,&rdquo; he added.
He emphasised that while terrorism may attempt to instil fear, it cannot break the unyielding spirit of nations determined to protect peace and humanity.
Global Solidarity and Ongoing Probe
Netanyahu&rsquo;s message comes amid widespread international support for India following the Red Fort explosion, which authorities are investigating as a possible terror attack.
In the wake of the incident, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formed a &ldquo;dedicated and comprehensive&rdquo; investigation team to probe the blast, which officials believe was carried out by a Jaish-e-Mohammad module uncovered earlier by Indian agencies.
The NIA team, comprising senior officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police and above, will ensure a coordinated and in-depth probe under the supervision of top leadership.
The decision followed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) formally handing over the case to the NIA, citing a clear terror angle behind the explosion.
Following the transfer, the agency registered a case and launched a detailed investigation to trace those responsible and identify any broader network involved.
Sources said the NIA is working closely with central and state security agencies and examining multiple angles &mdash; including whether the explosion was deliberate or accidental &mdash; as part of its ongoing inquiry.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu meets US President Donald Trump in Washington amid growing isolation for Israel. Trump pushes a ceasefire, hostage release, and end of Hamas rule in Gaza.

Netanyahu and Trump Navigate Critical Talks Amid Gaza Conflict

Netanyahu and Trump's Crucial Gaza Talks

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu meets US President Donald Trump in Washington amid growing isolation for Israel. Trump pushes a ceasefire, hostage release, and end of Hamas rule in Gaza.

Days after his defiant speech at the United Nations rejecting demands to end the war in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to confer with his most important supporter.
But Monday's meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington comes at a tenuous moment. Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Netanyahu's governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience.
The question now is whether Trump, who has offered steadfast backing to Netanyahu throughout the war, will change his tone and turn up the pressure on Israel to finally wind down the conflict.
In a post Sunday on social media, the president said: &ldquo;We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!&rdquo; Trump and Netanyahu are scheduled to meet in the Oval Office, and a joint press conference is expected later.
The uncertainty surrounding the meeting casts it as &ldquo;one of the most critical&rdquo; in the yearslong relationship between the two leaders, said professor Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israeli relations at Bar-Ilan and Reichman universities.
"Netanyahu might have to choose between Trump and his coalition members,&rdquo; a number of whom want the war to continue, Gilboa said. A move by Netanyahu to end the war would leave him on shaky political ground at home a year before elections.
'Israel could seek to include red lines' If Trump puts the pressure on, the Israeli leader would probably seek to include &ldquo;red lines&rdquo; in any deal, Ailam said. He might demand that Hamas be dismantled, Ailam said. Netanyahu might also set a condition that if the militant group resumes fighting or returns to power, the Israeli military would have the right to operate freely in Gaza, he said.
Trump joined forces with Netanyahu during Israel's brief war with Iran in June, ordering US stealth bombers to strike three nuclear sites, and he's supported the Israeli leader during his corruption trial, describing the case as a &ldquo;witch hunt.&rdquo; But the relationship has become more tense lately. Trump was frustrated by Israel's failed strike this month on Hamas officials in Qatar, a US ally in the region that had been hosting negotiations to end the war in Gaza.
Recent comments have hinted at growing impatience from Washington. Last week, Trump vowed to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank &mdash; an idea promoted by some of Netanyahu's hard-line governing partners. The international community opposes annexation, saying it would destroy hopes for a two-state solution.
Michael Doran, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, dismissed the idea that Trump's comments about the West Bank were a sign of friction. He said the remarks allowed Netanyahu to resist pressure from right-wing members of his government.
&ldquo;That was a clever move by Trump,&rdquo; Doran said. &ldquo;It simultaneously showed responsiveness to Arab and Muslim allies while actually helping out Netanyahu.&rdquo; On Friday, Trump raised expectations for the meeting with Netanyahu, telling reporters on the White House lawn that the U.S. was &ldquo;very close to a deal on Gaza.&rdquo; Trump has made similar pronouncements in the past with nothing to show for it, and it's unclear if this time will be different.
Proposal does not include expulsion of Palestinians Trump's proposal to stop the war in Gaza calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages within 48 hours and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave, according to three Arab officials briefed on the plan. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan has not been formally unveiled.
Hamas is believed to be holding 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed by Israel to still be alive. The militant group has demanded that Israel agree to end the war altogether and withdraw from all of Gaza as part of any permanent ceasefire.
Trump discussed the plan with Arab and Islamic leaders in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. It doesn't include the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, which Trump appeared to endorse earlier this year.
The 21-point proposal also calls for an end to Hamas rule of Gaza as well as the disarmament of the militant group, the officials who were briefed on the plan, said. Hundreds of Palestinians, including many serving life sentences, will be released by Israel, according to the proposal.
The plan also includes the establishment of an international security force to take over law enforcement in post-war Gaza, they said.
A Palestinian committee of technocrats would oversee the civilian affairs of the strip, with power handed over later to a reformed Palestinian Authority, they said. Netanyahu has rejected any role for the authority, the internationally recognised representative of the Palestinians, in postwar Gaza.
A Hamas official said the group was briefed on the plan but has yet to receive an official offer from Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The group has repeatedly rejected laying down arms and has linked its weapons to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Netanyahu acknowledged the US plan Sunday in an interview with Fox News, saying Israeli officials were &ldquo;working with President Trump's team ... and I hope we can make it a go.&rdquo; In his speech Friday at the UN, Netanyahu praised Trump multiple times, calling him an essential partner who &ldquo;understands better than any other leader that Israel and America face a common threat.&rdquo; Israel has lost much of the world's goodwill But apart from the US leadership, Israel has lost much of the international goodwill it once could count on.
At a special session of the UN Security Council last week, nation after nation expressed horror at the 2023 attack by Hamas militants that killed about 1,200 people in Israel, saw 251 taken hostage and triggered the war. Then many of the representatives went on to criticise the response by Israel and call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and influx of aid.
Israel's sweeping offensive has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run administration. Its figures are seen as a reliable estimate by the UN and many independent experts. The fighting has displaced 90 per cent of the Gaza population, with an increasing number now starving.
In recent weeks, 28 Western-aligned countries that circled behind Israel two years ago have called on it to end the offensive in Gaza. They also criticised Israel's restrictions on humanitarian aid, which have contributed to famine in parts of Gaza.
Ten countries &mdash; including Britain, France, Canada and Australia &mdash; recognised Palestinian statehood last week, hoping to revive the long-moribund peace process.
Several Arab states, including some with longstanding relations with Israel, have accused it of committing genocide in Gaza, as have leading genocide scholars, UN experts and some Israeli and international rights groups. The UN's highest court is weighing genocide allegations raised by South Africa that Israel vehemently denies.&nbsp;

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu declared there will be no Palestinian state while launching a major settlement project in Maale Adumim, drawing international criticism over the contested West Bank land.

Israel PM Netanyahu vows 'there will be no Palestinian state'

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu declared there will be no Palestinian state while launching a major settlement project in Maale Adumim, drawing international criticism over the contested West Bank land.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Thursday that there would be no Palestinian state, speaking at a signing ceremony for a major settlement project in the occupied West Bank.
"We are going to fulfil our promise that there will be no Palestinian state, this place belongs to us," Netanyahu said at the event in Maale Adumim, an Israeli settlement just east of Jerusalem.
"We will safeguard our heritage, our land and our security... We are going to double the city's population." The event was streamed live by his office.
Israel has long had ambitions to build on the roughly 12 square kilometre (five square mile) tract of land known as E1, but the plan had been stalled for years in the face of international opposition.
The site sits between Jerusalem and the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, near routes connecting the north and south of the Palestinian territory.
Last month, Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich backed plans to build around 3,400 homes on the ultra-sensitive parcel of land.
His announcement drew condemnation, with UN chief Antonio Guterres saying the settlement would effectively cleave the West Bank in two and pose an "existential threat" to a contiguous Palestinian state.
All of Israel's settlements in the West Bank, occupied since 1967, are considered illegal under international law, regardless of whether they have Israeli planning permission.
Several Western governments, including Britain and France, have announced they intend to recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations later this month.
Britain has said it will take the step if Israel fails to agree to a ceasefire in the devastating Gaza war, triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas's October 2023 attack.
Far-right Israeli ministers have in recent months openly called for Israel's annexation of the territory.
Israeli NGO Peace Now, which monitors settlement activity in the West Bank, said last week that infrastructure work in E1 could begin within a few months, and housing construction within about a year.
It said the E1 plan was "deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution".
Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, the West Bank is home to around three million Palestinians, as well as about 500,000 Israeli settlers.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Lebanon’s decision to disarm Hezbollah by 2025, saying it could lead to Israel reducing its military presence in southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu Supports Lebanon’s Plan to Disarm Hezbollah

Netanyahu Backs Lebanon's Plan to Disarm Hezbollah

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Lebanon&rsquo;s decision to disarm Hezbollah by 2025, saying it could lead to Israel reducing its military presence in southern Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he welcomed the Lebanese cabinet's &ldquo;momentous decision&rdquo; earlier this month to work towards the disarmament of Hezbollah by the end of 2025 and it could lead to Israel's troops withdrawing from the country.
He said that if Lebanon takes the necessary steps to disarm Hezbollah, then Israel will respond with reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of the Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon.
Since the Israel-Hezbollah war ended in November with a US-brokered ceasefire, Hezbollah officials have said the group will not discuss its disarmament until Israel withdraws from five hills it controls inside Lebanon and stops almost daily airstrikes that have killed or wounded hundreds of people, most of them Hezbollah members.
Beirut is under US pressure to disarm the group that recently fought a 14-month war with Israel and was left gravely weakened, with many of its political and military leaders dead.
Hezbollah's leadership has vowed not to disarm, saying the national government's decision to remove the Iran-backed group's weapons by the end of the year serves Israel's interests.
Israel has accused Hezbollah of trying to rebuild its military capabilities, and its military has said the five locations in Lebanon provide vantage points or are located across from communities in northern Israel, where about 60,000 Israelis were displaced during the war.
Since the war ended, Hezbollah has withdrawn most of its fighters and weapons from the area along the border with Israel south of the Litani river.
The ceasefire agreement it vague how Hezbollah's weapons and military facilities north of the Litani river should be treated, saying Lebanese authorities should dismantle unauthorized facilities starting with the area south of the river.
Hezbollah maintains that the deal only covers the area south of the Litani, while Israel and the US say it mandates disarmament of the group throughout Lebanon.
The Israel-Hezbollah war started a day after the Oct 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack against Israel from Gaza. It left more than 4,000 people dead and caused damage worth USD 11 billion.&nbsp;

Israeli PM Netanyahu has nominated Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his peace efforts in global conflicts, including India-Pakistan and the Abraham Accords.

Netanyahu nominates Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

Israeli PM Netanyahu has nominated Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his peace efforts in global conflicts, including India-Pakistan and the Abraham Accords.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he has nominated Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, presenting the US president with a letter he sent to the prize committee.
"He's forging peace as we speak, in one country, in one region after the other," Netanyahu said at a dinner with Trump at the White House.
Trump has received multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominations from supporters and loyal lawmakers over the years, and has made no secret of his irritation at missing out on the prestigious award.
The Republican has complained that he had been overlooked by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for his mediating role in conflicts between India and Pakistan, as well as Serbia and Kosovo.
He has also demanded credit for "keeping peace" between Egypt and Ethiopia and brokering the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements aiming to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab nations.
Trump campaigned for office as a "peacemaker" who would use his negotiating skills to quickly end wars in Ukraine and Gaza, although both conflicts are still raging more than five months into his presidency.

Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has issued a fatwa condemning threats against Ayatollah Khamenei and senior Shia clerics, labeling Trump and Netanyahu as enemies and declaring support for them as haram.

Iran-Israel conflict: Iran's top clerics issue 'fatwa' against Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu

Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has issued a fatwa condemning threats against Ayatollah Khamenei and senior Shia clerics, labeling Trump and Netanyahu as enemies and declaring support for them as haram.

Iranian Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has issued a religious ruling condemning threats made against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other prominent Shia clerics. The fatwa, delivered in Arabic, emphasizes the religious prohibition of such threats and calls for collective opposition to those deemed responsible.
According to a report by the Jerusalem Post, Ayatollah Shirazi named former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "enemies," issuing a decree that strongly denounces their actions.
&ldquo;It is clear that threatening the life of any person who is a pillar of the Islamic system, the Marja&rsquo;iyyat (religious authority), and leadership, especially the supreme leader, is forbidden and religiously prohibited,&rdquo; Shirazi wrote.
He further stated, &ldquo;It is obligatory to defend them and to confront the perpetrators of such threats, and violating this sanctity is one of the greatest sins.&rdquo;
The Grand Ayatollah urged Muslims globally to oppose these threats and take a unified stand against leaders he accused of endangering Iran's religious leadership.
"Muslims around the world must stand firm against such enemies and their open crimes. If they carry out such an act, they will face severe and divine punishment, and they will undoubtedly be avenged," the fatwa stated.
The decree also noted that any support or cooperation by Muslims or Islamic countries with these figures would be deemed &ldquo;haram,&rdquo; or religiously forbidden.
The report highlighted that Shirazi described the individuals behind such threats as Muharib, a term in Islamic jurisprudence meaning "one who wages war against God"&mdash;a charge that, under Iranian law, can lead to the death penalty.

Former US President Donald Trump has called for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial to be scrapped, praising him as a wartime hero following Israel's deadly conflict with Iran.

Trump urges end to 'witch hunt' Netanyahu corruption trial

Former US President Donald Trump has called for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu&rsquo;s corruption trial to be scrapped, praising him as a wartime hero following Israel's deadly conflict with Iran.

US President Donald Trump weighed in on ally Benjamin Netanyahu's long-running corruption trial Wednesday, urging for Israel's "Great War Time Prime Minister" to be exonerated after the conflict with Iran.
"Such a WITCH HUNT, for a man who has given so much, is unthinkable to me," Trump wrote in a long post on his Truth Social platform.
The US president, who himself faced an array of criminal charges and convictions that he argued were politically motivated, said he had "just learned that Bibi" -- a nickname for Netanyahu -- "has been summoned to Court on Monday."
"Bibi and I just went through HELL together, fighting a very tough and brilliant longtime enemy of Israel, Iran, and Bibi could not have been better, sharper, or stronger in his LOVE for the incredible Holy Land," Trump said.
"Bibi Netanyahu's trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero," Trump urged.
Trump's lavish praise for Netanyahu came a day after the US leader angrily berated Israel in an expletive-filled rant for apparently preparing to attack Iran despite a ceasefire announced the previous night.
The unusual public display of anger at Israel saw Trump apparently trying to cajole his ally to call off warplanes in real time.
Moments later he said Israeli planes would "turn around and head home."
Netanyahu's trial has been delayed many times since it began in May 2020, with the Israeli leader requesting postponements due to the war in Gaza and later conflict in Lebanon.
In a first case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewelry and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favors.
Two other cases allege that Netanyahu attempted to negotiate more favorable coverage in two Israeli media outlets.
Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing.
Before the agreement of a ceasefire on Tuesday, Israel had pounded Iranian nuclear and military sites over the course of 12 days of war, while Iran launched waves of missiles at its regional arch foe in their deadliest-ever confrontation.
The United States joined the fray in support of its ally, hitting two nuclear facilities with massive bunker-buster bombs over the weekend, while guided missiles from a submarine struck a third.
Trump announced the ceasefire shortly after Iran retaliated with strikes targeting a US base in Qatar that the president said had been fully defeated and forewarned.
"It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu," Trump said in his social media post.

US President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video showcasing a futuristic Gaza amid controversy over his remarks on taking over the region. Global leaders, including Palestinian officials and Saudi Arabia, strongly rejected the idea.

Donald Trump shares AI video envisioning Gaza transformation, featuring golden statue and anthem

US President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video showcasing a futuristic Gaza amid controversy over his remarks on taking over the region. Global leaders, including Palestinian officials and Saudi Arabia, strongly rejected the idea.

Amid controversy over his remarks about "taking over" the Gaza Strip, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) shared an AI-generated video showcasing a transformed Gaza, turning it from ruins into a luxurious tourist destination.
The video, titled "Trump's Gaza," depicts skyscrapers, children looking up as dollar bills fall from the sky, and tech billionaire Elon Musk eating hummus on a Gaza beach.
A young boy is seen holding a golden balloon shaped like Trump&rsquo;s face, while a towering golden statue of Trump stands prominently, with people gazing up at it.
<iframe class="truthsocial-embed truthsocial-video" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114068387897265338/embed" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;
The video also features Trump dancing in a nightclub, and a high-rise building with the name "Trump Gaza" displayed at its entrance. Additionally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears in the video, lounging on a deck chair with Trump, both sipping beverages by a pool, with "Trump Gaza" visible in the background.
A song plays in the background with lyrics that say:
"Donald Trump will set you free, bringing the life for all to see, no more tunnels, no more fear, Trump's Gaza is finally here. Trump's Gaza is shining bright, golden future, a brand new life. Feast and dance; the deed is done. Trump Gaza number one."
Trump&rsquo;s AI-generated video follows his earlier statement about the US taking over and rebuilding Gaza, which sparked international criticism.&nbsp;
During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the US, Trump also expressed hope that the ongoing ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas would lead to a lasting peace.
His remarks, however, faced sharp backlash globally. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed the plan as "ridiculous and absurd," calling it a "recipe for chaos and tension in the region."
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Secretary-General Hussein al-Sheikh strongly opposed any displacement of Palestinians, emphasizing that "the two-state solution, in accordance with international legitimacy and international law, is the guarantee of security, stability, and peace."
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian delegation leader to the United Nations, insisted that Palestinians in Gaza should have the right to return to their original homes in Israel.
Saudi Arabia also reiterated its firm stance on the Palestinian issue, stating that it would not establish diplomatic ties with Israel until an independent Palestinian state is created, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Israel has warned it will resume military operations in Gaza if hostages are not released by Saturday. Hamas has postponed the next hostage exchange, accusing Israel of violating the truce agreement.

Israel threatens to resume 'intense fighting' in Gaza if hostages not released by Saturday

Israel has warned it will resume military operations in Gaza if hostages are not released by Saturday. Hamas has postponed the next hostage exchange, accusing Israel of violating the truce agreement.

Israel threatened Tuesday to resume "intense fighting" in Gaza if hostages were not released this weekend, while Hamas insisted it remained committed to the ceasefire deal and accused Israel of violations.
Under the terms of the truce, which has largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza, captives were to be released in batches in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli custody. So far, Israel and Hamas have completed five hostage-prisoner swaps.
But the deal has come under increasing strain in recent days, prompting diplomatic efforts to salvage it and Hamas to say it was "committed to the ceasefire".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "if Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF (Israeli military) will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated".
His threat echoed that of US President Donald Trump who said on Monday that "hell" would break loose if Hamas failed to release "all" Israeli hostages by Saturday.
The president proposed taking over Gaza and removing its more than two million residents.
"If all of the hostages aren't returned by Saturday 12 o'clock... I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out," Trump said.
He reaffirmed his deadline while hosting Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday.
King Abdullah said on social media he "reiterated Jordan's steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians", adding it was "the unified Arab position".
Senior Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri said Trump's remark "further complicates matters".
"Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties," he told AFP.
Egypt, a US ally which borders Gaza, said Tuesday it plans to "present a comprehensive vision for the reconstruction" of the Palestinian territory which ensures residents remain on their land.
 - 'Gates of hell' -
Hamas has said it would postpone the next hostage release, scheduled for Saturday, accusing Israel of violating the deal and calling for it to fulfil its obligations.
UN chief Antonio Guterres has urged Hamas to proceed with the planned release and "avoid at all costs resumption of hostilities in Gaza".
Yemen's Huthi rebels, who are aligned with Hamas and have attacked Israel throughout the war in support of the Palestinians, said they were "ready to launch a military intervention at any time in case of escalation against Gaza".
Netanyahu did not specify whether he was referring to all captives, but his Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on the premier to "open the gates of hell" if Israel doesn't get back "all the hostages... by Saturday".
The far-right politician demanded the "full occupation of the Gaza Strip" and an end to all humanitarian aid.
The Israeli military said it has reinforced its troops, while hostage families rallied outside Netanyahu's office in support of the ceasefire.
"There is a deal. Go for it!" said Zahiro, whose uncle Avraham Munder died in captivity.
In Gaza, resident Adnan Qassem was praying "the ceasefire holds".
"The ruling faction in Israel wants war, and I believe there is also a faction within Hamas that wants war," said the 60-year-old from Deir el-Balah.
 - 'Humanitarian catastrophe' -
Trump's latest threat came hours after Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said the hostage release scheduled for Saturday was postponed.
It accused Israel of failing to meet its commitments under the agreement, including on aid, and cited the deaths of three Gazans at the weekend.
But the group said "the door remains open" for the release to go ahead "once the occupation complies".
The Gaza war was triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,211 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.
Militants also took 251 hostages, of whom 73 remain in Gaza, including 35 the Israeli military says are dead.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says the war has killed at least 48,219 people in the territory, figures the UN considers reliable.
A UN report issued on Tuesday said that more than $53 billion will be required to rebuild Gaza and end the "humanitarian catastrophe" in the devastated territory.

US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court for investigating alleged war crimes by American and Israeli officials. The move follows ICC arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Donald Trump sanctions ICC for 'illegitimate' Israel, US probes

US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court for investigating alleged war crimes by American and Israeli officials. The move follows ICC arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

US President Donald Trump slapped sanctions on the International Criminal Court Thursday for "illegitimate and baseless" investigations targeting America and its ally Israel, the White House said.
Trump signed an executive order saying the court in The Hague had "abused its power" by issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who held talks with the US president on Tuesday.
He ordered asset freezes and travel bans against ICC officials, employees and their family members, along with anyone deemed to have helped the court's investigations.
The names of the individuals were not immediately released, but previous US sanctions under Trump had targeted the court's prosecutor.
Trump's order said the tribunal had engaged in "llegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel," referring to ICC probes into alleged war crimes by US service members in Afghanistan and Israeli troops in Gaza.
Neither the United States nor Israel are members of the court.
There was no immediate reaction from the ICC.
But the Netherlands, the court's host country, said it "regrets" Trump's sanctions order.
"The court's work is essential in the fight against impunity," Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said on X.
The sanctions are a show of support after Netanyahu's visit to the White House, during which Trump unveiled a plan for the United States to "take over" Gaza and move Palestinians to other Middle Eastern countries.
The UN and legal experts have said Trump's plan would be illegal under international law. Forcible displacement is also a crime under the ICC's governing Rome Statute.
 - 'Criminal responsibility' -
Following a request by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, judges issued arrest warrants on November 21 for Netanyahu, his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas' military chief Mohammed Deif -- whom Israel says is dead.
The court said it had found "reasonable grounds" to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bore "criminal responsibility" for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare during the Gaza war, as well as the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
Netanyahu has acused the court of anti-Semitism.
During his first term, Trump imposed financial sanctions and a visa ban on the ICC's then-prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, and other senior officials and staff in 2020.
Describing it as a "kangaroo court," his then-administration made the move after Gambian-born Bensouda launched an investigation into allegations of war crimes against US soldiers in Afghanistan.
While his order at the time did not name Israel, Trump administration officials said they were also angered by Bensouda's opening of a probe into the situation in the Palestinian territories in 2019.
President Joe Biden lifted the sanctions soon after taking office in 2021.
Prosecutor Khan later effectively dropped the United States from the Afghan investigation and focused on the Taliban instead.
Biden strongly condemned the "outrageous" warrant against Netanyahu in November.
The US House passed a bill last month to sanction the ICC, but Senate Democrats blocked it last week, saying the bill could backfire on US allies and firms.
But Democrats have also expressed anger at the sanctions on Netanyahu.

US President Donald Trump's proposal to take over Gaza and resettle its population faces widespread rejection from Palestinians, Middle East leaders, and international governments.

Trump bid to take over Gaza, relocate Palestinians faces backlash

US President Donald Trump's proposal to take over Gaza and resettle its population faces widespread rejection from Palestinians, Middle East leaders, and international governments.

US President Donald Trump's shock proposal for the United States to take over the Gaza Strip and resettle its people faced a resounding rejection from Palestinians, Middle East leaders and governments around the world on Wednesday.
Trump made his announcement to audible gasps during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he was hosting at the White House for talks.
In a proposal that lacked details on how he would move out more than two million Palestinians or control Gaza, Trump said he would make the war-battered enclave "unbelievable" by removing unexploded bombs and rubble, and economically redeveloping it.
"The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We'll own it," he said.
He said there was support from the "highest leadership" in the Middle East for his idea, but hours later, the leaders of Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Turkey, China, Britain, France and Germany hit back.
Netanyahu, however, welcomed the idea, saying it could "change history" and was worth "paying attention to".
Suggesting "long-term ownership" by the United States, Trump said his idea would make it "the Riviera of the Middle East. This could be something that could be so magnificent."
Hamas, which seized sole control of Gaza in 2007, rejected the proposal, branding it "racist".
The group said the proposal to "occupy" the territory was "aggressive to our people and cause, won't serve stability in the region and will only put oil on the fire".
Much of Gaza was levelled in a 15-month war triggered by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, and Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for sealing a ceasefire agreement that took effect last month.
 - 'Miserable existence' -
While Netanyahu's visit to the White House was billed to focus on a second phase of the truce, it quickly turned into the revelation of a proposal that would, if implemented, completely transform the Middle East.
Trump, who also floated travelling to Gaza, appeared to suggest it would not be rebuilt for Palestinians.
"It should not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people that have... lived there and died there and lived a miserable existence there," he said.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas rejected the proposal, saying that "legitimate Palestinian rights are not negotiable" and that it would constitute a "serious violation" of international law.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk said that deporting people from occupied territory was "strictly prohibited" under international law.
It is not the first time that Trump has suggested Palestinians should move from Gaza. In recent days, he has cited Egypt and Jordan as possible destinations, but people from the territory have said they want to stay.
"We create dignity because we are the dignity here, and we say in short to Trump and Netanyahu, Palestine is not for sale," 24-year-old Gazan Ahmed al-Minawi said.
For Palestinians, any attempts to force them out of Gaza would evoke dark memories of what the Arab world calls the "Nakba", or catastrophe -- the mass displacement of Palestinians during Israel's creation in 1948.
Israelis in Jerusalem welcomed Trump's proposal, though some did not believe it could be achieved.
"I really like what he said, but in my wildest dreams (I doubt) if it happens, I don't believe it, it's hard for me to believe it will happen, but who knows, God knows," said Refael, a 65-year-old massage therapist.
Trump was vague on the details, but hinted that it could require US boots on the ground in one of the most volatile places on earth "if necessary".
Egypt and Jordan have rejected any resettlement from Gaza, with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty calling on Wednesday for a swift reconstruction "without the Palestinians leaving".
 - 'Winning the war' -
In Washington, Netanyahu hailed Trump as Israel's "greatest friend" and praised his "willingness to think outside the box".
The Israeli premier would not rule out a return to hostilities with Hamas, or with its other foes in the region including Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iran.
"We will end the war by winning the war," Netanyahu said, while vowing to secure the return of all hostages held in Gaza.
He voiced confidence that a deal with regional rival Saudi Arabia to normalise relations was "going to happen".
But Saudi Arabia said it would not formalise ties with Israel without a Palestinian state, while rejecting any "attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land".
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also lashed out, saying that relocating Palestinians was something "neither we nor the region can accept".
"They must be allowed home," UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. "They must be allowed to rebuild, and we should be with them in that rebuild on the way to a two-state solution."
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Gaza "belongs to the Palestinians", while Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said: "We are opposed to the forced transfer of the residents of Gaza."
The Gaza war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Israel's retaliatory response has killed at least 47,518 people in Gaza, the majority civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.

Israel’s security cabinet is set to review a ceasefire agreement that includes a hostage exchange with Hamas and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Israeli cabinet to meet on ceasefire after PM says hostage deal finalised

Israel&rsquo;s security cabinet is set to review a ceasefire agreement that includes a hostage exchange with Hamas and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Israel's security cabinet was set to meet Friday after final details of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal were ironed out, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said, with the United States "confident" the truce would begin as planned this weekend.
If approved by Israel's cabinet, the ceasefire agreement would take effect Sunday and involve the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, after which the terms of a permanent end to the war would be finalised.
Away from the diplomacy, Israeli strikes killed dozens of people, Gaza rescuers said Thursday, while Israel's military reported hitting about 50 targets across the territory over the past day.
Netanyahu's office had accused Hamas on Thursday of reneging on key parts of the agreement to extort last-minute concessions -- an allegation Hamas denied.
His office said early Friday a "deal to release the hostages" had been reached and he had ordered the political-security cabinet to meet later in the day.
"The government will then convene to approve the deal," it added.
At least two cabinet members have voiced opposition to the ceasefire, with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir saying that he and his party colleagues would quit the government -- but not the ruling coalition -- if it approved the "irresponsible" deal.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also opposes the truce, calling it a "dangerous deal".
But US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has been involved in months of mediation efforts, said Thursday he believed the ceasefire would go ahead on schedule.
"I am confident, and I fully expect that implementation will begin, as we said, on Sunday," he said.
&nbsp;
- Continued strikes -
Gaza's civil defence agency said Israel pounded several areas of the territory after the deal was announced on Wednesday, killing at least 80 people and wounding hundreds since then.
Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, warned that Israeli strikes were risking the lives of hostages due to be freed under the deal, and could turn their "freedom... into a tragedy".
The war was triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.
During the attack, the deadliest in Israeli history, Palestinian militants also took 251 people hostage, 94 of whom are still being held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel's ensuing campaign has destroyed much of Gaza, killing 46,788 people, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the UN considers reliable.
&nbsp;
- Mixed feelings -
The ceasefire agreement followed intensified efforts from mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States, after months of fruitless negotiations to end the deadliest war in Gaza's history.
If finalised, it would pause hostilities one day before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who claimed credit for the agreement.
"If we weren't involved in this deal, the deal would've never happened," Trump said in an interview Thursday.
Envoys from both the Trump team and the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden were present at the latest negotiations, with a senior Biden official saying the unlikely pairing had been a decisive factor in reaching the deal.
In Israel and Gaza, there were celebrations welcoming the truce deal, but also anguish.
Saeed Alloush, who lives in north Gaza, said he and his loved ones were "waiting for the truce and were happy", until overnight strikes killed many of his relatives.
"It was the happiest night since October 7" until "we received the news of the martyrdom of 40 people from the Alloush family", he said.
In Tel Aviv, pensioner Simon Patya said he felt "great joy" that some hostages would return alive, but also "great sorrow for those who are returning in bags, and that will be a very strong blow, morally".
&nbsp;
- 'Permanent end' -
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, announcing the agreement on Wednesday, said an initial 42-day ceasefire would see 33 hostages released, including women, "children, elderly people, as well as civilian ill people and wounded".
Also in the first phase, Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza's densely populated areas and allow displaced Palestinians to return "to their residences", he said.
Biden said the second phase of the agreement could bring a "permanent end to the war".
He added the deal would "surge much needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families".
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also underscored the "importance of accelerating the entry of urgent humanitarian aid" into Gaza.
Cairo said it was ready to host an international conference on reconstruction in Gaza, where the United Nations has said it would take more than a decade to rebuild civilian infrastructure.
In a statement Thursday, G7 leaders called the ceasefire deal "a significant development" and urged Israel and Hamas to work on its "full implementation."
The World Health Organization's representative in the Palestinian territories, Rik Peeperkorn, said Thursday that at least $10 billion would probably be needed over the next five to seven years to rebuild Gaza's devastated health system alone.
The UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, facing an Israeli ban on its activities set to start later this month, welcomed the ceasefire deal.
"What's needed is rapid, unhindered and uninterrupted humanitarian access and supplies to respond to the tremendous suffering caused by this war," UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expresses gratitude to US President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden for their role in facilitating the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal. 

Netanyahu thanks Trump and Biden for facilitatingIsrael-Hamas ceasefire deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expresses gratitude to US President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden for their role in facilitating the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal.&nbsp;

Following the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had discussions with both US President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, expressing gratitude for their support in facilitating the deal.&nbsp;
Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel's commitment to securing the return of all hostages and praised Trump for stressing the importance of preventing Gaza from becoming a terrorist stronghold. Both leaders agreed to meet soon in Washington to further discuss these matters. ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/qatar-us-announce-gaza-truce-hostage-release-deal-1736998994783" target="_blank">Qatar, US announce Gaza truce, hostage release deal</a> 
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office shared an update on social media, stating, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening with US President-elect Donald Trump and thanked him for his help in advancing the hostages' release and for supporting Israel in bringing an end to the suffering of the hostages and their families." The post continued, "The Prime Minister emphasized his commitment to returning all hostages and commended President-elect Trump for his remarks that the US would collaborate with Israel to ensure Gaza is not a safe haven for terrorism. The two leaders decided to meet soon in Washington to discuss this and other pressing issues."
Netanyahu also expressed gratitude to President Biden for his assistance in advancing the hostage deal, with the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office adding, "Prime Minister Netanyahu then spoke with US President Joe Biden and thanked him for his help in advancing the hostages deal."
In response to the ceasefire announcement, Trump shared his thoughts on social media, emphasizing the role his administration's victory played in facilitating the deal.
"This epic ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our historic victory in November, as it signaled to the world that my administration would pursue peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans and our allies," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I am thrilled that American and Israeli hostages will return home to be reunited with their families and loved ones."&nbsp;
He also remarked, "We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine what we will accomplish once I return to the White House, and my administration is fully confirmed to secure more victories for the United States."
Trump praised the efforts of his National Security team, led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and emphasized the importance of maintaining "peace through strength" in the region.&nbsp;
"With this deal in place, my National Security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our allies to ensure Gaza never becomes a terrorist sanctuary. We will continue promoting peace through strength throughout the region, building on the momentum of this ceasefire to expand the Historic Abraham Accords. This is only the beginning of great things to come for America and the world," he concluded.
President Biden also acknowledged the difficulty of negotiating the deal. "The road to this deal has not been easy. I have worked in foreign policy for decades - this has been one of the toughest negotiations I have ever experienced. And we reached this point because of the pressure Israel put on Hamas, backed by the United States," Biden said when announcing the deal, which aims to end over 15 months of conflict.&nbsp;
The agreement includes a full ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of hostages, including Americans.

 Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed that his security team found a listening device from his personal bathroom after it was used by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting in 2017. The Telegraph reported Johnson

Ex-UK PM Boris Johnson Accuses Netanyahu Of Hiding Listening Devices In His Bathroom

&nbsp;Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed that his security team found a listening device from his personal bathroom after it was used by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting in 2017.&nbsp;

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed that his security team found a listening device from his personal bathroom after it was used by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting in 2017. The Telegraph reported Johnson&rsquo;s new book &lsquo;Unleashed&rsquo;, which is slated for its release on October 10, mentioned the episode wherein the alleged incident took place in British Foreign Office. Johnson has alleged in his memoir that during his meeting with Netanyahu, the latter whom he refers to as Bibi, excused himself to go to the bathroom. &nbsp;Then Netanyahu &lsquo;repaired for a while&rsquo;. And after that a listening device was found in the thunderbox.

The footage in the film was captured during police interrogations of Prime Minister Netanyahu, his wife Sarah, son Yair, close friends, confidantes, and former household staff, conducted between 2016 and 2018.

'Bibi Files': Film On Netanyahu Corruption ‘Scandal’ Which Can’t Be Shown In Israel Premieres In Toronto

<h2>The footage in the film was captured during police interrogations of Prime Minister Netanyahu, his wife Sarah, son Yair, close friends, confidantes, and former household staff, conducted between 2016 and 2018.</h2>

The Highly anticipated &lsquo;The Bibi Files&rsquo; premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The unfinished documentary includes never-seen-before footage of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The footage in the film was captured during police interrogations of Prime Minister Netanyahu, his wife Sarah, son Yair, close friends, confidantes, and former household staff, conducted between 2016 and 2018.
According to a recent Variety report, these recordings were leaked to producer Alex Gibney in 2023.
The film shows many instances in which PM answered: &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t know&rsquo; or &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t remember&rsquo;&nbsp;
The film has been directed by Alexis Bloom, with producers including Bloom, Alex Gibney, and Israeli Channel 13 reporter Raviv Drucker.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested a Jerusalem court on September 9 to prevent the release of footage showing him being questioned for an upcoming documentary. However, just a few hours later, a judge denied his petition.
Netanyahu contended that journalist Raviv Drucker, one of the film's producers, planned to release footage from a police interrogation without court authorization, which is a criminal offense in Israel punishable by up to a year in prison.
Netanyahu has been charged with fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases filed in 2019, and with bribery in one of these cases. The proceedings are ongoing and are expected to take years to conclude, particularly due to delays following the suspension of the first trial and other non-urgent cases because of Hamas's unexpected October 7 incursion and the subsequent Gaza war.
The Israeli PM has denied charges, claiming they are part of a fabricated witch-hunt led by the police and state prosecution, and facilitated by a weak attorney general.
During a Q&amp;A session in Toronto following the screening of The Bibi Files, which includes new footage of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&rsquo;s corruption interrogations, directors Alex Gibney and Alexis Bloom highlighted ongoing legal issues that have left the film incomplete and unable to be shown in Israel.
Gibney explained that while some of the film's content had previously been leaked and discussed in the Israeli press, the new footage presents a legal challenge. He noted that, due to privacy protection laws, screening the film in Israel is prohibited.
He also mentioned that revealing the source of the leaked footage could endanger their freedom, if they were ever identified.
Ahead of the film&rsquo;s premiere, pro-ceasefire protesters rallied against Netanyahu, calling for a deal to free 101 hostages in Gaza.
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Netanyahu faced media heat over his previous claim on the war on Gaza. The Israeli PM was grilled as he took questions from international media. He appeared defensive when asked to explain ‘step away from victory’ claim.

Israel PM Netanyahu Faced Foreign Media And This Question Troubled Him Most | Gaza War

Netanyahu faced media heat over his previous claim on the war on Gaza. The Israeli PM was grilled as he took questions from international media. He appeared defensive when asked to explain &lsquo;step away from victory&rsquo; claim.

&lsquo;What I meant to say was that we were a step away&rsquo; This claim by Israeli PM Netanyahu has come to haunt him.
Netanyahu faced media heat over his previous claim on the war on Gaza. The Israeli PM was grilled as he took questions from international media.
He appeared defensive when asked to explain &lsquo;step away from victory&rsquo; claim. &ldquo;What I meant to say was that we were a step away from the critical thing that will pave our way to victory.&rdquo;
The question was posted after NSA Hanegbi said war will continue into 2025.
Asked about his April 6 claim on &lsquo;Rafah victory&rsquo;, PM Netanyahu said: "I didn&rsquo;t think that we could have this victory if we didn&rsquo;t go into Rafah, and I withstood quite a bit of international pressure and American pressure to go into Rafah and to Philadelphi [Corridor]
&ldquo;Now, we&rsquo;re in a position to destroy Hamas militarily. There&rsquo;s still work to be done to destroy its governance capability. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to administer Gaza, but I want to take this away from them.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Israel is &ldquo;well ahead&rdquo; in its program for victory.&rdquo;
He said that Israel has been maintaining pressure on Hamas to ensure return of 101 hostages who are still remaining in Gaza.
"You need something to squeeze them, to prevent them, to put pressure on them to release the remaining hostages.&rdquo;
"So if you want to release the hostages, you've got to control the Philadelphi Corridor.
The PM remained defiant as the US pressured Israel to finalise the Gaza ceasefire deal. Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the Gaza truce failure, adding &lsquo;they rejected everything&rsquo;.
&lsquo;I hope that changes because I want those hostages out. We're trying to find some area to begin the negotiations They (Hamas) refuse to do that... (They said) there's nothing to talk about."
Hours later, Hamas said that there was no need for new truce proposals, and asked Israel to agree to the US plan earlier proposed.
&nbsp;

Israeli PM Netanyahu reportedly ignored October 7 attack warnings. Opposition leader Yair Lapid told the inquiry committee that Netanyahu ignored Shin Bet's warning on Hamas' activities months before Oct 7 assault. 

Did Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Ignore Oct 7 Attack Warning?

Israeli PM Netanyahu reportedly ignored October 7 attack warnings. Opposition leader Yair Lapid told the inquiry committee that Netanyahu ignored Shin Bet's warning on Hamas' activities months before Oct 7 assault.&nbsp;

Israeli PM Netanyahu ignored October 7 attack warnings: Lapid
Opposition leader Yair Lapid told inquiry committee
Israeli security forces had failed to pre-empt Hamas assault
Israeli military&rsquo;s own report acknowledges failure
But now, Netanyahu&rsquo;s role is under scanner
According to Lapid, Netanyahu ignored Shin Bet&rsquo;s warnings
Shin Bet warned Netanyahu about Hamas activity months ago
Netanyahu warned over security implications of judicial overhaul&nbsp;
Judicial overhaul sparked protests in 2023
Judicial overhaul: weaken SC&rsquo;s power, govt can pick judge
Militants perceived weakness due to judicial overhaul push
But PM appeared &lsquo;bored and indifferent&rsquo;: Lapid to panel
President Isaac Herzog also apprised of growing security threat
Netanyahu earlier denied getting advance warning of attacks

The UK's new position tilts the odds against Netanyahu, but it does not necessarily mean the warrant will be issued.

UK shuns its challenge to his ICC arrest warrant: what does it mean for Netanyahu?

The UK's new position tilts the odds against Netanyahu, but it does not necessarily mean the warrant will be issued.

The United Kingdom, under the new Labour government, has dropped former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan to challenge the arrest warrants sought against Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant at the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Though newly elected PM Keir Starmer's stance tilts the odds against Netanyahu, it does not necessarily mean the warrant will be issued. However, it signals a larger shift in Britain's policy towards Israel.
So what does it mean for Netanyahu and his military offensive in Gaza?

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu dissolved the war cabinet to avoid including far-right coalition members in the sensitive forum, fearing harm to relations with US.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolves war cabinet

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu dissolved the war cabinet to avoid including far-right coalition members in the sensitive forum, fearing harm to relations with US.

A senior Israeli official told AFP on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had dissolved the war cabinet following the resignation earlier this month of centrist leader Benny Gantz.
The official said on condition of anonymity that the wider "security cabinet will continue to decide on matters regarding the war" between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media said the move, which was not expected to trigger any major policy shift, was meant to counter pressure from far-right politicians seeking a greater say in decision-making.
The war cabinet was formed after Gantz had left the opposition to join Netanyahu's government following Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack.
Gantz and another member of his party, Gadi Eisenkot, both former military chiefs, had agreed to join the government on condition that a war cabinet be formed, said another Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to discuss the issue with the media.
With Gantz and Eisenkot out of the government, "there is no longer a need for" the war cabinet, said the official.
"It means that the security cabinet will meet more often. The security cabinet is the body responsible for making decisions (ROUTrelated to the war) anyway."
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who were all part of the war cabinet, also sit on the security cabinet -- the key forum ratifying decisions regarding the war including truce and hostage release negotiations.
Gantz announced his resignation on June 9 after failing to get Netanyahu to approve a post-war plan for Gaza.
Israeli media reported that Netanyahu dissolved the war cabinet to avoid including far-right coalition members in the sensitive forum, fearing harm to relations with key Western allies such as the United States.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who are both security cabinet members and opposed to a truce before Hamas is "eliminated", have put pressure on Netanyahu to add them to the war cabinet.
The Hamas attack on southern Israel that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 37,347 people, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
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Sunday night's attack, which appeared to be one of the war's deadliest, helped push the overall Palestinian death toll in the war above 36,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Netanyahu acknowledges 'tragic mistake' after Rafah strike kills dozens of Palestinians

Sunday night's attack, which appeared to be one of the war's deadliest, helped push the overall Palestinian death toll in the war above 36,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged Monday that a &ldquo;tragic mistake&rdquo; had been made after an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah set fire to a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians and, according to local officials, killed at least 45 people.
The strike only added to the surging international criticism Israel has faced over its war with Hamas, with even its closest allies expressing outrage at civilian deaths.
Israel insists it adheres to international law even as it faces scrutiny in the world's top courts, one of which last week demanded that it halt the offensive in Rafah.
Netanyahu did not elaborate on the error. Israel's military initially said it had carried out a precise airstrike on a Hamas compound, killing two senior militants. As details of the strike and fire emerged, the military said it had opened an investigation into the deaths of civilians.
Sunday night's attack, which appeared to be one of the war's deadliest, helped push the overall Palestinian death toll in the war above 36,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and noncombatants in its tally.
&ldquo;Despite our utmost efforts not to harm innocent civilians, last night, there was a tragic mistake,&rdquo; Netanyahu said Monday in an address to Israel's parliament. &ldquo;We are investigating the incident and will obtain a conclusion because this is our policy.&rdquo;
Mohammed Abuassa, who rushed to the scene in the northwestern neighbourhood of Tel al-Sultan, said rescuers "pulled out people who were in an unbearable state.&rdquo; &ldquo;We pulled out children who were in pieces. We pulled out young and elderly people. The fire in the camp was unreal,&rdquo; he said.
At least 45 people were killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry and the Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service. The ministry said the dead included at least 12 women, eight children and three older adults, with another three bodies burned beyond recognition.
In a separate development, Egypt's military said one of its soldiers was shot dead during an exchange of fire in the Rafah area, without providing further details. Israel said it was in contact with Egyptian authorities, and both sides said they were investigating.
An initial investigation found that the soldier had responded to an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants, Egypt's state-owned Qahera TV reported.
Egypt has warned that Israel's incursion in Rafah could threaten the two countries' decades-old peace treaty.
Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city on the border with Egypt, had housed more than a million people &mdash; about half of Gaza's population &mdash; displaced from other parts of the territory.
Most have fled once again since Israel launched what it called a limited incursion there earlier this month. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps in and around the city.
Elsewhere in Rafah, the director of the Kuwait Hospital, one of the city's last functioning medical centres, said it was shutting down and that staff members were relocating to a field hospital.
Dr. Suhaib al-Hamas said the decision was made after a strike killed two health workers Monday at the entrance to the hospital.
Netanyahu says Israel must destroy what he says are Hamas' last remaining battalions in Rafah. The militant group launched a barrage of rockets Sunday from the city toward heavily populated central Israel, setting off air raid sirens but causing no injuries.
The strike on Rafah brought a new wave of condemnation, even from Israel's strongest supporters.
The US National Security Council said in a statement that the &ldquo;devastating images" from the strike on Rafah "are heartbreaking." It said the US was working with the Israeli military and others to assess what happened.
French President Emmanuel Macron was more blunt, saying &ldquo;these operations must stop&rdquo; in a post on X. "There are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians. I call for full respect for international law and an immediate ceasefire,&rdquo; he wrote.
The Foreign Office of Germany, which has been a staunch supporter of Israel for decades, said &ldquo;the images of charred bodies, including children, from the airstrike in Rafah are unbearable.&rdquo;
&ldquo;The exact circumstances must be clarified, and the investigation announced by the Israeli army must now come quickly,' the ministry added. &rdquo;The civilian population must finally be better protected.&rdquo;
Qatar, a key mediator in attempts to secure a cease-fire and the release of hostages held by Hamas, said the Rafah strike could &ldquo;complicate&rdquo; talks.
Negotiations, which appear to be restarting, have faltered repeatedly over Hamas' demand for a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, terms Israeli leaders have publicly rejected.
The Israeli military's top legal official, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, said authorities were examining the strike in Rafah and that the military regrets the loss of civilian life.
Speaking to an Israeli lawyers' conference, Tomer-Yerushalmi said Israel has launched 70 criminal investigations into possible violations of international law, including the deaths of civilians, the conditions at a detention facility holding suspected militants and the deaths of some inmates in Israeli custody. She said incidents of property crimes and looting were also being examined.
Israel has long maintained it has an independent judiciary capable of investigating and prosecuting abuses. But rights groups say Israeli authorities routinely fail to fully investigate violence against Palestinians and that even when soldiers are held accountable, the punishment is usually light.
Israel has denied allegations of genocide brought against it by South Africa at the International Court of Justice. Last week, the court ordered Israel to halt its Rafah offensive, a ruling it has no power to enforce.
Separately, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three Hamas leaders, over alleged crimes linked to the war. The ICC only intervenes when it concludes that the state in question is unable or unwilling to properly prosecute such crimes.
Israel says it does its best to adhere to the laws of war and says it faces an enemy that makes no such commitment, embeds itself in civilian areas and refuses to release Israeli hostages unconditionally.
Hamas triggered the war with its October 7 attack into Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seized some 250 hostages. Hamas still holds about 100 hostages and the remains of around 30 others after most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year.
Around 80 per cent of Gaza's 2.3 million people have fled their homes, severe hunger is widespread and UN officials say parts of the territory are experiencing famine.&nbsp;

benjamin netanyahu

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