Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by Israel and most of its allies, has released three hostages, including Alexander Troufanov, Argentine-Israeli Yair Horn, and American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, officials say.
The Trump administration will back Israel’s efforts to maintain a buffer zone in Syria for the foreseeable future, the Jerusalm Post reported.
U.S. intelligence agencies determined that Israel might be planning major attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities this year, seeking to capitalize on Iran’s vulnerabilities, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The Israeli military reports that in recent weeks, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force in Iran has been smuggling cash to Hezbollah in Lebanon using civilian planes through Lebanon’s Beirut international airport.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump told Jordan’s King Abdullah visiting the White House on Tuesday that he still wants to take over Gaza and move its population of two million Palestinians to other nearby countries, including Jordan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that if Hamas does not release the hostages by Saturday at noon, the ceasefire deal will end, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will resume “intense fighting until Hamas is defeated.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday condemned Hamas as an “evil” organization that must be “eradicated,” urging leaders to “step up” with a plan for Gaza if they do not support President Trump’s vision for the region.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree Monday “to end” a system of payments to families of Palestinians imprisoned or killed after carrying out attacks against Israel, but critics called it window dressing as disbursements would continue under a new scheme.
Tensions were rising in the Middle East on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald J. Trump warned Jordan and Egypt he could “conceivably” withhold aid to them if they don’t take Palestinian refugees he seeks to relocate from the Gaza Strip, which was partly destroyed in the Israel-Hamas war.
With the ceasefire at risk due to Hamas’ refusal to release hostages, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have raised readiness levels in the Southern Command and postponed leave for combat soldiers and operational units, the Israeli military announced Monday night.
President Donald Trump warned Hamas on Monday, demanding the release of all hostages in Gaza by noon Saturday. “If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock — I think it’s an appropriate time — I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump stated, threatening to cancel the ceasefire deal.
In a warning to Israel, Egypt announced Sunday that it would host “an emergency Arab summit” this month to discuss what it called “serious” developments for Palestinians.
President Trump expressed frustration with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire after footage showed gaunt and frail Israeli hostages being released, comparing their appearance to Holocaust survivors. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he warned, “At some point, we’re gonna lose our patience.”
Iran’s supreme leader has appeared to condemn United States President Donald J. Trump’s proposal for the U.S. to take over Gaza and turn it into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that Israel will withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), following the Trump Administrations withdrawal from the Council this past Tuesday . Saar accused the council of systematic bias against Israel while neglecting real human rights issues worldwide.
Jordan is reportedly preparing for war with Israel if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to expel Palestinians into its territory.
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz announced Wednesday that President Donald J. Trump’s plan to “take over Gaza” was intended “to pressure” neighboring Arab nations to propose their own solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Saudi Arabia warned Wednesday it would not establish ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state after U.S. President Donald J. Trump suggested again that the United States should take over Gaza.
President Trump proposed Tuesday that the U.S. could take over the Gaza Strip, suggesting it could “own it” and even remove Palestinians from the area. Without ruling out the possibility of deploying American troops, he envisioned transforming Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, his first meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration.