Officials from Egypt, Israel, the United States and Qatar were expected to meet in Doha on Thursday with the aim of resuming talks on a proposed three-phase ceasefire to end the war. War between Israel and Hamas. and free the remaining hostages. But an Israeli official said Israel’s negotiating team was delayed and would likely be sent next week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress in Washington on Wednesday as thousands of protesters gathered near the US Capitol denounce the war. Hamas criticized Thursday’s speech and accused Netanyahu of obstructing efforts to end the war and return the hostages.
Netanyahu has signaled that a ceasefire agreement could be taking shape after nine months of war, but during his fiery speech to Congress, he vowed to press ahead with Israel’s war until a “total victory” is achieved.
Palestinians displaced by The latest order from the Israeli army to withdraw Some parts of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis say they are sleeping on the streets. Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 39,100 Palestinians have died in the war.
Here’s the latest:
BEIRUT – The Palestinian group Hamas criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fiery speech to the US Congress, accusing him Thursday of obstructing efforts to end the war and return hostages.
On his high-level visit to Washington, Netanyahu vowed to achieve a “total victory” against the militant group in his speech of almost an hour in Congressand mocked the protests against War between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has been going on for nine months now.
Hamas said Netanyahu’s visit to Washington was a speech to improve its image after the International Criminal Court requested to issue arrest warrants against him for war crimes. The ICC also sought court orders for its Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Hamas officials Mohammed Deif, Yehya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh.
“He (Netanyahu) is the one who frustrated all efforts aimed at ending the war and concluding an agreement to release the prisoners, despite the continued efforts of the brothers’ mediators in Egypt and Qatar, despite the flexibility and positivity shown by the movement,” the militant group said in a written statement, adding that the fact that the Israeli prime minister spoke of intensifying efforts to free the hostages is a “complete lie” to mislead public opinion.
They also rejected Netanyahu’s vision for the future of Gaza – which would consist of a demilitarized civilian administration in the enclave – and accused Netanyahu of being dishonest about delivering aid to the Gaza Strip and downplaying the number of Palestinians. dead in the ongoing war.
TEL AVIV, Israel – A group representing families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza said Thursday that six relatives of hostages have been freed after being briefly detained during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s presidency. speech before the joint session of Congress.
Family members stood in the hallway silently during Wednesday’s speech and wore yellow T-shirts that said “Seal the deal now,” referring to a ceasefire agreement to free the hostages, before security officials They will be removed from the House chamber. They were freed a few hours later, the Hostage Families Forum said.
“Benjamin Netanyahu spoke for 54 minutes and did not once mention the need to seal the deal and sign it now,” said Gil Dickmann, whose cousin, Carmel Gat, is detained in Gaza.
All six said they were invited by members of Congress to attend the speech. Netanyahu brought to the speech. rescued hostage Noa Argamani and several relatives of the hostages as part of their official delegation.
JERUSALEM – The Israeli military said Thursday that it recovered the bodies of five Israeli hostages, in the area of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, who were kidnapped by Hamas militants on October 7.
He identified the hostages as Maya Goren, and says four soldiers died in the battle: Sgt. Oren Goldin, Sgt. Tomer Ahimas, Sgt. Maj. Ravid Aryeh Katz and Sgt. Kiril Brodski. He says the five are believed to have been killed in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war, and that their bodies were taken hostage.
Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities hardest hit during the Hamas attack, said Wednesday it was informed that the body of Goren, 56, was returned to Israel following a rescue mission, without providing additional details. Israeli authorities had said in late 2023 that she was dead.
Israel has declared more than a third of the approximately 110 hostages remaining in Hamas captivity dead.
SYDNEY – Australia is imposing financial sanctions and travel bans against seven Israeli citizens and financial sanctions against a group of youth based in the West Bank for their alleged involvement in settler violence in the occupied territory.
The sanctions announced Thursday are against Hilltop Youth and its 32-year-old leader Meir Ettinger. Other targets include Yinon Levi, 31; Zvi Bar Yosef, 31 years old; Nería Ben Pazi, 30; Eliseo Yered, 23 years old; David Chai Chasdai, 29 years old; and Einan Tanjil, 22 years old.
Australia accuses them of violent attacks against Palestinians. These include beatings, sexual assaults and torture of Palestinians resulting in serious injuries and deaths, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government imposed the sanctions “because it is the right thing to do.” He added that settlements in the West Bank They prevented a two-state solution and were illegal under international law.
The sanctions follow the United States’ decision to sanction entities and individuals linked to acts of violence against civilians in the West Bank.
Wong said Australia called on Israel to hold perpetrators of settler violence accountable and to cease ongoing settlement activity.
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