Israel Financial News

Gaza cease-fire deal is imminent, a US official said Friday that Mideast negotiators are working out logistics for the potential release of hostages and distribution of aid as part of any agreement to end the Israel-Hamas war. The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity in keeping with rules set by the White House, said the proposal currently on the table basically bridges every gap between Israel and Hamas and mediators were making preparations before a final deal is approved. It was unclear what measures were being taken, but the official said a new «implementation cell» was being established in Cairo in advance. The cell would focus on logistics, including freeing hostages, providing humanitarian aid for Gaza and ensuring that the terms of the pact are met, the official said. The comments came hours after mediators expressed hope that a deal was within reach. They said two days of talks had wrapped up in Qatar and that they plan to reconvene in Cairo next week to seal an agreement to stop the fighting.

Narendra Modi on Friday urged his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu «to de-escalate the situation» in West Asia when the latter dialled him to wish him on India's 78th Independence Day. «Appreciate PM @netanyahu's phone call and warm wishes on India's 78th Independence Day. We discussed the current situation in West Asia. Emphasized on the need to de-escalate the situation. Reiterated our call for immediate release of all hostages, ceasefire and need for continued humanitarian assistance,» Modi said on X. A statement from the Israeli PMO reads: «On behalf of the State of Israel, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Narendra Modi and the people of India on your 78th Independence Day! May our close relations flourish and bring prosperity to both our nations». The phone call comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel following killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. There has been a flurry of diplomatic activity in West Asia this week. France, Germany and the United Kingdom urged Iran and its allies to «refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardise the opportunity to agree (to) a ceasefire and the release of hostages.»

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Prosecutors say a Jordanian man living in central Florida caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage at a solar power facility and vandalized multiple private businesses over their perceived support for the state of Israel

Dubai-based port operator DP World has reported its half-year profits fell by nearly 60%, in part over the ongoing attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels over the Israel-Hamas war that have affected shipping through the Red Sea

Hezbollah and Israeli forces has killed senior commanders and several hundred fighters from the Iran-backed group, causing destruction and displacing tens of thousands on both sides. Hezbollah has seen more fighters killed since October than when it last went to war with Israel in the summer of 2006. AFP looks at the mounting toll for the Shiite Muslim movement, which has been trading near-daily fire with the Israeli army in support of Hamas since the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has expressed deep concerns about his personal safety in pursuing normalization with Israel as reported by Politico. During discussions with U.S. lawmakers, MBS reportedly conveyed that he fears for his life if he advances with the agreement without securing significant concessions for Palestinians.

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik resigned on Wednesday, nearly four months after the Ivy League university's handling of campus protests over Israel's war in Gaza was criticized by pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian sides alike. «It has also been a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community,» Shafik said in an email to staff and students. «This period has taken a considerable toll on my family, as it has for others in our community.» Shafik said her departure «at this point would best enable Columbia to traverse the challenges ahead.» She said she made the announcement so new leadership could be in place before the new term begins.

Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and discussed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, Axios reported, citing two U.S. sources. One source told Axios Trump's call was intended to encourage Netanyahu to take the deal, but stressed he did not know if this is indeed what the former president told Netanyahu. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Late last month, Netanyahu visited the U.S. and met President Joe Biden, Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican former President Trump.

Starbucks, struggling with weak demand and disgruntled investors, said Tuesday that CEO Laxman Narasimhan is stepping down after a little more than a year in the job.

A Liberian-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea has been targeted in a third attack by suspected Yemeni rebels in their campaign of assaults over the Israel-Hamas war

Starbucks, struggling with weak demand and disgruntled investors, said Tuesday that CEO Laxman Narasimhan is stepping down after a little more than a year in the job

assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on its soil, three senior Iranian officials said. Iran has vowed a severe response to Haniyeh's killing, which took place as he visited Tehran late last month and which it blamed on Israel. Israel has neither confirmed or denied its involvement. The U.S. Navy has deployed warships and a submarine to the Middle East to bolster Israeli defenses. One of the sources, a senior Iranian security official, said Iran, along with allies such as Hezbollah, would launch a direct attack if the Gaza talks fail or it perceives Israel is dragging out negotiations. The sources did not say how long Iran would allow for talks to progress before responding.

geopolitical risks as the war in Gaza drags on, and kept the rating outlook negative, meaning a further downgrade is possible. The ratings agency expects the Israeli government to permanently increase military spending by close to 1.5% of GDP versus pre-war levels, putting upward pressure on the country's budget deficit and debt levels. «In our view, the conflict in Gaza could last well into 2025 and there are risks of it broadening to other fronts,» the ratings agency said in a statement.

Israel, which possibly can take place this week, said White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby on Monday (local time) amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. This comes after President Joe Biden held talks with the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy as the US aims to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. «We share the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing here. Could be this week,» Kirby told reporters, according to The Times of Israel.

living Nostradamus,' had accurately predicted the recent Microsoft outage months in advance. Salomé, known for his precise insights, including foreseeing the coronavirus pandemic and Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, now warns that this technological disruption could be the precursor to more severe global tensions.

On Friday, gold and silver settled on a mixed note in the domestic and international markets. Gold October futures contract settled at Rs 69,895 per 10 grams with a gain of 0.27% while silver September futures contract settled at Rs 80,543 per kilogram with a loss of 0.09%.

Zepto is set to raise another $310 million that will value the quick-commerce firm at $5 billion after the funding, a 40% jump from its last round closed just over a month ago, people in the know said. This will take the total funds raised to nearly $1 billion in two successive rounds for the three-year-old firm. It raised $665 million from a clutch of investors in late June, more than doubling its valuation to $3.6 billion from $1.4 billion in August last year. In a year, Zepto has seen a more than three-and-a-half-time spike in valuation, aided by the rapid rise in demand for quick commerce. Mars Growth Capital, co-run by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc and Israel’s Liquidity Group, is set to participate in the next round joining US-based General Catalyst and other existing investors of the Mumbai-based firm for which a term sheet has now been signed, people briefed on the matter said.

Hamas on Sunday called on US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators to implement a ceasefire plan for Gaza put forward by US President Joe Biden, instead of holding «more negotiations». Hamas «demands that the mediators present a plan to implement what they proposed to the movement… based on Biden's vision and the UN Security Council resolution, and compel the occupation (Israel) to comply, rather than going through more negotiation rounds or new proposals,» the Palestinian group said in a statement. Mediators have invited both Israel and Hamas for a round of negotiations on Thursday.

The drills, which started on Friday, are ongoing in the western province of Kermanshah close to the border with Iraq to «enhance combat readiness and vigilance,» an armed forces official told IRNA. The drills are taking place as Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel after the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh's on July 31 in Tehran.

Authorities say four suspected attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted a ship in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait linking the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea