Benjamin Netanyahu News

Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion of the country's war goals on Tuesday to include the return of northern residents who fled cross-border fire traded with Hamas ally Hezbollah. «The political-security cabinet updated the goals of the war this evening, so that they include the following section: the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,» Netanyahu's office said in a statement. Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group have exchanged near-daily strikes since Hamas's October 7 attack sparked war in the Gaza Strip.

Harris and former President Donald Trump featured some sharp comments and memorable moments. Here are some of the most notable — and quotable — exchanges from Tuesday night's debate: «You're not running against Joe Biden. You're running against me.» — Harris, after Trump repeatedly criticized President Biden and his administration.

West Bank on Sunday, the first such incident since the Gaza war began in October, straining ties between the Jewish state and the Hashemite kingdom. Israel's army said that the gunman accessed the Allenby Bridge crossing, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, from the Jordanian side in a truck and fired shots before he was killed by Israeli guards. The victims were identified as forklift operators above the age of 50. The crossing, which is used mainly by Palestinians and foreigners, was closed while Israeli security forces conducted searches given suspicions that the truck might have been rigged with explosives, the army said. Al Arabiya TV showed a backlog of trucks on the Jordanian side after the closing.

right to food accused Israel of carrying out a "starvation campaign" against Palestinians during the war in Gaza, an allegation that Israel vehemently denies. In a report this week, investigator Michael Fakhri claimed it began two days after Hamas' surprise attack in southern Israel that killed some 1,200 people, when Israel's military offensive in response blocked all food, water, fuel and other supplies into Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said accusations of Israel limiting humanitarian aid were «outrageously false».

Blinken said on Thursday it was incumbent on both Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas to say yes on remaining issues to reach a Gaza ceasefire deal, which has faced obstacles in negotiations across months. «Based on what I have seen, 90% is agreed but there are a few critical issues that remain,» including the so-called Philadelphi corridor on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt, Blinken said at a press briefing in Haiti. He said there were also some gaps in the agreement in how Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners are exchanged.

A rare call for a general strike in Israel to protest the failure to return hostages held in Gaza led to closures and other disruptions around the country, including at its main international airport

JERUSALEM (AP) — Grieving and angry Israelis surged into the streets Sunday night after six more hostages were found dead in Gaza, and demanded — chanting “Now! Now!” — that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reach a cease-fire with Hamas to bring the remaining captives home.

European Union must rethink its relations with Israel and impose sanctions on some Israeli government ministers, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday. At a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Borrell urged the ministers to consider imposing sanctions on certain members of PM Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet.

Nearly 11 months into the war with Hamas, Israel’s economy is struggling as the country’s leaders grind ahead with an offensive in Gaza that shows no signs of ending and threatens to escalate into a wider conflict

Veteran PBS journalist Judy Woodruff has apologized for remarks she had made regarding former President Donald Trump and negotiations for peace between Israel and Hamas in Gaza

Hamas said it was «keen» on reaching a cease-fire agreement with Israel, denying what it said were US claims it is stalling negotiations to end the devastating conflict in Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Tuesday said remarks by US President Joe Biden and his top diplomat, Antony Blinken, were «misleading and don't reflect the reality of the movement's position.» The comments came a day after Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said the next step toward a truce is for «Hamas to say yes.» Blinken said Netanyahu had accepted a proposal the US is calling a «bridging agreement» to tide the sides over until they iron out the final details. Hamas said the proposal was different from a Biden-led plan unveiled in May, suggesting they are unhappy with Israel's latest demands. The two sides are meant to start a new round of negotiations in Cairo this week, but no date's been set for that yet. Egypt is mediating, along with the US and Qatar.

Pro-Palestinian organizers have vowed to flood the streets of Chicago with thousands of protesters during the Democratic National Convention, which [began Monday]. If successful, they will make headlines, but they also will almost certainly alienate allies as they attempt to box in Vice President Kamala Harris on Gaza. Harris has already taken a firmer stand than President Joe Biden in demanding Israel focus its attacks on Hamas rather than the Palestinian people.

Antony Blinken left Saturday on a mission to the Middle East to push ahead a Gaza ceasefire deal, as cautious optimism rises. The top US diplomat, who is putting off vacation plans for his ninth trip to the Middle East since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, will fly to Tel Aviv ahead of expected meetings with the Israeli leadership. He has routinely visited Arab states on previous trips but no further stops were immediately announced.

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.»

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.

United Nations court on Wednesday to join South Africa's genocide lawsuit against Israel, a Turkish official said. The declaration of intervention will be submitted at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the official said on condition of anonymity in accordance with regulations. Turkiye, one of the fiercest critics of Israel's actions in Gaza, will become the latest nation to seek to participate in the case. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has frequently compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler, accused his country of genocide, called for it to be punished in international courts and criticised Western nations for backing Israel.

Israel is already in a «multi-front war» with Iran and its proxies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting Sunday, as the United States and allies prepared to defend Israel from an expected counterstrike and prevent an even more destructive regional conflict. Tensions have soared following nearly 10 months of war in Gaza and the killing last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas' top political leader in Iran. Iran and its allies have blamed Israel and threatened retaliation. Hamas says it has begun discussions on choosing a new leader. Netanyahu said Israel was ready for any scenario. Jordan's foreign minister was making a rare trip to Iran as part of diplomatic efforts, while the Pentagon has moved significant assets to the region.

Hamas's political leader in an attack blamed on Israel has prompted fears of a wider regional conflict and sidelined talks aimed at ending the nearly 10-month war in Gaza. Since Hamas's deadly October 7 attack on Israel sparked devastating retaliation in Gaza, Qatar has acted as an important interlocutor with the Palestinian militant group. The movement's slain political chief Ismail Haniyeh was based in the Gulf emirate.

Middle East simmers with tension and stares at the possible Israel-Iran war, the United States announced plans to bolster its military presence in the region. Now the question is — Will it be 'Abraham Alliance' vs 'Axis of resistance' battle? Three US and Israeli officials told Axios that they expect Iran to launch an attack on Israel as early as Monday. This move comes in response to threats of retaliation from Iran and its regional allies following the killings of a Hamas leader in Tehran and a Hezbollah commander in Beirut, heightening fears of a broader conflict.

Read this | Modi vibes well with Trump. But India may not be ready for a second Trump term With the death of Haniyeh, a crucial negotiator for a ceasefire, any de-escalation seems unlikely. Geopolitical analysts warn that the situation could escalate into a global conflict if allies on both sides become involved.

Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.