Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has told President Joe Biden that he will press ahead with Israel’s war against Hamas after a temporary cease-fire expires.
Quick Read
- Netanyahu’s Stance on War: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he will continue Israel’s war against Hamas after the temporary cease-fire expires, emphasizing the continuation of the conflict until all goals are achieved.
- Cease-Fire Expectation: A four-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is anticipated to begin on Thursday.
- Hamas Hostage Situation: The extension of the truce is contingent on Hamas releasing more hostages. Netanyahu insists on continuing the war until Hamas is destroyed and all 240 hostages are released.
- Houthi Rebels’ Missile Launch: Yemen’s Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, claimed they launched missiles towards southern Israel, targeting the Red Sea city of Eilat.
- Houthi Actions Since Conflict Outbreak: This missile launch is one of several aerial attacks the Houthis have launched against Israel since the conflict began on October 7. They also hijacked a Bahamas-flagged ship, taking 25 crew members hostage.
- Israel’s Response to Poet’s Detention: The Israeli army released Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha, who was detained in Gaza. Abu Toha, who has been reporting on the conflict’s impact on civilians, was accused of having connections with Hamas and allegedly mistreated during his detention.
- International Attention on Abu Toha’s Case: The arrest of Abu Toha garnered international attention, with organizations like PEN and media outlets like The New Yorker calling for his safe return. He received medical treatment and is now safe in central Gaza.
- Abu Toha’s Future Plans: Abu Toha, whose son is an American citizen, is reportedly attempting to leave the besieged territory of Gaza.
The Associated Press has the story:
Israel’s Netanyahu vows war will keep going after the cease fire
Newslooks- JERUSALEM (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has told President Joe Biden that he will press ahead with Israel’s war against Hamas after a temporary cease-fire expires.
Netanyahu said he delivered the message to Biden in a phone call on Wednesday.
“I want to be clear. The war is continuing. The war is continuing. We will continue it until we achieve all our goals,” Netanyahu said.
A four-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is expected to take effect on Thursday.
Hamas can extend the truce by releasing more of the hostages it is holding.
But Netanyahu, along with the other members of his special war cabinet, told a press conference they will resume the war until Hamas is destroyed and all of the 240 hostages it is holding are released.
YEMEN’S HOUTHI REBELS SAY THEY LAUNCHED MISSILES AT ISRAEL
SANAA, Yemen — The military arm of Yemen’s Houthi rebels said Wednesday that it launched a batch of long-range large missiles toward southern Israel, including the Red Sea city of Eilat.
The Iran-backed rebel group has launched at least six aerial attacks against Israel since the conflict broke out on Oct. 7.
Last week, the Shia rebel force — which controls most of northwest Yemen — also hijacked the Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader as it sailed in the northern Red Sea, taking 25 crew members hostage.
Ownership details in public shipping databases associated the ship’s owners with Ray Car Carriers, founded by Abraham “Rami” Ungar, who is known as one of the richest men in Israel. However, Israeli officials said the ship was British-owned and Japanese-operated.
The Houthi are staunch foes of Israel and have vowed to continue aerial attacks and hijackings of Israeli ships.
“We will continue to carry out military operations until the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank stops,” the Houthi military said in a post on Telegram.
ISRAEL RELEASES AWARD-WINNING PALESTINIAN POET WHO WAS DETAINED BY TROOPS IN GAZA
JERUSALEM — The Israeli army says it has released an award-winning Palestinian poet it detained in Gaza.
Mosab Abu Toha has been contributing pieces to western media since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, painting a dire picture of its toll on civilians through his personal experience.
His family announced Monday that Abu Toha had been arrested while evacuating to southern Gaza from his home in the hard-hit Jabaliya refugee camp.
Abu Toha last posted to X on Nov. 15, writing: “Alive. Thanks for your prayers.”
Diana Buttu, a former Palestinian peace negotiator and friend of the family, said Abu Toha was stopped at an Israeli checkpoint and held for two days with dozens of other Palestinians at an Israeli detention center. She says he was was accused of having Hamas connections and beaten up in custody.
“He was taken out of Gaza and he was interrogated,” she said.
She said he was released on Tuesday, apparently after the case attracted international attention.
The literary and free expression organization PEN said it was concerned about the arrest and demanded to know Abu Toha’s whereabouts and the reason for his arrest. The New Yorker magazine, to which Abu Toha has contributed multiple articles, called for his safe return.
The Israeli military said Wednesday that Abu Toha had been released. It gave no further details.
Buttu said Abu Toha was safe in central Gaza after receiving medical treatment. The poet, whose son is an American citizen, is trying to leave the besieged territory.
