U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarked on a fresh visit to the region on Monday amidst the backdrop of the dramatic rescue of four Israeli hostages held in Gaza and the turmoil in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Blinken held a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo, although no public remarks were made. He is scheduled to also visit Israel, Jordan, and Qatar.
While President Joe Biden, Blinken, and other U.S. officials have commended the hostage rescue, the operation resulted in the deaths of numerous Palestinian civilians and could complicate efforts for a cease-fire by strengthening Israel and hardening Hamas’ determination to continue fighting the war that was initiated by its attack into Israel on Oct. 7.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza has led to the deaths of over 36,730 individuals, with no distinction made between combatants and civilians in the count. The ongoing war has resulted in widespread hunger among Palestinians due to the severe disruption of the supply of food, medicine, and other essential goods. U.N. agencies warn that over 1 million people in Gaza could face the highest level of starvation by mid-July.
The war was initiated by Israel in response to Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, during which militants infiltrated southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and around 250 individuals being kidnapped.
Currently:
— Blinken returns to Mideast as Israel-Hamas cease-fire proposal faces uncertainty following hostage rescue
— How an Israeli raid freed 4 hostages and resulted in at least 274 Palestinian casualties in Gaza
— What implications does Israel’s rescue of 4 captives, and the deaths of 274 Palestinians, have on peace negotiations?
— Centrist Benny Gantz resigns from Israel’s war Cabinet, citing frustrations with Netanyahu
Follow the AP’s coverage of the Gaza conflict at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Here’s the latest:
POLICE RAID OFFICES OF A CLOSE ALLY OF NETANYAHU
JERUSALEM — Israeli police conducted a raid on the offices of one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top allies following the launch of a criminal investigation for fraud.
Following a report by Channel 13 TV alleging that Transportation Minister Miri Regev provided preferential treatment to Israeli cities and towns whose local authorities supported her politically, the country’s Attorney General and State Prosecutor ordered an investigation into the Transportation Ministry.
Regev, an ardent supporter of Netanyahu within the Likud party, has been a controversial figure throughout her political career.
The police conducted a search at the ministry’s Jerusalem offices and seized documents, as reported by the police.
Israeli media stated that Regev denounced the probe as “fraudulent” but assured that the ministry would cooperate with the investigation.
Netanyahu is presently on trial for various corruption allegations.
PALESTINIANS SAY A 15-YEAR-OLD KILLED IN A WEST BANK RAID
JERUSALEM — Palestinian health authorities reported that Israeli forces killed a 15-year-old Palestinian during an overnight operation in the Al-Fara’a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
The military announced on Monday that a raid targeting militants had commenced, resulting in the death of one individual and the injury of two others by live ammunition.
The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the deceased boy as 15-year-old Mahmoud Nabrisi and indicated that five others were wounded in the established camp, which has origins dating back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
Additionally, Israel’s border police confirmed that they had killed a Palestinian in Tulkarem, a city in the northern West Bank known for volatility, during an undercover operation to apprehend a suspected militant. The police reported that an undercover sniper fatally shot a Palestinian wearing military attire in the area.
Although Palestinian health authorities had not confirmed the killing in Tulkarem, a traditional funeral procession was planned for Monday afternoon.
Violence in the West Bank escalated dramatically following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which triggered the conflict in Gaza.
Frequent Israeli operations in Palestinian urban areas in the West Bank have led to a rising Palestinian death toll that now exceeds 530.
Israel gained control of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast conflict. The Palestinians seek all three territories for their prospective state.
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