Netanyahu dismisses cease-fire proposal – The Washington Publish

“The extreme part of the battle will come to an finish very quickly,” Netanyahu mentioned. “However that doesn’t imply that the battle will probably be over.” He added: “I’m keen to make a partial deal, which can convey a few of the folks again to us. That’s no secret. However we’re dedicated to persevering with the battle after the truce.”

Netanyahu’s remarks got here as Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant visited Washington, the place he’s assembly with U.S. officers to explain a brand new part within the battle in Gaza and escalating tensions within the north with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. In a gathering with U.S. particular envoy Amos Hochstein on Monday, Gallant mentioned that “Part C” of the battle would have impacts on all fronts for Israel, in accordance with an announcement from Gallant’s workplace.

Forward of his Monday assembly with CIA Director William J. Burns, Gallant mentioned he would focus on acquiring the return of the hostages, which he known as “Israel’s major dedication.”

He additionally met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. In accordance with a State Division readout, Blinken up to date Gallant on “diplomatic efforts to advance safety, governance, and reconstruction” in a postwar Gaza and “emphasised the significance of that work to Israel’s safety.”

The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board on Monday condemned Netanyahu’s remarks, saying that ending the battle in Gaza “with out releasing the hostages can be an unprecedented nationwide failure and a departure from the battle’s aims.”

The group mentioned Netanyahu’s plan “abandons” the 120 hostages and “violates the state’s ethical obligation to its residents.” It mentioned that “the accountability and obligation to return all hostages lies with the prime minister.”

The households of the hostages have more and more clashed with Netanyahu and far-right members of his cupboard over whether or not it’s a precedence to succeed in a deal on the hostages or to proceed combating to destroy Hamas.

In a assertion shared Monday on Telegram, Hamas condemned Netanyahu’s remarks and mentioned his intention for a “partial settlement” would consequence within the continuation of the battle after the restoration of prisoners — which clearly violates Biden’s proposal.

Hamas mentioned its “insistence that any settlement should embrace a transparent affirmation of a everlasting cease-fire and a whole withdrawal from the Gaza Strip” was a crucial step. Whereas Hamas mentioned it views the proposal “positively,” it has additionally added circumstances that the US has known as unacceptable.

The European Union’s overseas coverage chief, Josep Borrell, additionally expressed disappointment with Netanyahu’s feedback and their impact on talks to finish the battle.

“The final declaration from Prime Minister Netanyahu confirms that, unhappily, this plan just isn’t going to be applied,” he mentioned in Luxembourg forward of a gathering of E.U. overseas ministers.

“I’m fearful, I’m far more fearful, day by day the crises are spilling over,” he added, citing fears that border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah may escalate. “The danger of this battle affecting the south of Lebanon and spilling over can be day by day greater.”

The fear in Europe over the battle’s growth was additional underscored when German Overseas Minister Annalena Baerbock mentioned on the similar occasion that it was “completely essential” {that a} cease-fire is reached in Gaza. She urged Hamas to “lastly agree” to a deal. Baerbock, who described the scenario on the Lebanon-Israel border as “greater than regarding,” mentioned she can be touring to the Center East and that “an extra escalation can be a disaster for all folks within the area.”

The help company Save the Youngsters additionally joined the refrain of these calling for an finish to the battle in Gaza, saying Monday {that a} cease-fire is “desperately” wanted.

Greater than 20,000 kids are estimated to be lacking in Gaza, in accordance with a report launched by the group on Monday. The report notes that the younger are considered “misplaced, disappeared, detained, buried below the rubble or in mass graves.”

No less than 17,000 kids are believed to be unaccompanied and separated from their households, the report mentioned. It famous that the determine was made worse by Israel’s assault on the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah, which “elevated the pressure” on households and communities contained in the enclave.

Present circumstances in Gaza make it “almost unimaginable” to collect and confirm info, the report mentioned. However it estimated that round 4,000 kids are possible lacking below rubble and that an unknown quantity are in mass graves.

Different kids, the report mentioned, have been “forcibly disappeared,” together with an unknown quantity who have been allegedly detained and transferred out of Gaza — their whereabouts unknown to their family members.

After conducting a situational evaluation in Rafah, Israel Protection Forces Chief of Employees Herzi Halevi mentioned the Israeli navy is “clearly approaching the purpose the place we will say we now have dismantled the Rafah Brigade.” He added that he meant this within the sense that the brigade can “not operate as a combating unit,” not within the sense that there are “no extra terrorists.”

Right here’s what else to know

On the request of their households, the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board publicized video taken by Hamas militants whereas abducting three hostages on Oct. 7: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Or Levy and Eliya Cohen. The movies, additionally printed by the IDF, present armed militants placing bloodied hostages at the back of a pickup truck and driving down a highway. “The tough video is a severe indictment of the neglect that has been occurring for 262 days,” the discussion board mentioned. The hostages stay in Hamas captivity.

The World Well being Group mentioned it helped switch 5 kids in want of medical care — 4 most cancers sufferers and one affected person with second-degree burns — from al-Ahli Hospital to the Nasser Medical Complicated. They’ll obtain care at that hospital in Khan Younis till they will go away Gaza, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus mentioned in a tweet together with a video of the younger sufferers boarding an ambulance. Greater than 10,000 folks want medical evacuations outdoors Gaza, he mentioned.

Violent clashes broke out in Los Angeles on Sunday as pro-Palestinian protesters tried to dam entry to a synagogue in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, in accordance with the mayor, Karen Bass. She described the violence as “abhorrent” in a social media put up. She has ordered further police patrols within the space and at different locations of worship within the metropolis. “I need to be clear that Los Angeles is not going to be a harbor for antisemitism and violence,” she wrote.

Britain’s Labour Celebration mentioned it will adjust to any arrest warrant issued by the Worldwide Prison Courtroom towards Netanyahu if the British opposition occasion wins in elections on July 4. Opposition overseas secretary David Lammy made the comment in an interview with CNN that aired Sunday. Biden has beforehand described the ICC warrant purposes as “outrageous.”

Lebanese officers took journalists and ambassadors to Beirut’s worldwide airport in a bid to refute a report claiming that Hezbollah has weapons caches there. Talking throughout the two-hour tour of Rafiq al-Hariri Worldwide Airport, Public Works Minister Ali Hamiya mentioned Lebanon is contemplating authorized motion towards Britain’s Telegraph newspaper over the report. The paper printed an article over the weekend — with out a byline and attributed to nameless “whistleblowers” — that mentioned Hezbollah saved weapons on the airport, sparking panic in Lebanon that the airport might be focused by Israel.

No less than 37,598 ​​folks have been killed and 86,032 injured in Gaza for the reason that battle began, in accordance with the Gaza Well being Ministry. It doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants however says the vast majority of the useless are ladies and youngsters. Israel estimates that about 1,200 folks have been killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 assault, together with greater than 300 troopers, and it says 314 troopers have been killed for the reason that begin of its navy operations in Gaza.

Susannah George contributed to this report.