Dec. 5: US envoy says Israeli demands on Philadelphi Route distracted from Hamas intransigence

Report: Smotrich tells Civil Administration there’s ‘great opportunity’ to annex W. Bank

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich leads a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 11, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich recently told workers of the Civil Administration, the Defense Ministry body in charge of Israeli and Palestinian civil affairs in the West Bank, that he hopes to shut down the department as part of Israeli annexation of the West Bank, Ynet reports.

“I hope we’ll have a great opportunity with the new US administration to create full normalization [of Israeli rule] and bring government ministries in here,” he is quoted as telling Civil Administration officials.

“There will be an orderly process, and we’re working now on solidifying the administrative work and putting the plan on the table.”

He added: “This is a serious statement, I’ve spoken with the prime minister about it and we are taking it very, very seriously. I also spoke with the designated ambassador to Washington, Dr. Yechiel Leiter. We are trying to create a real process here. There is a lot of work involved, but this was once an impossible reality, and we can make it a reality.”

Quake sparks brief tsunami warning in California

A powerful earthquake that struck off the coast of California sparked a brief tsunami warning, with residents warned to flee to higher ground before the alert was canceled.

Seismologists at the US Geological Survey say the shallow 7.0-magnitude tremor hit around 68 kilometers (42 miles) from the coastal town of Ferndale mid-morning, with people living in the area experiencing strong ground shakes.

Smartphone users received warnings urging them to move to higher ground immediately, AFP reporters in the area say.

“A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you,” the warning said. “You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters.”

The National Weather Service, which issued the warning, withdrew it around midday, shortly before the first waves had been expected.

TV report: Israel preparing for possibility that the Syrian army may collapse

Syrian anti-government fighters cheer as they ride a military vehicle through the streets of the west-central city of Hama on December 5, 2024. (Rami al SAYED / AFP)

Channel 12 reports that Israel is preparing for the possibility that the Syrian army may collapse in the face of rapidly advancing rebel forces.

The report says Israel has been surprised by the weakness of the Syrian army, as it continues to swiftly lose ground to the jihadist-led fighters.

The report adds that Israel has sent a strong warning to Iran not to send weaponry to Syria that could reach the hands of the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon.

US envoy warns Israel against blowing ‘small things’ out of proportion while maintaining Lebanon ceasefire

US Ambassador Lew cautions Israel against blowing issues out of proportion in trying to maintain the ceasefire with Hezbollah.

“Israel has made clear that it has to be able to defend itself, but they also have to act in a way that doesn’t take small things and turn them into big things,” Lew says.

Since the ceasefire came into effect last week, Israel has carried out a handful of strikes on southern Lebanon at what it has said were Hezbollah targets in violation of the deal’s terms. France and Lebanon have accused Israel of violating the ceasefire with these strikes.

Alongside his subtle critique of Israel, Lew says that “the Government of Lebanon has to increasingly gain control over the things that are causing those responses [from Israel].”

“That’s going to take time, and it’s going to take having days of going through the ups and downs, but [the ceasefire] is holding,” the ambassador continues, adding that the US is now leading a new mechanism in place to ensure that the deal is upheld and that alleged violations are addressed in real time.

Asked about claims from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office that the US had instituted an effective arms embargo against Israel during the war, Lew reiterates the Biden administration’s denial of the accusation, saying the only transfer withheld remains a 2,000-lb bomb shipment that the US has been very public about, due to concerns of their use in densely populated areas.

US envoy: Public Israeli demands on Philadelphi Corridor distracted from Hamas intransigence

US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew gives a speech at a rally calling for the release of hostages in Hamas captivity, Tel Aviv, January 13, 2024. (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s repeated public remarks over the summer about the need for Israel to remain in the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border “distracted attention” from the fact that Hamas was the main obstacle to a hostage deal, US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew says.

“Most people think that the Philadelphi Corridor was the biggest issue because the government here talked so much about the Philadelphi Corridor,” Lew says during an interview with the Kan public broadcaster.

“In fact, there was a constructive negotiation on the Philadelphi Corridor that could have led to a phase one deal, and Hamas was rigidly insisting on tougher terms regarding prisoners and rights to have a say over who gets released, and they were hardening their position,” the outgoing Biden envoy continues.

“But the world doesn’t necessarily know that, because the maps of the Philadelphi Corridor are what they saw. The resistance has come from Hamas in large part, but some of the actions taken by the government of Israel have shifted the focus from Hamas in a way that’s not helpful,” Lew adds.

In early July, Netanyahu added new conditions to the hostage deal proposal he had previously approved, insisting that Israel maintain its military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor to prevent the rearmament of Hamas, Arab and Israeli negotiators have told The Times of Israel.

Netanyahu subsequently discussed the issue at public appearances and even held a press conference in early September where he stood by an enlarged map of the corridor and sought to explain its strategic significance.

Israel’s security establishment has taken a different view, arguing that the IDF would be able to return to the corridor if need be and that withdrawing from the route was a necessary concession to make to secure the release of the hostages. Netanyahu maintained that international pressure would be too strong against Israel returning to the corridor once it left — though he took an opposite stance when defending Israel’s decision to withdraw from Lebanon as part of the ceasefire with Hezbollah last week.

Hezbollah chief says group will aid Assad in confronting rebels

An image grab taken from Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV on December 5, 2024, shows Hezbollah chief Naim Qasem delivering a televised speech from an undisclosed location (Al-Manar / AFP)

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem says that his group, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, will be by Damascus’s side as Islamist-led rebels press a sweeping offensive.

In a televised address, Qassem denounces “terrorist groups” who want to “destroy Syria again… to bring down the regime” and “create chaos.”

“They will not be able to achieve their goals despite what they have done in past days, and we as Hezbollah will be by Syria’s side in thwarting the goals of this aggression as much as we can,” Qassem says.

He does not elaborate on what sort of support his group might provide, but Hezbollah suffered heavy losses in its war with Israel which ended with a fragile ceasefire on November 27, the day the Syrian rebels launched their offensive.

Qassem accuses the United States and Israel of supporting “takfiri” factions, a term the Shiite Muslim group uses to refer to jihadists or supporters of radical Sunni Islam.

US rejects Amnesty’s characterization of Israel’s war in Gaza as a genocide

The US rejects Amnesty International’s characterization of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza as a genocide, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel says during a press briefing.

“We disagree with the conclusions of such a report. We have said previously and continue to find the allegations of genocide to be unfounded,” Patel says.

He stresses that the US still believes that rights groups play a critical role in providing analysis on what is happening in Gaza, even if Washington disagrees with their findings in this particular instance. Patel also says the US disagrees with the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s characterization of Amnesty International as “deplorable.”

And while the US doesn’t view the war in Gaza as a genocide, it remains very concerned about the humanitarian situation there and will continue to remind Israel that it has a moral and strategic responsibility to comply with international law, Patel says.

18,000 Palestinians said to evacuate north Gaza’s Beit Lahiya in past day

Some 18,000 Palestinian civilians have been evacuated from northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya in the past day, according to a report by Army Radio.

Before entering the town in the Strip’s far north last month, the IDF estimated that only a few thousand Palestinians were residing there.

During the evacuation of the population from several shelters in the combat zone, troops detained around 100 suspected terror operatives who were taken to Israel for questioning, the report says.

The military has previously denied it is seeking to forcibly displace Palestinians in Gaza, saying that “the IDF’s warnings to members of the civilian population to temporarily distance themselves from areas expected to be exposed to intense warfare are made in accordance with the obligation under international law to take feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm by providing advance warnings prior to attacks. The IDF only operates in areas in which there is known to be a militant presence, and is still at this time working to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure in various areas throughout the Gaza Strip.”

Troops killed some 20 terror operatives during fighting in Beit Lahiya in the past day, Army Radio says, a relatively low figure compared to recent weeks, as combat in the area has become less intense.

The IDF launched an offensive against Hamas in the Strip’s far northern towns of Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun in early October. So far, the military estimates that it has killed at least 1,750 terror operatives.

Another 1,300 have been detained, and around 90,000 civilians have been evacuated from the area.

Thirty-one IDF soldiers have been killed so far in the operation.

تحدثوا عن بيت لاهيا لأنها تذبح الان#نحن_نذبح pic.twitter.com/Rei6Jii5xc

— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) December 4, 2024

Likud, National Unity parties exchange insults and claims of faulty memories

This combination photograph created on May 30, 2024 shows (L) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on May 12, 2024, and (R) Minister Benny Gantz on May 18, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel and Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Benny Gantz’s National Unity party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud exchange insults prompted by former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen’s claim that the premier once asked him to spy on senior government officials.

In an interview broadcast by Kan news on Tuesday, Cohen said Netanyahu had asked him in 2011 to monitor government ministers and top defense officials to ensure they were not leaking information.

Responding to the interview, Gantz, who served as IDF chief of staff between 2011-2015, described a “toxic and suspicious attitude by the prime minister during the period that [the former Shin Bet chief] spoke about.”

Hitting back at the opposition politician, Netanyahu’s Likud party released a statement saying “Gantz’s deteriorating memory is worrying,” given that he had himself accused the Shin Bet of “defaming the political echelon” in a letter to Netanyahu in 2014.

“Netanyahu’s deteriorating cognitive ability is extremely disturbing,” National Unity responds. “The tension between the IDF and the Shin Bet at the end of 2014 is not related to Netanyahu’s attempt three years earlier to spy on the heads of security services.

“We suggest that Netanyahu work on the lies and sharpen his memory in preparation for taking the witness stand next week,” the party quips, referring to Netanyahu’s upcoming testimony in his ongoing criminal trial.

Blinken tells Sa’ar more needs to be done to facilitate Gaza aid

A picture taken during a tour organized by the Israeli army shows a Palestinian worker unloading humanitarian aid from a truck on the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom crossing on November 28, 2024. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)

The US State Department says Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the Biden administration’s call for Israel to do more to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza during his meeting with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar yesterday in Malta.

Following a pair of months that saw the lowest amount of aid enter the Strip since the start of the war, the US in October gave Israel a 30-day deadline to take significant steps to boost the humanitarian situation or risk a partial weapons embargo. As the deadline expired last month, Washington said Israel had made enough progress on many of the steps requested by Washington to avoid an embargo. However, the administration stressed that it expected Israel to maintain the new measures instituted in order to alleviate the humanitarian crisis as much as possible.

Israel argues that Hamas is stealing or profiting off of much of the aid that is entering Gaza, while large quantities are looted by criminal gangs.

International stakeholders maintain that Israel effectively occupies the Strip and controls the crossings and is therefore responsible for the humanitarian situation inside the enclave. They also argue that Israel’s refusal to allow the Palestinian Authority to gain a foothold in Gaza has allowed Hamas to fill any vacuums temporarily created by the IDF through its military activity against the terror group.

IDF says strike in Gaza humanitarian zone killed several Hamas operatives, top commander

Rescuers sift through charred debris after an Israeli strike hit a camp for displaced Palestinians in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on December 4, 2024 (BASHAR TALEB / AFP)

The IDF says that last night’s airstrike in the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in the southern Gaza Strip killed several Hamas operatives, including a top commander in the terror group’s internal security forces.

According to the military, Osama Ghanim was involved in “activity to suppress the citizens of Gaza and was responsible for detecting threats against Hamas from within the Strip.

“Ghanim held a key role in implementing Hamas’s brutal methods, which included conducting harsh civilian interrogations while violating human rights, suppressing residents suspected of opposing Hamas, and persecuting civilians from the LGBTQ+ community,” the IDF says.

The IDF says it took numerous steps to mitigate civilian harm in the strike, including by using a precision munition, aerial surveillance, and other intelligence.

Palestinian media reported that some 20 people were killed in the strike.

Defense minister, IDF chief hold assessment on developments in Syria

Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi are holding an assessment on developments in Syria as jihaist rebels take over parts of the country, the military says.

The assessment is being held with the IDF General Staff Forum, the military’s top brass.

“The IDF is following events and is preparing for any scenario in attack and defense,” the military says.

“The IDF will not allow a threat near the Syrian-Israeli border and will act to thwart any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel,” it adds.

Court rejects Netanyahu’s request to testify two days a week instead of three

The Jerusalem District Court rejects Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to testify two days a week instead of three, a request he made citing his leadership responsibilities and heavy workload because of the ongoing war.

The court does, however, agree to Netanyahu’s request to start the hearings only at 10 a.m. and not 9 a.m., though it says the hearings will go on until 4 p.m. and not 3 p.m as the prime minister had sought.

There will only be two hearings next week when Netanyahu will first take the stand since the start date for his testimony is set for the middle of the week.

The testimony will begin on December 10 at 10 a.m., with Netanyahu testifying from an underground hall in the Tel Aviv District Court since the Jerusalem District Court lacks adequate security arrangements.

“The request [to move down to two days a week] is denied since we have not found a convincing reason to deviate from previous, similar decisions on the same issue,” the court rules.

The judges add that they will consider allowing breaks during Netanyahu’s testimony if there is a “justified reason” for doing so, if issues arise that demand his urgent attention, in order to address the prime minister’s need to carry out his functions as premier.

Some weeks have also been scheduled with four days of testimony. However, the court says that it will cancel one scheduled hearing in the second week of Netanyahu’s testimony on December 15, so that he will only need to appear in court three times instead of four that week. A hearing scheduled for December 25 will also be canceled due to the needs of the Tel Aviv District Court, meaning there will only be three hearings that week as well.

Feldstein, NCO to remain in detention as High Court studies intel leak case

Eli Feldstein, then an IDF spokesman, attends the funeral of a terror victim in the West Bank settlement of Homesh, December 17, 2021. (Sraya Diamant/Flash90)

The two suspects in the scandal involving the Prime Minister’s Office and the alleged leak of classified documents to the media will remain in detention for now after prosecutors appealed the Tel Aviv District Court’s decision to release them to house arrest.

Supreme Court Justice Alex Stein said today he was freezing the court’s order as he studies the details of the case. A decision is expected next week.

Eli Feldstein, an aide and spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with an IDF reservist, are suspected of leaking stolen classified intelligence information that was then published in the foreign press.

The soldier is accused of leaking the military intelligence to Feldstein. Feldstein is accused of transferring classified information with the intent to harm state security, a charge that can carry a sentence of life in prison, as well as illicit possession of classified information and obstruction of justice.

The intelligence document ostensibly detailed Hamas’s priorities and tactics in hostage negotiations. Feldstein leaked it to German paper Bild with the alleged aim of turning Israel public opinion against a deal. Defense officials have said it later became apparent that the document did not necessarily reflect Hamas leadership’s position and that leaking it endangered intelligence sources.

Feldstein is accused of sending it the Bild even though he was aware that it was obtained illicitly and that the military censorship had barred the information from publication.

Police order Tel Aviv anti-government protests to move, citing low turnout

Protesters call for the release of hostages in Tel Aviv, November 30, 2024.(AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Police have informed anti-government protesters they will not be allowed to hold their regular Saturday night protest on the intersection of Kaplan and Begin streets in Tel Aviv.

The spot was meant to host, this coming Saturday, its first rally since the IDF removed limitations on gatherings in central Israel in light of the ceasefire in Lebanon. Activists plan to focus on new bills being advanced by the government that they say represent a return of efforts for “a regime coup.”

However, police assert that recent rallies have been too small to justify blocking the key intersection, and are demanding that the protest be relocated a few meters away from the junction, near IDF Headquarters’ Begin Gate.

Organizers have said the reason for the smaller turnout was the Home Front Command limitations, and have vowed to fight the decision.

Police say they will reassess the matter if there is a large number of attendants at the protest.

Belgian festival cancels screening of film on trans Gazan after Israel ‘pinkwashing’ claims

A Belgian film festival has canceled the screening of a documentary film that touches on LGBTQ intolerance in Gaza after pressure from pro-Palestinian activists.

The film, “The Belle from Gaza,” by French director Yolande Zauberman, is not Israeli. It tells of a transgender woman who flees the Strip and relocates to Tel Aviv, and of her life in the community there.

In a statement, Cinemamed organizers said that the film was “accused by various activist groups of ‘contributing to the pinkwashing of Israel and the genocidal colonial narrative,’ a point of view that we do not share.”

However, they say that after “lengthy reflection” they decided to cancel the screening to maintain “the quality of the reception and the conviviality of the festival.”

France appoints general to help oversee Lebanon ceasefire

France will be represented in the Lebanon ceasefire oversight mechanism by Brigadier General Guillaume Ponchin, the French Foreign Ministry announces. He will be joined by 10 military and civilian personnel from the French Foreign Ministry and Armed Forces Ministry.

“The supervision mechanism will operate in close coordination with the Lebanese Army, the IDF, and UNIFIL to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon,” says the Quai d’Orsay. “At the same time, the mechanism will cooperate with the Military Technical Committee for Support to Lebanon with the aim of strengthening the Lebanese Army and assisting its deployment in the south of the country.”

Several major companies withdraw advertising from Twitch due to antisemitism claims

A picture taken at the Tokyo Game Show on September 21, 2018, shows the logo of Twitch. (Martin Bureau/AFP)

JPMorgan Chase, AT&T, and Dunkin have withdrawn their advertising from gaming and e-sports live-streaming platform Twitch due to complaints of antisemitism on the platform, Bloomberg reports.

Oil giant Chevron is also considering leaving the Amazon-owned platform, Bloomberg said.

The site has come under fire in recent months due to complaints it has allowed anti-Israel hate speech.

Last month, US Representative Ritchie Torres of New York called on Twitch to rein what he described as “an explosion of Jew-hatred” on the platform or risk Congressional scrutiny.

The Anti-Defamation League has also called on Twitch to do more to fight antisemitism on its platform.

In response to the report, Twitch told Bloomberg that it does not tolerate antisemitic content on its platform, saying it applies its guidelines “consistently and objectively” to all streamers.

Netanyahu lawyers claim demand for 3 days of testimony a week is unfair

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset on November 13, 2024 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s defense team accuses the State Attorney’s Office of unfairly creating difficulties for the premier in his criminal defense trial, saying that its opposition to Netanyahu’s request to testify two days a week instead of three is unjustified based on other criminal trials currently underway.

In a filing to the Jerusalem District Court, Netanyahu’s lawyers point to a major corruption case against Ronel Fisher, an attorney, and former head of the State Attorney’s Office in Tel Aviv Ruth David, in which the State Attorney’s Office agreed to reduce the number of days of testimony to two a week, instead of three. Fisher was first arrested in 2015.

The prime minister’s defense team says that there are no similar cases around the country in which the defendant has to testify more than twice a week, and asserts that the State Attorney’s Office is trying to harm Netanyahu’s defense.

“For some reason, the prosecutor is rushing only in this case, and only when it harms the prime minister’s defense,” his lawyers tell the court.

“It’s hard to credit the claim of equality before the law when what the prosecutor is asking for is the exact opposite of equality. To rush the prime minister beyond all logic and beyond what is acceptable, with the aim of harming his defense.”

Netanyahu is scheduled to begin testifying in his trial on corruption charges on Tuesday.

Israel hoping renewed fighting in Syria weakens both sides, official says

Israel’s interest in the renewed fighting in Syria is “that they continue fighting one another,” an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel after rebels make significant gains against the Bashar al-Assad regime.

“It’s entirely clear to us that one side are Salafi jihadists and the other side is Iran and Hezbollah,” the official continues. “We want them to weaken one another.”

The official stresses that Israel is not getting involved on either side. “We are prepared for any scenario, and we will act accordingly.”

Israeli official: Egyptian proposal is for extended truce in Gaza, not an end to the war

The updated hostage deal proposal given to Hamas by Egypt was not an Israeli offer, an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel, but was instead an Egyptian proposal that Israel is fully open to discuss.

The official notes that the proposal is not for an end to the war, but an extended ceasefire that will allow hostages in the “humanitarian” category — the elderly, children, women, and badly wounded — to be released.

Hamas still has not indicated whether it is willing at all to discuss the proposal, and if it does, Israel will send a delegation to Cairo to negotiate, says the official.

Israel “has an interest” that Egypt remains at the center of the talks, says the official, adding that Qatar remains updated behind the scenes, and will want to take full part in mediation if there is progress. “Turkey has no role,” says the official, contradicting earlier reports.

The official says that US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat this week to punish those responsible if the hostages aren’t released before his inauguration should have a positive effect on attempts to reach a deal. “Hamas takes it seriously, especially now that they are isolated in the campaign.”

Israel is speaking to both the Biden administration and the Trump team about the hostages, says the official, but won’t say whether Trump’s Truth Social post was coordinated with Israel. “They hear our claims, and we see eye to eye with them on the need to apply pressure on Hamas,” was all the official would offer.

Israel has begun applying more military pressure on Hamas in Gaza in recent days, says the official.

Turning to Lebanon, the official denies French claims that Israel has violated the terms of the ceasefire with Hezbollah. “There are understandings in the side letter with the US that allow us to operate against any threat, and that is what we are doing.”

The official stresses that the letter allows Israel to strike not only at active threats, but also at attempts to build up military capabilities.

If there are violations that are not immediate threats, Israel will go through the US-French oversight body, says the official, but that body still coming together. “We need to let it prove itself. But we also want to establish that we will act against all threats.”

Poll: Nearly 50% of Israelis believe PM cannot function as needed amid corruption trial

Nearly 50 percent of Israelis believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cannot function in an appropriate manner as a wartime prime minister while testifying in his ongoing corruption trial.

According to the Israel Democracy Institute’s November 2024 Israeli Voice Index, which polled 750 people across the country last week, 48% of Israelis believe he cannot function while testifying, while 46% think he can.

While 49% of Jewish respondents believe the prime minister can function under the circumstances, 61% of Arabs believe that he cannot both effectively testify and lead the country.

Among Jews, views on the issue are split along partisan lines, with 70% of left-wing respondents and 55% in the center saying he cannot function appropriately while testifying, versus 34% on the right.

Netanyahu is due to begin testifying in his ongoing corruption trial on December 10.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu asked the Jerusalem District Court to reduce his expected testimony from three times a week to twice a week, citing his busy schedule due to security meetings and the need for communication with officials abroad, the Kan public broadcaster reported.

Netanyahu also asked not to testify on consecutive days and for him to be allowed to start giving evidence an hour later than the scheduled time of 9 a.m.

The State Attorney’s Office said it was opposed to the request.

Asked about the apparent revival of parts of the Netanyahu government’s judicial overhaul, 56% of respondents indicated that they believe it is wrong to advance such an agenda “against the backdrop of the continuing war and the need for social cohesion” — down from a larger majority of 65% this May.

Asked if Israel’s leadership is “doing its utmost to secure the release of the hostages,” 57% of respondents responded negatively.

On the question of reestablishing Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, 52% of Jews and 88.5% of Arabs expressed opposition, the Israel Democracy Institute found.

Sa’ar tells Blinken Israel has opportunity to advance a hostage deal

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar (right) meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Malta, December 5, 2024. (Shalev Man)

There is an opportunity to advance a deal to release hostages, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar tells his US counterpart Antony Blinken, in Malta.

According to his office, Sa’ar stresses that Israel is serious about reaching a deal, sticking to the message he offered other foreign ministers at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe meeting.

They discuss the fighting in Syria and Lebanon as well.

He also thanks Blinken for America’s support throughout the war.

IDF rules out possibility of infiltration along Jordanian border after searching the area

The IDF says that it has ruled out the possibility of an infiltration along the Jordanian border after confirming earlier that it was investigating a report of suspicious activity south of the Dead Sea.

“IDF and police forces are continuing to search for suspects and blockades have been set up in the area,” the military nevertheless says. “So far, there has been no identification of armed individuals or reports of gunfire in the area.”

Ambitious new urban complex over Jerusalem highway given green light

An artist's rendition of the new Begin Rooftop project. (Kolker Kolker Epstein Architects)

Jerusalem is planning to build a new urban complex over the Begin Highway in one of the city’s most ambitious construction projects to date.

The Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee says it has approved plans for the “Begin Rooftop,” a 214-dunam (53-acre) urban park that will include 2,210 housing units, five 45-story towers, and 64 dunams of open public spaces.

The plan will create a land bridge connecting Beit Hakerem and Givat Ram, making it easy to walk between the two neighborhoods for the first time. The complex will also integrate public transportation, bicycle paths, and pedestrian walkways to reduce congestion and promote sustainable mobility, the municipality says.

The planned area includes a 45-story building that will serve as a hotel and shopping space, along with four other 45-story residential and commercial buildings. Another seven residential buildings of 6 to 15 floors are planned, along with 55 dunams for public buildings and institutions.

Some 30% of the complex, or 64 dunams, will be allotted for open public space, the municipality says.

“The Begin Rooftop plan is a spectacular and innovative project that is unparalleled in the country,” says Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion. “This is a project that expresses the city’s vision, spirit, and future.”

Israel raises travel warnings for Maldives, Armenia, lowers warning for Brazil

The National Security Council adjusts the travel warning for three countries following an updated security assessment.

The travel warning level is raised in both the Maldives and in Armenia but lowered in Brazil.

The travel warning for Armenia is upped from Level 1 to Level 2, “in light of the worsening threat to Israelis/Jews in Armenia from terrorist elements,” the NSC says.

Level 2 recommends travelers “take increased precautionary measures,” but is not seen as a call to avoid or leave the country altogether.

In the Maldives, the warning is upped from Level 2 to Level 3, “in light of the presence of terrorist supporters on the island alongside increasing hostility toward Israelis and Jews.”

Under a Level 3 warning, Israelis are recommended to avoid all nonessential travel to the location.

Lastly, the NSC says it has lowered the travel warning for Brazil back down to Level 1, with the exception of the Brazil-Argentina-Paraguay tri-border area, where a Level 2 warning will remain in place.

Crew of cargo ship rescued in Red Sea, EU naval force says

The crew of Panama-flagged cargo ship MV ISA STAR have been rescued in the Red Sea after sending a distress signal, the EU’s Aspides naval mission says.

“All crew members aboard the MV ISA STAR have been rescued and will be transported to Djibouti, the nearest safe port of call,” Aspides says in a statement posted on Facebook.

The vessel had reported flooding in the engine room and the master requested assistance, it says, as its crew of 20 were forced to abandon it.

One maritime security source told Reuters that the ship experienced engine problems and another source said that it had reported an internal explosion. Details on the current condition of the vessel are not immediately available.

The ship was about 100 nautical miles off the port of Hodeidah, Yemen, when it called for assistance, the sources say.

‘Legal seamstress to the government’: Otzma Yehudit attacks AG with new Tel Aviv billboard

A Tel Aviv billboard sponsored by Otzma Yehudit attacks Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara for being "a legal seamstress to the government," implying she is creating tailor-made cases to oust senior politicians, December 5, 2024. (Otzma Yehudit)

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit party puts up a billboard attacking Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara in Tel Aviv.

Calling Baharav-Miara the “legal seamstress to the government,” the billboard carries an image of the attorney general using a sewing machine to assemble bags featuring the faces of Ben Gvir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — a Hebrew pun implying that she is stitching together tailor-made cases to oust the two senior politicians.

Baharav-Miara recently told Netanyahu that he must reevaluate Ben Gvir’s continued tenure in light of the latter’s repeated and ongoing intervention into operational police matters and his politicization of police promotions.

In response, Ben Gvir has accused her of engaging in a “fishing expedition,” claiming that the attorney general had undertaken a search for a legal pretext to take action against him.

Ben Gvir is one of a number of cabinet ministers pushing for Baharav-Miara’s ouster.

IDF investigating suspected infiltration on Jordanian border

The IDF says it is investigating a suspected infiltration along the Jordanian border, south of the Dead Sea, after it received a report of “suspicious activity” in the area.

It says troops have set up blockades in the area and are searching for any possible suspects.

Hochstein expected in Beirut for talks with ceasefire oversight committee — report

Lebanese media outlet Al-Akhbar reports that US special envoy Amos Hochstein, who oversaw the negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah terror group, will visit Beirut in the coming days for talks with the oversight body responsible for overseeing the implementation of the agreement.

According to the report, the body has not yet begun work, and a Lebanese government source tells the outlet that “nobody understands the reason” for the delay.

When meeting with Hochstein, the news outlet says government officials will ask him to pressure Israel into easing off its strikes in southern Lebanon, which it says come in response to Hezbollah truce violations, and expedite the withdrawal of Israeli troops so that displaced civilians can return home.

Prosecution opposes Netanyahu’s request to give his testimony in criminal trial at slower pace

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Jerusalem District Court for a hearing on his corruption trial, June 26, 2023. (Alex Kolomoisky/Pool)

The State Attorney’s Office tells the Jerusalem District Court it opposes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to conduct his testimony in his criminal trial at a slower pace than has been scheduled for other witnesses.

The prosecution contends that it is in the public interest for Netanyahu’s trial, soon to enter its fifth year, to conclude as quickly as possible, and argues that granting the prime minister’s request would mean he would only be testifying for nine hours a week.

“The public interest in this case requires striving for the trial to conclude as quickly as possible in order to protect the public interest, the fairness of the process, and the fundamental principle that everyone is equal before the law,” argues the State Attorney’s Office.

The prosecution also expresses concern over Netanyahu’s request to speak with the judges in a closed-door session at the beginning of his testimony, saying the request lacked any reasoning as to why the the court should agree to the request. If the reasoning is properly explained, the prosecution could then address it, the State Attorney’s Office tells the court.

Netanyahu asked the court on Wednesday to reduce his testimony in his corruption trial from three times a week to twice a week, citing his busy schedule due to security meetings and the need for communication with officials abroad.

Netanyahu also asked not to testify on consecutive days and for him to be allowed to start giving evidence at 10 a.m. instead of 9 a.m.

Ex-Shin Bet head: PM once asked me to wiretap ministers for fear of leaks; PM’s office slams ‘fabricated affair,’ ‘coup attempt’

Yoram Cohen, then-chief of the Shin Bet security agency, attends a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on November 18, 2014. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen alleges that while he was at the helm of the security agency, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had once asked him to monitor government ministers and defense officials to ensure that they were not leaking information from a particularly sensitive security meeting.

He tells Kan Radio that Netanyahu “was afraid” that a “sensitive issue” discussed in the meeting would be leaked, and as such, instructed the Shin Bet to wiretap any participants.

“If someone leaks it, we will deal with it,” he recalls the premier telling him at the time.

Cohen served as the head of the Shin Bet from May 2011 until May 2016.

He posits that due to his ongoing corruption trial, Netanyahu has overseen “a systematic destruction of the most important national institutions in the country.

“They’re attacking the Supreme Court, they are coming out against the attorney general — Netanyahu has said there is an eighth front [in the war],” he says.

The Prime Minister’s Office in response accuses Cohen of “trying to create another fabricated ‘affair'” but does not deny that Netanyahu asked the former security chief to wiretap government ministers.

“The prime minister sought to protect a vital state secret, accepted the recommendations of the legal system, acted according to the law, and did not violate anyone’s rights,” the PMO says.

“Contrary to Cohen’s words, the real threat to Israel’s democracy is not from elected officials but from elements in the enforcement authorities who refuse to accept the voters’ decision and are trying to carry out a coup d’état through unchecked political investigations that would be unacceptable in any democracy,” the PMO charges.

In a succinct statement of his own, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid says: “There is no doubt as to who is telling the truth. Yoram Cohen or Benjamin Netanyahu.”

Report: Israel submitted updated hostage deal proposal to Hamas

Israel has given an updated proposal for a hostage deal to Hamas, Axios reports, citing two Israeli officials.

According to the report, it is similar to the phased plan under discussion in August, but now is focused primarily on getting the first phase done. Hamas has also shown a new openness to a partial deal, say the officials.

In its updated proposal, Israel is now willing to entertain the option of a ceasefire that would last up to 60 days, whereas previously the first stage was only 42 days. During the ceasefire, says Axios, all living female hostages, all living men over 50, and those with serious medical conditions would be released. Israel had been demanding 33 living hostages from these groups, but believes there are not that many alive anymore.

Israel is still willing to release hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners, including some serving life sentences for deadly terror attacks.

According to the report, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several senior ministers and security chiefs approved the proposal on Sunday, then passed it to the Egyptians, who presented it to Hamas in Cairo on Monday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Massad Boulos — selected as Donald Trump’s Middle East adviser — tells the French Le Point outlet that “both sides have agreed on the broad outlines of an agreement.”

“The war is practically over,” he says. “There is practically no more significant military activity. The only issue that remains is the hostages, and the parties have already agreed on several occasions on an exchange between hostages and Palestinian prisoners.”

“The main lines of the agreement have already been established and there are only very small details to be settled on a few names,” Boulos says, “the number of people released [on the Palestinian side] and the period over which the exchanges should take place.”

Rescue operation underway for cargo vessel crew off the coast of Yemen

A rescue operation is underway for the crew of a Panama-flagged cargo vessel that was abandoned off the port of Hodeidah in the Red Sea, three maritime security sources say.

The cause of the incident remains unclear and the number of crew on board was not known.

The crew was forced to abandon the vessel, one of the sources tells Reuters, adding that the ship experienced engine problems. Another source said an internal explosion occurred.

Iran-aligned Houthi forces have launched attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023 in solidarity with Gaza amid the war between Hamas and Israel.

It is not immediately clear if the latest shipping incident was linked to Houthi activity.

Syrian rebels say they have begun push into Hama under heavy Russian bombardment

Syrian rebels say they have started pushing into Hama, a major city where pro-government forces backed by intense Russian airstrikes are trying to stave off a new rebel victory and halt the insurgents’ lightning advance.

Rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghany posts on social media that the insurgents have begun to penetrate Hama. State media had earlier reported that pro-government forces had repelled an attack.

Insurgents have been battling to try to enter Hama since Tuesday and there was heavy fighting overnight with the Syrian army and allied Iran-backed militia groups supported by a Russian bombardment, both sides say.

The rebels took the main northern city Aleppo last week and have since pushed south from their enclave in northwest Syria, reaching a strategic hill just north of Hama on Tuesday and advancing towards the city’s east and west flanks on Wednesday.

Hama has stayed in government hands throughout the civil war, which erupted in 2011 as a rebellion against President Bashar Assad. Its fall to a revived insurgency would send shockwaves through Damascus and its Russian and Iranian allies.

The city lies more than a third of the way from Aleppo to Damascus and its capture would open the road to a rebel advance on Homs, the main central city that functions as a crossroads connecting Syria’s most populous regions.

Hama is also critical to the control of two major towns with big minority religious communities, Muhrada which is home to many Christians, and Salamiya where there are many Ismaili Muslims.

‘Deplorable and fanatical’: Foreign Ministry slams Amnesty International over Gaza genocide claim

The Foreign Ministry blasts “the deplorable and fanatical organization Amnesty International” for its report accusing Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the ministry calls it “a fabricated report that is entirely false and based on lies.”

“The genocidal massacre on October 7, 2023, was carried out by the Hamas terrorist organization against Israeli citizens,” says the Foreign Ministry. “Since then, Israeli citizens have been subjected to daily attacks from seven different fronts. Israel is defending itself against these attacks acting fully in accordance with international law.”

Defense minister denies walking back decision to end administrative detention of settlers

Defense Minister Israel Katz says that contrary to recent reports, he has no intention of walking back his decision to put an end to the administrative detention of Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

“The policy I decided on regarding the administrative detention is in force and is fully implemented,” he writes on X.

His statement comes after i24News reported that he had clarified in a recent meeting that there would be no discrimination between Jews and Arabs in his administration of the policy and that he would adjudicate requests strictly based on security considerations.

Katz came under fire last month when he announced he would stop signing off on administrative detention orders for Israeli settlers in the West Bank, but would still keep the policy in place for Arab Israelis and thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank.

על רקע פרסומים מסולפים: המדיניות עליה החלטתי בנושא הצווים המנהליים בתוקף ומתקיימת במלואה.

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) December 5, 2024

Chabad plans to open 100 new centers worldwide after murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan

A group photo from the Annual Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, taken at the Chabad headquarters in New York, December 1, 2024 (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The Chabad movement says it will open one hundred new centers in underserved areas around the world in response to the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, its emissary to Abu Dhabi.

The announcement comes following the end of the traditional Jewish seven-day mourning period. The Keren Hashluchim fund will provide seed funding for fifty initial centers, with an additional fifty to be announced in the coming months, Chabad says.

“When the most heinous evildoers want us to cower in fear, the Rebbe taught us that strong positive action is the only response,” says Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, director of Keren Hashluchim. “By supporting new centers in locations near and far, we honor Rabbi Kogan’s memory and fulfill the Rebbe’s vision of transforming grief into action.”

Among the locations chosen for new centers are Algarve, Portugal; Tatarstan, Russia; and Andorra.

Kogan, 28, was killed last month in the United Arab Emirates in what Israel has said was an antisemitic terror attack. He worked to expand Jewish life in the UAE, including ensuring the wide availability of kosher food and opening the first Jewish education center in the country, Chabad said.

Jews, Israelis may face discrimination in US job market, study finds

Jewish Americans and Israeli Americans may face “serious antisemitic discrimination in the labor market,” according to a study by the Anti-Defamation League.

Job candidates with Jewish names or characteristics on their resumes needed to send out 24 percent more applications to receive the same number of positive first responses from employers as Americans with Western European backgrounds, the study finds. Candidates with Israeli connections had to send out 39% more applications.

“This is groundbreaking evidence of serious antisemitic discrimination in the labor market,” says ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt. “On top of increasing antisemitic incidents and growing antisemitic beliefs, this landmark study illustrates the very real need for employers to take anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli prejudice more seriously, to have a workplace that works for everyone.”

For the study, labor economist Bryan Tomlin applied online for jobs using resumes and cover letters that were identical except for specific characteristics, including names, that would signal that applicants were Americans with Jewish, Israeli, or Western European backgrounds.

Some 3,000 resumes were sent out between May and October 2024 from applicants named Rebecca Cohen (Jewish American), Lia Avraham (Israeli-American), and Kristen Miller (Western European). Personal details provided were identical except for demographic signals — i.e., restaurant experience at Eli’s Jewish Diner compared to Martinelli’s Italian Diner.

Job postings were sourced from Craigslist because it is one of the few remaining online job boards where person-to-person email is the primary mode of interaction, the report says.

Each posting was sent a single inquiry from a single applicant which was randomly assigned. Resumes from Kristen Miller received 1,036 responses, while those from Rebecca Cohen got 1,002 responses, and Lia Avraham received 962 responses.

This methodology follows an approach similar to that used in other studies of discrimination against minorities in the labor market, the report noted.

US labor law prohibits discrimination based on religion or national origin in hiring decisions. However, Tomlin noted, “Without the benefit of a study of this kind, it is difficult, if not impossible, to prove adverse treatment in the labor market based on one’s religion or cultural identity.”

“This study shows that Jewish and Israeli Americans may be missing out on job opportunities just because of their identity, not their qualifications,” Tomlin adds. “It provides a start toward quantifying some of these more subtle but still harmful symptoms of antisemitism.”

Amnesty Israel rejects parent group’s report accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza

Amnesty International Headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand, September 8, 2015. (chameleonseye/istock)

Amnesty International Israel rejects a report released by the wider Amnesty International movement that accuses Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli organization says in a statement to the press, with some members accusing the reports’ authors of reaching a “predetermined conclusion.”

The Israeli branch of the international rights group says in a statement that it was not involved in the research, funding, or writing of the report released today, and that it “does not accept the claim that genocide has been proven to be taking place in the Gaza Strip and does not accept the operative findings of the report.”

It says that although “the scale of the killing and destruction carried out by Israel in Gaza has reached horrific proportions and must be stopped immediately,” it does not believe that the events “meet the definition of genocide as strictly laid out in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.”

Despite rejecting the claim of genocide, Amnesty Israel nevertheless asserts that Israel’s actions in Gaza “raise suspicions of widespread and serious violations of international law and crimes against humanity,” and calls for steps to be taken that will bring an immediate end to the war in Gaza, which was sparked by the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror onslaught in southern Israel.

The statement also appears to criticize the double standard adopted by Amnesty International with regard to Israel and Hamas.

“There have been allegations that both the massacre carried out by Hamas on October 7 and the Israeli attack on Gaza following the massacre were genocide or attempted genocide,” Amnesty Israel states. “It is imperative and correct to investigate these allegations and to ensure that the standard required to prove intent to commit genocide is universal and consistent for all parties, as well as in any other case in the world where similar concerns are raised.”

In a separate statement obtained by the Haaretz newspaper, several members of Amnesty Israel and Jewish members of Amnesty International go one step further and accuse the report of producing an “artificial analysis” of the situation in the Gaza Strip.

“From the outset, the report was referred to in international correspondence as the ‘genocide report,’ even when the research was still in its initial stages,” Haaretz cites the Amnesty members as saying.

“This is a strong indication of bias and also a factor that can cause additional bias: imagine how difficult it is for a researcher to work for months on a report titled ‘genocide report’ and then to have to conclude that it is ‘only’ about crimes against humanity,” they add. “Predetermined conclusions of this kind are not typical of other Amnesty International investigations.”

Accusing the report of having been “motivated by a desire to support a popular narrative among Amnesty International’s target audience,” the joint statement calls for the organization to “critically reconsider the working procedures and methodologies that led to the publication of this flawed report.”

Jerusalem man arrested for incitement, calling to ‘kill’ the attorney general

A Jerusalem resident has been arrested for incitement against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, the Israel Police says.

The Kan public broadcaster shares video footage of the incident that led to his arrest. In the clip, a man seemingly dressed in ultra-Orthodox garb holds a sign that reads: “Lord of the universe, kill Gali Baharav-Miara and her supporters.”

The incident took place in the middle of a busy street across from the Jerusalem Central Bus Station.

Kan adds that police will seek to extend the suspect’s detention after apprehending him earlier this morning.

המשטרה: עצרנו חשוד תושב ירושלים שנשא שלט ובו דברי הסתה נגד היועמ"שית@VeredPelman pic.twitter.com/VJe0Wi6fnu

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 5, 2024

Ben Gvir hoping Trump will work with Israel to encourage voluntary emigration of Gazans

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir says he has high hopes that US President-elect Donald Trump will work with Israel to do “big things” in the Gaza Strip when he enters the White House in January.

In an interview with the Maariv podcast, Ben Gvir says that if it were up to him, he would present Trump with “a program to encourage migration and settlements in Gaza.”

The plan, he clarifies, would be two-fold. While first and foremost, it would encourage Israelis to settle in the Gaza Strip, it would also promote the “emigration” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

“I would tell the president to join us in this endeavor,” he says, espousing what he says would be the “moral” and “logical” choice.

“It will also be good for the residents of Gaza who emigrate, voluntarily of course,” he claims. “I think it will also do us good.”

“When have we defeated our enemies?” the ultranationalist minister asks rhetorically. “It’s always been when we’ve taken territory from them. When we liberated — they call it ‘occupied’ I say we liberated — the territory, that’s always been the thing that punishes them most.”

Regarding Trump’s threat earlier this week that there would be “hell to pay” if hostages held “in the Middle East” aren’t released by the time he enters office on January 20, Ben Gvir says he believes the president-elect was ramping up pressure on Hamas, despite not mentioning the terror group by name.

“I think it makes a lot of sense,” he says. “At the end of the day, I expect that we will do things, and have the power to do things, that will expedite the return of the hostages.”

Magnitude 5.7 quake jostles western Iran

An earthquake measuring 5.7 magnitude on the Richter scale has struck western Iran, the German Research Centre for Geosciences says.

The US Geological Survey locates the epicenter some 36 kilometers (22 miles) southwest of Masjed Soleyman, in the country’s Khuzestan province.

The quake was at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), both services say.

There are no immediate reports of injuries from the early morning temblor.

Bitcoin tops $100,000 for first time

Bitcoin has topped the $100,000 mark as a massive rally in the world’s most popular cryptocurrency sparked by the election of Donald Trump rolls on.

The milestone comes just hours after the president-elect signaled a lighter regulatory approach to the crypto industry with his choice of Paul Atkins to be the next chair the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Atkins, a former SEC commissioner during the presidency of George W. Bush, has argued for less market regulation.

Bitcoin has soared to unprecedented heights since crypto-friendly Trump won the election November 5. The cryptocurrency has climbed dramatically from $69,374 on Election Day and rose as high as $101,512 Wednesday, just two years after dropping below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX.

US official downplays Trump envoy’s efforts on Gaza deal, says no coordination

Steve Witkoff arrives at a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP/Evan Vucci)

A US official says President Joe Biden’s aides are aware of contacts between Israeli and Qatari leaders and Steve Witkoff, tapped by President-elect Donald Trump as his future Mideast envoy, aimed at clinching a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza.

The aides understand that Trump’s envoy supports a Gaza deal along the lines the administration has been pursuing, the official says.

Officially, the Biden administration, rather than Witkoff, retains the US lead in efforts to revive negotiations towards a ceasefire in Gaza.

Biden’s team has kept the Trump camp updated, but the two sides have not worked together directly, the US official says on condition of anonymity.

The Biden administration does not see a need to coordinate with Witkoff because it regards his discussions with regional players as largely an effort to learn the issues rather than negotiations, the official says.

A source briefed on the meetings says Witkoff is aiming to have a deal in place by the time Trump takes office on January 20, a deadline the president-elect has mentioned himself, indicating that the incoming administration does not intend to wait until the inauguration to take charge of efforts.

Amnesty International accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza

Palestinians wait for bread outside a bakery in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza on November 27, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)

Amnesty International says Israel is “committing genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza, in a new report that it calls a “wake-up call” for the international community.

The London-based rights organization says its findings are based on “dehumanizing and genocidal statements by Israeli government and military officials,” satellite images documenting devastation, fieldwork and ground reports from Gazans.

“Our damning findings must serve as a wake-up call to the international community: this is genocide. It must stop now,” Amnesty chief Agnes Callamard says in a statement.

The human rights group says Israel has mounted deadly attacks, demolished vital infrastructure and prevented the delivery of food, medicine and other aid in Gaza, declaring that the actions cannot not be justified by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack into Israel. Thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed into southern Israeli communities that day, slaughtering some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in a brutal outpouring of violence that included rape and other atrocities. Nearly 100 of the 251 people taken hostage by the terror group remain in captivity.

The 296-page report includes scant mention of the hostages, beyond a terse call for the unconditional release of kidnapped civilians. While the report includes several pages urging the international community put various types of pressure on Israel, Amnesty does not recommend pressuring Hamas into releasing civilians held captive in Gaza for over a year.

Israel has adamantly rejected genocide allegations against it as an antisemitic “blood libel.” It is challenging such allegations at the International Court of Justice, and it has rejected the International Criminal Court’s accusations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister committed war crimes in Gaza.

“The deplorable and fanatical organization Amnesty International has once again produced a fabricated report that is entirely false and based on lies,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry says in a statement. It accuses Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate Israel, of carrying out a genocidal massacre in the attack that triggered the war, and said it is defending itself in accordance with international law.

“There is absolutely no doubt that Israel has military objectives. But the existence of military objectives does not negate the possibility of a genocidal intent,” Callamard says at a press conference in The Hague.

Trump envoy held talks with Netanyahu, Qatari PM on getting Gaza deal done by Jan. 20 — sources

Steve Witkoff, US President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, traveled to Qatar and Israel last month to kick-start a diplomatic push to reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal before he takes office on January 20, a source briefed on the talks tells Reuters.

Witkoff met separately in late November with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the source says.

In Israel he also met with families of hostages, an Israeli official tells Reuters.

He “spoke with them about Team Trump’s efforts to try and broker the deal before inauguration,” the official says.

The meetings signal that the Gulf state of Qatar has resumed its role as a key mediator after suspending its role last month, the source says.

The source adds that Hamas negotiators will likely return to the Qatari capital Doha to facilitate a fresh round of talks.

“There are plans for a subsequent round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas to take place potentially in Doha soon, but no specific date has been set,” the source says.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said this week that its moratorium on mediation efforts remained in place.

Trump’s transition team, representatives for Witkoff, Netanyahu’s office and Qatar’s Foreign Ministry do not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump aides told Qatar that president-elect wants hostage deal before Jan. 20 — PM

US President Donald Trump meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, July 9, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani says that Donald Trump’s advisers have told him that the US president-elect wants a hostage deal reached before he enters office on January 20.

Al Thani makes the revelation during an interview with Sky News when asked about Trump’s Monday warning that there will be “all hell to pay” if the hostages aren’t returned by his inauguration.

“Such a statement is expected, and we hope that it will work and will be delivered to both parties,” the Qatari premier says.

“We had heard this from his team… that they want this (hostage deal) to be resolved now — today, even,” Al Thani says.

“We are hoping to get over the situation before the president comes to the office because we have priorities to stabilize the situation in Gaza… and restore regional security,” he adds.

Yesterday, though, Qatar’s foreign ministry claimed that the pause Doha instituted in its mediation efforts late last month was still in place. The announcement appeared to contradict remarks made last week by US President Joe Biden who said Qatar along with Egypt and Turkey would be launching a new push for a hostage deal.

Last week, Republican Sen. Linsey Graham similarly told Axios that Trump wants a hostage deal secured before he returns to the White House.

The Times of Israel revealed in October that Trump himself passed along this message to Netanyahu when they met over the summer at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort.