Israel war updates: Benjamin Netanyahu says he won't stop Gaza war ‘now’
Amid renewed efforts towards a ceasefire, Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that he had set the goal of “the annihilation of Hamas” Follow updates.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not stop the war in Gaza “now”, with renewed efforts towards a ceasefire underway.
Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem 14 months into the war against Hamas Palestinian militants, he said “if we end the war now, Hamas will return, recover, rebuild and attack us again – and that is what we do not want to go back to”.
Mr Netanyahu reiterated that he had set the goal of “the annihilation of Hamas, the elimination of its military and administrative capabilities” to prevent future attacks but said that the objective was not yet complete.
He also said the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel for almost 60 years, would remain Israeli “for eternity”.
Israel captured most of the mountainous plateau from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and has occupied it ever since, repelling a Syrian attempt at reconquest in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on October 23 that Israel had “managed to dismantle Hamas’s military capacity” and eliminated its senior leadership.
With those successes, he said, it was time to “get the hostages home and bring the war to an end with an understanding of what will follow.”
In recent days, there had been signs that months of failed ceasefire and hostage release negotiations might be revived and achieve a breakthrough.
Qatar, a main mediator, said on Saturday there was new “momentum” for negotiations created by the election of Donald Trump in the United States.
A source close to the Hamas delegation said at the same time that Turkey as well as Egypt and Qatar had been “making commendable efforts to stop the war,” and a new round of talks could begin soon.
The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack which resulted in the deaths of 1208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data.
During the attack, militants also kidnapped 251 hostages, 96 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 who the military says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 44,758 people, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry that is considered reliable by the UN.
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ISRAEL DESTROYS ‘CHEMICAL WEAPONS’ IN SYRIA
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that his country had struck “chemical weapons” in neighbouring Syria, where rebel forces ousted president Bashar al-Assad over the weekend.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Saar said “we attacked strategic weapon systems like, for example, remaining chemical weapons or long-range missiles and rockets in order that they will not fall in the hands of extremists”.
Mr Saar said Israel was monitoring the actions of the rebels, adding: “The steps we took, the only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens.”
Israeli media reported that the military had struck a chemical weapons cache in Syria.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said the Israeli military conducted overnight strikes on multiple locations spanning coastal and southern Syria.
“Since the initial hours after the announcement of the fall of the former regime, Israel began launching intensive air strikes, deliberately destroying weapons and ammunitions depots,” it said.
Photos showed damage at Mazzeh military airport on the outskirts of Damascus, including destroyed helicopters and jets, where the Israeli military struck nearby weapons depots.
Since Syria’s civil war erupted in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in the country, mainly targeting the army and Iran-backed groups.
Israel rarely comments on individual strikes in Syria but has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran to expand its presence in the country.
The country also moved troops into a demilitarised buffer zone in the Golan Heights region bordering Syria on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would “not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border”.
Saar said Monday that the takeover of the buffer was “a limited and temporary step we took for security reasons”.
HOSTAGE MOTHER SPEAKS OUT
The mother of a hostage who appears in the latest “proof of life” video released by Hamas has doubled down on her criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, making an emotional appeal.
Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan Zangauker spoke at a Tel Aviv hostage rally after seeing a new Hamas video of her son on December 7.
Mrs Zangauker – who has previously criticised Mr Netanyahu’s offer of a $5 million reward labelling the monetary reward “bribes” for the captors – again called out the prime minister saying “the only way to bring (Matan) and everyone back is through a deal.”
Visibly shaken, Mrs Zangauker said the Israeli prime minister: “Netanyahu – look my son in the eye, who has been dying in the tunnels for 14 months already – what if he were your son?”
She demanded Mr Netanyahu “end this war already and bring everyone home”.
“The fact that Matan is alive today, doesn’t mean he’ll survive the winter or the ongoing military pressure,” Mrs Zangauker said.
In a message to her son, she cried, “My Matan! My life! Mum’s here and is waiting for you and fighting for your return and everyone’s return.”
“If you hear me – hold tight! Know that we’re not stopping for a moment … stay strong.”
In the video, Mr Zangauker describes the grim conditions of the Gaza tunnels where he is being held.
He describes living with spiders and rats. He says he doesn’t have soap and is suffering from skin diseases. He says he hopes the people of Israel will not forget him and he hopes to see his family again soon.
Mr Netanyahu’s office said he had spoken with Einav Zangauker following the video’s release.
He told her “he fully understands the difficult suffering that Matan is going through” and that he is “acting fiercely and in every way to return Matan and all the hostages home – both the living and the dead.”
Israeli authorities believe there are still 100 hostages being held in Gaza.
Mr Zangauker and his partner Illana Gritzewsky were taken from Nir Oz Kibbutz – one of several kibbutzim, or small farming enclaves, that bore the brunt of Hamas’ ground assault on October 7.
Ms Gritzewsky was returned on November 30, 2023, as part of a short-lived hostage-ceasefire deal. She stood alongside Zangauker’s mother and sister Natalie at the rally.
ISRAEL SENDS TROOPS TO SYRIAN BORDER
The Israeli military said it was “reinforcing aerial and ground forces” in the occupied Golan Heights in response to sweeping Islamist-led rebel advances in Syria.
The IDF said it was “monitoring developments and is prepared for all scenarios, offensive and defensive alike”, adding that it “will not tolerate any threat near the Israeli border”.
It comes as Israel conducted air strikes on Hezbollah “weapon-smuggling routes” on the Syria-Lebanon border, just over a week into a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon.
Syrian state news agency SANA reported that “the Al-Arida border crossing between Syria and Lebanon is out of service again due to an Israeli attack that targeted it
”.
ALBO DEFENDS STANCE ON ISRAEL
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended his government’s position on Israel, saying a recent vote at the UN was in line with Australian partners.
“It’s exactly the same way that the Howard government voted for a long period of time,” he said.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the PM had completely departed from a promise he made to the Jewish community to adopt a bipartisan position on the Palestine conflict.
He said Australians deserved to know why “violent protests” had been allowed to take place since October last year, along with vilification of Jewish people, vandalism and now the bombing of a synagogue.
“It is unacceptable, totally unacceptable in our country and the Prime Minister needs to stand up for our values and he needs to do that not just here at home, but also in the United Nations and elsewhere around the world,” he said.
It comes after Israel indicated Australia may no longer be a “key ally” after the government voted in favour of Palestinian statehood, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Australia was one of 157 nations that voted in favour of the UN resolution, which also calls for withdrawal of Israel from the Occupied Territories, with seven abstaining and eight voting against it, including the USA and Israel.
In comments to The Australian, the office of Mr Netanyahu said “Australia’s flip flop is disappointing”.
“Awarding anti-Semitism and terrorism with a state in the heart of the Jewish ancient homeland and cradle of civilisation will invite more terrorism and more anti-Semitic riots at campuses and city centres, including in Australia.”
Israel also accused Australia of appearing intent on rewarding “Palestinian terrorists” noting the Palestinian Authority had yet to denounce the October 7 massacre.
“To the contrary, they have embraced those atrocities that included the rape, murder and beheading of Jews. It’s a shame that the current Australian government wants to award these savages with a state.”
The statement concludes by suggesting that Australia is no longer considered a longstanding ally.
“Thankfully, our key allies support Israel as we strive for true peace and security”.
In a statement following the UN vote, the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council said it was “deeply disappointed”.
“This is a resolution that puts many obligations on Israel but asks nothing of the Palestinians. It is woefully one-sided – which is why, for more than 20 years, Australian governments of all stripes have always voted no, or abstained,” AIJAC Executive Director Dr. Colin Rubenstein said in a statement.
ARSON ATTACK AT MELBOURNE SYNAGOGUE
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has branded an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue “clearly an act of anti-Semitism”.
Emergency services were called to the Adass Israel Synagogue on Glen Eira Rd in Ripponlea around 4.20am Friday finding the structure up in flames, with early morning worshippers forces to run from the blaze.
Mr Albanese said he “unequivocally condemned” the attack and said the Australian Federal Police would be deployed to assist Victorian authorities with their investigation into the arson.
“It’s an attack on a place of worship, a synagogue … by definition, this is an act of hate and something that should not occur in Australia or anywhere else,” he told ABC Melbourne radio.
“I have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism. It has absolutely no place in Australia.
“This attack risked lives and is clearly aimed at creating fear in the community.”
Mr Albanese said law enforcement agencies would examine whether the fire attack on a Melbourne synagogue was a terrorist act.
The Prime Minister said the joint Counter Terrorism Task Force would look into the attack and he expected to be briefed on Friday.
“It is early times … I’ll receive another briefing this afternoon, Victoria Police need to be able to do their job and so should the other agencies,” he told reporters in Perth.
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Originally published as Israel war updates: Benjamin Netanyahu says he won't stop Gaza war ‘now’
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