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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said again Saturday that Israel has “no choice” but to continue fighting in Gaza and will not end the war before destroying Hamas, freeing the hostages and ensuring that the territory won’t present a threat to Israel. The prime minister also repeated his vow to make sure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. Netanyahu is under growing pressure at home not only from families of hostages and their supporters but also from reservist and retired Israeli soldiers who question the continuation of the war after Israel shattered a ceasefire last month. In his statement, he claimed that Hamas has rejected Israel’s latest proposal to free half the hostages for a continued ceasefire. The prime minister spoke after Israeli strikes killed more than 90 people in 48 hours, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday. Israeli troops have been increasing their attacks to pressure Hamas to release the hostages and disarm. Children and women were among the 15 people killed overnight, according to hospital staff. At least 11 dead were in the southern city of Khan Younis, several of them in a tent in the Muwasi area where hundreds of thousands of displaced people stay, hospital workers said. Israel has designated it as a humanitarian zone. Mourners cradled and kissed the faces of the dead. A man stroked a child's forehead with his finger before body bags were closed. Israeli strikes on Gaza kill more than 90 people in the last 48hrs “Omar is gone ... I wish it was me," one brother cried out. Four other people were killed in strikes in Rafah city, including a mother and her daughter, according to the European Hospital, where the bodies were taken. Later on Saturday, an Israeli airstrike on a group of civilians west of Nuseirat in central Gaza killed one person, according to Al-Awda Hospital. Israel's military in a statement said it killed more than 40 militants over the weekend. Separately, the military said a soldier was killed Saturday in northern Gaza and confirmed it was the first soldier death since Israel resumed the war on March 18. Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said it ambushed Israeli forces operating east of Gaza City’s al-Tuffah neighborhood. Israel has vowed to intensify attacks across Gaza and occupy indefinitely large “security zones” inside the small coastal strip of over 2 million people. Hamas wants Israeli forces to withdraw from the territory. Israel also has blockaded Gaza for the past six weeks, again barring the entry of food and other goods. This week, aid groups raised the alarm, saying thousands of children have become malnourished and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, according to the United Nations. The head of the World Health Organization’s eastern Mediterranean office, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, on Friday urged the new U.S. ambassador in Israel, Mike Huckabee, to push the country to lift Gaza's blockade so medicines and other aid can enter. “I would wish for him to go in and see the situation firsthand,” she said. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, 24 of them believed to be alive. Israeli airstrikes kill at Least 25 in Gaza; new U.S. Ambassador Huckabee makes first appearance Israel’s offensive has since killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. Around 90% of the population is displaced, with hundreds of thousands of people living in tent camps and bombed-out buildings. Frustration has been growing on both sides, with rare public protests against Hamas in Gaza and continued weekly rallies in Israel pressing the government to reach a deal to bring all hostages home. Thousands of Israelis joined protests Saturday night pressing for a deal. “Do what you should have done a long time ago. Bring them all back now! And in one deal. And if this means to stop the war, then stop the war,” former hostage Omer Shem Tov told a rally in Tel Aviv.

Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed more than 90 people in the last 48 hours, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday, as Israeli troops ramp up attacks to pressure Hamas to release its hostages and disarm. The dead include 15 people who were killed overnight, among them women and children, some of who were sheltering in a designated humanitarian zone, according to hospital staff. At least 11 people were killed in the southern city of Khan Younis, several of them in a tent in the Mwasi area where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are living, hospital worker said. Israel has designated it as a humanitarian zone. Four other people were killed in separate strikes in Rafah city, including a mother and her daughter, according to the European Hospital, where the bodies were brought. Israel has vowed to intensify attacks across Gaza and occupy large “security zones” inside the strip. For six weeks Israel also has blockaded Gaza, barring the entry of food and other goods. This week, aid groups raised alarm saying that thousands of children have become malnourished, and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, according to the United Nations. On Friday, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, the head of the World Health Organization’s eastern Mediterranean office, urged the new US ambassador in Israel, Mike Huckabee, to push the country to lift Gaza’s blockade so medicines and other aid can enter the strip. Israeli strikes kill at least 17 in Gaza “I would wish for him to go in and see the situation firsthand,” she said. In his first appearance as ambassador on Friday, Huckabee visited the Western Wall, the holiest Jewish prayer site in Jerusalem’s Old City. He inserted a prayer into the wall, which he said was handwritten by US President Donald Trump. Huckabee said every effort was being made to bring home the remaining hostages held by Hamas. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Israeli airstrikes across Gaza killed at least 17 people early Friday including children, hospital workers said, as the new US ambassador to Israel made his first public appearance in Jerusalem. Among the dead were 10 people in Jabaliya, including eight from the same house, according to the Indonesian Hospital, which received the bodies, according to AP. In the southern city of Khan Younis, seven people were killed, one of them a pregnant woman, according to Nasser Hospital, where the bodies were brought. The strikes came a day after more than two dozen people died in Gaza as Israel ramps up attacks, pressuring Hamas to return the hostages and disarm. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Friday appeared at the Western Wall, the holiest Jewish prayer site in Jerusalem’s Old City. Huckabee inserted a prayer into the wall, which he said was handwritten by US President Donald Trump. "Those are his initials, D.T.,“ said Huckabee while showing the note to the media. Israeli airstrike hits hospital entrance in Gaza, killing medic and wounding 9 other people In his first act as ambassador, Huckabee said Trump told him to take his prayer and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, he said. Huckabee also said every effort was being made to bring the remaining hostages held by Hamas home. A one-time presidential hopeful, Huckabee has acknowledged his past support for Israel’s right to annex the West Bank and incorporate its Palestinian population into Israel but said it would not be his “prerogative” to carry out that policy. During his first term, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital over Palestinian objections and moved the embassy from Tel Aviv. Palestinian seek the eastern part of the city that Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war as their future capital. Huckabee's arrival comes at a pivotal time in the 18-month war, as international mediators including the US are trying to get a broken ceasefire back on track. Israel is demanding that Hamas release more hostages at the start of any new ceasefire and ultimately agree to disarm and leave the territory. Israel has said it plans occupy large “security zones” inside Gaza. Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ negotiating delegation, said Thursday the group had rejected Israel’s latest proposal along those lines. He reiterated Hamas’ stance that it will return hostages only in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting truce, as called for in the now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached in January.

 An Israeli airstrike hit the northern gate of a field hospital in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing a medic and wounding nine other people, a hospital spokesman said. The strike hit the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in the Muwasi area, where hundreds of thousands have sought shelter in sprawling tent camps. The wounded were all patients and medics, and two of the patients were in critical condition after the strike, said Saber Mohammed, a hospital spokesman. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. On Tuesday, a spokesman for Hamas said that strikes had caused them to lose contact with the unit guarding Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander. Hamas released a video of the 21-year-old soldier days earlier, likely speaking under duress. Hamas said a direct strike hit the location where Alexander was being held and they were trying to reach them. In a separate development, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who had said France aimed to recognize a Palestinian state later this year. Israeli airstrikes kill senior Hamas leader, 18 others; Houthis launch missile toward Israel Strikes on hospitals The military has struck and raided hospitals on several occasions during the 18-month war, accusing Hamas militants of hiding out in them or using them for military purposes. Hospital staff have denied the allegations and accused Israel of recklessly endangering civilians and gutting Gaza's health system. On Sunday, Israel struck the last major hospital providing critical care in northern Gaza after ordering an evacuation. A patient died during the evacuation, and the strike severely damaged the emergency room, pharmacy and surrounding buildings, according to Al-Ahli Hospital. The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which runs the hospital, condemned the strike. Israel said it targeted a Hamas command and control center within the facility, without providing evidence. Hamas denied the allegations. Netanyahu visits Gaza In the call with Macron, Netanyahu said the creation of a Palestinian state would be “a huge reward for terrorism” and result in a militant-run entity just miles from Israeli cities. In his own statement posted on X, Macron called for another ceasefire, the release of hostages and renewing the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which Israel has blocked for over a month. He did not mention recognition of a Palestinian state. Macron said last week that France should aim to recognize a Palestinian state by June when it joins Saudi Arabia in hosting an international conference on implementing a two-state solution. Later on Tuesday, Netanyahu’s office said he visited northern Gaza. He’s previously entered Gaza a handful of times during the war. Population displaced The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Fifty-nine hostages are still inside Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Wounded children overwhelm Gaza hospital amid relentless Israeli airstrikes Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 51,000 people, according to an updated toll released by Gaza’s Health Ministry on Tuesday. That includes more than 1,600 people killed since Israel ended a ceasefire and resumed its offensive last month to pressure Hamas to accept changes to the agreement. The ministry is led by medical professionals but reports to the Hamas-run government. Its toll is seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts, though Israel has challenged its numbers. Israel says it has killed some 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. The ministry does not say how many were civilians or combatants but says women and children make up more than half of the dead. The offensive has destroyed much of the territory and displaced around 90% of its population of roughly 2 million Palestinians. The creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel is widely seen internationally as the only realistic way to resolve the decades-old conflict. Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, and the Palestinians want all three for a future state. The last serious and substantive peace talks broke down after Netanyahu returned to power in 2009. A number of European states have recently recognized a Palestinian state in what is largely a symbolic move aimed at reviving the peace process.

A month after a series of retaliatory attacks left hundreds of Alawite civilians dead, members of this Syrian religious minority continue to live in fear, with dozens more killed in smaller assaults since April began. The Alawites were once considered a privileged group under the rule of the Assad family, but following the fall of Bashar Assad's government late last year, the minority now faces reprisals from the country’s Sunni majority. Nine killed in Israeli strikes in Syria Although the new government promised to protect minority groups, an attack on security forces near Latakia by Assad loyalists last month triggered a brutal counteroffensive that took a heavy toll on the largely Alawite population of the coastal region. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 1,700 people, mostly civilians, were killed in March. While no official figures have been released by the government, similar estimates have been provided by other human rights groups. This marked the worst violence since the overthrow of Assad's regime by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in December. Militias from Syria's Sunni majority have been targeting Alawites, even if they were not involved in the insurgency. Rights groups reported widespread revenge killings. Diana Semaan, a Syria researcher at Amnesty International, noted that some militants blamed Alawites for the actions of the Assad regime, regardless of individual involvement. While the scale of violence has decreased, Alawites continue to face harassment, extortion, and occasional violence. An Alawite man from the Latakia area described frequent attacks, even on those uninvolved with Assad’s government or security forces. He recalled the death of a 20-year-old factory worker who was shot by checkpoint guards despite having no connection to the military. The attacks have spread beyond Latakia into the provinces of Tartus and Homs. According to Rami Abdurrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 42 people have died in sectarian violence since the end of Ramadan on March 30. While these killings have become more isolated, they continue to occur. Mohammed Saleh, an activist from Homs, expressed concern that Syria may be shifting from one dictatorship to another. He called for a national army and security forces that would protect all Syrians, rather than being dominated by one sect. A school in Baniyas, Tartus, posted a list of nearly 80 individuals killed in the past month. A widely shared video showed the bodies of two young men, with their mother being scolded for her sons' deaths because they were Alawites. Israeli strikes in southwestern Syria kill 4 people Tens of thousands of Alawites, along with other Syrians from coastal regions, have fled to Lebanon through unofficial border crossings. The UN reports that around 30,000 Alawite Syrians have sought refuge in northern Lebanon, although they receive little assistance and feel unsafe returning. These ongoing attacks have been a major disappointment for Syrians who hoped that the fall of Assad would end violence against religious and ethnic minorities. The new government has promised to build an inclusive state and hold criminals accountable. Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has vowed to bring those responsible for the recent violence to justice and has established a committee to investigate the attacks. Although a few arrests have been made, the committee has yet to release any findings. Rights groups assert that the interim government faces a critical test in ensuring justice for the crimes committed.

Hamas said on Saturday that it is positive about any Gaza ceasefire proposal that guarantees a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. In a statement, Hamas said that such a proposal must also ensure an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people and include a serious prisoner exchange deal. A Hamas delegation headed to Cairo on Saturday at the invitation of Egypt. While in Cairo, they are expected to meet with mediators from Qatar and Egypt, as part of ongoing efforts to reach an agreement and halt Israeli attacks in Gaza, it added. At least 1,563 Palestinians have been killed and 4,004 others injured since Israel resumed intensive strikes across the Gaza Strip on March 18, Gaza-based health authorities said on Saturday. 

An Israeli airstrike hit Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City early Sunday, leading to the evacuation of patients as bombardments intensified throughout the Gaza Strip. The pre-dawn attack came after an evacuation warning from Israeli forces, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The ministry said one patient died during the evacuation due to the lack of immediate medical assistance. The hospital, affiliated with the Diocese of Jerusalem, was targeted on Palm Sunday, a Christian holiday marking Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Later the same day, another Israeli strike hit a vehicle in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, killing at least seven people, according to morgue staff at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where the bodies were taken. The Israeli military stated it had targeted a Hamas command and control center at the hospital used for planning and executing operations against Israeli civilians and soldiers. It said that precautions were taken beforehand, including warnings, precision weaponry, and aerial surveillance. These strikes followed remarks by Israel’s defense minister, who said military operations across Gaza would accelerate and urged civilians to leave areas of conflict. On Saturday, Israel also announced it had completed the Morag corridor, effectively isolating Rafah from the rest of Gaza. The military said it would soon intensify operations throughout the territory. Israeli officials have maintained that military pressure will continue until Hamas agrees to release the remaining 59 hostages — 24 of whom are believed to be alive — and accepts revised ceasefire proposals. Dr. Fadel Naim, the director of Al-Ahli Hospital, said they received prior warning before the attack. He shared on X that the emergency room, pharmacy, and surrounding buildings were heavily damaged, affecting more than 100 patients and dozens of staff. The health ministry added that the strike destroyed the outpatient and laboratory wings, and damaged the emergency unit. While medical facilities are generally protected under international law, Israel’s campaign in Gaza has included repeated attacks on hospitals, which it claims are being used by Hamas for military purposes. Israel has previously besieged and raided several hospitals and struck many others during the conflict. Last month, Israel targeted Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the largest hospital in southern Gaza, killing two people, injuring others, and igniting a large fire, according to the health ministry. The strike occurred during a surprise air assault that ended a temporary ceasefire. The ongoing war began after Hamas launched a deadly attack on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and capturing about 250 hostages. Some hostages have since been released through ceasefire agreements. According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory campaign. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, but says more than half of the casualties are women and children. 

  JERUSALEM, Apr 10 (AP/UNB) — Israel released Ahmad Manasra on Thursday, a Palestinian who was involved in an attack at 13 and later developed schizophrenia during his prison term. Despite multiple requests for early release, they were denied. Israel considers Manasra a terrorist for attempting to kill Jewish peers, while Palestinians argue that his harsh detention at such a young age caused long-term mental health issues. Manasra's lawyer, Khaled Zabarqa, confirmed his release after serving a sentence of nine and a half years.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health says at least 60,000 children are now “at risk of serious health complications due to malnutrition” as Israel maintains a blockade on humanitarian aid, cutting off essential food and medical supplies since March 2. The warning came on Wednesday, a day after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres rejected a new Israeli proposal for overseeing aid deliveries, stating it would risk “further controlling and callously limiting aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour.” According to the Health Ministry, the lack of proper food and clean water is worsening health conditions, and the continuing ban on child vaccinations — including for polio — is deepening the crisis. With border crossings sealed, aid agencies have been unable to bring in life-saving supplies for over a month. The UN reports that 21 nutrition centres in Gaza have been forced to shut down, disrupting care for roughly 350 children already suffering from severe malnutrition. The World Food Programme (WFP) previously warned that intensified Israeli military operations have severely disrupted food aid efforts, putting hundreds of thousands at risk of hunger and malnutrition. “WFP and partners from the food security sector have been unable to bring new food supplies into Gaza for more than three weeks,” the agency said, adding that current stockpiles would only last up to two weeks. For over 18 months, Israel has repeatedly used food and humanitarian aid as a form of pressure on the Palestinian population during its military campaign, which the Health Ministry says has killed more than 50,000 people. ‘Throwing a stone is not terrorism’: Rights group slams killing of Palestinian-American teen Last week, COGAT — the Israeli military body overseeing civilian matters in occupied Palestinian territories — met with UN and international aid officials, proposing “a structured monitoring and aid entry mechanism” for Gaza. It claimed Hamas was diverting aid, though Jonathan Whittall, a senior UN official for Gaza and the occupied West Bank, said there was no evidence to support that claim. Meanwhile, Israel has also halted the flow of water from the Mekorot company to Gaza, cutting off about 70% of the enclave’s water supply. Hosni Mehanna, spokesperson for Gaza municipality, said the main pipeline in eastern Gaza City’s Shujayea neighbourhood has been affected amid ongoing Israeli assaults. “The reasons behind the interruption remain unclear, but we are coordinating with international organisations to inspect whether the pipeline was damaged due to the heavy Israeli bombardment in the area,” Mehanna said. “Regardless of the cause, the consequences are dire. If the flow of water from Mekorot is not restored soon, Gaza will face a full-blown water crisis,” he added. Source: Al Jazeera

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Washington for a hastily organized White House visit bringing a long list of concerns: Iran's nuclear program. President Donald Trump's tariffs. The surging influence of rival Turkey in Syria. And the 18-month war in Gaza. Netanyahu appeared to leave Monday's meeting largely empty-handed — a stark contrast with his triumphant visit two months ago. During an hourlong Oval Office appearance, Trump appeared to slap down, contradict or complicate each of Netanyahu’s policy prerogatives. On Tuesday, Netanyahu declared the meeting a success, calling it a “very good visit” and claiming successes on all fronts. But privately, the Israeli delegation felt it was a tough meeting, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Netanyahu “didn’t hear exactly what he wanted to hear, so he returns back home with very little,” said Nadav Eyal, a commentator with the Yediot Ahronot daily, who added that the visit was still friendly, despite the disagreements. Netanyahu's second pilgrimage to Washington under Trump's second term was organized at short notice and billed as an attempt to address the new U.S. tariff regime. But it came at a pivotal time in Middle East geopolitics. Israel restarted the war in Gaza last month, ending a Trump-endorsed ceasefire, and tensions with Iran are rising over its nuclear program. Netanyahu and his allies were thrilled with Trump's return to office given his strong support for Israel during his first term. This time around, Trump has not only nominated pro-Israel figures for key administration positions, he has abandoned the Biden administration's criticism of Israel's conduct in Gaza and the West Bank, and of Netanyahu's steps to weaken Israeli courts. Monday's meeting showed that while Trump remains sympathetic to Israel, Netanyahu's relationship with the president during his second term is more complicated and unpredictable than he may have expected. Here is a look at where Trump and Netanyahu appear to have diverged. Netanyahu has long pushed for military pressure against Iran Israeli strike on media tent outside Gaza Hospital kills reporter, injures journalists With Netanyahu's strong encouragement, Trump in 2018 unilaterally withdrew the United States from the agreement between world powers and Iran over its nuclear program. That deal, negotiated by the Obama administration, put curbs on Iran's nuclear program. It was denigrated by Netanyahu because he said it did not go far enough to contain Iran or address Iran's support for regional militant groups. Netanyahu has long maintained that military pressure was the best way to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Israel struck Iran last year in the countries' first direct conflict ever. But it did not target Iran's nuclear facilities, something Israel would likely need U.S. military assistance to do in order to strike targets buried deep underground. Trump has suggested, including on Monday, that the U.S. could take military action if Iran doesn’t agree to negotiate. But his announcement Monday that talks would take place between the U.S. and Iran this weekend flew in the face of Netanyahu’s hawkish views. Netanyahu gave a tepid endorsement, noting that both leaders agree that Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. He said he would would favor a diplomatic agreement similar to Libya's deal in 2003 to destroy its nuclear facilities and allow inspectors unfettered access. However, it is not clear if Trump will set such strict conditions. Eyal said the announcement with Netanyahu by Trump's side was meant to show the transparency between the countries' leadership. Netanyahu hoped for tariff relief and appeared to be rebuffed A day before Trump's so-called Liberation Day unleashed global tariffs on the world last week, Israel preemptively announced that it would eliminate all levies on U.S. goods. But that didn't spare Israeli products from being slapped with a 17% tariff by its largest trading partner. Netanyahu was summoned to Washington ostensibly to make Israel's case against the levy. He was the first international leader to do so, in an encounter that may have set the stage for how other world leaders approach the tariffs. While Trump repeatedly praised the Israeli leader, he did not appear to budge on Israel's share of the burden. Asked if he might change his mind, he said “maybe not.” He cited the billions of dollars the U.S. gives Israel in military assistance each year — money that is seen as the bedrock of the U.S.-Israel relationship and an insurance policy for U.S. interests in the region. “We give Israel $4 billion a year. That’s a lot,” he said, as though to suggest Israel was already getting enough from the U.S., and congratulated Netanyahu on that achievement. Netanyahu was told to be reasonable on Turkey Since the fall of the Assad dynasty in Syria late last year, Israel and Turkey have been competing in the country over their separate interests there. Israel fears that Syria's new leadership, which has an Islamist past, will pose a new threat along its border. It has since taken over a buffer zone in Syrian territory and said it will remain there indefinitely until new security arrangements are made. Turkey has emerged as a key player in Syria, prompting concerns in Israel over the possibility of Turkey expanding its military presence inside the country. Netanyahu said Tuesday that Turkish bases in Syria would be a “danger to Israel.” Once strong regional partners, ties between Israel and Turkey have long been frosty and deteriorated further over the war in Gaza. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been an outspoken critic of the war, prompting angry reactions from Israeli officials. Netanyahu sought to hear support from his stalwart ally Trump on a country Israel perceives as increasingly hostile. Instead, Trump lavished praise on Erdogan for “taking over Syria,” positioned himself as a possible mediator between the countries and urged Netanyahu to be “reasonable” in his dealings with the country. Hamas rocket attack injures 3 in Israel; Israel responds with strikes on central Gaza “Israel is not provided with a blank check here,” said Udi Sommer, an expert on U.S.-Israel relations at Tel Aviv University. “There’s no unconditional love here. It is contingent. It is contingent on Israel behaving a certain way.” Trump wants the war in Gaza to end While both addressed the ongoing war in Gaza and the Israeli hostages who remain held there, the topic appeared to take a backseat to other issues. Netanyahu spoke of the hostages' plight and an emerging deal to free them, as well as the need to end the “evil tyranny of Hamas.” Trump sympathized with the hostages and made another pitch for his plan to “own” Gaza and remove its Palestinian population, a once fringe idea in Israeli discourse that has now found acceptance among mainstream politicians, including Netanyahu. However, there were signs of differences on the horizon. Netanyahu broke the ceasefire last month and has been under major pressure from his governing allies to keep up the fighting until Hamas is crushed. He has appeared to be in no rush to end the war or bring home the remaining hostages. Trump, however, made it clear that he'd like to see the hostages freed and for the war to end. “And I think the war will stop at some point that won’t be in the too distant future,” he said. Source: With input from agency